Yalta, located on the Crimean coast, is deservedly called the pearl of the peninsula. It was here that Russian emperors, representatives of the upper classes and the Russian intelligentsia loved to relax. They left behind royal staircases, luxurious palaces, landscaped parks and museums that evoke the genuine admiration of tourists. Yalta also attracts interest with its comfortable beaches stretching along the picturesque embankment and modern tourist facilities. If you have the opportunity to look into this legendary corner of Crimea, where there are countless attractions, we will suggest what to see in Yalta in 1 day on your own. Photos and descriptions of the most significant cultural and historical monuments will help you plan an exciting excursion.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
The possessions of the Nikitsky Botanical Garden are located on the picturesque Black Sea coast in the vicinity of the resort, near the village of Nikita. Founded in 1811, it is listed as one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and consists of several parks: Lower, Upper, Primorsky and Montedor Park. If you set a goal to see all the diversity of 2000 species of trees, ornamental and fruit bushes, the entire palette of flowers and medicinal herbs, then plan to visit almost the entire day.
The Upper Park begins at the main entrance to the botanical garden. Here you find yourself in an oasis of exotic subtropical and tropical vegetation with slender cypress trees, a bamboo grove, yucca, wisteria and seasonal flowers, complemented by pools and fountains. The famous rose garden creates a special beauty and dizzying aroma.
The lower park occupies a rocky slope with stepped paths. Here you will get acquainted with the varieties of tropical fruit trees, see century-old oaks, fir trees and a grove of Lebanese cedars. An olive grove, complemented by an alley of cypress trees, enchants this corner of the Mediterranean.
In the youngest park, "Montedor", it is pleasant to stroll in the shade of the alleys and gardens, laid out from trees bred as a result of selection. In the Primorsky Park, overlooking the Black Sea coast, there are many tropical plants that love a warm and humid climate. The pearl of the park is considered to be the richest collection of Japanese flora, which inspired designers to create a mini-copy of the Land of the Rising Sun. Another pearl of this park is the Garden of Eden, famous for its exhibitions of spring, summer and autumn flowers.
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What to visit in a day
There are so many interesting places in the vibrant town that those who come here for the first time get their eyes wide open. If you only have one day for an excursion, spend it within the locality:
- Walk along the embankment and ancient streets, look at the devil's staircase, where the film based on the famous novel by Bulgakov was filmed.
- Explore holy sites and preserved baths.
- See the area from above with a cable car ride.
- Go around Chekhov's house.
- Spend an hour on Massandra beach.
- If you are thinking about what to see with your children in 1 day and what to do in Yalta, this list will be the best route option.
Promenade along the embankment
The coast stretches for more than a thousand meters, offering stunning views of the mountain ranges and docked ships. This is the most popular and visited part of the city, where a large number of tourists are concentrated during the high season. The Yalta coastal area is an elegant combination of the luxury of expensive boutiques, fashionable restaurants right at the sea's edge, panoramic hotels, inexpensive baked goods and freshly squeezed juices.
This is a place where even a lonely visitor will never be bored; everyone will find something interesting and entertaining for themselves. Street musicians sit here and there is a summer theater where celebrities come weekly.
There are also rows of souvenir and art shops. No matter where in Crimea tourists travel to Yalta, a trolleybus, bus and taxi will bring them exactly here. Even if you are in the city for just a couple of hours, you should definitely set aside time to walk in the shade of the spreading coastal palm trees. This is the best place to go in Yalta in the evening. While there, visit the Artists' Alley and see the Isadora Duncan sycamore tree.
Crocodilarium
Located in the very center. The unique collection of reptiles has been open to tourists since 2011. Here you will meet alligators from different parts of the planet, including the largest representatives of this family - caimans. The exhibition is constantly being updated; it already features herbivorous iguanas, formidable monitor lizards and many varieties of turtles, including the vulture.
Ancient Greek galley
There is another interesting place on the shore - a cafe designed in the shape of a ship and named like the schooner Hispaniola. When you go there, you can feel like a hero of the feature films “Robinson Crusoe” or “Treasure Island”. In front of the building there are edelweiss umbrellas, installed in the mid-20th century.
Roffe Baths
The structure was erected on the territory of the France Hotel at the end of the 19th century by an architect who by that time was already the designer of the famous Livadia Palace. This fabulous original building made of snow-white marble, decorated inside with Moroccan stucco, is known for its healing effect. Purified and salt water has a positive effect on the body. At one time, famous personalities and famous writers such as Chekhov, Bunin and Chaliapin visited the baths. During the war period, the building was completely destroyed, but the baths themselves remained intact. Before the collapse of the USSR, they wanted to raze the ruins to the ground, but due to public protests, they preserved them. After the collapse of Soviet power in 1996, restoration efforts began and the building was given the status of a monument.
