Map Golden ring Crimea, circular routes by car and bus on the highway, on off-road vehicles on dirt roads
located at the bottom of this review.
We recommend the first journey through the "world in miniature" along the circular route of the Golden Ring of Crimea and we recommend an obligatory long stop in Alupka.

Most of the Crimean sights are located in the southwest, on the ring Simferopol - Bakhchisarai - Inkerman - Sevastopol - Balaklava - Laspi - Simeiz - Alupka - Miskhor - Yalta - Gurzuf - Partenit - Alushta - Angarsk Pass - Salgirskaya Valley - Simferopol. Observation of the Golden Ring of Crimea from any of this point you can drive in 1 day! Of course you can go in any direction. But we advise the first trip so that you get to Alupka early. You can return to your place of residence even in the dark.

At night, the Yalta-Alushta-Simferopol trolleybus route is also quite suitable. But during the day in the season it will have to be abandoned - it is too busy. Highway Simferopol - Bakhchisaray - Sevastopol is suitable at any time of the day. But there are few viewpoints on it. The highest density of attractions is still in the south-west of Crimea.

Map of the circular automobile route "Golden Ring of Crimea" - the main route along the highway (red dots), routes for mountain bikes, and motorized off-road vehicles (blue dots).

Separately, we will eventually analyze the routes for off-road vehicles (starting from mountain bikes and ending with expedition jeeps). But unlike the Golden Ring of Crimea, you won’t pass the route by car along the highway in one day. However, you can keep within a day if you spend part of the route with a bicycle at the beginning or end in an electric train, trolleybus or arrange an auto-drop-off.

All our routes are also accessible by public transport. Again, in this case, you can’t manage the Golden Ring of Crimea for daylight hours. It will be necessary either to break it into loop-like routes in order to return to your base point, or to spend the night at one of the points of the ring. Right at the bus stations there are always agents of apartment bureaus around the clock. Cheap hotels hostel type work directly at bus stations, for example in Yalta.

Travelers are now worried for many reasons: exchange rates are rising, prices are also rising, and flights to many countries are being canceled. What to do? There is a way out - and this is Crimea. Someone who has already been to the Crimea, from year to year returns to their favorite place, but someone is just getting ready to discover all the charm of a holiday on the peninsula that is gaining popularity.

To make it easier for those who go there for the first time, or maybe just decide to update old memories, we have written this article, in which you will find all useful information about the most popular sights of Crimea. If this is not enough, and everything has already been studied, then in this case we have an article “10 most unusual sights of Crimea”, which we advise you to look into.

One of a kind, the Bakhchisaray Palace is a unique example of Crimean Tatar architecture and annually attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. On the vast territory of the palace there is not only the palace complex itself, but also a mosque, gardens with fountains and museums: an art museum, museums of the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars and, of course, the main exposition of the museum itself, which includes not only the decoration of the palace, but also an impressive exhibition of cold weapons.

The palace is located, as you might guess, in the city of Bakhchisarai, which is about 50 kilometers from Sevastopol and 30 kilometers from Simferopol. You can get to the city by car - from the nearest major cities the road will take about an hour, but, for example, from Yalta or Evpatoria - an hour and a half, from Feodosia - two and a half. Except by car, you can get to Bakhchisaray from Sevastopol and Simferopol by buses departing several times a day from the bus station, and by train. The Bakhchisarai Palace itself is not difficult to find in the city, it is located at the address: River Street, 133.

The opening hours of the palace vary depending on the time of the year: in winter, the ticket office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, in the summer - from 9 am to 6 pm. A visit to the palace is possible only with a guided tour at a fairly affordable price: 275 rubles for adults and about 150 rubles for students.

bird home- one of the symbols Crimean peninsula. This small but so strongly reminiscent knight's castle, an architectural monument is located right on top of the sheer cliff of Ai-Todor. Initially, the Swallow's Nest was wooden and only very remotely resembled a modern building. But periodic restorations and reconstructions after earthquakes and wars have done their job, and now you can’t take your eyes off the Swallow’s Nest.

There is a restaurant and an observation deck inside, there are no museums or exhibitions in the Swallow's Nest. The "castle" is located in the south of the peninsula, about 15 kilometers from the city of Yalta. You can get there by car or by buses No. 32 and No. 102. In addition, local travel agencies offer to get to the sights by water - by boat or by boat.

Ai-Petri - the most high mountain in an array of mountains located in the south of the peninsula, near the city of Yalta. Its height is 1231 meters. Actually, this figure speaks for itself - it is definitely worth climbing to the top - for the sake of air, for the view of the mountains on one side and the sea on the other, for the sake of beautiful nature. You can climb on foot, by car or by cable car, which originates in the village of Miskhor on south coast.

In winter, in addition to walking and climbing the mountain, you can also go skiing, as many locals do. And in the summer there is the possibility of excursions even on horseback. In addition, there are interesting caves and waterfalls along the way, so in order not to miss anything, it may make sense to take an excursion. On the other hand, the “conquest” of Ai-Petri without an excursion group gives completely different, more intense impressions.

Minibuses run regularly from Yalta to Miskhor. The cost is 25 rubles, the journey takes about an hour.

