Yalta is a resort city on the Crimean peninsula.

general information

Yalta remembers VIPs of the 19th century who came here to improve their health, as well as citizens of the communist era who received the privilege of going to Yalta to relax. Today it is a "tourist trap" with picturesque surroundings.

The city is full of tourists in the summer, but during the autumn months the weather is still warm and pleasant. For example, in October the air warms up to 20 degrees. Winters in Yalta are not cold. Sheltered in the north by mountains and warmed by the Black Sea, Yalta never gets much snow, but beware of the winds, which can be unbearably cold. You can see prices for tours to Yalta in different seasons.

The main languages ​​on the peninsula are Russian, Ukrainian and Tatar. People in Crimea are very friendly, and the crime rate in the city of over 80,000 people is quite low. Tourists are safe as long as they follow practical rules: don't flash money, avoid unlit sidewalks at night (and drunk people), and don't say yes if a stranger offers to buy you a drink.

Short video about Yalta

How to get there

By plane

Today Crimea is part of Russia, and the best way to get to the peninsula is by plane from Moscow, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar or other cities. You can view prices for air tickets.

Airport departure options:

By bus or trolleybus

From Simferopol Airport (the capital of the Republic of Crimea), which is located in the northern part of the city, you can take a scenic route to Yalta by trolleybus - the longest trolleybus route in the world (the trip, which can hardly be called comfortable, takes 2.5 hours, The traffic is very slow, but you can enjoy a wonderful view of the mountains). It is worth noting that some trolleybuses are quite old. However, the vehicle fleet is gradually being replaced by new, more comfortable models.

You can also use a minibus, which will take you faster, with greater comfort and for a higher fee (3 euros).

By taxi

This is the fastest and most expensive way to get to Yalta (30 - 40 euros). The trip takes a little over an hour, depending on the technical condition of the car and the driver’s skill in avoiding potholes on the road.

By train

What to see in the area

  • Visit Balaklava (about an hour and a half from Yalta). This beautiful port city, hidden behind the Genoese towers and walls, was closed to tourists until 1996 due to the Soviet submarine base located at the foot of the cliffs. The base operated until 1991, and in 1996 the last submarine left the bay. Today, this relic left over from the Cold War serves as a museum. gained fame during the Anglo-Russian War in the 1850s, and is also famous for the charge of the light cavalry, which took place in a valley four kilometers from the city. only recently received the status of a tourist city and delights tourists with new hotels and excellent restaurants. Throughout the city, about 50 monuments praise the heroic deeds of the soldiers. These monuments are worth a visit.

  • - another place worth visiting. This vibrant city of more than half a million people is famous for its many monuments commemorating the events of World War II, when the city's defenders held off outnumbered Nazi forces. For this, the city was awarded the honorary title of Hero City of the USSR. - a haven for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
  • - the gates of Crimea. There are practically no attractions, with the exception of the beautiful train station. Attractive shopping centers, excellent markets and numerous cafes.

Food. What to try

At the vegetable market you will find several pleasant cafes with reasonable prices. They are clean and have good service compared to other cafes nearby. The cafe offers a varied menu and delicious food. The sanitary condition of Crimean public catering establishments cannot be criticized. Browse the markets for local produce, where you can get good deals on meat and vegetables. Crimea has a lot of sweets, cakes and pastries that cost a penny but are incredibly tasty.

Beverages

  • In the port, across the bridge to McDonald's, there is a small cafe, which you can get to by going up to the top floor. The cafe is not very popular, but it offers a beautiful view of the city and also serves good cocktails.
  • For the best vodka, head to supermarkets outside the city center. Their prices will seem incredibly low to you.
  • Yalta and Crimea are famous for their wines. Try Crimean wine! The Crimean region is known for its unique wine, which owes its subtropical microclimate. Well-known brands like Massandra are famous for their excellent wines that can be brought home as a gift. It is recommended to try not only red wines, similar in taste to port, less strong, with a fruity aftertaste, but also white, similar to dessert, sweet wines, as well as whiskey that is strong as a blow.
  • If you prefer beer, you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of Russian, Polish and Ukrainian foamy drinks, tasty and cheap compared to Western prices.

Things to do

  • Be sure to visit Mount Ai-Petri, from the top of which there is a magnificent view of Yalta, which you can reach by cable car, the longest in all of Europe.

  • Keep in mind that you are visiting a developing country that recently emerged from Soviet control, so many services are not up to Western standards. But there are banks and ATMs everywhere with favorable exchange rates.
  • Explore the surrounding areas of Yalta: many of them have a rich history. There are many interesting places that you can reach by bus in just an hour.
  • Be prepared that during the summer months Yalta is one of the main destinations for Russian and Ukrainian tourists, so it gets crowded.
  • Be sure to visit the large markets where you can find anything you want!

Shopping and shops

  • You will find a variety of souvenirs in the stalls on the embankment, where items from Yalta and Crimea are sold: from beautiful paintings to handmade carvings.

  • It makes sense to visit the numerous clothing markets of Yalta, where you can buy high-quality clothing, fabric and shoes imported from Turkey and other countries at an attractive price.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

  • The Crimean region is famous for red onions. It is believed that onions were once sweeter, but to this day they remain a delicacy.
  • Take a stroll through the souvenir shops located on the opposite side of the embankment (on the other side of McDonald's). There you will find countless trinkets and other interesting things to remember Yalta.
  • You can buy fresh honey in Crimea in almost every store directly from the apiary at the best prices throughout the summer.

