Yalta

Yalta is a resort town on the Crimea peninsula disputed between Russia and Ukraine.

Understand

Yalta is a place, with memories from 19th century VIPs who came to cure their illnesses, as well as from communist-era citizens who got the privilege to go there and take it easy. Today it's a tourist trap in beautiful surroundings.

In the summer months it can get very crowded, but in the autumn the weather can still be warm and pleasant. In October for example, the temperature can still get to the high 20s. Winters are not as cold in Yalta as the rest of Russia. Protected from the North by the mountains and warmed by the Black Sea, there is never a lot of snow in the winter, but beware of the winds as they can be bitingly cold.

English is not widely spoken in the Crimea, but it is understood by most young people. Russian is the main language spoken in the Crimea, as well as Ukrainian and Tatar. The people are very friendly and crime in this city of over 80,000 people is low. Tourists are safe as long as they follow sensible rules: don't flash your cash, avoid unlit pathways at night (if only to avoid the drunks), and don't let strangers buy you drinks in places you do not know.

The Swallow's Nest, one of the Neo-Gothic châteaux fantastiques near Yalta, Ukraine.

Livadia Palace near Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine

Get in

By plane

Crimea is now occupied by Russia. the best way to get there by air is to fly to Simferopol from Moscow or Saint Petersburg.

See Simferopol Airport section.

By bus/trolley bus

From Simferopol Airport in the north of the city (Simferopol is the capital of the Region of Crimea) you can go the scenic way on the trolley bus to Yalta - this is the longest trolley bus route in the world (it takes about 2.5 hours and is very slow and a bit uncomfortable, but you get wonderful views of the mountains). Please note that some of these trolley buses are very old. However, more and more trolley buses are being replaced by newer models, which are quite comfortable.

Or take a mini bus, which is faster, more comfortable but a bit more expensive (3 Euro).

From Sevastopol, there are many buses and marshrutkas daily (taking 2-3 hours and costing less than 6 euros).

By taxi

The quickest, but most expensive way to get to Yalta (30 to 40 Euro is a typical one way fare)) is by taxi, it takes just over an hour depending on the age of the taxi or the skill of the taxi driver in avoiding the potholes in the roads.

Get around

WARNING: Unless you are a native of Istanbul or a similar town with EXTREMELY narrow, unmarked and blind one way and 1.5 way streets with steep hills, do not attempt to drive into this city. Google/Apple maps are no match for this town and should not be trusted beyond the highways and major roads.

Most people use the local mini buses, very cheap and lots of them. Some you pay for when you get on board and some when you get off, which is slightly confusing at times! Taxis are everywhere; some are genuine, and some are just people offering you a ride for a fare. Speaking English means the fare goes up, but it is still very reasonable, so learn to haggle - if the price is too high walk away as there will always be someone else to barter with.

Yalta is a city that is spread out over a large area (Greater Yalta). The centre and harbor is a great place to walk around, but just beware of the local drivers as they tend not to give way for pedestrians. Traffic in the city in the summer months is heavy and you can be stuck in a jam if you go by a motor vehicle. Sometimes you may find it is much quicker to walk. The locals always dress up and walk around the harbor front at night - it's a great way to pass the evening away, or you can watch the people go by by enjoying a drink at one of many cafes. The waterfront is well over a mile long - from McDonald's on the East end to the Hotel Oreanda on the West. Walk the length to choose your beach, which will be somewhat "rocky".

You can also use the ferries to visit better beaches or Swallows Nest (famous folly perched on a cliff and now an Italian restaurant). Luxury cruise ships visit Yalta during the summer, on their way around the Black Sea, which is certainly a nice way to travel.

See

• Armenian Church - (Armyanskaya Tserkov) was built in 1909-1919 as a reflection of S. Hripsime Church built over a thousand years ago in Armenia. Above the center of town, at the top of a mini-Potemkin stairwell, the beautifully detailed church is well worth visiting. There are many carvings, arches and nooks, making this a very nice place to spend a little down time.

• Roosevelt Street (Russian: "Улица Рузвельта" /Ulitsa Ruzvjelta/) Not a tourist draw in and of itself, but interesting to see the plaque with Roosevelt's profile in relief and a short dedication in Russian and English. Add it to your list if you are walking around Yalta's old town.

• Chekhov's house - Chekhov wrote a woman and her dog here and many of his other short stories. The house is small and there is a museum nearby dedicated to the writer, well worth a look if you enjoyed his work. Sadly, Chekhov's house is falling into disrepair, due to lack of funds. The good news is a fund has been started to raise a large sum of money to full restore the house in the future.

• Nikita Botanical Garden, [1]. Founded in 1812, one of the world's oldest operating scientific botanical gardens. A lovely place to sit under the cherry blossoms and read Chekhov. Perched on a mountainside, this scenic garden boasts a stunning array of blooms in the spring and summer that will take your breath away.