Small cable car
If you are not interested in ancient buildings, enjoy the views of the city from above.
On the section of the route from the Tavrida Hotel to Darsan Hill, there is a 600-meter cableway, the name of which in common parlance sounds like “Small Cable Car”. You can cover the one and a half kilometer flight to the hill in 15 minutes on a lift and admire the impressive views from the top from a 138-meter height, and then take a leisurely walk back.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The incredibly beautiful, fabulous structure is an architectural masterpiece and the pearl of Yalta. The monument to Old Russian culture is located in the center of the village on the street. Sadovaya. It impresses with its scale and luxury, with stunning openwork facades and sparkling gilded domes. The temple was planned in honor of the ruler Alexander II. The doors of the sacred place are open to visitors without breaks and weekends, admission is free, but at the gate you are asked to turn off all gadgets - filming inside is prohibited so as not to damage the preserved mosaic image of Alexander Nevsky and the luxurious interior decoration. The large-scale bells, custom-made in Moscow specifically for this cathedral, unfortunately, did not survive to this day and were redesigned back in Soviet times.
Temple of John Chrysostom
This is the first Christian religious building to be built of stone. Construction began in 1835 with the active financial participation of Count Vorontsov. Externally, the church is similar to English houses of those times. Its facades are painted in mustard tones, and its five domes are gilded. The three-cascade bell tower has become one of the business cards; it stretches 45 m in height and is clearly visible both from the sea and from the shore.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
For lovers of rare exotic plants, an abundance of diverse plantings and wild flowers are presented in this green paradise. If you don’t know where to spend a warm day, what to see in Yalta and where to go, head here. Plants have been grown in the oldest Crimean garden since 1812. Today the collection of living exhibits includes more than 15 thousand species. The lush decoration and interesting landscape design of the park will captivate both inveterate gardeners and people who are far from the dacha business. Tourists come here for the whole day, leisurely stroll around the area in the shade of hundred-year-old trees, enjoy the aroma of flowers and take photos near the bamboo grove. In mid-spring, an exhibition of tulips is held here, in the autumn - chrysanthemums, then the ground here is dotted with a carpet of thousands of types of multi-colored buds. The garden is conventionally divided into 4 parts; at the entrance, each visitor who has bought a ticket receives a map, which he uses to determine what he wants to see first. The complex includes an exhibition of orchids and cacti, as well as a museum with 3 thousand exhibits and tasting of Crimean wines from grape varieties growing on these lands.
Cactus greenhouse
The special pride of the Nikitsky Garden is its impressively sized indoor cactus greenhouse - one of the largest in Europe. The cultivation of winter-hardy prickly pear cacti, agaves and yuccas began here almost a century ago. Today you will see almost all types of cacti and succulents - drought-resistant plants growing in the desert areas of South America.
Here, more than 600 varieties of cacti are amazing in their shape and colors. Cactus growers here will be offered to purchase the species they like and will be given recommendations for growing them. In total, about 500 species of succulents grow under the roof of the greenhouse and the open terrace - plants with thick stems and succulent leaves that are not afraid of drought and store water during rains.
Such plants include the well-known “money tree”. For your information, a visit to the cactus greenhouse is included in the program along with the Montedor Park and the Garden of Eden, for which a new entrance has been opened near the bus stop opposite the lower colonnade.
Massandra Palace
The Massandra Palace was built for the son of the famous politician Count M.S. Vorontsov in the 80s of the 19th century. A few years after the death of the owner, it was acquired for the royal family of Alexander III. Then, in Massandra, a 3rd floor was added to the two-story palace, and the facade was decorated with decorative elements that added charm and eclecticism.
However, due to the death of the emperor, the construction was completed by his son, Emperor Nicholas II. Since 1992, the palace has been operating as a museum, where visitors get acquainted with the interiors of the royal rooms of the second half of the 19th century, decorated with stucco, exquisite wooden carvings, tiles and frescoes. Of interest is the inspection of furniture located in the halls for official receptions, the study and bedrooms.
The walls of the rooms are decorated with portraits of members of the royal family and paintings by Russian artists; an important addition to the interior was the collection of royal porcelain dishes and vases. The palace grounds are also delightful with sculptures of heroes of Greek myths, the beauty of fragrant roses and a picturesque park. The museum is open to visitors from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and until 20.00 on weekends.
Massandra beach
The international Blue Flag award already speaks of the excellent quality of beach coverage, sea water and comfortable beach infrastructure of Massandra Beach. Among city beaches, this is the most popular place for swimming, sunbathing and sea activities. The coastal strip is dotted with large and small pebbles, and the depth of the sea increases quite quickly, so you need to watch the children more carefully here.