One of the main attractions of the Crimea and the largest waterfall of the Uchal-Su Peninsula is located 7 kilometers from Yalta, on one of the hiking trails to Mount Ai-Petri, which we wrote about above.

Almost 100 meters, or rather 98 and a half - this is the height of Uchal-Su. Powerful streams of water, tending to break on the rocks at the foot of the waterfall, do not leave anyone indifferent. With one exception. In the most popular tourist season in the Crimea, that is, in the summer, the waterfall dries up, and it is likely that in the hot months you will not see the power that delights tourists and local residents. The best time to visit Uchal-Su is the rainy autumn and spring months or winter, when you can even catch a frozen waterfall, which, although it happens, is quite rare.

The closest tourist trail to Uchal-Su is the Taraktash trail, which is also the most picturesque of all. You can also get to the waterfall by transport: fixed-route taxi No. 30 from the bus station of the city of Yalta and by car along the M18 highway.

The surroundings of Mount Ai-Petri are rich not only in natural attractions and beaches, but there are also several interesting architectural structures and museums. One of such sights of Crimea is the Vorontsov Palace, which is essentially a whole palace complex, consisting of several buildings and a beautiful well-groomed park. It was created at the beginning of the 19th century, and in 1990 it was given the status of a museum-reserve.

It can take a lot of time to visit the Borontsov Palace. If you want to walk around the territory and look at the palace from the outside - plan that it will take from a few hours to half a day. Well, if the visit plan also includes an inspection of the palace from the inside, then it’s better not to plan anything else on the same day, the museum-reserve is so rich in various “interesting things”. In addition, there is a beach in the park at the palace, which will allow you to combine the cultural program with holidays at sea.

The Vorontsov Palace is located in the city of Alupka, not far from Yalta, on the southern coast of Crimea. You can get from Yalta by taxi No. 32, which stops in the city center, or No. 102, which departs from the bus station. Minibuses No. 107 and No. 115 are also suitable, they just stop a little further - about 15 minutes walk to the palace.

The Palace Museum is open every day from 9 am to 5:30 pm. Ticket offices close at 16.15. In addition to the main exposition, there are exhibitions on the territory of the museum that receive visitors every day, except Monday and Wednesday.

Tickets for each exhibition or exposition are sold separately and cost from 50 to 300 rubles for an adult and from 25 to 150 rubles for a child. There is no single ticket.

One of the most prominent artists of Russia has many fans both at home and around the world. The great marine painter became famous during his lifetime, and after his death and to this day, Aivazovsky's fame is only growing.

In Feodosia, where the artist was born, he himself opened an exhibition of paintings in his own house, which now bears the proud name of the Aivazovsky National Art Gallery. It is not surprising that it contains the most a large number of works of Aivazovsky, and it is also not surprising that most of them were written in the Crimea.

Moreover, in the museum you can see not only the paintings themselves, but also the personal belongings of the artist. And the gallery guides will be happy to tell you more about the artist's work.

The museum is open all days of the week, except Wednesday, from 10 am to 5 pm. The box office closes at 4pm. Tuesday is a short day, so the gallery is open until 2pm. The ticket price with a guided tour is 250 rubles for adults and 125 for children. The Aivazovsky Museum is located near the railway station of the city of Feodosia, on Galereinaya Street, house 2.

The ancient Genoese fortress Cembalo is located on the Fortress Hill in the city of Balaklava, which, in fact, is only a district of Sevastopol.

The fortress, after its centuries-old history, has not been preserved very well, or rather, even badly. But this does not diminish the interest of travelers who travel from all over Crimea to look at a historical monument of this magnitude.

Today, the Genoese fortress is a landmark under open sky, free and not fenced. Now restoration and restoration work is being carried out here, since quite recently the already destroyed fortress suffered from a heavy downpour, which almost collapsed main tower. But from the hill on which Cembalo is located, a beautiful view of the city and Balaklava Bay opens up.

The ascent starts from the Nazukin embankment. It is better to wear comfortable shoes and stock up on food and water. And at the top you can even have a picnic with a view of the sea, if, of course, the weather is favorable.

The westernmost point of the city of Sevastopol bears the name of Cape Khersones, which is definitely worthy of the attention of a tourist. There are many reasons for this: beautiful views of the sea, the lighthouse of the same name, rocky coast (although sand beach also available), but the main reason is the ruins of the ancient Greek city. Agree, well, where else in Russia can you see the ruins of buildings of this ancient civilization?

Today the cape has the status national reserve under the name "Chersonese Tauride". And pleases the variety of leisure activities offered by the administration of the reserve. Be it the guided tours that take place here for free every hour from 9:30 to 15:30. Or be it excavations, in which, by prior arrangement, you can take part. Thematic exhibitions are constantly held here, and lectures are given for children and adults and, in general, they are engaged in scientific and educational work with might and main.

The Tauric Chersonese Reserve is open to visitors daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm. The box office closes at 5 o'clock. You can get from the center of Sevastopol by bus number 22.

Huge mountain range called Ayu-Dag, and popularly simply "Bear Mountain" is located in the south of the Crimean peninsula, dividing Big Yalta and Big Alushta. The height of the mountain is 577 meters above sea level, and more than two kilometers separate the far edge from the coast, so be sure that Bear Mountain will not go unnoticed by you and all visitors to Yalta.