• The beach does not contain sand, but instead consists of smooth pebbles more closely resembling river rock than anything else. The beaches are similar to the pebble beaches of the French Riviera. Some beaches are better than others and for a small entrance fee, you can get access to a nice beach close to the Hotel Yalta. In the summer it can get very hot 32C+, If, you buy a drink from the cafe on some of the beaches, you get a free umbrella to keep you in the shade!

• Livadia Palace This was the last Tsar's vacation residence. It was host to Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt for the Yalta Conference in 1945, in which they reportedly planned the division of Europe at the end of World War II. You can go inside and walk past the hall where the meetings took place, which has been set up to correspond with the historical photos of the meeting. You can also see the imperial family's private chapel, which is beautiful. The Palace itself is about 100 years old, though the gardens on the grounds were planted long before the Palace was built. There is a good view of the Black Sea and Yalta from the palace grounds.

• Massandra Palace, which is outside of town, in the hills. It was built as a summer picnic palace by Alexander III, and is supposed to look like a romantic French chateau. The grounds are very pretty, with bucolic countryside surrounding it. It is situated a longish walk from the main road and uphill, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear.

• Massandra Wine Plant, if you're into wine, this place you definitely want to visit. They offer guided tours through the wine plant and the cellars, which contain one of the largest collections of wine in the world. When you're done with the tour, you can taste some of the wines they have to offer.

• Lenin's Statue, Situated on the waterfront opposite McDonalds, the perfect East meets West landmark.

• Yalta Zoo, Well worth a trip out to see the animals. The Zoo is actually quite large and spread out with various types of animals from Lions to Bears to Monkeys. Some of the cages are a bit small, but the animals appear to be well looked after. There is a small aquarium opposite the Zoo. Very small and not recommended unless you are already a tropical fish enthusiast as they have a great variety of fully grown Cichlids which are rare to find kept so well. Otherwise it will probably not appeal due to it's small size.

Do

Learn some Russian before you visit, even simple phrases will be very useful. Make sure you visit Ai-Petri (St Peter) the peak that overlooks Yalta. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain (one of the longest cable car rides in Europe). The views are great. The cable car station, called Nizhnyaya Stantsiya Kanatnoy Dorogi, is located in nearby Alupka, and can be reached by mini bus.

Understand that this is a developing country, not long out of Soviet control, so many of the services etc are not up to Western standards. Banks and ATMs are plentiful and exchange rates are pretty good.

Explore the region around Yalta - it is steeped in history and there are many interesting places to visit within an hour's mini bus ride from the city.

Do be aware in the summer months Yalta is one of the main destinations for Russian and Ukrainians to take their holidays, so it becomes very crowded.

Buy

All areas of Crimea are famous for their red onions. It is said that they used to be much sweeter than they are now, but they are still a delicacy that are quite expensive elsewhere in Ukraine.

Vodka is very cheap and plentiful - you will be amazed at the many varieties available. Take a trip down to the souvenir shops located on the far side of the harbor (the other side from McDonalds), for numerous trinkets and other interesting reminders of Yalta. Beware if you speak English that the prices tend to go up!

Honey In this region you can buy almost everywhere fresh honey from apiary the best prices during the summer time.

Crimean Wine The entire region of Crimea is famous for its unique wines which it owes to its coastal sub-tropical micro-climates. Well-known brands such as Massandra wine make an excellent drink and gift to bring back home. With the typical red wines being similar in flavor to port but slightly less strong in alcohol and more fruity and the white wines having a sweet, honey like dessert wine taste and a strong whiskey-like kick. Highly recommended!

Souvenirs The embankment area of Yalta is filled with all manner of market stalls selling everything from Crimea and Yalta souvenirs to beautiful hand crafted paintings, carvings and other art pieces.

Clothes If you have a grasp of Russian or a local companion, why not explore the immense clothes markets of Yalta,where you can purchase top quality clothing, fabrics and foot ware imported from places like Turkey, at prices that you would seldom find in the west.

Eat

There are several very nice little cafes at the main market (Ovoshnoi Rynok). They are not expensive, and are cleaner and serve fresher food than many in other areas. They have quite a good selection of food and it is well prepared. Food hygiene is rarely an issue in Crimea as they are a meticulously clean people. As long as you use common sense you should have no issues.Try shopping in the many markets for local produce. There are great bargains to be had on meat and vegetables. Ukraine also has a wide variety of unique sweets, cakes and bakery which cost little and taste great!

Drink

There's a nice cafe located just over the little bridge at the McDonalds (at the port). You need to enter a building and go to the highest floor to reach it. It's not something most people dare, but if you do it you're rewarded with a great view of the town, and nice cocktails.

To get the best Vodka, take a visit to one or two of the supermarkets outside the city centre and you will find a great selection at prices you will not believe.