All beach areas, separated by 6 breakwaters, have sun loungers, sun umbrellas, changing cabins, showers and toilets. A zone of increased comfort, in addition to the listed infrastructure, is a bungalow. There are lifeguards on duty on the Massandra beach, a first-aid post, a bar with soft drinks and a cafe.
The territory of the Grand M Beach beach club stands out for its increased comfort, with the possibility of relaxing on open and roofed terraces, and the presence of a swimming pool with water from mountain springs. As evening falls, the club turns into a beach cafe with DJ performances, dancing and entertainment programs.
Cafes and restaurants in Yalta
Conventionally, all eating establishments in Yalta can be divided into four types: canteens, cafes and restaurants, coffee shops and nightclubs (not by bread alone, as they say). Of course, the most budget-friendly option is to dine in canteens - tasty, filling, home-style. There are both independent establishments and those opened at boarding houses, where mere mortals are also admitted, for example, at Energetika.
Coffee shops are not much different from their counterparts in other cities. As for cafes and restaurants, this “goodness” in Yalta is for every taste and budget: there are pizzerias, kebab shops, sushi, burgers, dumpling shops, pubs and establishments that offer fresh catch from the Black Sea, for example, cafe “Teatralnoye” or “ Catch".
- What are the prices in cafes in Yalta
- The best restaurants in Yalta
Families with children should pay attention to the Besedka cafe (Morskaya St., 3a) - there is a children's playground, animators and other delights of a baby holiday.
Embankment
The embankment, decorated with slender palm trees and lush southern vegetation, is one of the main attractions of the resort. It is reminiscent of the promenades of the famous Mediterranean cities of Cannes and Nice. The embankment is divided into upper and lower. The upper part is compared to Moscow's Arbat with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, hotels, expressed in one architectural ensemble in the style of the early twentieth century.
The ancient Chapel of the New Martyrs, the Rofe baths, the Oreanda and Villa Sofia hotels, dating from the late 19th century, give the upper promenade an unprecedented charm. Noteworthy are the buildings of the Chekhov Theater and the former international sailors' club, which today houses the unique Theater of Wine and Crimea. It is impossible to pass by without stopping near the monuments to the writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, actor Mikhail Pugovkin, and political detective writer Yulian Semenov.
The greatest interest among tourists, where they like to take pictures, is caused by the sculptural composition “Lady with a Dog”, on which, in addition to the heroine of the story, the action of which took place on the embankment, there is a statue of its author - Chekhov. Going down, where the city beach stretches along the embankment, you can swim or just sit on a bench, admiring the sea and the beautiful view of Mount Ai-Petri.
Where to go for a walk in Yalta
One review cannot describe all the landscapes and architectural beauty that can be seen near the famous resort. Don't try to do everything and everywhere. Do not forget that first of all you arrived in a summer resort city to take a break from the bustle and heavy air of industrial areas. Here, the main attractions are the sea and the mountains. Stroll through parks and squares, sheltering from the heat under the shade of palm leaves, drink a cup of coffee in coastal cafes and listen to local artists by the flowing water fountain on the embankment.
Palace of Count Mordvinov
With its grandeur, the historical two-century building of the palace of Count Mordvinov, standing on a hill in a luxurious park area, attracts attention on Sverdlov Street. On the north side it is fenced by a mountain. The landscape of the palace grounds is full of centuries-old trees, oddly shaped shrubs and skillful sculptures.
Built in a Mediterranean architectural style, it is reminiscent of Italian Renaissance villas. Standing out with graceful facades built from alternating greenish Gurzuf sandstone, which changes color in different lighting with ashy local sandstone, the mansion creates the atmosphere of medieval Tuscany around it. The interior decoration of the Mordvinov Palace is breathtaking.
Marble, valuable types of wood, skillful mosaics and decorative stucco were used to decorate the interior. The wall paintings alone in the 79 rooms in the palace occupy 2,000 square meters. m. The use of architectural forms in the interior - marble columns, original balconies, fireplaces and other details evoke genuine admiration.
Roman Catholic Church (Pushkin St., 25)
The appearance of this Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1906 in the neo-Gothic style, is not entirely ordinary. Everything seems to be traditional: a restrained and elegant façade, a characteristic rose window, stained glass windows, an arched entrance door. And still there is some kind of understatement.
But the thing is that the bell tower of the temple is not completed, and its absence makes the building very similar to something Mediterranean. Especially if you take into account the palm and cypress surroundings. It turns out that in addition to the Latin service, services are held in the church for the community of Ukrainian Greek Catholics, who do not yet have their own church in Yalta.