Today it is a landmark natural monument of the Crimean peninsula, which also boasts the ruins of a medieval settlement. Archeology lovers will be pleased.

The mountain is dotted with hiking trails and paths, which are simply impossible to get around in full in one day. Ayu-Dag has a very diverse flora and fauna, so you are guaranteed delays due to admiring outlandish plants. Several species of animals and plants on Bear Mountain are listed in the Red Book, so behave respectfully towards nature. However, it is worth doing it always and everywhere.

The entrance to the reserve is through a checkpoint because of the sanatorium located here, but the entire fence is dotted with holes, which tourists successfully use.

The nature reserve Karadag is an amazing combination of unearthly landscapes, interesting history full of legends and myths, rich flora and fauna and a long-extinct volcano. It is located in the southeast of the Crimean peninsula, half an hour from Feodosia. There are hotels on the territory of the reserve, which is ideal for those who do not want to limit their visit to one day. And there are many such travelers, because the total territory of Karadag is almost three thousand hectares on land and at sea.

You can take a guide and start exploring the reserve on foot. Moreover, if you ask, the guide will not refuse to show not only the most popular routes, but also protected trails.

And many tourists choose another way to view Karadag - from the sea. Boats and motor ships go here from Sudak, Feodosia and Koktebel, and the views of the coast are such that, without exaggeration, it takes your breath away. Well, as a bonus - you will see Shaitan-Kapa (Golden Gate) - a rock that has the shape of an arch sticking out of the water. Sometimes ships even sail through the arch.

There is one gross mistake that every second tourist in Crimea makes, turning his vacation into seals, when, upon returning home, from memories there is only riding a banana and Buffet In a hotel. There is nothing wrong with this, but from my own experience I can say that a couple of days is enough to relax on the beach. Then he begins to pull on walks, and burnt skin requires rest from sunbathing.

So, in order to stock up on vivid vacation impressions for years to come, every tourist and traveler needs to know what to see in Crimea is a must. I have compiled a cheat sheet for you from the TOP - 20 most popular places for tourists on the peninsula. If you can't wait to get this free bonus, read on!

Crimea what to see necessarily TOP - 20 best places

All tourists are different and everyone’s vacation needs are also different, so I divided interesting places Crimea on thematic blocks. If you are more attracted to action and you want to catch an adrenaline rush, then you will surely be bored on sightseeing tours, even if they are top-notch and all guides will recommend them to you as a must-see. Listen to yourself and your desires, and choose a vacation to your liking. For example, I can say by myself that diving 200 meters into the caves seemed to me much more interesting than looking at the luxurious interior of the Crimean palaces.

Attractions

1. Mount Ai Petri

Mount Ai Petri should be climbed for three reasons. The first reason is because observation deck which truly opens beautiful view to Yalta and Black Sea coast. If you go to the top as part of excursion groups, then the bus will take you directly to the observation point, a well-paved road leads to it, along which you can also drive by car on your own.

Also on Ai Petri there is an opportunity to climb a hiker by buying a ticket for cable car from Alupka. This is the second reason why hundreds of vacationers flock here every day. From the booth you can see the famous teeth, which were shown to the whole world by the Soviet director Gaidai in the film about the adventures of Shurik.

And the last reason is the caves, which are located on the plateau of the same name. We were with an excursion to Ai Petri in August, and the weather at the top did not differ much from the entire temperature in the Crimea. Even in light summer clothes, we did not freeze. So I think it’s superfluous to take warm clothes with you at the height of the season, unless you are going to go down to the caves, where the degree will be lower.

2. Swallow's nest

The Swallow's Nest has become popular among tourists only because of its unusual location. Indeed, this miniature castle in the Gothic style, inexplicably soars over a cliff on a 40-meter cliff. In fact, this object has no historical value, celebrities have not lived in it, and it does not even have an interesting backstory. But it was precisely for his bizarre image that he was painted in paintings, and returning from the Crimea without a photograph against the backdrop of the Swallow's Nest would be considered bad form.

3. Palaces

At all times, Crimea has been a tasty morsel, because of its beautiful natural landscape and mild climate, many rich and important people chose the peninsula as a place for the construction of luxurious palaces and royal apartments. Today, no one lives in the palaces, they are used as museums for excursions of tourists. In fact, there are a lot of palaces in Crimea and you are unlikely to have time to cover everything during your vacation, and you should not do this if your goal is not to write a dissertation on medieval architecture) I will talk about the largest palaces that are most recommended for visiting, based on reviews from tourists.

Livadia Palace

Beautiful name Emperor Nicholas II got his palace from the Greek word "Livadia" - a lawn, impressed by the beautiful local area, and erected this snow-white palace in an overseas Italian style. Now the palace has halls equipped as museums, where you can see the rooms where the Romanov family led its royal existence - the dining room, the emperor's study, the children's bedrooms. It is located in the suburbs of Yalta, just three kilometers from the city. In addition to the Livadia Palace itself, there is a park with paths lined with mosaics, beautiful courtyards immersed in greenery and marble benches.

You can get to the palace as part of an excursion or on your own from Yalta to shuttle bus 5, 11, 27 or 32 and get off at the stop "Sanatorium Dyulber".

