Where are the most attractions in Crimea? Interesting places on the map of Crimea: where to go and what to see first

The Crimean peninsula is a unique historical and cultural reserve. Here, for centuries, the cultures of different peoples living in this area were intertwined. The history of confrontation between the civilizations of East and West is especially clear in Crimea - this is the history of the Greek colonialists and nomads from the Golden Horde, the first Christians and Muslims who built churches and mosques here.

But Crimea is not only a point on the map rich in historical events. It is also a beautifully diverse nature, considered best place recreation and tourism in the USSR, under which Crimea was rightly called the “All-Union Health Resort”. In those days, up to 8 million people annually vacationed in more than a hundred sanatoriums in Crimea. It will take more than one month to explore all the sights of the Crimean peninsula, but we bring to your attention ten places that you must visit first.

(Total 10 photos)

1. Swallow's Nest

This one is menacing looking gothic castle, located on a cliff, was not actually built in the era dark Middle Ages, and just a century ago - in 1912. This layout was ordered by the German industrialist Baron von Stengel, who wanted his “dacha” to remind him of his homeland in its appearance. At the beginning of World War I, the baron urgently sold the castle, and after reconstruction the building became an open restaurant.

2. Submarine base in Balaklava

Ten kilometers from Sevastopol in the resort town of Balaklava there is a top-secret submarine base. For safety reasons, even during the construction stage, which began in 1957, secret object was given the name City Telephone Exchange number 825, or GTS 825. This is a huge underground structure, the area of ​​all premises of which is more than 5 thousand square kilometers. In 1994, the station was closed, and after the annexation of Crimea, a museum dedicated to this base was opened here.

3. Mount Ai-Petri

One of the most popular places among tourists on the map of the Crimean Peninsula. The Greek temple of St. Peter (Ai-Petri in Greek) was once located here, the ruins of which remain to this day. You can reach the top of the mountain by cable car, recognized, by the way, as the longest in Europe. From the very high point The mountain called Roka (1346 meters) offers stunning views of the Yalta mountain forest reserve and the coast of the Crimean peninsula.

4. Karadag Reserve

One of the most mysterious places on the southern coast of Crimea. The unique landscape of Karadag is formed by solidified lava flows that last erupted from the Kara-Dag (Black Mountain) volcano more than 150 million years ago. In 1979, a reserve was established here, designed to preserve the unique flora and fauna of this place, many species of which are included in the Red Book.

5. Chersonese Tauride

This was the name of the city more than two and a half thousand years ago, founded by the Greeks. It is here, in the city where it was once located great amount monasteries and Orthodox churches, Prince Vladimir was baptized. Nowadays, the ruins of Chersonesos, or “Russian Pompeii,” attract researchers and tourists from all over the world. In 1892 they opened here Archaeological Museum, which contained many valuable artifacts from ancient city. And later a state reserve was founded.

6. Gazebo of the winds

At the top of Shagan-Kaya at an altitude of 1450 meters there is a stone gazebo built in 1956. The mosaic on its floor depicts a compass rose, from which the gazebo got its name. From here there is an amazing view of Mount Ayu-Dag, Gurzuf, Partenit and the Black Sea, which in clear weather can be seen for 150 kilometers. Next to the gazebo there is a cave in which winter reigns and snow lies even in the hottest weather.

7. Kerch Fortress (Fort Totleben)

Fortress on the shore Kerch Strait it was decided to build bypassing the Paris Peace Treaty, which prohibited Russia from having a fleet and military ports on the Black Sea. The central fort of the grandiose structure is named after the general who led the construction of the fortifications. And today the Kerch fortress remains an excellent example of what impregnable fortifications were erected in the middle of the 19th century. Currently, excursions are being conducted around Kerch and it is being studied by specialists - some of the extensive underground passages under it have not yet been properly explored.

8. Mount Demerdzhi

Demerdzhi - which is translated from Tatar as “blacksmith” - is a beautiful, similar to medieval castle mountain in the northern part of the Alushta Valley. On its western slope there is the so-called Valley of Ghosts. Here, near the ruins of the fortress, there are more than a hundred stone sculptures, reminiscent of human and animal figures in their outlines. And if you climb to the top of the mountain, from a height of more than 1200 meters a picturesque view of the surrounding area opens up.

