St. Petersburg Student’s Solo May Day Travel Guide to Vladikavkaz!

North Ossetia is totally worth seeing—the alpine meadows are stunning! (Friends from Xinjiang, no need to look—it’s just like Yili 😆) This one-day tour was booked through Tripster (see P2). Normally, it’s a big bus with 20 people, but only three signed up that day, so the driver took us up the mountain in his car instead (P3 🚗). The meeting point was at the north gate of Olympic Park, near the Ferris wheel (P4 🎡). The driver gave commentary along the way (if you don’t understand, just use a translation app! 📱). ‼ Lunch is arranged by the driver (P10). Cash or bank transfer only (signal is spotty, so bring cash!). The stuffed pies were delicious—two are enough for most guys. The soup was also great (and the whole meal was only 500 RUB! 🥟🍲). ‼ The City of the Dead (P11-12) requires an entrance ticket—cards accepted (student discounts available if you have your ID!). ‼ If you meet locals with eagles for photos, it’s about 1000 RUB per shot—negotiate the price first! 🦅 We got back to the city around 3 PM (or later if it’s sunny, since there’s more to see). If you don’t want to stay overnight in Vladikavkaz, you can buy a bus ticket to Pyatigorsk (2-3 hours away) via Unitiki (don’t forget to change your nationality when booking, P14 🎫) or buy tickets on-site (P15). For online tickets, no printing is needed—just bring your passport. The bus parks on the left side of the parking lot (P16) (though it might move—if lost, show your ticket to a local, they’ll help you find it! 🚌). Once in Pyatigorsk, rest up for Mount Elbrus the next day (even more breathtaking than North Ossetia! ⛰️). Accommodation in Pyatigorsk: HOCO 101—a bed in a dorm for 850 RUB/night (but why is this hostel a 2-star hotel? 🤔). #NorthOssetia #Vladikavkaz #StudyAbroadTravel ✈️🌍