Massandra Palace

If the previous palace evokes thoughts of Italy, Massandrovsky resembles medieval French castles from the time of Louis XIII, it is not for nothing that it is called the little Versailles in the Crimea. Now tourists come here to see the museum with the chambers of the emperor and items of royal life, and enjoy leisurely walks through the forest, because the location of the palace is conducive to this.

Next to the Massandra Palace is the Yalta Mining and Forestry nature reserve. Needless to say, walking along pine forest in combination with mountain air, they have a beneficial effect on well-being, and green lawns with broken flower beds with fragrant flowers will make this day the most pleasant and memorable.

You can get to the Massandra Palace on your own as a hiker as part of an excursion or on your own from Yalta by shuttle bus 29 and get off at the Upper Massandrovsky Park stop. Then you have to walk a little along the road.

Vorontsov Palace

The Vorontsov Palace in Crimea is the most beautiful and majestic building in Crimea, it combines luxury style romanticism from English architecture and oriental flavor, in honor of the Muslim founders of the city of Alupka. Walking through the territory of the castle, you can feel like a hero of a fairy tale - battlements, turrets, high stone walls. And this pearl of the Vorontsov Palace - the Southern facade, it seems that the doors are about to open wide and the beautiful oriental princess Budur, surrounded by her retinue, will run out onto the balcony.

It is in the Vorontsov Palace that the famous sculptures of lions by the great Italian master Giovanni Bonnani are located, they decorate the stairs leading to the southern facade, and miniatures are sold here as souvenirs. Another attraction of this place is the garden, founded by the famous gardener Kebach, where plants grow from all over the world.

The Vorontsov Palace is located at the foot of Mount Ai Petri and is one of the most popular and visited places among vacationers. You can get from Yalta to the palace complex by taking buses 27 or 32 from the bus station and getting off at the Alupka Palace stop.

Leisure

If you cannot rest for a long time without physical activity and love to spend your time hiking, then there are places in Crimea that are perfect for this.

4. Marble Cave

It is not necessary to have professional skills in caving tourism in order to dive into the most mysterious cave in Crimea. I'll tell you honestly, we also doubted at first, because with us was Small child My daughter was only three years old at the time. But with great interest she went through the entire route in the Marble Cave from start to finish, and now she can boast that she saw huge icicles that grow right out of the ground)

In the Marble Cave, everything is equipped for convenient and safe movement through the underground halls, there are paths, steps and railings. Each route is built in such a way that you do not even need the help of a guide, it is quite possible to see the decoration of the Marble Cave on your own, the transition from one level to another is not at all difficult, and as I said above, even a small child can pass it.

I left a review of our visit to two large caves in the Crimea.

5. Cave Emine Bair Khosar

Usually a visit to the cave of Emine Bair Khosar goes along with marble cave, because they are both located on the Chatyr Dag plateau, and they are separated by a distance of only two kilometers. The cave got its beautiful name thanks to the Tatar saying - “a well on the mountainside”, but the guides prefer to call it Mammoth Cave in honor of the mammoth that fell into its depths, the remains of which are now the main attraction of this place.

Other visitors to the cave who often visited here were cave bears, saber-toothed tigers and woolly rhinoceros, their bones rest next to the remains of a mammoth. But no traces of our ancestors were found here, apparently the ancient man was cautious and did not burn with the desire to meet these predators here.

6. Tarkhankut

Is there diving in Crimea, and if so, what can you see there? - such a question we approximately asked ourselves while we were looking for scuba diving in the Crimea. In order to understand what sights await you in the depths of the Black Sea, you need to go to West Coast Crimea, there is Cape Tarkhankut - an ideal place for diving on the peninsula. It is here that travelers who are passionate about outdoor activities in the wild, smash tent camps to enjoy the unusual landscape of rocky shores and calm transparent sea.

In addition to diving on Tarkhankut, you can see the sights - the Crocodile rock, swim in the Bowl of Love, swim through the pirate arch in the rock.

You can see a review of how our trip to Cape Tarkhankut took place.

Historical excursions

If you want to get to know the Crimean peninsula closer, then you definitely need to get acquainted with its history, because of its soft natural conditions he at all times remained a tasty morsel for the conquerors. Greeks, Scythians, Italians, Romans and many other peoples lived in Crimea in different time periods, each of which left its architectural and historical mark on the Crimean land.

7. Assumption Cave Monastery

Due to its unusual location, the Assumption Cave Monastery attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the world to its chambers every year. It is literally carved into a sheer rock, and from the side it seems that it soars in an amazing way over the Gorge of Mary. The reasons for the construction of the monastery in such unusual place several, but the main one is that once on the site of the Assumption Monastery an icon of the Mother of God was found, which, after extraction, as if by magic, returned back to the caves.

The monastery survived many turbulent days, when wars raged and bloody battles raged outside its walls, miraculously managed to avoid the pogrom of the Turkish invaders. Today, on the territory of the monastery there are cemeteries where soldiers of different historical eras, from the Crimean War and the Great Patriotic War, are buried. Another attraction of the monastery is its entrance staircase, with a wall located on one side, where holy places from all over the world are shown with a handful of earth.