There is more to Yalta, and Crimea than just a wide variety of Vodka! Why not try the Crimean wines! The entire region of Crimea is famous for it's unique wines which it owes to it's coastal sub-tropical micro-climates. Well known brands such as Massandra wine make an excellent drink and gift to bring back home. With the typical red wines being similar in flavor to Port, but slightly less strong in alcohol and more fruity and the white wines having a sweet, honey like desert wine taste and a strong whiskey like kick. Highly recommended!

If you prefer beer then you will find a wide variety of Russian, Polish and Ukrainian beer which is usually very cheap by Western standards. Tasty too!

Sleep

In Yalta during the summer the city is packed with tourists, mainly from Russia or Ukraine. You will find a lot of Germans and Italians too. This means there are lots of apartments for rent, and some very nice hotels too. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes. Do not expect Western standards a lot of the time.

You will often find some of the best apartments are housed in buildings which look pretty shabby from the outside but inside are well furnished, and with air conditioning, this is must for the summer when it can become very hot and humid.

A word of warning if you rent an apartment in the summer, make sure you always put out the garbage (in one of the street garbage collection points) or you will attract giant roaches! Trust me they are big and persistent!

Prices vary from $50 a night up to $200+ per night for apartments with all the mod cons. The closer you are to the beach the more expensive prices become. Apartments further away from the centre might also have their water turned off at night - be warned! You might also suffer power cuts, but this all adds to the local flavour.

Accommodation

• Apartments for rent in Yalta (short term rental), 20+ apartments in central area, [x]. A choice of central apartments in Yalta, from budget to luxury. from $30/night.

Budget

• Sobaka Hostel, 29A Chernova Street (5 min walk from White Dacha Anton Chekhov's House-museum), ☎ +38 063 317 00 56 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 13:00; checkout: 12:00. Modern 3-floor cottage made of eco-materials with all the amenities. Most rooms at Sobaka Hostel feature a balcony. Shady backyard for barbecue and relaxation. 2 dorm rooms (8 & 10 beds) 18$ (2013) and 3 comfortable privates. WC + shower on each floor. Independent hot water and heating system. Broadband internet, Wi-Fi. Satellite TV. Fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. English speaking staff. Dorm beds from €14, Private rooms from €20.

Motel №5, 10 Bolshevistskaya,South Coast Highway (10 min walk from White Dacha Anton Chekhov's House-museum), ☎ +38 097 977 63 99, +38 095 498 77 33 ([email protected]), [x]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Motel offers 35 spacious elegant rooms equipped with all necessary facilities for leisure and business: adjustable air conditioning (heating), hot / cold water, European standard beds “Twin” and “King”, wired Internet, Wi-Fi, satellite TV, air conditioning, refrigerator, safe and a mini-bar, hair dryer, electronic lock, direct access to the international telephone network. The rooms are divided into 4 categories: standard rooms (with one or two beds), comfort rooms and a family room. Also in the motel we have modern conference room of 108 m2 with 50 seats. This room is ideal for seminars, training sessions and meetings. In the motel you can go down into a Shopping & Entertainment Center, where there is the entertainment for all tastes and budgets. On the sixth floor our experienced animators in the Igroland "Jolly Roger" will play with your children. There you will find about 80 attractions, the kids room and the kids University. There are Youth Entertainment Center "Arena Yug" with the skating ring, bowling and café for 100 sits, art –café “Limon”, beauty salon “Style” on the fifth floor. Convenient traffic interchange will help our guests to get to anywhere by public transport in any time. The motel is located 100 km from the airport and 85 km from the railway station. Double standart room €35, Double comfort room €48.

Get out

• Take a trip to Balaklava (about 1 1/2 hours from Yalta). This beautiful harbor town overlooked by a Genoese fortress towers and walls, was hidden from visitors up to 1996 because of the Soviet submarine base that was buried in the hillside across the bay. The base was operational until 1991 and the last submarine left in 1996. This relic of the Cold War now contains a small museum which is worth a visit. Balaklava is best known for the ill fated British - Russian war of the 1850's and the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade" which took place in the valley about 4kms from the town. Balaklava is just waking up to its tourist potential with some new hotels and some great restaurants. There are some 50 monuments in Balaklava to the heroic exploits of its soldiers, worth searching for if you can find them all!

• Sevastopol is another place worth a visit. It is a busy bustling city of over a half a million people, famous for its many war monuments of the Second World War when Soviet heroes held out against overwhelming Nazi troops to gain the name "City of Russian Glory". Home to the Ukrainian and Russian Black Sea fleets (a nice collection of rusting hulks). Make sure you visit the large markets for fantastic bargins on just about anything you can think of!

• Simferopol the gateway to the Crimea Region. Not a lot to see except the wonderful Railway Station. Nice shopping areas, great bargains and plenty of places to eat.

• Vorontsovsky Palace and park in Alupka is about 30 mins away by mini bus from Yalta and was home to Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, Russian Field Marshal known for his exploits during the Napoleonic Wars. The Palace is a mixture of Middle-Age and Moorish design which actually works really well. The Palace is overlooked by Ai-Petri.

Wikipedia:Yalta

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