Before traveling to this beautiful southern city, you should flip through the tourist guide and choose for yourself the sights and interesting places of Yalta and the surrounding area on a map with photos, descriptions and addresses that you want to visit first, because there is plenty to choose from. The ancient settlement, which traces its history back to the mysterious Tauri people, managed to be ruled by the Turks, Genoese, Byzantines and Greeks. Yalta owes its flourishing and transformation into a resort to the energy and enthusiasm of Count M.S. Vorontsov, governor-general of the Novorossiysk region in the middle of the 19th century. The buildings built at that time managed to become objects of cultural and historical heritage, and therefore attract a flow of tourists to this day.
Geography and climate
Yalta is located on the shore of the Black Sea bay of the same name in the south of the Crimean Peninsula. The city is located in the valleys of two small rivers Derekoyka and Uchan-Su on the hills surrounded by the Crimean mountains. In the north-west stretches the Yalta yayla with the peak of Kemal-Egerek (1530 m), and in the south there is the picturesque Ai-Petri (1234 m).
Yalta has a warm Mediterranean climate and is located at the same latitude as Italian Genoa. The resort climate is characterized by hot summers, mild winters, and long and warm autumns. At the height of summer, the water temperature in Yalta warms up to 26 - 28 °C. The resort is also famous for its many natural parks and green areas with introduced plant species, among which the Vorontsovsky and Livadia parks stand out.
Yalta
Mountain beauty
Yalta Nature Reserve
This beautiful protected reserve has gathered many tourist places. Clean air, beautiful nature will complement your vacation with unforgettable moments.
The visit is free - if you just want to take a walk, but for fans of cable cars - be sure to take a ride on the Miskhor - Ai-Petri cable car, or if you want to walk, the Miskhor trail. In the reserve you can go down to the Three-Eyes Cave (it’s cold there and we recommend taking warm clothes with you (it doesn’t happen above +1).)
Mount Ai-Petri
The above-mentioned zone includes majestic mountains that were once the real bottom of the sea. There are several ways to get to the top, and each option will bring bright emotions and stunning views. At the top there are several memorable places, observation points, food points, etc.
As mentioned above, the easiest way is the cable car - but there are always terrible queues and there is nowhere to park a car, everything is so bad with parking at the lower station that there is even a traffic controller there.
The second option is by car - the mountain trail is quite intact and you can even drive a sedan, almost everywhere there is asphalt - in several places the road is broken, but this is not very critical.
Suspension bridge on Ai-Petri
A fairly young man-made creation will take you to the very peak of AI-Petri. Keep your balance, and the first horizontal part will be overcome with ease, but the next section will require a little effort from you.
Located on a mountain - the photos from there are breathtaking.
Devil's staircase
Shaitan-Merdiven western passage in the Ai-Petri rock. Huge ledges and steep turns once attracted Griboyedov, Pushkin and Lesya Ukrainka, each of whom subsequently immortalized the trail in their work.
Mount Cat
A landscape reserve between the settlements of Simeiz and Blue Bay, the city of Alupka is also located nearby. Resembling the outlines of a feline, the mountain contains on its territory an impressive burial site and residual fragments of an ancient settlement.
Wuchang-Su Waterfall
Considered the highest in all of Europe, the waterfall is not always full of water. In the summer months it often dries out, but in the winter and spring (we were there in early spring), from my own experience, it definitely falls like a stormy stream.
Beaches of Yalta
- Primorsky beach is the central beach of Yalta, small pebbles. It is short in length (about 500 meters). Equipped with all necessary infrastructure.
- Massandra Beach is another famous beach in the center of Yalta, approximately 500 m long. It is divided into several zones and has a “Blue Flag” (a blue flag is an international award indicating that a beach meets high standards).
- The beach near the Intourist hotel is a good pebble beach with a Blue Flag. Paid for vacationers who are not guests of the hotel of the same name.
- Golden Beach, located 8 km from Yalta near the Kurpaty sanatorium.
- Nikitsky Beach is a small secluded beach 7 km from the city center.
- Dolphin Beach is a free beach in the village of Livadia, 3 km from the center of Yalta.
Cable cars
Ropeway to Ai-Petri "Miskhor - Ai-Petri"
With a length of almost 3 thousand meters and in places with a unique angle of elevation, the cable car will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to see all the beauty from a bird's eye view. Not suitable for those with a fear of heights!
Open from 10 am to 3 pm on the way up and from 10 am to 4 pm on the way down.
The cost of an adult ticket is 400 rubles, a child ticket is 250.
Cable car "Yalta - Gorka"
It was discovered in the last century, with a relatively small difference in height and length of the path. The starting point is located near the Tavrida Hotel, and the end of the path is on Darsan Hill. Seating capacity – 2 people.
Open from 10 to 18 hours, ticket price is 400 for adults and 200 rubles for children.
Story
The environs of Yalta were inhabited in ancient times by the Tauri, the indigenous people of Crimea. It is believed that the first settlement here was founded by the Greeks in Antiquity. The modern name of the city most likely comes from the Greek "Yalita", which means "coastal".