You can come to the Assumption Monastery from Bakhchisarai, taking the minibus number 2, the Staroselie transport stop.

8. Genoese fortress

Do you want to see spectacular theatrical jousting tournaments within the walls of this medieval fortress? Then you definitely need to take a ride to the city of Sudak and visit the Genoese fortress. Within the walls of the sights you can see the main gate, 12 towers, the consular castle, the temple-mosque, the temple of the twelve apostles, a warehouse, barracks and of course the walls of the fortress, serpentine going to the impregnable rocks of the stone ridge.

Review - Genoese fortress, as I was drinking beer honey,.

9. Cave cities

The cave cities of Crimea are another amazing historical attraction of the peninsula, they are all located in the Bakhchisarai region, and if you have an interest in such places, you can set aside a day for a trip. Most popular places where you can come on your own - these are Bakla, Mangup, Eski Kermen, Chufut Kale. In the Middle Ages, these caves were created by human hands to protect people from frequent attacks by enemies and invaders. The entrance holes are hollowed out in rocky rocks, so moving around cave cities need with caution. You can see both residential caves and cave monasteries, temples with frescoes and paintings.

10. New light. Golitsyn trail

The Golitsyn trail is primarily interesting for tourists because it runs along coastline under the slope of the mountain, as well as some of its sections pass through grottoes and caves. The trail originates from the village famous for its wines and champagne - New World, the village itself is also one of the most beautiful places in Crimea, especially considering its miniature size and location in a natural bay. In the process of passing the trail, such sights as three colored bays, the famous Golitsyn grotto with a wine cellar in the cave walls, a juniper grove and many viewing platforms are visited.

The length of the trail is three kilometers, but despite the short distance, it has strong elevation changes. Therefore, it is better to walk in mountainous terrain in comfortable shoes and with a supply of drinking water in a backpack.

11. Adzhimushkay quarries

In Crimea, there is a place that every vacationer must visit, so as not to forget about the heroism of our ancestors and what price they had to pay for our today's peaceful sky above their heads. This place is a museum on the site of a former quarry, where during the war years people lived and defended from the mines, surviving in inhuman conditions and, with their last strength, repelled the enemy onslaught of the Nazi army. It is terrible to imagine what the occupied residents had to endure. Along with hunger and lack of drinking, the Nazis blew up and blocked the entrances, pumped smoke into the underground adits, and made collapses. Of the ten thousand unfortunate occupied inhabitants who descended into the quarries in 1942, only a few hundred survived.

An underground museum is located near the city of Kerch and it is impossible to miss it, next to it is a giant memorial monument to the heroes of the Second World War.

natural monuments

12. Cape Fiolent

Cape Fiolent is the most picturesque creation of nature in the Crimea, because a volcano has worked on its appearance, today the eruptions of which can be observed in the form of huge blocks of black lava towering above the sea surface. The spectacle is unforgettable, as all tourists say, and I completely agree with them ...

You can swim at Cape Fiolente. But to freshen up local beach, you will have to go down about a thousand unequipped and extreme steps, but the reward will be the cleanest sea in Crimea with a view of the rocks and the almost complete absence of tourists.

It will not be difficult to come to Cape Fiolent in Crimea both as part of an excursion group and on your own. Stop public transport"5th kilometer", then you need to transfer to a minibus going to Cape Fiolent.

13. Demerdzhi

Demerdzhi is the most mysterious mountain in the Crimea and here's why. Firstly, this is not a mountain at all, but a plateau stretching for several kilometers along the Black Sea, near the city of Alushta. The second reason is the bizarre formations in the form of giant stone pillars, reminiscent of statues of warriors, and one of them, due to its similarity with the face of Empress Catherine, was named after her. Thirdly, this is the Valley of Ghosts, a popular place here, so named because of the frequent fogs descending on the valley. When from under thick clouds only the tops of stone sculptures are visible, reminiscent of frozen silhouettes of people.

By the way, interesting fact, at different times of the day, Demerdzhi changes its appearance, each time appearing to tourists in a new color, this is due to the amazing composition of the rocks that form the mountain range. Several trekking paths lead to Demerdzhi, passing through oak and beech groves, so you won’t get lost or miss the interesting.

14. White rock Ak-Kaya

Ak Kaya is a sheer white rock reminiscent of canyons from films about the Wild West. It is not for nothing that many directors have chosen this area for filming films; cowboys in wide-brimmed hats riding frisky horses fit perfectly into the landscape here.

But the rock also has a dark history, on the top of Ak Kay in the Middle Ages people were executed by throwing them down from a steep cliff. The robbers arranged hiding places for the loot in the caves of Ak Kai. Famous commanders held meetings on its plateau, and soldiers took an oath.

15. Kara Dag Reserve

Unlike previous natural creations, you cannot enter the Kara Dag Reserve without warning. First you need to specify the time to visit, book a place for a walk around the reserve, as well as pay admission ticket. But in return, you will get such unforgettable views and emotions that you will remember for a long time.

So why is this place so attractive for a vacationer? Firstly, this place is a real concentrate, where all the most beautiful and rare plants and trees in the Crimea, which are under protection, are collected, you can see natural marble and blocks of solidified lava. Secondly, the famous Golden Gate rock is located here, you can swim through the natural arch and make a wish during boat trip by Kara Dag.