Crocodilarium
Crocodilarium has something to surprise nature lovers. Opened in 2011, it has managed to gain popularity among tourists. Over the course of several years, the crocodilarium has been replenished with many species of crocodiles, turtles, snakes and reptiles living in conditions close to their natural habitat. For the rare Siamese crocodile, habitat conditions have been created in a combination of fresh water and swamps.
The peculiarity of sharp-winged crocodiles, which dig holes in the ground for wintering and, in the warm season, swim in sea water, was also taken into account. Here you will see the world's largest saltwater crocodile, a native of Australia, and the smallest smooth-faced caiman, an inhabitant of tropical rivers. A member of the Ghanaian gharial family, an endangered species dating back 65 million years, also lives in the crocodilarium.
You will also see the African Nile crocodile, famous for its size and the presence of a third eyelid, the Cuban crocodile, the Spectacled Caiman and the Blunt-snouted crocodile. In total, the crocodile house is equipped with 25 large aquariums, which have become the residence of these species of exotic fauna. You will find the Crocodilarium at the end of the promenade by the huge figure of a crocodile at the entrance.
Bus station
We arrive at bus station on Moskovskaya Street. Buses come here from all cities of Crimea. It looks like this.
We don’t need the bus station itself now, but we need a trolleybus depot . It is located on the left across the road from the Yalta bus station, if you stand facing it. There is no need to cross the road; we go down into the underground passage and get off at the trolleybus station.
At the ticket office we buy a ticket for trolleybus 52 to Nikita . Why is the trolleybus legendary? Because it runs along the longest trolleybus route in the world from Yalta to Simferopol.
Church of St. John Chrysostom
In the historical center on Polikurovsky Hill, surrounded by a cypress park, the building of the Church of St. John Chrysostom delights with its beauty. This church, dating back to the first half of the 19th century, became the first religious building of the resort town made of stone, for the consecration of which Tsar Nicholas I himself came. Whether you are on a mountain, in the sea or in a valley, you will see a temple with an architecture unconventional for Orthodoxy with features of a pseudo-Gothic style from everywhere .
After several reconstructions, today we see the architecture of the church in a combination of European Gothic with “Moscow Baroque”. The highlight of the complex is a white and pink three-tiered bell tower with four snow-white bulbs at the corners of the upper part and completed with a golden dome topped with a cross. Inside the temple is decorated with wooden decor on carved icon cases, dome, and vaults.
There are paintings of biblical scenes on the walls. In the temple you will see many family heirlooms passed down by generations of residents, several shrines, the main one of which is called the reliquary of St. Luke. Near the church there is an ancient cemetery where famous people of the country and city found peace.
How to Choose the Best Guide in Crimea in 2022? *The most important*
How to Choose the Best Guide in Crimea in 2022? *The most important*
Advice from one guide on how to choose others
Good afternoon friends! Before describing the situation with guides in Crimea, of course, I would like to suggest that you contact me directly. But if, for some reason, our cooperation does not work out, let's try to figure out how and who to look for.
So, you have decided to find a private guide in Crimea. Is this the right decision? After all, you could be looking for “excursions around Crimea”, and not “a guide by car”. Sounds very similar. Or not?
And the answer is definitely no. A good guide can turn the most standard excursion to tourist places into an unforgettable trip. At the same time, even a very interesting route carried out ineptly or compiled incorrectly can easily turn into disappointment. I think this has happened to everyone.
And this request sounds very often: “please recommend your colleagues.” After all, some people book a guide several months in advance, while others start looking for them a couple of days in advance. Naturally, many in-demand guides are already busy (especially during the season). Therefore, it must redirect, and there is no way to know to someone without this. After all, I’ve been in tourism for 20 years and know many of them, some of them extremely experienced colleagues, and some young ones, but with very positive assessments!
Why can I and want to recommend my colleagues? After all, it seems that these are my direct competitors and doing so is not very logical. I think the opposite! By going on a trip with these people, you are guaranteed to get the best impressions, and accordingly you will want to return to Crimea and will recommend it to your friends and acquaintances. And this is exactly what we are striving for here. Besides, you will still find them by digging a little in search engines and social networks, but here they are, on the same page.
If, however, you decide to look for a travel industry professional on your own and not pay attention to the list below. So where to start searching? How to choose someone with whom it will be interesting and comfortable? First, you need to search on the right sites, and there are two main options. The first is sites that charge a commission for “pimping.” They are easy to distinguish by their aggressive advertising campaign and the absence of names and contact information of guides on the pages. We won’t name names, but there are quite a few of them and their main disadvantage is the cost - ordering excursions on these ones is more expensive, since a site commission is added to the price of the guide’s services. However, I would like to recommend the second option, that is, sites where the guide himself pays for accommodation. On them you can immediately see all contacts and communication is much more transparent. These are tonkosti.ru, tourister.ru, needguide.ru, personalguide.ru There is quite a large selection of guides and these sites do not take a commission - you receive contacts directly!