The founding date of Yalta is considered to be 1154, when in the Middle Ages a settlement was founded here by merchants from Venice, who were then replaced by the Genoese. In the second half of the 15th century, Yalta was captured by the Turks and included in the Ottoman Empire. Then the settlement was part of the Crimean Khanate.
Yachts. Yalta
In 1783, Crimea was annexed to the Russian Empire. Yalta was a small fishing village. Everything changed under Governor-General Vorontsov, who distributed land here, on which the nobles began to build luxurious estates. In 1838, Yalta received city status. After the Crimean War, Yalta became one of the most popular resorts in the Russian Empire.
At the end of the 19th century, an embankment, water supply and sewerage were built here. After the Civil War, most of the Yalta palaces were in disrepair. From 1941 to 1944, Yalta was under German occupation. In February 1945, the Yalta Allied Conference was held at the Livadia Palace. After the end of the war, Yalta began to be considered the main resort of Crimea, maintaining this status to this day.
Caves
Cave "Geophysical"
The most beautiful and unusual Crimean cave has its own history of chronicles and tales. Unusual halls and passages with striking colors will diversify your trip and leave a lot of positive impressions.
Three-Eyes Cave
The many-sided underground beauty is intertwined with amazing myths and historical narratives; the attraction will never let you doubt the correctness of the choice made in its favor.
Yalta Cave
A more than 30-meter grotto is available for viewing. Since the cold is an eternal resident of the underground, it is worth wrapping up warmly before visiting. In winter, access to the mountain halls is closed.
Attractions
Swallow's Nest
Swallow's Nest is one of the symbols of Crimea, a decorative neo-Gothic castle rising on a picturesque cliff above the sea. This building was built in 1912. During Soviet times, the reading room of a nearby sanatorium was located here for some time. Then the structure was practically abandoned due to its disrepair. Now this bright attraction is again available for visiting.
Livadia Palace
Livadia Palace is one of the most famous attractions of Yalta and the summer residence of Russian emperors. The palace was built at the end of the 19th century by order of Emperor Alexander III. This is a beautiful building in the Italian Renaissance style with a park in which ancient gazebos, fountains and sculptures have been preserved.
Massandra Palace
Massandra Palace is a beautiful building in the French style with an English park. The palace was built in the 19th century by Count Vorontsov in the style of a knight's castle. Then the building was taken over by Emperor Alexander III, by whose order the palace was rebuilt in the style of the era of Louis XII.
Embankment
The embankment is one of the most favorite places for walks for residents and guests of the city. The promenade is 1.7 km long and begins at the Primorsky Park, which is actually its continuation. The Yalta embankment begins its history at the end of the 19th century and has recently undergone a large-scale reconstruction. The promenade has two levels: the lower one, which runs by the sea, and the upper one with shops, restaurants and historical buildings.
Interesting sights of the Yalta embankment:
- Hotel Oreanda is an elegant building from the early 20th century.
- The Roffe Baths are a historic building built at the end of the 19th century in the Moorish style. Nearby there is a bronze sculpture “Ladies with a Dog” and a fountain.
- The ship "Argo" is a stylization of an ancient Greek ship.
- Hotel "Tavrida" is one of the oldest in Crimea
Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky is the main church of Yalta, which was built from 1891 to 1902. This is a beautiful building in traditional Russian style with a belfry.
Armenian Church
The Armenian Church is a striking example of early 20th century Armenian architecture with expressive frescoes under the dome.
Church of John Chrysostom
The Church of St. John Chrysostom is the oldest church in Yalta, built in the first half of the 19th century. The original historical building was destroyed in 1942 and restored in the 90s of the 20th century.
Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church was built in the early 20th century in the Gothic Revival style.
Palace of the Emir of Bukhara
The Palace of the Emir of Bukhara is a beautiful building in the Moorish style, built in 1911.
Vorontsov Palace
Vorontsov Palace is a unique palace complex of the mid-19th century in the Moorish style, built by order of Count Vorontsov. It is famous for the fact that the interiors and furniture of that period have been preserved here.
Golitsyn Palace
Golitsyn Palace (Gaspra) is an architectural ensemble of the 19th century in the medieval Gothic style.
Dulber
Dulber is a 19th century palace complex built for a member of the Romanov dynasty. Considered a masterpiece of neo-Moorish architecture. The building has beautiful arched windows with oriental-style ornaments and walls decorated with multi-colored mosaics.
Yusupov Palace
The Yusupov Palace was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and is an excellent example of Italian neo-Renaissance architecture.
Other interesting places in Yalta:
- Chekhov's house-museum, where the great writer spent the last years of his life.
- Cable car opened in 1967.
- Oceanarium - the largest in Crimea
- Nikitsky Botanical Garden, founded in 1811.
Ai-Petri
Ai-Petri is one of the most picturesque peaks of the Crimean mountains with a height of 1234 meters. The name of the mountain is of Greek origin and is translated as “Saint Peter”. Ai-Petri is famous for its fogs and beautiful views. This mountain is located near the city of Alupka.
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 hotels and boarding houses.
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. Hostels deserve special attention; the best of them, “Nest,” is ready to inexpensively accommodate holidaymakers.