Thirdly, this is not just a reserve, but dormant volcano, once spewing fiery lava, this is reminiscent of the black color of the rock, not for nothing that Kara Dag means Black Mountain in translation. Other sights of the reserve are the museum of the same name, hiking trail 7 kilometers long, panoramic observation decks.

16. Waterfalls

The Uchan-Su waterfall is considered the highest waterfall in the Crimea, but unfortunately its view at the peak of the season leaves much to be desired, in the summer months it almost dries up and in order not to get disappointed from the trip, it is better to plan a visit to the lower but active summer waterfall Dzhur-Dzhur.

Dzhur - Dzhur is the most spectacular and beautiful waterfall in the Crimea, even the name of the waterfall is murmuring. If you come to Abkhazia and do not ride to the waterfall, it will be considered bad form, then when relaxing in the Crimea, you should visit the Dzhur - Dzhursky waterfall. The height of the falling stream is fifteen meters, and along with the water, stones fall from the mountain, so you won’t be able to enjoy swimming, but not many will agree to plunge into the icy water. But on the background of the waterfall, excellent photos are obtained, and if you have not seen such a miracle of nature before, it can impress you!

Health Benefits

17. Estuaries

Crimea is not only beautiful landscapes and sights, but also healing air, unique salt lakes and mineral mud. Arriving in the Crimea to rest, it is quite possible to improve your health and recover from many ailments. Where can this be done if you are not on spa treatment in a sanatorium? The fact is that in the Crimea there are many free natural clinics, which you can use right in the open air, and such wonders of nature are called estuaries.

Estuaries are lakes with a high concentration of salt in the composition of water, and at the bottom of such reservoirs there are therapeutic muds that have a beneficial effect on the skin and the body as a whole. To receive treatment, it is enough to come to the estuary, of which there are a huge number in the Crimea, take a mineral bath and apply healing mud on the body.

You can read a review of how we went to the estuary in Evpatoria Lake Moinaki.

18. Jau Tepe Mud Volcanoes

If you are sure that there is no active volcanoes you are deeply mistaken. There are amazing natural volcanoes on the peninsula that spewing not fiery lava, but streams of healing mud! In total, there are about seven active volcanoes in Crimea, and all of them are located in the east. Kerch Peninsula in the village of Vulkanovka. But unlike estuaries, climbing into the mouth of a volcano to smear yourself with mud would be a big stupidity, you can easily fall into a natural crater. Hill mud contains a storehouse of minerals and is used by doctors for health purposes in hospitals and sanatoriums of the Crimea.

Recreational activities

Crimea has long ceased to have the status of a pensioner's vacation, events held on the peninsula are most often aimed at youth and active pastime. Jazz festivals are held here, informal youth gathers, many clubs, cafes and other entertainments, night life V resort towns. What unusual events can be visited in the Crimea, which you definitely will not see at home?

19. Mud fights

This non-traditional sport appeared in Crimea relatively recently and has already gained popularity among spectators, visitors and tourists. Still, after all, beautiful pumped-up girls act as athletes in the arena, but this is not their main quality. What visitors come here for is to see with their own eyes masterful karate techniques, and sometimes even tricks like spectacular acrobatic numbers. Do not be afraid there will be no blood and broken ribs, but you will get an adrenaline rush watching mud fights. And you can also participate in this event personally, each spectator is given the opportunity to enter the ring and measure their strength with gladiator girls.

20. Kazantip

You have probably heard about Kazantip, but you don’t know what it is. The Republic of Kazantip is a mega party held annually in Crimea and gathering hundreds of visitors from all over the world on its territory. The reason why vacationers come here is to listen to club and electronic music performed by the top DJs from all over the world. Here you can hang out, dance and light up all day long, and you can come here in beach shorts and a swimsuit, or you can come up with an original image for yourself and apply makeup.

You can read our impression of the days spent at Kazantip.

I hope my reminder of what to see in Crimea is sure to come in handy. I wish you all a pleasant and memorable holiday!

What is the special charm of Crimea? The abundance of the sun, the expanses of the sea, amazing beautiful mountains, healing air and the riot of southern nature beckon vacationers. And also an abundance of attractions worth visiting - from the cave cities and the Nikitsky Botanical Garden to the Swallow's Nest and the Livadia Palace. And I want to see it all!

In the south of the mainland Eurasia is located unique territory with a special climate and the richest nature. The Crimean peninsula, to some resembling a bunch of grapes, to some a rhombus and even a heart, is surrounded by two seas.

Peninsula features:

• The waves of the Black Sea wash the Crimea in the south and west, and the waters the shallowest sea in the world of Azov - in the north.
• The flat landscapes of most of the peninsula gradually rise to the south and are replaced by the Crimean mountains. from the very high peak Roman-Kosh (1545 m). This entire territory covers an area of ​​26,860 km².
• Inhabit Crimea 2 340 921 people. Most of the inhabitants live in the federal city of Sevastopol, capital of the Republic of Simferopol is the second largest in terms of population.
• Crimea is famous for its healing climate, which differs in different parts of the peninsula: in most of its territory the mild steppe climate of the temperate zone, in the mountainous Crimea it is more humid and cool. On the southern coast of the peninsula, climatic conditions close to subtropical mediterranean. Summer is sunny, but the heat is not exhausting, the air is refreshing sea ​​breeze, the water warms up to +24° on average. Autumn on the coast is warm, winter is mild and short.
• Crimea is good for recreation in any season.