Probably, we still need to figure out what kind of guides can be found on the market. And here I would highlight four main categories.
1. Taxi guides. They are found everywhere, they know everything, including methods of governing the country and the ownership of certain assets/land/real estate by various government officials and media personalities. They offer everything: excursions, transfers, accommodation, baklava and pasties. Real advantages: knowledge of the roads (usually) and low to medium cost. However, if you need exactly places, and not details, it is a completely logical and correct choice.
2. Beginner guides. Over the past couple of years, many young colleagues have appeared and this is not at all surprising. In 2019-2021, the domestic tourism market was on the rise and demand generated supply. Many people really try, love Crimea and are able to turn your excursions from Yalta into unforgettable trips. My wife Marina is a shining example. The cost of services is average for the market.
3. Guides-photographers. Found on Instagram. They use the terms “photo tour”, “location”, etc. They know beautiful places and the best time to be there to take great photos. The cost, depending on the number of subscribers on social networks, can rise to suborbital values.
4. Tour guides. Experience, certifications, knowledge, awards, etc. They will show, tell, guide and explain. They know how to bypass queues, are accredited to conduct excursions inside museums, and generally create magic. If desired, they will take photographs (the word photo tour makes me despondent, but this does not mean that in 20 years I have not learned how to frame a shot and choose angles). Pricing policy from medium to high.
And how to choose the right guide in Crimea? There are three main factors: cost, travel format and personal attitude. With the first, everything is clear: the question of expensive/cheap is subjective for everyone. There is always an average cost of services in the market, for example in the 2022 season it is about 12,000 rubles for a full-day excursion (good guide and quality transport). But there are always economy options for 7000-8000 rubles and super-professional ones for 15000-16000 rubles. It’s like with tomatoes at the market, next to them are vegetables for 50 and for 100 rubles: both are definitely tomatoes, but it would be naive to assume that their taste is the same.
In addition to the price, you need to understand that not every guide can equally confidently conduct excursions both in mountainous regions and in palaces; there are often certain “specializations”. Well, it is very important that the specialist offers exactly what you want to get. And if there is no complete understanding yet, then I would create exactly the route that would be based on your preferences as a whole. Well, personal attitude is generally the key factor. At a minimum, watching, reading and listening to the guide should be pleasant. Otherwise it can not be! Look for someone with whom you are “on the same wavelength.”
One option is to always turn to reviews. Unfortunately, they may not always be honest, especially on personal sites. On the other hand, purchased reviews are often very similar to each other and are easy to distinguish. By the way, on my page on Tripadvisor there is one review that was written by a friend at my request, I confess!
And finally, let’s move on to a short list of the most excellent guides, tour guides and guides in Crimea. I'm not here, you can meet me on the main page of this site.
We don't even know some of these guys, but the reviews are great! Read and rejoice! Moreover, in this case, the reviews are real!
This is not an advertisement! Nobody pays me anything, so the article immediately contains contacts - use it. If you prefer my company, I will be flattered, but all these people are excellent professionals.
This is not a rating; professionalism or my opinion about it does not depend on the place on the list.
Unfortunately, not all guides are represented on the Internet, the list would continue...
There are no guides-photographers popular on Instagram: I think this is a different direction.
Vera Goncharenko
This is not entirely fair, because I put my mother first, but I think they will forgive me.
An excellent “classical” guide, if you need the history of cities, parks, palaces, names and destinies - you are at the right place.
For traveling to mountainous areas, it is better to look for another escort.
About the guide: https://tonkosti.ru/gidy/Vera_Goncharenko_private_guide_in_Crimea-248583010
Ivan Kovalenko
An excellent, versatile tour guide. Very knowledgeable, erudite - you will definitely enjoy any excursion.
Excellent transport that will take you to some hard-to-reach areas. The cost of services is expected to be higher than average.
About the guide: https://www.tripadvisor.ru/Attraction_Review-g295378-d12282613-Reviews-Private_Guide_in_Crimea_Ivan_Kovalenko-Yalta.html
Lyudmila Dyakonova
A great tour guide from Yalta. Interesting, informative, with love - it’s all about Lyudmila Ivanovna.
He will show you a lot and tell you even more. Walking in the mountains - You need a different guide.
https://www.instagram.com/luda.gid/
Yulia Galuzina
Lots of great reviews and great experience. When you contact Yulia, you get a travel industry professional.
Collaborates with suppliers of excellent, convenient transport - you will be comfortable.
About the guide: https://tonkosti.ru/gidy/Yuliya_Galuzina_private_guide_in_Yalta-78270550
Dmitry Polikarpov
An excellent guide with excellent reviews - you can see the subtleties of the ru on the website. A sincere and pleasant young man.