The Mriya Resort & Spa hotel will provide visitors with the highest level of hotel comfort. Staying there is pleasant and extremely comfortable. The 422 rooms can accommodate individuals or the whole family, with children staying for free. There is everything here - from fairly inexpensive economy class rooms to luxurious multi-room apartments. There are also several luxury villas on site. The establishment offers a variety of outdoor activities - from football and tennis to water aerobics. Four restaurants provide meals for guests. There is a nightclub and a cinema.
The Bristol Hotel always welcomes visitors and is ready to accommodate them in 108 rooms of varying degrees of comfort. They are all beautifully decorated and cozy,
equipped with climate control systems and supplied with necessary household appliances. The doors of the restaurant are open to guests, where live music is played and an entertainment program is held in the evenings. Within the walls of the hotel complex there is an indoor swimming pool, a sauna, Turkish and Russian baths, and a massage room, which is not uncommon for Crimea and Yalta. A holiday here is quite affordable.
Eco-hotel Levant offers tourists inexpensive accommodation. Its 56 apartments provide three levels of accommodation comfort. They are equipped with air conditioning, household appliances, and minibars. Meals are served in the restaurant. The hotel has a spa and gym. It has its own beach, which experienced holidaymakers often call the best in Yalta. There are many other guest houses, mini-boarding houses and private hotels here, as well as many sanatoriums that offer professional treatment.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Crimea, Yalta, Sadovaya street, 2
The next attraction of Yalta that deserves your attention is undoubtedly the cathedral built in honor of Emperor Alexander Nevsky. Cypress trees grow along the entire cathedral and exotic flowers smell fragrant. The sight of a majestic structure on a cliff evokes admiration among all adventurers. When you get to the cathedral, go straight to the cozy back courtyard. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city. You will understand - there is a lot to see in Yalta! But don’t focus only on the panoramic view. Pay attention to the cathedral itself. This amazing architectural work of art of the 19th century amazes with the brilliance of the church domes and the variety of towers. And all this against the backdrop of amazing nature.
Livadia Palace
Crimea, Yalta district, village. Livadia, st. Baturina, 44-a
Another place where a pleasant surprise awaits tourists is the Livadia Palace. A tour of the entire area of the palace will remain in your memory for many years. The architecture is in the Renaissance style. Relict and exotic plants are planted throughout the palace grounds. The palace is beautiful in its own way, in any weather. Perhaps this is its peculiarity.
Chekhov's Corner
Crimea, Yalta, st. Kirova, 122
Yalta is a picturesque town, and therefore it has attracted the attention of many writers, artists, and poets. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was no exception. He drew inspiration for his works from beautiful streets, fragrant nature, and virgin majestic rocks. In the house where he lived and worked, the house-museum of A.P. Chekhov has now been opened, where the household utensils of his time have been preserved in their original form. But the main thing is that just 15 minutes of walking along a narrow path and you find yourself in an amazingly beautiful rocky cove, where the writer loved to spend his leisure time. Looking at the huge rocks and the power of the sea, you understand that man is a small creature that is not capable of influencing this crushing power of nature.
Animal world
Theater of sea animals "Aquatoria"
Entertainment complex with the largest dolphinarium. The performances of marine animals and staff will make even the most reserved hearts beat faster. There is an opportunity to swim with animals and take part in a photo shoot.
Ticket price:
Regular 600 and 500 rubles (adult and child), VIP box – 800 and 700 rubles, respectively. Preferential categories and Crimean residents get a 100 ruble discount.
Yalta crocodilarium
The most impressive number of specimens of live reptiles in the establishment in the entire eastern part of Europe. You will be presented with various species of crocodiles, pythons and sea turtles that are unlike each other.
Ticket price is 700 rubles for adults and 400 rubles for children. Open from 10 to 22 hours in high season, and from October to April until 20 hours. For Crimeans (upon presentation of registration) a 50% discount.
Yalta Zoo "Fairy Tale"
The multitude of living creatures and colorful design will not leave either children or adults indifferent. The Yalta Zoo is a worthy place to see a clean and cozy menagerie, a picturesque walk and beautiful views.
Ticket prices are 800 and 400 rubles (adults and children from 3 to 10 years old). There is no terminal, payment is only in cash. In summer it is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., in winter until 5 p.m.
Oceanarium of Yalta
Interesting excursions, amazing creatures of the underwater world and just a wonderful time await you! Do you want to see a dollar fish, or maybe an alligator fish?
Ticket price from 300 rubles.
Coastal zone
Yalta embankment
The chic embankment never ceases to amaze with its picturesque decoration at any time of the year. Boutiques, restaurants and cafes, hotels, monuments - will make your walk even more interesting! Are you puzzled by the question of where to go in Yalta in the evening? The clear answer is to take a walk along the embankment!
The list of memorable monuments that you can see while walking along the embankment includes: the Stele to the Twin Cities, an obelisk with the text of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR; monuments to Lenin, Krasnov, Pugovkin, Gorky, Semenov and so on.
Yalta lighthouse
The current lighthouse replaced the one installed earlier in 1870. In general terms, he contributed to the development of the city from a fishing village into a real emerald of the southern coast of Crimea.