How to get around the city

Yalta is located on a large area (). The center and harbor are a great place to stroll, but be careful: local drivers tend not to give way to pedestrians. During the summer months, traffic in the city is heavy and there is a chance of getting caught in a traffic jam if you are traveling by vehicle. However, this method of transportation is often much faster than walking. In the evenings, locals dress up and head to the pier (a great way to spend an evening) or while away the time enjoying a drink in one of the many cafes. The promenade is over a mile long, from McDonald's on the east end to the Oreanda Hotel on the west. After walking along it, you will find a place on the beach, which can be rocky.

Buses

Most people travel by cheap minibuses. On some buses you have to pay when you get on, on others you have to pay when you get off the bus, which can sometimes be confusing. You will find a taxi anywhere in the city. Also, some motorists are engaged in private transportation. If the fare is high, walk further, there will definitely be someone with whom you can negotiate.

Ferry

To visit the best beaches or the Swallow's Nest (the famous "folly" on the rock that now houses an Italian restaurant), you can take the ferry. In summer, luxury cruise ships call at Yalta while sailing on the Black Sea, which is a great way to travel.

Note: Unless you're from Istanbul or a similar city with extremely narrow, unmarked, one-way streets and steep inclines, don't drive in Yalta. Google and Apple maps are not suitable for this city and should not be relied upon outside of highways and main roads.

Since Soviet times, summer vacations by the sea have been associated in the minds of the country's citizens primarily with Tavrida. The most famous place on the Crimean peninsula was Yalta - an amazing, picturesque and sunny city, which is still ready to warmly welcome thousands of tourists during the season.

Where is the city in Crimea?

Yalta is located on three hills in the south of Crimea. On three sides it is surrounded by wooded spurs of the Crimean Mountains - like a Greek amphitheater. The surrounding nature is amazingly lush and beautiful. The resort itself is literally surrounded by greenery of parks and gardens. The local climate is very close to the Mediterranean. The sea here is warm, and the number of sunny days a year exceeds a hundred.

Yalta on the map of Crimea

Where to stay for vacation?

For tourists who choose a holiday in Crimea, Yalta will offer many accommodation opportunities. You will be welcome in numerous and. The private sector also provides a variety of accommodation options in cottages, houses and apartments, and sometimes it is easy to save money by negotiating directly with the owner - without intermediaries. They deserve special attention; the best of them is ready to inexpensively accommodate holidaymakers.

All visitors have wonderful impressions. It is a little over 20 years old and contains more than 100 different fauna. Animals can be fed with special mixtures, which are sold at the entrance. There will be a special visit to the section where baby animals are kept. Some of them are allowed to play with.

The hotel's dolphinarium offers daily performances featuring dolphins and fur seals. - born artists. Sometimes it seems that performing various tricks gives them pleasure.
After finishing the performance, you can swim with these amazingly smart and friendly animals. A photo taken at this moment will be a good reminder of your summer holiday in Crimea.

You should definitely take your child on an excursion to the wonderful world. Here it’s easy to see fairy-tale houses and figures of animals carved from wood and inscribed in the beautiful landscape at the foot of the mountain. On the territory of the park complex there are animators dressed as fairy tale characters who organize various quizzes and competitions for children.

Children in Yalta will not be left indifferent to the entertainment provided on the territory of the hotel establishment of the same name. Excellent slides, a lot of options for children's leisure, diving and a lot of swimming pools will appeal to everyone. Take your child for a ride on the most interesting cable car in Crimea - you will get a lot of impressions from such a ride.

Where can you eat in Yalta?

True gourmets should definitely dine at the Colonnade restaurant. Aristocraticism is the motto of the establishment and can be seen in everything, from the appearance to the interior of the premises.
Excellent presentation, high level of service and exquisite taste of dishes will ensure an excellent meal. The wine list doesn't disappoint either.

The Siam Paradise restaurant is ready to welcome fans of gastronomic delights. Here the visitor will be offered to taste dishes traditional to Thai and Japanese cuisine. The menu includes mainly seafood dishes. The level of service and quality of service compensate for the relatively high prices.

Are you interested in a budget holiday in Crimea? Yalta will not disappoint here either. You can have an inexpensive and satisfying meal for the whole family in the cozy cafe “U Solokha,” decorated in Ukrainian farmhouse style. They don’t serve any special culinary masterpieces here, but the food is tasty and the portions are large. Service is fast and the waitresses are polite.

How to get there (get there)?

Getting to Yalta from Simferopol is extremely easy. Literally every half hour, buses and minibuses from the railway station, and trolleybuses from the airport depart along this line. Travel time will be about one and a half hours. Yalta is also connected to other cities of Crimea by regular bus service. Here is the schedule of the nearest buses at the city bus station:

You can get from Simferopol airport by your own or rented car in the following way:

And from Sevastopol you should take this road:

Undoubtedly, Yalta is one of the best places to spend a holiday in Crimea. Wonderful nature and a lot of entertainment will make your stay here very pleasant and memorable for a lifetime.

Yalta (according to one version, the name comes from the modern Greek “Yalos”, which means “shore”) is the most popular of the Crimean resorts, rightfully called the capital of the Southern Coast of Crimea. The city of Yalta is located 86 km from, 40 km southwest of, and 80 km from in a vast amphitheater facing the sea, between capes Ai-Todor in the west and Montedor in the east. From the northwest and north, Yalta is fenced by a high 1400-meter mountain range, saving it from the cold.

