Alushta: climate, ecology, areas, economy, crime and attractions

City of Alushta (Crimea)

Alushta is a resort town on the southern coast of Crimea, located between Sudak and Yalta. This is a small town on the Black Sea coast, surrounded by picturesque green mountains, which is considered one of the best resorts on the Crimean Peninsula. Alushta is famous for its warm and clean sea, abundance of sunny days and beautiful nature. Despite the ancient history, few ancient monuments have been preserved here, and most of the attractions are beautiful natural places and resort infrastructure.

Where can you eat in the city?

The staff of the “Old Town” restaurant is always ready to warmly welcome and provide delicious food to visitors. The establishment has a very interesting and colorful interior. The menu consists of Ukrainian, Russian and Tatar dishes. Food is prepared and served quickly. Almost everyone who comes is served a very original compliment made from lard with the addition of garlic. The price level is average.

You can have a good lunch while admiring the beauty of the mountain gorge at the Lost World restaurant, located near Alushta. Its interior is made in country style, the wooden furniture is very original. The menu is democratic and includes a variety of dishes. After your meal, you can take a walk around the surrounding area or look at the live lioness living in an enclosure next to the establishment. The prices here are quite affordable.

We have already compiled a rating of Alushta catering establishments, and now we will talk about several memorable places near the coast.

One of the best cafes on the coast of Alushta is located just north of the Central City Beach - Villa Vanilla, on Parkovaya, 2. Feedback from numerous visitors calls it a place with hookah, wonderful music and amazing service staff. Phone number for table reservations: +7-978-115-02-03. The average bill here starts from 800 rubles.

The “Beijing” or “Home-style” dining room, which is next to the previous catering establishment, is a much cheaper place, but also very good. In summer, the choice of dishes is simply gorgeous, and the quality of preparation is excellent. But in winter you can’t count on more than pizza and donuts.

Other restaurants and cafes by the sea in Alushta can also be visited. This list includes “Rio”, “Comfort”, “Red Poppy”, “Letto”, “Paris”, “Smak”, “Chaika”, “Aquarius”, “Bounty”, etc. They are not bad, but there are no reviews about them so much, with a lot of negativity.

Geography and climate

Alushta is located in the south of Crimea, 36 km from Yalta. The resort is located on the Black Sea coast in a natural basin surrounded by the Crimean Mountains. The mountain rivers Demerdzhi and Ulu-Uzen flow through the city.

Alushta has a Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by wet winters and hot, dry summers. The city's climate is slightly colder and windier than in Yalta. The resort is famous for its abundance of sun and warm sea. The sea warms up to 27 °C in summer. In winter, the water temperature rarely drops below 7-8 °C.

Alushta

Accommodation

Hotels

Cost from 30 USD/day

Although there are many hotels, finding a suitable hotel room can sometimes be difficult. Therefore, it is advisable to book a hotel in advance.

What sets Alushta apart from its competitors is that here, in addition to budget accommodation, it is possible to find hotels in the “premium” segment. A holiday at this resort will cost from 30 USD. per day and more (up to 120 USD).

Recommended hotels for accommodation in Alushta:

Park Hotel Porto Mare 4*
Kamelot 4*
Hotel "More" 4*
Hotel "Moscow" 3*
Hotel Nord 3*
Hotel "Demerdzhi" 3*
Barton Park Hotel 3*

Sanatoriums

Cost from 45 USD

Taking into account all the climatic and geographical conditions, Alushta is ideal for organizing sanatorium and resort treatment here. The most popular programs offered in the city’s sanatoriums:

treatment of respiratory diseases
functional disorders of the nervous system
diseases of the cardiovascular system.

In the high season, accommodation and meals in Alushta sanatoriums will cost you from 45 USD. But visiting the beaches, volleyball and basketball courts, children's playgrounds is free, treatment (massage, halotherapy, inhalations, balneotherapy, aromatherapy, physiotherapeutic procedures, etc.) d.) - in a number of sanatoriums they are free, in some - paid.

Story

The foundation of Alushta is considered to be the 6th century, when the Byzantine Emperor Justinian ordered the construction of the Aluston fortress here. After Byzantine rule, the settlement was part of the Khazar Khaganate and the small principality of Theodoro. In the late Middle Ages, the Genoese settled here.