And transport: Toyota Camry 50ka is a comfortable option even for four people. The cost of services is above average.
About the guide: https://tonkosti.ru/gidy/Dmitry_Polikarpov_private_guide_in_Crimea-164118085
Alexander Chirko
A wonderful, experienced tour guide with a huge amount of knowledge in various fields.
He will conduct a tour both in the palace and along the mountain paths. The Mercedes Vito can accommodate up to eight people.
About the guide: https://www.tripadvisor.ru/Attraction_Review-g295378-d15565026-Reviews-Tour7-Yalta.html
Sergey Sorokin
An excellent tour guide, tour guide and guide-translator.
Spacious transport for a large group, excellent knowledge - what more do you need?
About the guide: https://www.tripadvisor.ru/Attraction_Review-g295378-d3502416-Reviews-Private_Guide_Sergey_Sorokin-Yalta.html
Svetlana Plushikova
An excellent tour guide and tour guide. Shows you hard-to-reach areas even on foot.
A minivan will accommodate a group of up to eight people. It will also fit luggage.
About the guide: https://tonkosti.ru/gidy/Svetlana_Plyushchikova_private_guide_in_Yalta-258730555
Yalta-Gorka cable car
Next to the Tavrida Hotel there is the lower station of the Yalta-Gorka cable car, which takes you to the upper station, located at the top of Darsanovsky Hill. The ride on the cable car, stretching 600 m above the center of Yalta, lasts only 12 minutes, overcoming a height difference of 120 m. 2 passengers sit in each cabin while moving, because the cable car moves in a closed circle without stopping.
In total, together with Yalta-Gorka, there are three cable cars in the city, but this line is the oldest, offering stunning views of the city and seascape from above. At the top you can walk to the Hill of Glory with a memorial dedicated to the fallen soldiers in the Civil and Great Patriotic Wars, and look at vintage cars in the Museum of Automotive Art. At the top station it will be pleasant to relax on the open terrace of the lounge bar, admiring the panorama.
Districts of Yalta
Note: there is Yalta (city), and there is Big Yalta - this is the territory from Foros to Krasnokamenka, which includes Yalta-city.
I'll tell you about the first one. Yalta is a small city, without traffic jams you can drive through it in 30 minutes. When choosing where to live, look at the distance from the sea and the topography. There are a lot of climbs in the city, and a short distance from home to the beach does not guarantee an easy path, especially if you are with children and strollers.
Many tourist sources write that there is an old Yalta with rickety houses and a new one with modern buildings. In fact, everything here is mixed: dilapidated buildings and new high-rise buildings, there are also residential areas.
If you are traveling on your own and planning to rent an apartment, here are my 2 tips:
- Look for housing on Sutochno.ru (here Yalta residents rent out their rooms, apartments, studios)
- Take a closer look at the following areas:
— Gogol Street (from Pionersky Park to the embankment). Quiet, flat area, near Pushkinskaya Alley.
— Kirova Street (from the embankment to the Institute of Grapes and Wine). 10-15 minutes to the sea, tiny Yalta courtyards, stone houses of the 19th century.
— Drazhinsky Street (above Massandra Beach). 5-10 minutes to the sea, a large selection of housing: from granny's rooms to luxury hotels. But it’s very narrow here, the houses are right next to each other.
— Kyiv and Moskovskaya streets (run from the bus station to the embankment). Quiet flat areas 10-15 minutes from the center, there are markets.
— Massandra and Livadia. Urban-type settlements, but in reality these are already districts of Yalta. Can be reached in 20 minutes from the center. I love them for the tranquility and lack of crowds during the season. Of the minuses: it’s a 20-30 minute walk to the sea (and it’s also uphill to get back), there are few cafes and shops. But there are palaces and forest paths!
— Otradnoe. If the prices for a holiday in Yalta by the sea are steep, you can stay in this beach town, it’s only 5 minutes from the city by car.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, rising in the city center near Darsan Hill, serves as the city's main operating Orthodox church. Already from a distance it attracts attention with its beauty, embodied in the architecture of the Moscow style of the 17th century, becoming the brightest attraction of the resort. Its facade, reminiscent of a tower from Russian fairy tales, is distinguished by lush traditional Russian decor.
Painting the facade in white and pink in combination with yellow visually gives the temple an airy feel. The mosaic on the façade, depicting Alexander Nevsky and made by a famous Venetian artist, is admirable. Despite its apparent lightness, the dimensions of the cathedral are quite large. It has 2 altars - the lower one for 700 people and the upper one for 1000 parishioners.