Main attractions

Each guest of the peninsula discovers his own Crimea. For someone of interest natural attractions- caves, waterfalls, mountain plateaus.

Others are attracted archaeological sites, museums and palaces of Crimea. Driving from Cape Tarkhankut in the west to Kerch in the east, you can discover all the beauties of the peninsula.

We have prepared for you a guide to the main attractions of Crimea with photos and names, so that you have no questions about what to see on the peninsula.

The most extreme western point of the Crimean peninsula is Cape Tarkhankut. These places are famous for ecologically clean water area with clear water.

Divers, surfers, just amateurs beach holiday away from the bustle popular resorts have already appreciated the advantages of Tarkhankut.

Fans of new experiences also have something to see here:

1. 1. Atlesh tract with his huge natural arch, bays, grottoes, caves and a 98-meter through tunnel. Favorite films of many generations "Pirates of the ⅩⅩ century" and "Amphibian Man" were filmed here;
   2. Cup of love up to 9 meters deep - a romantic place where lovers test their feelings. You need to jump into the water without opening your hands, and then, according to ancient belief, the couple will be happy together for many years;

1. Alley of leaders– an underwater museum with more than 50 exhibits;
2. Kalos-Limen and the burial grounds of the Scythians.

The Tauric Chersonese Museum-Reserve is located at the address: Ancient Street, 1.

Here you can see ruins of ancient Chersonese. The ancient Greek polis was founded at the end of the 5th century BC. It was here that Prince Vladimir himself converted to Christianity and laid the foundation for the baptism of all of Rus'. In honor of this event, the Cathedral of St. Vladimir.

Tourists love to take pictures against the backdrop of the famous misty bell. Fans of antiquities will be interested to get acquainted with museum expositions.

In the summer, every day, from 8.30 am to 8 pm you can visit the territory of the reserve, admission is free. But you have to pay for excursions and viewing the expositions.

This legendary place on the Ship side of Sevastopol. The strategically important height was heroically defended by Russian troops during the Crimean War (1854-1855) and by Soviet soldiers in 1942.

Memorial Complex includes more than 20 monuments. Here you can see the places where Admirals Kornilov and Nakhimov were mortally wounded, ancient artillery batteries, the Eternal Flame, Friendship Alley.

Information for visitors:

Near Nakhimov Square, the main one in Sevastopol, there is a kind of emblem of the hero city, a pier, which is called Grafskaya. This is in honor of Count Voinovich, commander of the Sevastopol squadron.

The pier is a historical place, it was built on the shore of the Sevastopol Bay, in its southern part, waiting for the arrival of Catherine II. Later it was landscaped, and today the white colonnade is the decoration of the city. A marble staircase leads down to the sea.

The Count's Wharf is called the main sea gate of the city. Veterans gather on its steps holidays. From here, guests of Sevastopol admire the landscapes of the bay.

near Sevastopol, at Cape Fiolent, on a high terrace above the sea, the monastery of St. George is located.

The legend about its origin says that it happened in 891. On the place where, thanks to St. George, Greek sailors were saved from the storm, they founded this monastery. For several centuries the monastery was a place of pilgrimage for Crimean Christians.

The monastery has a difficult history, today it began to be revived in 1991. This place is worth visiting not only for believers. This place feels the breath of history. The monastery is located in beautiful place, on a staircase of 777 steps, from a 200-meter height, you can go down to Jasper Beach.

Visitors are welcome at the monastery on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Free admission.

One of the decorations South Shore Crimea - Church of the Resurrection, often referred to simply as the Foros Church. Small in size and graceful in shape, the temple seems to be floating in the air, at a height of 412 meters. The view from below is especially mesmerizing, it must be seen, the sensations are indescribable.

The best craftsmen participated in the construction of the church; it is one of the architectural monuments of the 19th century.

The temple is active, services, baptisms, weddings are held in it. Breathtaking views of Foros and its surroundings open from the viewing platform.

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ is located at the address: Foros village, st. Terletsky, 3. A visit to the temple is free, but if acquaintance with it is included in excursion route, the price is negotiable.

The pride of the resort Alupka is considered to be the Vorontsov Palace, or rather, it is a whole museum-reserve with a palace complex and a park. The summer residence of Count Vorontsov was completed by the middle of the 19th century.

Interesting facts about the palace:

1. Three generations of the Vorontsov family owned the palace. Today, when it has become a museum, you can see the preserved luxurious interiors of past years.
2. The British delegation headed by Winston Churchill, who arrived at the Yalta Conference, lived in the Vorontsov Palace.
3. Famous Soviet films - from " scarlet sails”and“ Ordinary Miracle ”to“ Assa ”and“ Ten Little Indians ”were filmed here.
4. The palace looks great against the backdrop of Mount Ai-Petri, among cypresses and magnolias.

Address Vorontsov Palace in Alupka: Palace highway, 18. Opening hours - from 9.00 to 17.00, daily.