The population of Yalta is about 100 thousand people. (Russians, Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars).

The city is the administrative center of the resort region - Greater Yalta, which, in addition to Yalta, administratively includes the city of Alupka, the villages of Gaspra, Gurzuf, Koreiz, Livadia, Massandra, Simeiz, Foros and other settlements.

Story

The first mention of “Jalita” that has come down to us is found in the description of the Crimean coast, which was compiled in 1154 by the famous Arab traveler Al-Idrisiyu. In the XIV – XV centuries. Yalta was part of the Principality of Theodoro, then fell under the rule of the Genoese. In the 16th – 18th centuries. it was a small village. In the year of Crimea’s annexation to Russia, there were only 13 houses and a military redoubt built by A.V. Suvorov in 1771. In 1837, by order of the Emperor, Yalta was granted city status. On March 23, 1838, a corresponding decree of the Senate followed: “Taking into account the special local position of the southern coast of the Tauride Peninsula, the rapid increase in the population there and the noticeable spread of industry among the residents, we recognized it as a good thing to eliminate the inconveniences arising from the accumulation of cases in the public places of the district Simferopol, to establish a new district in the Tauride province... from part of the Simferopol district... to create a new district under the name of Yalta, renaming the town of Yalta a city...". The newly created city was allocated a little more than seven acres of land.

In 1843, the first plan of Yalta was established. There was already an embankment here, and on one of the central streets - Elizavetinskaya - there were thirty houses in which 224 residents lived.

After in the 60s of the nineteenth century, Professor S.P. Botkin found the climate of the southern coast of Crimea healing and recommended the tsar to buy a dacha here (later it became Livadia), Yalta was first talked about as a resort.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. this city is already spoken of as the “Russian Riviera”.

By that time, there were more than a thousand houses, where more than twenty thousand residents lived.

However, the foundation of the existing resort and sanatorium complex was laid in the 20-30s of the twentieth century, when the construction of health resorts began on the South Coast.

Yalta received city status in the USSR in 1938.

Climate, beaches and sea

The climate of Yalta is subtropical Mediterranean type - warm and dry. Average annual air temperature +13°С (in May +16°С, in July +24°С, in September +19°С, in October +14.2°С, in November +9°С, in February +4° WITH). Different sources estimate the number of sunny days per year differently - 225, 247, 276. Winters are very mild, with a lot of precipitation (humidity - 73%), summers are hot and dry (62%). The beaches of Yalta consist mainly of pebbles. The bottom is steep.

The swimming season lasts from late May – early June to mid-October (149 days a year). The average sea water temperature in June is +18.7°C, in July +21.9°C, in August +22.9°C. In June - July, surge winds occur off the coast of Yalta, which carry them away from the coast into the open the sea is warming layers of water, replaced by cold water rising from the depths. In this case, the water temperature can drop by 12° in a few hours.

Surge phenomena off the coast of Yalta are observed annually. On average, there are up to three drives per year with a total maximum duration of up to 50 days. The average sea water temperature in September is +21.8°, in October +17.1°.

Big Yalta

Big Yalta is, in fact, a narrow strip of the southern coast of Crimea, which stretches over a distance of 70 km and unites more than 30 settlements into a single whole. The largest of them are located in the following order: Gurzuf - Nikita - Massandra - Livadia - Yalta - Gaspra - Koreiz - Miskhor - Alupka - Simeiz - Foros.

Gurzuf is located 16 km from Yalta. This is a fairly large resort village. The average annual temperature is +13°C, the beach is shallow. Immediately behind the famous one below the highway are the buildings, parks and beaches of the Artek International Children's Center.

The name of Nikita is inextricably linked with the world famous Nikitsky Botanical Garden (founded in 1812) - rightfully the most popular of the south coast parks, connecting nature, history, art and science. His collection includes more than 28 thousand plants from all over the world.

The village of Massandra, part of Greater Yalta, is known throughout the world thanks to the Massandra winery. Wines bearing the brand of the Massandra plant have been standing up to the most demanding international competitions for several decades.

Miskhor, Gaspra, Koreiz are located 12–15 km from Yalta and have practically merged into one settlement. This is one of the warmest places on the South Coast, the average annual temperature is +14.2°C. The main attraction of Gaspra is undoubtedly the world famous.

The distance between Yalta and the village of Simeiz is 21 km. The most beautiful places, steep banks and coastal cliffs: Diva, Panea, Swan Wing. Mount Koshka is also located here, which is a landscape and historical-architectural reserve.

Sanatorium-resort complex. Accommodation

There are about 170 sanatorium-resort and health-improving institutions concentrated in Greater Yalta. Excellent natural factors, as well as a good medical base, contribute to the successful treatment of diseases of the respiratory system, blood circulation, nervous system and other diseases.

There are over twenty hotels in the city, among which the four-star hotels Oreanda and Yalta-Intourist stand out.

Almost always, even in the busiest summer months, you can rent a room or apartment in the private sector. At the same time, prices can be very different: from 10 hryvnia/day (in the off-season) to $20 - 50, of course, per person.

Transport

Most visitors get to Yalta by trolleybus from Simferopol. An hour and a half journey to Alushta, another hour to Yalta. The ticket price is a little more than 5 UAH.

A bus (or minibus) is more comfortable, half an hour faster, but also almost twice as expensive, and they don’t go as often.

You can wait for a minibus, about 10 - 15 hryvnia per person. A car will cost 100 - 150 hryvnia.