9. Tarkhankut

Until the end of the 18th century, the population of the Tarkhankut Peninsula was small, only a few hundred inhabitants, mainly engaged in agriculture. Changes began after part of the land was transferred to Major General V.S. in 1784. Popov, who improved the economy of the region. The cape located on the peninsula attracts many scuba divers, archaeologists and tourists. Underwater archaeologists find here priceless artifacts from the ancient era, when the Scythians and Greeks lived here.

10. Genoese fortress in Sudak

At a time when the coast of Crimea from the Bosporus to Chersonesus belonged to merchants from Genoa and Venice, Sudak was chosen by them as military base. Then, in 1371, the construction of the famous Genoese fortress began. Currently, the fortress is a unique historical monument. Research and restoration work is carried out on its territory, and excursions are held.

Crimean sights, as if on purpose, were located very well.

No matter how you plan your route, there will always be something interesting nearby. If you lay out all the sights of Crimea on a map, you can easily plan a route for every taste: through cave cities, through palaces and museums, through south-coast parks, as well as through any other historical, archaeological, natural and botanical monuments of the peninsula. If you love, then most often they are formed on a geographical basis. For example, "Attractions" Southern Crimea!

"will include the Nikitsky Garden, and at least a couple of palaces - Livadia and Vorontsovsky, as well as the Yalta embankment, a cable car and, for dessert, a boat ride. But on excursions you will not be shown a “parade” of nudists in Fox Bay or the majestic rocks and cliffs of Cape Fiolent. All the most interesting places are hidden from the eyes of the average tourist and our site will help you reveal the secrets

We have collected all the interesting places that every tourist needs to see in Crimea into a convenient guide with photos and descriptions. Each point and each place is accurately marked on the map, you can download any category from the guide in the universal .kml format. This file can then be copied to your navigator, phone, tablet. This will allow you not to get lost and visit all the places planned in advance without unexpected “adventures”.

Well, if you haven’t chosen a vacation rental yet, we recommend a booking service from our good friends. Current prices and photographs, without unnecessary overpayments and intermediaries.

Photos of Crimean attractions - everything interesting in Crimea!

For example, you can see the Swallow's Nest from all angles in pictures on the Internet, but this is nothing compared to reality. This greatest attraction of Yalta (Crimea) has a peculiarity: you need to look at the Swallow's Nest from a ship, skirting the rock from the sea. Wind, sea spray, cries of seagulls, and above - the crown of architectural mastery of the Crimean southern coast!

The sights of Crimea in the photo are only suitable for planning a route.

To estimate how big the palace is and how long it will take to explore it. How difficult is the route in the cave, how deep is the bay, how high does the cable car rise... Sights of Crimea: when to see? And finally: Crimea is not only

summer resort

. Forget this stereotype. The attractions of Crimea in summer are the beach, boat trips, water parks and open airs. about the most popular attractions 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 take a look at.

One of a kind, the Bakhchisarai 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: Art Museum, museums of the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars and, of course, the main exhibition of the museum itself, which includes not only the decoration of the palace, but also an impressive exhibition of bladed weapons.

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

The palace's opening hours vary depending on the time of year: winter period 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 only possible with a guided tour at a fairly affordable price: 275 rubles for adults and about 150 rubles for students.


Swallow's Nest is one of the symbols of the Crimean Peninsula. This one is small, but so reminiscent knight's castle, an architectural monument located right at the top sheer cliff Ai-Todor. Initially, the Swallow's Nest was wooden and only very vaguely 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, approximately 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 access to the attraction by water - by boat or motor ship.


Ai-Petri is the most high mountain in a mountain range located in the south of the peninsula, near the city of Yalta. Its height is 1231 meters. Actually, this figure speaks for itself - it’s definitely worth climbing to the top - for the air, for the view of the mountains on one side and the sea on the other, for the 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, along the way there are interesting caves and waterfalls, so in order not to miss anything, it might be worth taking a tour. On the other hand, the “conquest” of Ai-Petri without excursion group gives a completely different, more intense experience.