Going inside the temple, you will be amazed by its interior, decorated in Byzantine traditions with skillful paintings of saints and biblical scenes on the walls and vaults, and the beauty of the iconostasis made by masters of icon painting from the Vladimir region. Adjacent to the temple building is a bell tower, topped with an onion with a cross, delighting with the rich design of the facade and the ringing of the original bells.
Armenian Church (Zagorodnaya St., 3)
The shape of this temple, created in the ancient Armenian style, resembles the Etchmiadzin Church of St. Hripsime, which is the recognized pinnacle of Armenian architecture. Situated on a steep slope, surrounded by the greenery of slender pyramidal yew trees, it looks like a noble monolith.
One hundred stone steps lead to the temple, slowly climbing them, you can gradually realize the greatness of this architectural monument. The walls of the church, made of volcanic tuff, are decorated very restrainedly, but this unity of simplicity and purity of style creates an absolutely harmonious space. The interior, made in pastel white and blue tones, only slightly dilutes this stone nobility.
Museum of Automotive Art
The Museum of Automotive Art, which opened in 2022, has already collected many unique examples of not only retro cars, but also cars created on the basis of past years, embodying the imagination of the masters. You will be surprised by one of the fruits of the boundless author's imagination that served as the foundation of the museum - a shark car created on the basis of an old Pobeda.
A place of honor here is given to the legendary exhibits of the Soviet automobile industry: the humpbacked “Zaporozhets”, “Pobeda”, “Volga -21” and their brothers with originally designed tuning. So far, the Museum of Automotive Art offers no more than 20 original author’s models for viewing, but there are plans to increase their number by another 10 times.
All exhibits presented in the museum pavilion are on the move and participate in permanent automobile exhibitions, races and other events. Visitors who are car enthusiasts and boys especially like the fact that they can climb into the car, start it, look under the hood, and take a photo in front of a rare model with its own entertaining story about those people who once owned the car.
Wheels won't hurt
The easiest way is to book a tour - Crimean travel agencies offer a great variety of 1-day trips to Yalta. Then you won’t need to waste time moving around the city on your own and you’ll be able to see more. And professional explanations from the guide will not be superfluous.
The disadvantage of such a program is money. But there is an option - to use your own or rented car when visiting Yalta. Then it will be possible to capture not only the center itself, but also the nearest villages.
The best option is to visit the Livadia and Massandra palaces (they are impressive from the outside, but it will take a little time to explore), see the Chekhov Museum or the Dolphinarium, and then go for a walk along the embankment (Massandra beach, historical buildings, monument to Pugovkin). You can do the opposite - start from the promenade, and then go to the museum complex, the Skazka zoo or the dolphinarium.
Some reviews claim that it is possible to include the Nikitsky Botanical Garden in a one-day excursion on wheels. It’s hard to agree with this - it’s not far to get to it, but the visit will turn out to be too superficial. The fabulous plant kingdom deserves a separate visit.
Zoo "Fairy Tale"
The private zoo “Skazka”, founded at the end of the last century, is admired by many tourists. To get to the habitat of animals from all over the world, which occupies an area of 30 thousand square meters on the western outskirts of Yalta, you need to go in the direction of the Kuibyshevo settlement along the Yalta-Alushta highway. The entire zoo location consists of several terraces located at different levels. Convenient paths, bridges and steps are laid to the enclosures and cages of animals.
The picturesque landscape of the territory is made up of exotic trees, shrubs, flower beds, between which there are sculptural compositions and fountains. In total, Skazka is home to 1,500 animals, including hundreds of species: predators, primates, artiodactyls and other mammals. They are accompanied by rare representatives of the bird family.
More than 100 species of amphibians and reptiles are interesting to see at the Marine Aquarium, whose entrance is designed like a shark's mouth. Taking in the view from the Ferris wheel and photographing the landscapes of the resort against the backdrop of Mount Ai-Petri, the Uchan-Su waterfall, the expanses of the Black Sea and the entire “Fairy Tale” is an indescribable pleasure. In summer, the zoo is open from 9:00 to 20:00, ticket sales stop 2 hours before closing.
It's not boring with children either
True, what was said above about the wide choice does not entirely apply to holidaymakers with children. Secular society has a habit of leaving children at home with nannies. However, guests of many Yalta hotels can also do this if necessary.
There are many places in Yalta that are interesting for young vacationers, but they are open during the day. The evening selection of places to go with a child is much smaller.
Of course, you can take your children with you for an evening walk - they will love the illuminations and illuminated fountains. During the “children’s” evening hours, there are attractions in the Primorsky Park or in the Dreamwood wonderland play complex.
Shopping centers have good play sets that are open for a relatively long time (reviews especially praise the Jolly Roger in the Confetti shopping center, which also has an ice skating rink). You can take a ride on the Yalta-Gorka cable car - it’s both nearby and interesting. And you should definitely take your child on an evening boat trip or excursion, if you can organize one.