There is a seaport. Do you want to take a ride to Sevastopol or to Feodosia? - Please.

In Yalta itself there are trolleybuses (40 kopecks) and minibuses (from 75 kopecks).

Where to relax

There are no problems with this in Yalta. First of all, this is the Yalta embankment, which stretches for several kilometers. You can just walk under the palm trees, you can sit in a cafe, bar or restaurant, which are found here on every corner, look at the Moon through a telescope, order your own portrait, walk among the stalls of the ubiquitous peddlers, go to the casino... You can’t list everything, if only there were money: the thing is that prices here can admittedly be very inhumane. The southern capital of Crimea is not deprived of the attention of Russian stars. In terms of the number of spectators, the Yubileiny Cinema and Concert Hall took first place in the CIS last year.

During the day, if you are tired of the beach, you can visit local attractions, and believe me, there are many of them.

Having visited Crimea for the first time, I fell madly in love with its inexhaustible riches and atmosphere, and then I returned here to live, since just a vacation is not enough to study and understand the peninsula. But nevertheless, you can get incredible impressions during your vacation. So let's sharpen our skis towards Crimea. More precisely, flippers. The skis there are not functional.

The pearl of the peninsula and the place of the most massive tourist pilgrimages is, of course, the South Coast of Crimea (South Coast of Crimea). It is here that the most diverse nature is found, the purest pebble beaches, the highest mountains, the most ancient forests, the most diverse flora and fauna, the juiciest fruits, the richest wines and the most healing climate. It is here that the most picturesque nature trails with tall cliffs and waterfalls are located, it is here that the palaces of princes and other unique architectural monuments rise majestically... And many, many more unusual, unknown and fascinating things. And the pearl of the South Coast, which occupies a significant part of it and, in fact, spreads all these riches, is Bolshaya. A legendary area, definitely worth a visit.

In general, traveling by train to the south is a very dubious pleasure: you will have to make a lot of transfers in the heat, and even the risk of being stuck at the crossing for several hours is very high. The tourists traveling with the “Single Ticket”, whom I met at the stations, had a very sad and “rumpled” look. They were no longer happy about coming to Crimea - fatigue from numerous road troubles took over.

This option may be relevant for residents of remote regions where flight fares are quite high. It allows you to save a lot of money. Getting to Crimea by plane from Central Russia is not at all expensive.

By bus

There are regular buses from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kerch. The ticket price is about 3 thousand rubles. Having reached Kerch, you will need to get to the city you need on your own. Fortunately, the bus service between Kerch and the rest of Crimea is quite well developed.

There is another option: buy bus tours, where all connections and logistics are already thought out for you. Similar offers can be found from many travel agencies. It's a little more expensive, but you won't have to wait long for connections. The same tours are organized to cities such as Yalta and Bakhchisarai. Then no transfers at all. Travel time is a little more than a day.

The buses that carry long distances are quite comfortable - my friends who travel this way did not complain of discomfort.

By car

You can get from Moscow to Yalta by private car in 18 hours, excluding stops and food breaks. Gasoline costs will be about 10 thousand rubles. The road will run through Ukraine. From Moscow you need to take the E105 highway, which leads directly to Yalta, the length of the route is 1,481 km.

The journey from St. Petersburg will take about 30 hours. There are options: go either only through Ukraine, or through Belarus and Ukraine. The average is 2,200 km. If you drive only through Ukraine, then you should take the E95 highway, in Bryansk get onto the E101, follow it to Belgorod, and then change the road to E105. This is the most optimal, simple

(less chance of getting lost at junctions and turns) and a fast option.

When is the season? When is the best time to go

The best time for a holiday in Crimea is mid-August - late September. Not so hot, not so stuffy, the sea is warm and rarely stormy. Local fruits, berries, nuts and vegetables have already ripened, young wines have been made from the new grape harvest, and markets are beginning to trade in all these riches of Crimea. In general, absolutely all, without exception, the delights of southern resort life can be enjoyed during this period.

Big Yalta in summer

In summer, Yalta is crowded. There is a crush in all minibuses, traffic jams on the roads, finding a place on the beach is a rare success, there is a queue for excursions, it is often impossible to disperse on narrow mountain paths, on the embankment you cannot fight off merchants of all stripes - here they lure you with baklava, and here they offer to tell fortunes for the future. Prices for food, housing and other tourist services are the highest and unrealistically inflated. But! The south is still the south, and no matter how you look at it, it’s nice in Yalta in the summer.

All other advantages of resort life significantly outweigh the disadvantages. Sun, sea, beach, warmth, mountains, forests, wine and delicious food, kind people - in comparison with this, all of the above shortcomings seem so insignificant.

As for the sea, it warms up to a comfortable temperature (about +23 °C) by mid-June and remains warm until the end of September. The period of sweltering heat occurs at the end of July - beginning of August. Then neither the sea nor the shade of pine forests can save you from the heat.

Big Yalta in autumn

Autumn is the best time to travel to Crimea. If you want to relax comfortably without the crowded tourist bustle and heat, but with a warm sea and red-red landscapes of the forest, maple and oak alleys, then autumn is ideal for you.

Off-season trips are good for those who do not like to be around noise and crowds. The city streets are not so crowded, many cafes are closed, and souvenir stalls are boarded up. But there is an opportunity to wander alone on the beaches, without stepping over densely lying sunbathers, to feel the scale of the elements, to listen to the waves. Well, housing, of course, is rented during this period at lower prices.