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


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

Almost 100 meters, or more precisely 98 and a half - this is the height of Uchal-Su. Powerful streams of water tending to crash against rocky rocks at the foot of the waterfall do not leave anyone indifferent. With one exception. The most popular tourist season in Crimea, that is, in the summer, the waterfall dries up, and there is a possibility 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 Taraktashskaya, which is also the most picturesque of all. You can also get to the waterfall by transport: by minibus No. 30 from the bus station in Yalta and by car along the M18 highway.


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

Visiting the Borontsov Palace can take a lot of time. If you want to walk around the grounds and look at the palace from the outside, plan on it taking from several hours to half a day. Well, if your visit plan also includes an inspection of the palace from the inside, then it’s better not to plan anything else for the same day, the museum-reserve is so rich in various “interests”. In addition, there is a beach in the park at the palace, which will allow you to combine cultural program from 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 minibus 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 5-5:30 pm. The ticket office closes at 16.15. In addition to the main exhibition, there are exhibitions on the museum’s territory that welcome visitors every day except Monday and Wednesday.

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


One of the most prominent artists in Russia has many fans both in his homeland 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 home, which now bears the proud name “National Art Gallery named after Aivazovsky. It is not surprising that it contains the largest number of works by Aivazovsky, and it is also not surprising that most of them were written in Crimea.

Moreover, in the museum you can see not only the paintings themselves, but also the artist’s personal belongings. 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 4 pm. Tuesday is a short day, so the gallery is open until 2 pm. The price of a ticket with a 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 Galereynaya Street, building 2.


The ancient Genoese fortress of Chembalo is located on Fortress Mountain 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 poorly. But this does not diminish the interest of travelers who travel from all over Crimea to look at historical monument of this scale.

Today the Genoese fortress is a landmark under open air, free and unfenced. Now restoration and restoration work is being carried out here, since quite recently the already destroyed fortress suffered from heavy rain, which almost collapsed the main tower. But from the hill on which Chembalo is located there is a view beautiful view to the city and the bay of Balaklava.

The ascent begins 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 overlooking the sea, if the weather cooperates, of course.


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

Today the cape has the status national reserve called "Chersonese Tauride". And we are pleased with the variety of leisure activities offered by the administration of the reserve. Be it excursions, which are held here free of charge every hour from 9:30 to 15:30. Or be it excavations, in which you can take part by prior arrangement. Thematic exhibitions are constantly held here, and lectures are given for children and adults and generally engaged in scientific and educational work.

The Khersones Tauride Nature Reserve is open to visitors daily from 8:30 am to 6 pm. The ticket office closes at 5 o'clock. You can get there from the center of Sevastopol by bus No. 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 the far edge is separated from the shore by more than two kilometers, so rest assured, Bear Mountain will not go unnoticed by you and all visitors to Yalta.

Today it is an iconic 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 cover in full in one day. Ayu-Dag has a very diverse flora and fauna, so you are guaranteed to be delayed due to admiring strange plants. Several species of animals and plants on Bear Mountain are listed in the Red Book, so be respectful of nature. However, it is worth doing this always and everywhere.

Entrance to the reserve is through a checkpoint from behind the sanatorium located here, but the entire fence is riddled with holes, which tourists successfully take advantage of.


Nature reserve Karadag is an amazing combination of unearthly landscapes, interesting story, full of legends and myths, a rich flora and fauna and has long been extinct volcano. It is located in the southeast of the Crimean Peninsula, half an hour’s drive 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 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 explore 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, they are breathtaking. Well, as a bonus, you will see Shaitan-Kapa (Golden Gate) - a rock shaped like an arch sticking out of the water. Sometimes ships even sail right through the arch.

In this article, I will try to briefly describe the TOP 15 attractions Crimean peninsula that are worth visiting. I would like to immediately make a reservation that when compiling this TOP, I had to cross out many other beautiful places from it and leave on the list only the most beautiful and worthy of your attention sights of Crimea.