Alushta

Then Alushta, like the entire southern coast of Crimea, was conquered by the Ottomans. At the end of the 18th century, the Crimean peninsula was annexed to the Russian Empire, and Alushta became the center of the volost. At the end of the 19th century, the settlement began to develop as a resort. In 1902, Alushta received city status.

How to get there

The nearest airport is in Simferopol. During the summer season, flights to Crimea are operated from many Russian cities. Cheap air tickets can be found on the low price calendar. Select a month and date to find all flights - direct and connecting. Don't forget - you will need a transfer from Simferopol airport to Alushta.

For those who prefer vacation packages, you can find offers from all tour operators through proven aggregators: Level Travel , Travelata .

Attractions

Ruins of the Byzantine fortress Aluston
The Aluston fortress is one of the main attractions of Alushta. It was built in the 6th century by order of Justinian and was considered one of the most powerful fortifications of the Byzantines on the Black Sea. The fortress was built on the top of a 44-meter hill and had the shape of an irregular quadrangle. Fragments of walls and one of the three towers, called the Lower Tower and shown in the photo above, have survived to this day.

Funa

Funa is the ruins of a medieval fortress from the 15th century at the foot of the South Demerdzhi Mountains. The fortress was built by the Principality of Theodoro and was its eastern gate.

Rotunda on the Alushta embankment

The embankment is traditionally one of the most popular places in resorts. The Alushta embankment stretches along the sea almost through the entire city. It is crowned by a snow-white rotunda with six Corinthian columns, built in 1951.

Palace of Princess Gagarina

The Palace of Princess Gagarina is a beautiful building in the neo-Romanesque style, built at the beginning of the 20th century.

Church of Theodore Stratilates

The Church of Fyodor Stratelates in Alushta has a three-century history. The temple is a beautiful historical building with elements of Russian style, English architecture and Gothic. On the facade there is a mosaic figure of a saint - the patron saint of warriors.

Mosque

The Yukhari-Jami Mosque in Alushta was built in the 19th century and has one minaret.

Valley of Ghosts

The Valley of Ghosts is a picturesque natural landscape at the southern foot of the Demerdzhi Mountains. Known for its beautiful, bizarrely shaped mountains and mysterious atmosphere.

Kosmo-Damianovsky Monastery

The Kosmo-Damianovsky Monastery was founded in 1856 on the territory of the Crimean Nature Reserve. This is the highest mountain monastery in Crimea.

Other interesting places in Alushta:

An aquarium with inhabitants of the Black and Azov Seas, as well as exotic fish and reptiles.
Sotera Valley with rocks reminiscent of Cappadocia.
The picturesque Mount Kastel (439 m) on the outskirts of Alushta.
The picturesque Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the sea coast near the village of Malorechenskoye.
Demerdzhi is a picturesque mountain range.
Park "Crimea in miniature"
Ayu-Dag is a picturesque peak between Yalta and Alushta

Beach holiday in Alushta

Alushta is one of the favorite beach resorts on the southern coast of Crimea. Its coastline stretches over an impressive 80 kilometers of sand and pebbles - as you can see, everyone will find a pleasant spot in the sun here.

The climate of Alushta deserves special compliments. Warm and sunny, but not too dry, thanks to two mountain passes surrounding the resort. Air circulation makes Alushta's climate fresh and even healing; it will appeal to those travelers who cannot tolerate high humidity and heat.

The beaches of Alushta are very different: well-maintained, completely wild, located in the city center, or accessible only by car. Our guide will help you understand them.

Central Beach

As a rule, vacationers’ acquaintance with beach holidays in Alushta begins with the central beach, here it is called “Tender Beach”. This is a favorite vacation spot for both resort guests and Alushta residents themselves.

Beach "Tender Beach"

Its main asset is its location. The beach is located at the epicenter of resort life, a stone's throw from the embankment and the symbol of the city, the snow-white Rotunda.

Like most beaches in Alushta, the central beach is pebble, or sand and pebbles. There are sharp rocks, so be careful. Also pay attention to the entrance to the water - the depth begins quite abruptly.

In terms of infrastructure, the beach has everything you might need for a great holiday. Rental of umbrellas and sun loungers, showers, changing cabins, WC, sun canopies and thatched awnings.