Big Yalta in spring

In spring, the sea is still cold (+15 °C), and only walruses enjoy swimming. During the day it is quite warm - the temperature rises to +25 °C, and at night to +17 °C. But, again, there are not many tourists, prices are not high. And if you come at the end of May-April, you can find Crimea in bloom! The plateau above Yalta is strewn with poppies, the forest clearings are all covered with snowdrops, and the gardens are covered in clouds of the most fragrant flowering in the world. It's incredibly pleasing to the eye! The lavender fields alone are worth it.

Big Yalta in winter

In winter, Yalta dies out. The embankment is emptying, many shops, cafes and hotels are closing, storms are becoming more frequent at sea, and cold winds blowing in the city, descending from the mountains. No one invites you on boat trips and diving, or offers boiled crayfish and salted corn. Yalta in winter is an ordinary small mainland town. There is simply no reason to go there at this time of year.

Snow in Yalta is a rather rare phenomenon. All winter it lies only in the mountains, and if it falls in the city, it melts within a day. The children immediately happily pour out into the streets and make short-lived snowmen. For Yalta, this is truly akin to a miracle (unlike the Simferopol region, which is located higher above sea level, and therefore fluffy precipitation lingers there longer).

Clue:

Big Yalta - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Yalta and surroundings (Massandra, Livadia)

As for Yalta itself, the well-known “Intourist” is always happy to welcome guests and is very much loved by tourists, and the prices there are quite reasonable. The most expensive places in Yalta are, of course, the hotels on the embankment (Villa Elena, Oreanda and others like them). These are architectural monuments where the Chekhovs and Chaliapins used to have tea. The hotels have a very high star rating, and therefore the prices are not budget. A comfortable area for living in Yalta is, again, its suburb - . Yalta itself is still very noisy and crowded, and the city beaches are dirty. Massandra is quieter, cleaner and still a little cheaper. more noisy, since the Livadia Palace is located there, and crowds of tourists come to it. But there are good beaches there.

But for lovers of noisy city life who do not want to live anywhere other than Yalta, I recommend the area of ​​st. Pushkinskaya. This is the original Yalta Arbat, the center of vibrant city life. On the one hand, you live in a place with a high concentration of restaurants and clubs, and on the other, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the sea.

Only the prices there, of course, are high. Even simple housing can cost millions, just because of its favorable location.

Villages

Of all the Bolsheyalta villages for living, I would recommend. It is the most quiet, calm, clean and beautiful. Yalta and the most iconic sights are very close from there. You can read more about housing in Simeiz

The least I would recommend is . It is the most densely populated, the most hilly and mountainous, and the historical part in it is quite small. The rest of the space is occupied by standard block houses, built by the councils as dormitories for Artek employees - boring, gray and depressing. No resort romance. But here is the longest beach and embankment. The water in the sea, of course, is cleaner than that in Yalta, but still leaves much to be desired. But this is just my opinion; to some, Gurzuf may seem like an attractive resort area.

All other villages have the same idea - guest houses and simple hotels offer rooms of varying comfort. Somewhere there is a courtyard with gazebos and barbecues, somewhere there are swimming pools and other hotel attractions. Prices vary depending on the availability of these bonuses, the main one, of course, being distance from the sea.

But in general, all coastal villages differ little from each other - a pebble beach, a market, a historical part with dilapidated houses and crooked streets, and new neighborhoods with Soviet-era buildings and modern cottages. The cost of accommodation starts from 700 rubles per day. But each village has its own iconic attractions and unique natural areas.

I don’t see much difference where to live. These villages are all typical. But if you like peace, then I would not recommend staying in Alupka, where the Vorontsov Palace is located, and in Gaspra, where the Swallow's Nest is located. Daily pilgrimages of crowds of tourists and motorcades from slow buses will not allow you to catch relaxation.

By the way, the ubiquitous grannies with “housing” signs have not gone away. And they will be able to offer you good houses in the private sector, which the Internet doesn’t even know about.

And the most prestigious hotel in Greater Yalta (and in Crimea in general) is Mriya Resort&Spa. It is located near Simeiz and is considered a sanatorium-resort complex. All the big shots, coming to Crimea, stop there. A large territory, well-groomed safe beaches, tennis courts, restaurants and spa centers - all the benefits of civilization are at your service. The grannies with their signs weren’t even standing nearby.

I will tell you in detail about approximate housing prices in the section below.

What are the prices for holidays?

Nutrition

Lunch in a canteen or an average cafe will cost 200–300 rubles, and in restaurants and more decent cafes 500–700 rubles. The average price for visiting excursions and attractions is 300 rubles per piece.

Souvenirs

Classic souvenirs like magnets, shell beads, teas and soap can be purchased for 100 rubles. The price for tourist cards is the same. The cost of illustrated publications about Crimea starts from 300 rubles. Spices cost from rubles per bag. Wines - from 250 per bottle. In addition, in markets and souvenir stalls you can safely practice the art of bargaining and bring down the price a little :)

Main attractions. What to see

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

There is nothing to do on the beaches in Yalta. There are too many boats and ships there, and the sea itself is very dirty. However, in the summer you can’t get through there either - there are too many people.

The beaches of all villages are approximately the same - a narrow pebble strip and groins every 50 meters. But nevertheless, there are protected places where the sea is clean and there are few people.