1) Mount Ai-Petri.

I think Ai-Petri is the most beautiful mountain peninsula. Its height is 1234 meters above sea level. Unforgettable views, majestic pine trees, dizzying cliffs, caves, waterfalls... Ai-Petri has everything you can imagine.

From the top of Ai-Petri, the Black Sea, in clear weather, can be seen 150 km into the distance, and this, after all, is half the distance to Turkey!

You can climb Ai-Petri in various ways: by cable car, minibus or taxi, and on foot. You can learn more about these methods, but I advise you to do ascent on foot along the picturesque hiking trails. Only in this case can you say that you have conquered Ai-Petri!

You can create a route in such a way that in one day of light you can see the most high waterfall Crimea - climb up and look at Yalta through the Taraktash windows, walk along the Ai-Petri plateau and enjoy the aromas of mountain herbs, climb the famous Ai-Petri battlements, and then go down along or by cable car. And all this in one day!

We organize one-day hiking trips and will be glad to see you among the participants! Read more about hikes and. 🙂

More detailed information about Ai-Petri and its attractions can be found in

2) Cape Fiolent.

Cape Fiolent is an incredibly beautiful place. Be sure to visit this cape, it will impress you, I assure you. Fiolent is also known for its jasper beach, which is about a kilometer long. And the water in the sea is considered the cleanest in the vicinity of Sevastopol.

So take a snorkel with a mask, a camera and go ahead for impressions!

3) Balaclava - Crimean Venice.

Balaklava Bay – unique place, attracting the attention of tourists from all over the world. The bay is protected on all sides from wind and waves, and is considered the best place for yachting enthusiasts.

At the height of the season, Balaklava Bay resembles a busy road, small boats and majestic yachts, every now and then scurrying back and forth, delivering tourists to beautiful beaches, of which there are many in Balaklava. This includes Vasili and the Golden and Silver beaches. You can also get from Balaklava to , and to Cape Aya. The selection of beaches is truly impressive.

There is also something to see in Balaklava itself. You can visit the secret submarine repair plant, or you can explore the Chembalo fortress, or take a hike along picturesque places to one of the beaches.

4) Golitsyn Trail.

A picturesque trail originating in the New World. The route of the trail is absolutely not difficult and does not require any special skills or good physical fitness.

Entrance to the trail is paid - 100 rubles.

The trail owes its name to Prince Golitsin, who ordered a passage to the grotto to be cut in the rocks and a cellar to be equipped in it for storing wines. The grotto itself has excellent acoustics and coolness that saves you from the heat.

The trail passes through all the Novy Svetov bays (green, blue and blue, which have such names because of the color of the sea in them), in close proximity to the sea and leads to Cape Kapchik.

From the cape you can return through the juniper grove to New World, or you can continue the journey and go down to Tsarsky Beach or go to conquer the Peak of Cosmos mountain, which offers beautiful views of all the bays.

You can read photo reports of our adventures here...

5) Yalta is the pearl of Crimea.

Yalta! How great it is to walk along the Yalta embankment, listening to the surf and enjoying the beauty of the kilometer-long mountains surrounding Yalta on all sides. Yalta is beautiful. Chekhov himself said that Yalta is in no way inferior to Nice, and in many ways even better.

Therefore, if you are thinking of going to Yalta or choosing some other city, then I can give you advice - of course, go. Beautiful nature, clear sea, mountains, palm trees - this is all about Yalta!

6) Chatyr-Dag Caves.

Not far from Alushta there is a mountain - Chatyr-Dag, with highest peak– Eklizi-Burun (1527 meters above sea level – the 4th peak of Crimea). Chatyr-Dag itself is also very interesting and you can conquer its peaks on your own,

But we're talking about caves. There are several dozen caves known on Chatyr-Dag, but there are only two specially equipped for tourists - these are the Marble and Mammoth caves (Emine-Bair-Khosar). You can visit these caves on your own, or you can go on a guided tour.

We also visited both of these caves, but Mramornaya did not impress us at all, but I can’t say the same about Mamontova. There's a lot to see there. And it was named after the baby mammoth, whose remains lie in the cave.