You can visit all halls and expositions by single ticket which costs 650 rubles. The price for visiting individual exhibitions is from 50 to 300 rubles.

Not far from Yalta there is a world-famous place where collected trees and flowers of several thousand species. The Nikitsky Botanical Garden not only employs scientists and researchers. Flora lovers are always welcome there, they organize excursions, exhibitions, whole flower balls and festivals.

Lotuses and irises, tulips, roses and chrysanthemums - the garden is beautiful in any season. You can admire the unique herbarium in the museum, and cacti in the greenhouse of the botanical garden.

What visitors need to know:

• during the year, the garden receives guests daily, from 8.00 to 17.00;
• entrance to the Arboretum, which consists of two parks, will cost 300 rubles for an adult, 150 rubles for schoolchildren;
• you can visit the Seaside Park and the greenhouse for 100 rubles. adult and for 50 rubles. a child from 7 to 14 years old;
• A ticket to the museum costs 50 rubles. and children of school age will pay half the price for visiting it;
• located Botanical Garden in the village of Nikita, Yalta.

Livadia Palace, built for the royal family, for over 100 years. But even today the residence of the Romanovs, which has become a museum-reserve, attracts visitors with its beauty.

Just a few kilometers from Yalta is this snow-white architectural masterpiece. The main expositions are devoted to the Romanov dynasty and the Crimean Conference of the leaders of the Soviet Union, Great Britain and the USA. There are also thematic exhibitions.

To the attention of visitors:

Everyone knows this architectural landmark in absentia - I saw it on postcards. She is located on Cape Ai-Todor in Gaspra, on a 40-meter steep Aurora rock. The castle itself is small, it was restored, giving it its current look, and today it is an exhibition complex.

And on the adjacent terrace in the evenings concerts, performances, vernissages are held. From here it is good to admire the sea views.

Information for those wishing to visit the Swallow's Nest:

• the territory adjacent to the palace can be visited free of charge. A ticket to the castle itself costs 200 rubles for adults, 100 rubles for children;
• in the period from May to October, the opening hours are from 10.00 to 19.00 daily, and from November to May, the visiting time is reduced to 16.00, on Monday the castle is closed for visits;
• The Swallow's Nest is located in the village of Gaspra, on Alupkinskoye Highway, 9A.

Not far from the village of Generalskoye, there is a wonderful place in the vicinity, especially desirable for tourists on hot summer days. Even in the heat of the day, the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall is full of water and pleases with coolness and picturesque spectacle- water rushes down from a height of 15 meters.

Where the waterfall is located belongs to the territory of the reserve of the same name. Having paid 100 rubles for the entrance, you can go to the observation deck.

If a visit to the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall is organized, as part of an excursion, then the average price will be 750 rubles.

When visiting on your own, you can drive up to the sights, and not walk through the forest, you can agree on a price with local residents.

Genoese fortress in Sudak museum-reserve, a monument of the history of the medieval era. The defensive structure was erected on the top of the Fortress Mountain, it took almost a hundred years to make the fortress impregnable.

But today, visitors will see only the remnants of the former power, which are still impressive. It is not for nothing that historical reconstructions and tournaments of knights are held here.

To the attention of tourists:

Fans of the great marine painter Ivan Aivazovsky will be interested in visiting Feodosia art gallery. In Russia, by the way, this museum is one of the oldest.

Here you can see the works of not only the famous artist, but also other masters of painting, including modern ones, photographs, archival documents and things.

The house of Aivazovsky himself and his sister is in these buildings, architectural monuments 19th century, there is a museum exposition.

Information about the work of the museum:

It will be interesting to visit this palace for everyone who wants to learn about the architecture, traditions and culture of the Crimean Tatar people.

The residence of the Crimean khans thought about how paradise on the ground. But over the centuries, the palace has been destroyed and altered.

Today, visitors to the historical and cultural reserve can see the interiors of residential quarters and a harem, mosques, the Divan hall, Sary-Gyuzel baths, gardens, courtyards and fountains. The most famous of them - sung by Pushkin

To the attention of visitors:

• You can see the Khan's Palace daily, from 9.00 to 17.00. average price for a ticket for an adult is 300 rubles, for students - 100 rubles. But the exact cost of visiting depends on how many exhibitions you plan to visit;
• The Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai is located on Rechnaya Street, 133.

This private zoo welcomes visitors with animals of more than 100 species, including the rare ones. Tigers and leopards, bears and camels, ostriches and hippos, chimpanzees and giraffes live here.

The inhabitants can be fed, but only with special food purchased at the entrance. Children will be interested to communicate with animals in petting zoo- "Grandma's Yard".

Information for zoo guests:

• an adult will pay 500 rubles for entering this realm of fauna, a ticket for a child under 10 years old costs half as much;
• The zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can find it at the address: Yalta, st. Kirov, 156.

Attractions map

We have mentioned only a small part of the attractions of the peninsula. Much more is indicated on the map:

It is impossible to be disappointed in the Crimean sights. They are so different - unique corners nature, picturesque parks, mountain landscapes, luxurious palaces, historical monuments. You need to see all this with your own eyes and understand why Crimea is attractive for you.