  • Chekhov Bay in Gurzuf
    In Gurzuf, on the territory of the Chekhov museum-dacha, there is a small cove, very clean and beautiful, surrounded by tall rocks, hidden from prying eyes. You can go there through the museum by paying the caretaker 50 rubles. But you are guaranteed peace and quiet there.
  • Beach "Gurovskie Kameni"
    Clean Artekivsky beach for public use. You can read more about it Now, due to the active construction of the new Artek buildings, the beach is closed. But I think that you can get into it through some hole in the fence, having first learned about it from the local old-timers.
  • Wild beach in Simeiz
    Adherents of nudism will be satisfied with the Semeiz wild beach. Lying near beautiful rocks on snow-white smooth limestone boulders - what else can you dream of? More about the beach -
  • Beaches at the foot of Ayu-Dag
    The famous one, which is located between and Partenit, is also famous for its wild beaches. You can get there by boat from Gurzuf or from Partenit (sea taxi is a very common phenomenon in Yalta. It is very pleasant to relax there - the mountain landscapes are impressive, and the clear sea is very pleasing, especially after Yalta.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Muslim mosques and Orthodox churches are very common in Crimea. But in Yalta, unlike the Bakhchisarai region, there are no outstanding mosques of interest to tourists. But there are a couple of beautiful churches.



Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Basically, the museums of Yalta are divided into palaces of the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century, houses where famous writers and artists lived, and ancient fortresses. Not all of them are unusual, large-scale and worth the attention of a tourist. Here are the ones that I think are a must visit.


Parks

Gardens and parks invariably accompanied all large-scale palaces and aristocratic estates in Crimea. To create them, they called in foreign specialists and ordered plants from the world's leading greenhouses. Numerous sanatoriums also left a park legacy: plants were planted on their territory, the evaporation of oils from which has a healing effect



Tourist streets

In all coastal villages there are usually two tourist streets: the embankment, and another street going down from the city to it. They are notable for the fact that it is there that they sell everything that they go to Crimea for - herbs, tea, oils, fruits and vegetables, vests with the inscription “I love Yalta”, towels with a map of the Black Sea coast and other items that delight tourists’ bellies and soul.

Another tourist thoroughfare of the city is the pedestrian Pushkinskaya Street, which leads, of course, to the embankment. It is not for nothing that it is called that - after all, the very sun of Russian poetry, comrade, walked along it and admired the beauty of the city. The range of tourist places here is also classic: cheburek shops, cafes, souvenir shops, restaurants and terraces. The street is planted with beautiful southern trees, in the shade of which you can sit on comfortable wide benches. It also houses the Yalta Museum of Local Lore (poor and not developed in any way since Soviet times) and a Catholic church, quite nice from the outside.

What to see in 1 day

So, you only have one day to visit Yalta. You shouldn’t be hysterical, annoyed at the injustice of fate, and believe that you won’t be able to accomplish anything in just one day in the vast Yalta. If you don't wrinkle your pillow until noon, you can embrace the immensity.

  • 8 a.m. You have already left home and are standing at the bus station. Jump on a minibus to Alupka. You will be there around 9. For a whole hour before the opening of the Vorontsov Palace Museum, you walk through the fragrant morning garden, admiring the landscape art and views of the sea. Around 10, go to the museum ticket office and buy a ticket for the first excursion. The guide is still cheerful, cheerful and you skim the cream of the Crimean excursion skills. At 11 you leave the palace, enriched with new knowledge and impressed by the royal interiors. To consolidate the material, you can go to one or two more exhibitions of the palace.
  • 12:00. It's noon. Don't rush to fill your stomachs! We'll have lunch at , but in the meantime, grab a cheburek in case you have to stand in line at . From the palace you can get to it by minibus No. 132 or 102, but it takes just a couple of stops, so you can walk. We get in line for the ride and enjoy the impressive funicular ride.
  • 13:00. You are at the top. Walk along the plateau, go to the battlements along the bridge (the rocks themselves are nameless, but both tourists and locals call them “teeth”), buy souvenirs at the Tatar market, admire the mountain and sea landscapes.
  • 14:30. Dinner time. We have lunch at the wonderful cafe “Ai-Petri”. It is located on a cliff, to the right of the cable car station, if you are facing the sea. The prices there are surprisingly affordable for such a popular place, and lunch will cost 500 rubles. But the view is wonderful! From the panoramic windows you can admire the battlements, the sea, and Yalta. Beauty.
  • 15:30. Having enjoyed the high - nature, we return to the earth, to the low. We jump into any minibus going from Miskhor to the Yalta bus station. At the bus station we transfer to transport to Massandra.
  • 17:00. We have time for a five-hour excursion and subsequent tasting at.
  • 19:00 . We tumble out of the factory, prudently taking their wine with us on the road. We are going to the evening party, where at this time life is in full swing: street musicians who have had enough sleep in the evening, fire show masters and other stunt performers begin to perform. Street artists paint you and the Crimean landscapes, and cafes are filled with the intoxicating aromas of delicious gourmet dishes.
  • 20:00. Take a walk along the embankment, digest the impressions accumulated during the day, look into different shops for souvenirs, listen to the waves and admire the lights and garlands. And for dinner, go to the Yalta Dvorik cafe (Lenin embankment, 19). This is a cozy terrace with soft sofas, delicious food and good music. Dinner here will cost 500–700 rubles.

You can spend even one day in Yalta richly, filling it with interesting events.

What to see in the area

The surroundings of Yalta are replete with natural attractions. Not seeing them means not seeing Crimea.