But kids in Yalta have more fun during the day. Therefore, parents should consider hiring a nanny for a few evening hours. Then they will have the opportunity, with a clear conscience, to leave their child to sleep off and run away to a real social event.
Glade of fairy tales
If you are vacationing with a child, be sure to give him the joy of visiting the “Glade of Fairy Tales” - a town in a picturesque forest on Mount Krestovaya, where the fairy-tale characters depicted in the sculpture settled. This magical place at the foot of the bizarre Stavri-Kaya rock, similar to a castle, has become a real children's open-air museum.
Next to it, the noisy stream of the Wuchang-Su waterfall falls from a height, creating a mysterious a. The old-timers of Polyana - Chernomor, Taras Bulba, Bubble, Pinocchio, Laptya and Solominki every year welcome new residents to their fairy-tale city, where they have already formed: “Pushkinskaya Polyana” with the heroes of the poet’s fairy tales and a pond where the old man catches a goldfish, “Slavic Field” "with the heroes of Russian epics, the domain of Doctor Aibolit.
Baba Yaga settled in a hut on chicken legs that creaksly turns towards people. Guests are invited to the “Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors” with metal guards guarding the entrance. Some museum visitors would not mind being in the mouth of a wooden dragon, while others would like to take a photo hugging Vasilisa the Beautiful. Before entering the museum, there are signs on the epic stone indicating which way to go and a warning not to waste time.
Palace of the Emir of Bukhara
The building of the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara, erected at the beginning of the 20th century, is recognized as one of the most significant historical and cultural monuments of Crimea. The palace is located above the Seaside Park, founded at the end of the 19th century on a plot acquired by the Emir of Bukhara from the city.
The two-story palace building, built of Kerch stone in the style of Moorish architecture for the summer residence of the emir, attracts attention with the combination of its asymmetrical parts of rectangular, faceted and semicircular geometric shapes. The presence of terraces, loggias, porticoes, balustrades and belvederes attract attention to the facade, causing involuntary admiration for its architecture.
Against the background of the delicate colors of the facades, columns with elegant capitals, framed arched windows and a jagged parapet add sophistication to the Moorish exterior. A marble staircase leads to the palace, guarded at the end by sculptures of lions. Nowadays, the palace of the Emir of Bukhara is occupied by one of the buildings of the Yalta sanatorium, and you can only see its interior design with a tour.
House-Museum of A.P. Chekhov
A visit to the memorial house-museum of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, located in the house built by the writer, called the “Belaya Dacha”, will reveal many interesting facts about the last years of his life. Chekhov had to settle in Yalta due to poor health. His mother and sister moved with him in 1899. The family settled in a house built by the writer on the plot he acquired.
Under the roof of this house his famous works were born: the stories “The Lady with the Dog” and “In the Ravine”, the plays “Three Sisters” and “The Cherry Orchard”, and the stories “The Bishop”, “At Christmastide” and “The Bride”. After Chekhov passed away, his sister became the mistress of the house, who came here for the summer and maintained the house. Thanks to her efforts, the life-time environment of the Belaya Dacha was preserved.
The museum has exhibitions with the writer’s personal belongings, notebooks, and items that were in his use. Here you can see rare archival photographs of the family and a collection of letters. In total, more than 1,700 exhibits are preserved in the funds of the memorial museum. To house the entire legacy of the writer and promote his work, another building was built on the territory of the museum complex, and work began on restoring the botanical garden planted by Chekhov.
Wuchang-Su Waterfall
Just six kilometers north of Yalta - and you will be able to discover the secret of flying water. Uchan-Su (from Turkic “flying, falling water”) is the name of the highest waterfall in Ukraine, whose height is 98.5 meters. The roar can be heard for hundreds of meters, and the water, confirming its name, actually flies!
You can witness this powerful falling stream only during the “life of the waterfall” - in the spring, when the snow melts, or in the fall after heavy rains. Unfortunately, summer tourists are disappointed by what they see and give Wuchang-Su names that are not at all poetic: “dripfall”, “droplet”, “vodokap”, “kapletek”. This story with the waterfall once again confirms the old truth: everything has its time.
Has it come to you? Vacation pay? What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to Yalta!
Article last updated: September 26, 2020
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Tips for tourists
5 years have passed since the referendum on Crimea took place, as a result of which an agreement was signed between the peninsula and Russia. It has become the source of significant controversy between Russia, Ukraine and the West, with many embassies warning against travel to the peninsula. As a result of economic sanctions imposed in connection with the referendum, traveling in Crimea has become difficult: virtually no international airlines operate here, and tourists must carry a handful of cash. Bank and credit cards are not accepted anywhere, although you can change foreign currency in banks.