Fans of active recreation won't have to just lie on a sun lounger. You can rent a boat and take a short sea voyage. Ride a banana boat, boats, catamarans, jet skis, and children can go down one of the inflatable water slides.

Not far from the beach there is a lot of entertainment - amusement parks, the Crimea in Miniature Museum, the Alushta Aquarium. Also near the beach there are many restaurants, cafes, counters with souvenirs and excursions, and shops with essential goods.

Beach at the embankment

Walking along the main promenade of Alushta, you cannot miss this beach - a continuation of the central one. Its difference is the breakwaters that divide the beach into separate sections. The beach is narrow, it can barely accommodate 3-4 rows of tightly packed sun loungers. If you want to sunbathe on them, it is better to reserve a place in advance, early in the morning. During the hot period of July and August there are too many people on the beach - keep this in mind.

The beach line is pebbly, there are quite sharp stones. For a comfortable stay, experienced travelers recommend purchasing special aquashoes. You can buy them at one of the kiosks on the embankment - as well as a water mattress, towels, water, and sunscreen.

The resort beach infrastructure is excellent: changing cabins, showers, toilet rooms, shade canopies, and rental of beach equipment are available. According to reviews from vacationers, the services are quite inexpensive. Active vacationers are offered a variety of attractions: riding a catamaran, jet ski, banana boat, parachute.

Nearby there are cafes and eateries for every taste and budget - you definitely won’t go hungry. A stone's throw from the beach is the popular Gorky Street, where it is interesting to stroll both during the day and in the evening.

Beaches of the Professor's Corner

Anyone looking for solitude and peace on vacation should go to the western part of the city - the so-called Professor's Corner. Its nature and beaches have been known and loved by vacationers since the beginning of the last century.

Beaches of the Professor's Corner

The total length of the beaches is about 2.5 kilometers, width - from 10 to 40 meters. The beaches are sand and pebble, with a convenient gentle entrance into the water. They are especially loved by families with children for their clean coastline and pleasant environment.

Please note: some beaches are free and public, others are the property of sanatoriums and recreation centers. However, the beach infrastructure is excellent in any case.

The Professor's Corner embankment is beautiful and modern, with recreation areas, benches, cafes and snack bars. There are children's play areas, attractions, and entertainment for vacationers of any age.

On the beaches you will find changing cabins, showers, toilets, and rental of umbrellas and sun loungers. The popular Almond Grove water park is located nearby.

Parks and gardens of Alushta

Alushta is a green city, with a lot of vegetation; attractions on the map of the locality are represented by many parks.

The main recreational places include:

Seaside Park. A large green area, founded by the philanthropist N. Stakheev in the 19th century. It has 3 entrances, the main one is located approximately near the area with the Rotunda. It has a large number of evergreen trees, cork and holm oak, strawberry tree and many other plants. It is also possible to play table tennis, ride on carousels and rides.
Aivazovskoe. Belongs to the territory of Greater Alushta, located between the city itself and Yalta (village Partenit, Vasilchenko St., 1A). On the territory of the modern sanatorium there was originally the estate of M. Raevsky. The place is surrounded by a park of about 25 hectares with a variety of well-groomed plants, with a large number of decorative elements (gazebos, statues, fountains, stairs with poems by Pushkin). Tours are available on site.
Crimean nature reserve. The huge territory of the protected site is more than 44 thousand hectares and begins in the suburbs of Alushta. Exists by royal decree since the beginning of the 20th century. Entry is only possible in organized groups. The reserve includes a trout farm, an ornithological reserve, and scientific work is underway. On the territory you can freely meet wild animals, as well as admire the diversity of flora.

Interesting Facts

Alushta, the attractions on the map of which are described above, has several memorable facts:

this city is the second most popular among tourists;
during the war, a large number of citizens were captured and transported to Germany, resort equipment was looted and the embankment was destroyed;
Genoese Street, named after one of the early rulers of the city, was renamed April 15th Street, which commemorated the liberation of Alushta from German occupation;
a trolleybus network passes through the city, which covers not only the settlement itself, but also the territory from Yalta to Simferopol;
The last emperor of Russia and his wife met here, famous political figures, luminaries of science and art often visited, the resort was considered an elite vacation spot for the “beau monde.”