Food. What to try

Of course, in Crimea, the first thing you should do is fill your belly with all the southern delicacies - crayfish, oysters and mussels, boiled corn, dried Black Sea fish, churchkhela and baklava. All this is available in stalls on beaches and embankments, as well as from merchants walking along tourist streets.

Since Crimea is famous for its rich Tatar culture, establishments of Crimean Tatar cuisine are most common here. And you should definitely try pilaf, chebureki, lagman and other national gastronomic delights. There are no such cafes in all the villages of greater Yalta, and on average lunch in them costs 500 rubles.

In addition, during the high tourist season, a bunch of canteens and cafes with European cuisine open. Many of them boast outdoor terraces.

Self-catering

Those who prefer to cook themselves will also not be disappointed. In the markets you can buy absolutely everything - meat, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products from local farmers. Well, even though Crimea is a village, supermarkets have reached it too. The popular chain stores here “Pud”, “Sosedi”, “Furshet”, “Yabloko” are scattered in handfuls throughout all the villages and villages.

In general, you won’t go hungry. Generous Yalta will feed everyone.

  • Cafe "Mangal", st. Pushkinskaya, 18a
    Lovers of quality grilling definitely come here! The intoxicating smells of kebab and kebabs are tempting. I tried fish cooked over charcoal there and was pleased with everything - the spices, the cooking, and the service. The interior is also very nice. Among other things, the cafe offers a wide selection of draft beer, which goes very well with its signature dishes :) The average check is 500 rubles.
  • Cafe "Spices and Passions", emb. them. Lenina, 31b
    Just a nice veranda on the embankment. A classic lounge-cafe with panoramic windows and sea views, a modern cozy hi-tech design and a standard menu - from pasta to tiramisu. The average bill is 600 rubles.
  • South Cafe, st. Botkinskaya, 2v
    A trendy cafe, atypical for Crimea. More like mainland establishments. What I like about it is that for a business lunch they offer national dishes from different countries - Japanese, Greek, Italian. You can choose according to your mood. There is also always pleasant music playing there, some kind of fresh Internet radio, where all the tracks are selected with great taste. The interior and service are also at the same level. I advise you to take a look. And, as far as I know, good musicians from the mainland come there on weekends and perform their music. Everyone praises these concerts :) The average bill is 700 rubles.

Budget

  • Dining room "Crimea", st. Moskovskaya 1/6;
  • Canteen "Lilac", st. Roosevelt 4;
  • Dining room “At home”, emb. named after Lenin 15;
  • Cafe "Mangal", st. Pushkinskaya, 18a;
  • Cafe "Medusa", st. Marshak, 4.

Mid-level

  • "People's Cafe No. 1", st. Lomonosova, 15;
  • South Cafe, st. Botkinskaya, 2v;
  • Restaurant "Chaika", emb. named after Lenin, 15;
  • Cafe "Massandra", Drazhinsky street, 46;
  • Cafe "Van Gogh", st. Massandrovskaya, 11.

Expensive

  • Restaurant "Fabrikant", Primorsky Park, 4;
  • Kaat Park, Primorsky Park, 1a;
  • Restaurant "Tiflis", st. Baturina, 1;
  • Cafe "Balcony", emb. named after Lenin, 35a;
  • Grant-cafe Persona Grata, emb. named after Lenin, 17;
  • Grand Cafe "Orange", emb. named after Lenin, 31a;
  • Restaurant "Colonnade", Kommunarov Street, 2A, Primorsky Park;
  • Verdi bar&restaurant, Primorsky Park 1.

Holidays

In September at the Theater. Chekhov International Theater Festival takes place in Yalta THEATER.CHEKHOV. YALTA" Theaters come there from many Russian cities, as well as from neighboring countries. All day long, the theater shows a wide variety of performances; during the festival, you can meet many famous actors in the city.

This is a big event for Yalta residents, and it is definitely worth a visit. You can view the poster on the theater website, and buy tickets only at the box office on the embankment, or in the theater itself.

Safety. What to watch out for

In general, Yalta is a fairly safe city, but there are things that it is better to warn yourself against:


Things to do

Yalta is a great place both for a beach holiday and a night out, as well as for extreme sports enthusiasts of various stripes - rock climbers, divers, speleologists and racers. Everyone will find something to their liking here.

Shopping and shops

On the embankment, of course, there are several fashion stores of familiar brands, but due to sanctions, they initially have inflated prices and sell outdated collections. So fashionistas have nothing to do in Yalta. All fashion here begins and ends with flip-flops, striped shorts and a beer belly spilling out of them.

It is better to do shopping in Crimea in the markets. And buy exclusively authentic products - oils, jams, fruits, shells, teas, etc. Yalta is not for you, and you shouldn’t go there for fashionable clothes. But there’s so much that’s missing from the markets! And this is not there, and that is not there either :)

Local craftsmen and craftswomen sell all kinds of goods, here everyone will find something for themselves and their loved ones to taste. Food, cosmetics, traditional medicine, paintings by local artists, spices... You can’t list it all. The markets of Greater Yalta are a storehouse of folk wisdom and ingenuity.

Bars. Where to go

As you know, the highest concentration of bars in resort areas is located by the sea: on the beaches and not far from them. Yalta is no exception.

  • Pub "Ulf", Karl Marx str. 4/2
    An atmospheric place stylized as a medieval Irish pub. Here you will be offered strong ale and meat snacks, which are especially pleasant to eat under the vaulted stone ceilings on rough oak tables. Bar prices are slightly above average.


All bars are open until approximately 5 a.m.; only very low-class establishments, such as port wine bars, where port thieves and local drunks gather, are open 24 hours a day.

Clubs and nightlife

Nightlife is also in full swing. During the high tourist season, the clubs are open every day.


  • Cafe-club "Chocolate", Kyiv street 1
    A classic nightclub where all Yalta youth gather to hang out. Popular hits are played, popular drinks are poured. Parties are traditionally held on Fridays and Saturdays. There is nothing remarkable in the club itself, which is why the prices are quite standard for middle-class establishments.

Extreme Sports

The Southern Coast of Crimea is a real haven for extreme sports enthusiasts. Steep forest trails are wonderful for downhill cycling and freeride, mountain cliffs are for rope jumpers, the mysterious waters of the Black Sea are for divers and kayakers, tall rock formations are for rock climbing and mountaineering, relief plateaus are for jeeping, mountain river beds are for canyoning, deep caves - for caving tourism. And I'm sure this is not the whole list.

There are many companies that organize various extreme tours around Crimea and provide all the necessary equipment. You just have to do some good Googling. As for people who are independent in this regard, I can only talk in more detail about rock climbing and caving.

Rock climbing

The most famous rock massifs with a bunch of beaten routes are:

  • and the Swan's Wing rock,
  • Nikitskaya cleft in Nikita,
  • Ai-Nikola rock massif and Alim rock in Oreanda,
  • Red Stone in Krasnokamenka,
  • Parus rock in Foros,
  • Mount Krestovaya in Alupka.

The routes on them vary in difficulty from 4c to 8c.

There is a campsite for climbers under Red Rock where you can pitch a tent and use the shower and kitchen. And although the path from there to the sea is not close, under the rock itself there is a small lake, which is filled with cold springs. It is very pleasant to swim in it after climbing.

And under Parus there is an active rescue station and a spring.

Climbing on Ai-Nikola is very specific: on the road, above the massif itself, there is an Orthodox church, where a tape recorder with religious chants is played for the whole day from the very morning. They turn it off only at 6 o'clock. Echo, as you know, is quite strong in the mountains. And although the routes there are very interesting, it is difficult for an unprepared listener to endure such accompaniment for more than two hours.

The coolest thing about the Crimean Rocks is the short approaches. Many rocks are located 50 meters from the route, some take 10 minutes to walk to. There is no need to drag your equipment through the forest up the mountain, accompanied by mosquitoes, 10 kilometers to the nearest rock. The main rock type in Crimea is limestone. In some places it is very comfortable and pleasant for climbing, in others it is sharp and hurts your fingers. So you have to be careful.

Caving tourism

As for caves, many speleologists argue that speleology should be done only for the sake of later descending into the caves of Crimea. Mount Karabi, near Simferopol, is very famous in the world speleological community, as it contains some of the deepest and most unexplored caves in the world (for example, Krasnaya Cave). In addition, you can find very beautiful caves there with snow-white stalactites and stalagmites, sparkling crystals and other speleological goodies.

The caves of Mount Chatyr-Dag near Alushta are no less interesting for speleologists-researchers and ordinary speleotourists. In addition, the closest to Yalta is a mountain, in the depths of which a lot of interesting things are also hidden. The depth of the descents into many caves reaches hundreds of meters in total, so you need to correctly calculate the length of the rope and take it with a supply of hooks for hanging.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

As a gift from Yalta, it is definitely worth bringing sweet Yalta onions, aromatic sunflower oil, Crimean teas and wines (only it is better to buy them at wineries, the markets are full of fakes), local spices (the Svan mixture is especially good), aromatic oils and soaps, nuts and olives, jam from local fruits.

In general, everything that makes Crimea Crimea. Its small, but very tasty and healthy pieces:)

How to get around the city

Transport communication between the villages of Greater Yalta is carried out by minibuses and trolleybuses. The latter go only towards Simferopol, to the east. That is, from Bolsheyalta villages you can only get to Gurzuf. Trolleybuses No. 51, 52 and 53 will take you to all eastern villages of Big Yalta. The trolleybus station is located across the street from the bus station. Minibuses regularly go to the villages located to the west of Yalta from the upper platform of the bus station.

Minibuses and trolleybuses also travel around the city itself. The fare is 13 rubles.

Taxi. What features exist

A taxi ride around the city costs on average 150 rubles. You just need to call the ordering services, and not use the services of bombs that lure rogue tourists. They jack up prices shamelessly. Yalta taxi numbers are available on the Internet, I just called the first number that came up in the search engine. Unfortunately, convenient Yandex taxi and other applications have not yet reached Crimea. To the airport, taxi drivers usually charge 2000–3000 rubles.

Transport rental

Many people rent cars and for good reason. This is much more convenient than being stuck in crowded summer minibuses, not knowing where to get off and whether you will catch the last flight.

At the airport itself in Simferopol there are several offices of various car rental companies. On average, renting an economy class car for 7 days costs about 8,000 rubles. Business class - about 15,000. During the high tourist season, you need to book cars in advance, at least a month in advance.

Be careful on winding and steep mountain roads - that's my only advice. Driving on flat terrain is different from driving on mountainous terrain. The latter requires more skill and dexterity. So don't be reckless, just be careful :)

Big Yalta - holidays with children

In my opinion, Crimea and Bolshaya!

Hotels- don’t forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also an aggregation of prices from all rental companies, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?