Alushta is a wonderful city for relaxation, and the attractions that can be found on the map of the locality owe their origin to its ancient history.

The Byzantines, Genoese, Turks, Russian nobility - they all left their mark in the form of architectural and historical monuments, creating a bizarre mixture of styles, religions and eras. The picture is complemented by natural resources - the sea, mountains, caves, centuries-old stone mushrooms, as well as nature reserves.

Article design: Mila Friedan

Economic aspects of relocation

Again, there is no point in deciding where it is better to live in Alushta if you do not have clear ideas about how it will be possible to live there. But there is not too much work in the city, and the areas of vacancies are specific.

Alushta is a classic Crimean resort, focused on serving tourists. In this area, almost everything operates only during the season (with the exception of some large hotels and motels). Accordingly, the working population of Alushta is not busy all year round.

Of course, doctors, service workers, drivers, salespeople, builders, and teachers are constantly needed. There is also a winery, a bakery, a reinforced concrete plant and some other enterprises in Alushta. But still, in the off-season there are fewer vacancies in Alushta than job candidates.

Accordingly, potential local residents should either have a remote job or a profession in one of the areas listed above, or be prepared for a kind of “shift work at home” - work extremely hard in the summer, providing for the family for the forced long winter vacation. But many people get by quite well using this method.

Review for tourists: Sights of Alushta

Description of the Alushta resort

Alushta, together with its surroundings, is part of Greater Alushta of the Republic of Crimea, the coastline of which stretches for 40 km. It includes 26 settlements, the most famous of them: Utes, Luchistoye, Rybachye, Lazurnoye, Solnechnogorskoye, Malorechenskoye. Many people love the resort of Alushta and dream of coming here to go to the filming locations of the film “Prisoner of the Caucasus”, because it was in this city that a large number of scenes were filmed. In addition, the city attracts tourists from all over the world, because the resort infrastructure is well developed here.

Prices for hotels and the private sector

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The population of Alushta is over 29,800 people. According to the 2014 census, about 20,000 Russians, more than 4,600 Ukrainians, about 800 Crimean Tatars, as well as Belarusians, Tatars, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, etc. live in Alushta.

The largest administrative region of Crimea is Bolshaya Alushta , the total area of which is 600 km2, which includes Alushta and the nearest villages.

The city itself does not have an administrative district division, since it is very small. Only the Professor's Corner , which is essentially a resort area, is considered a separate area. Housing in it is represented mainly by the private sector.

The division of Alushta into districts is unofficial . Local residents highlight such residential parts of the city as the center, the Mirny microdistrict, Yaltinskaya, Sudakskaya, Oktyabrskaya and 60 let USSR streets.

Oktyabrskaya Street is mainly built up with nine-story buildings from the nineties; on Yaltinskaya and 60 Let USSR Street there are both five-story buildings and high-rise buildings. The private sector is adjacent to high-rise buildings on Sudakskaya Street.
The Mirny microdistrict is the most remote part of the city, where there are a large number of new buildings. Cheryomushki is characterized by old post-war housing stock.
The center conventionally includes the central part of Lenin Street with the areas adjacent to the embankment, Simferopolskaya Street and the hospital area. The buildings here are usually old, but there are also new business-class buildings. Housing here is the most expensive.

Solnechnogorskoe

A large number of beautiful natural attractions are concentrated around the village.

Solnechnogorskoye is a small village 24 kilometers from Alushta towards Sudak , which is actually united into one resort with the neighboring village of Malorechenskoye . The village is located at the mouth of the Ulu-Uzen Vostochny River . In the past, this settlement was called Kuru-Uzen and mainly Crimean Tatars lived here. After the end of the Great Patriotic War and the deportation of the Tatars, the village was renamed Solnechnogorskoe and residents of the Krasnodar Territory were resettled here.

What to do in Solnechnogorsk

In the vicinity of the village there are many vineyards and gardens; in the settlement itself there is a beach approximately 1.5 kilometers long, covered with pebbles and volcanic sand. The entry into the water is quite gentle, and the water itself is clean and transparent, so the beach is considered convenient for children.

Not far from Solnechnogorsk there is the Khapkhal gorge with the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall - the deepest waterfall in Crimea, which is interesting to see at any time of the year.

Hiking route for tourists

One of the most interesting adventures can be an independent hiking trip around Big Alushta. The beginning of the path lies at the Water Park (Professor's Corner, “Almond Grove”). Next you need to walk along the embankment, past the Morskoy Hotel, towards Yalta.

The route is as follows:

Along the shore along the pebble beach or along the slope move west;
Go through the construction site, the gates of the “Bereg” camp, reach Mount Kastel (here you can also view the fortress);
Go to the village. Cliff, further along the embankment, along the boathouses, you can get to the sanatorium of the same name with a large park and the palace of Princess Gagarina;
Coming out through the gate, go down to Cape Plaka;
Go down to the embankment, you can walk to the sea along concrete steps;
Walk along the path through the lower checkpoint of the Karasan palace to the empty sports ground, then you can walk around the park or go into the building itself;
Walk past the Italian pines to the observation deck, then along the path past leaning pines of a different type;
Next turn left and go down the stairs;
Walk straight along the embankment, past the Europe Hotel, towards Bear Mountain, in front of Aivazovsky, you can go up to the exit from the sanatorium and return by transport to Alushta (or pay for the entrance and take a walk in the park of the former estate of M. Raevsky).

Parthenite

The village of Partenit is located 15 kilometers from Alushta, at the foot of the Ayu-Dag mountain range.

In the 19th century, the Partenite Valley was known mainly thanks to the Raevsky family - descendants of the hero of the war of 1812 Nikolai Raevsky. His children and grandchildren owned lands in the valley, on which vineyards and extensive orchards were planted. The Raevsky estate “Karasan” with a palace in oriental style has now become the “Karasansky” sanatorium.

The main attraction of Partenit is the wonderful Paradise Park. The botanical garden of the Crimea sanatorium is also good for walking.

Parks of Partenit

The park area at the Aivazovskoye medical and health complex, created in the middle of the last century and updated at the beginning of the 21st century, has become a fairly popular place for excursions. This is a theme park, divided into zones “based on” legends and historical events associated with the southern coast of Crimea. Reconstructions of dolmens of ancient Taurus and Greek sanctuaries stand side by side with sculptures of ancient gods and a monument to Pushkin, who visited Crimea.

In addition, from the territory of “Crimea” there is a passage to the Ayu-Dag reserve - it is from here that the tourist trail begins, along which you can climb to the top of the famous mountain range.

The village began to develop as a resort only in the second half of the 20th century. The Partenite Valley is a zone of high seismicity, and buildings higher than six floors have not been built here for a long time. Only a few decades ago, multi-storey sanatoriums began to appear in the village, built using new technologies and resistant to possible earthquakes.

Partenit is considered a rather prestigious resort due to its picturesque nature, mild climate, and clean air. True, it is convenient for those who stay in sanatoriums, and not in the private sector: the tourist infrastructure here is poorly developed, there is practically no entertainment (except for visiting parks and excursions along the southern coast of Crimea), and the choice of beaches is small.

Beaches of Partenit

Most Partenit beaches belong to hotels and resorts. There are few public beaches.

The wild beaches at the foot of Ayu-Dag are sparsely populated, but getting to them is quite difficult: you need to either rent a boat or overcome a dangerous descent and ascent along the mountain slopes, because there is no other way to the secluded bays of Bear Mountain.

What wine should you try?

Reference! The history of Alushta winemaking begins in 1830, when landowner Petrichenko founded one of the first wineries on the peninsula. After Petrichenko’s death in 1889, the farm was acquired by one of the large Russian trading houses, which invested substantial capital in its development. This is how Semillon, Cabernet, Albilio and Aligote appeared in Alushta. Some of the wine was made from grapes grown by local peasants. By the end of the century, pink and white Muscat, Madeira and Port varieties, as well as Tokaj wines appeared.

Now in the territory of Greater Alushta there are several wineries: “Alushta”, “Tavrida”, “Privetnensky” and “Malorechensky”.

The state farm conducts excursions with tasting of 9 samples.

The cost of an hour-long excursion is 500 rubles. Excursions are held on weekdays at 16:00. from May to October. Visiting excursions is prohibited for persons under 16 years of age.