In any case, the Chatyr-Dag caves are worthy of your attention, and I recommend you visit them.

All of you, most likely, have seen films or heard about the Grand Canyon in the USA - the deep canyon peace. But imagine that in Crimea there is also such a canyon, of course not as huge as the American one, but this is no worse.

The Grand Canyon of Crimea is located 5 km from the village of Sokolinoe - this is an amazing and beautiful place. The depth of the canyon is over 320 meters, the length is 3.5 km, and the width of the canyon in some places does not exceed 3 meters.

A mountain river flows along the bottom of the canyon and forms small waterfalls 3-4 meters high. Waterfalls, in turn, wash away erosion pits, which are called baths of youth. The water in the river does not exceed 11 degrees even on the hottest days. There is a legend that taking a bath in the bath of youth will rejuvenate your body. But not everyone will be able to overcome themselves to take such a bath. The water is very refreshing.

And now add to all this the long-term Crimean forest and the singing of hundreds of birds. Introduced? No? Then plan your next trip to Crimea in such a way that you will definitely visit the Grand Canyon.

8) Dzhur-Dzhur is the deepest waterfall in Crimea.

The Jur-Jur waterfall is located in the Khap Khal reserve valley, not far from the village of Generalskoye (from Turkic - wolf's mouth), so at the entrance to the reserve you must pay a tourist fee of 100 rubles.

The Ulu-Uzen River on its way to the Black Sea encounters a 15-meter cliff and, noisily falling from the cliff, forms a waterfall. Jur-Jur is the deepest waterfall in Crimea, and translated from Turkic it means water-water.

In spring, this waterfall is truly impressive; it is so powerful that it is impossible to resist its pressure. Every second, 350 liters of water rush down from the cliff. The falling water creates such noise that it is impossible to hear each other.

By the end of summer, due to the lack of precipitation, the waterfall noticeably weakens, but, nevertheless, remains quite powerful.

Read more about our excursion to Jur-Jur and to the lighthouse temple of St. Nicholas

9) Cable car to Ai-Petri.

The cable car to Ai-Petri is a miracle of engineering. This road is included in the TOP 10 most impressive cable cars in the world. Also, the Crimean “cable car” is unique in that the length of the unsupported span is 1670 meters, longer only in Germany. And the angle of elevation near the mountains is 46 degrees.

The road is made according to the pendulum principle - the cabins move towards each other. The cabins themselves are quite large and spacious, they can accommodate up to 40 people and you can climb into them even with bicycles and tourist backpacks.

The price of the cable car ride is 250 rubles for adults and 100 rubles for children. Children under 6 years old are free.

More detailed information .

10) Memorial complex “35th Coastal Battery” in Sevastopol.

Museum "35" coastal battery" - This memorial Complex, in which you can get acquainted with the history of the defense of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War, about the feat of our soldiers.

The museum is open to the public:

  • V summer time(May-October) - daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except Mondays;
  • V winter time(November-April) - from 10:00 to 16:00, except Monday and Tuesday.

Entrance to the museum is free.

The heroic defense of Sevastopol lasted 250 days. And the 35th battery played a very important role in this defense. The city was captured only after the battery was destroyed. I would also like to note that over the last 25 days of the assault on Sevastopol, German aircraft dropped as many air bombs on the besieged city as the British had dropped on all of Germany by that day since the start of the Second World War. Naturally, Sevastopol was completely destroyed.

I recommend everyone to visit this museum!

More detailed information

11) Swallow's Nest is the calling card of Crimea.

Swallow's Nest Castle is a miniature castle that rises on the Aurora rock of Cape Ai-Todor. Swallow's Nest is one of the most famous and popular places Crimea. Crowds of tourists flock to the castle every day in an endless line to see this architectural miracle with their own eyes.

12) Sudak (Genoese) fortress

From the name of the fortress it becomes clear that in order to see it you need to visit the wonderful city of Sudak. This amazing fortress is a legacy medieval history, which was built by the Genoese.

To be honest, before seeing the fortress with my own eyes, I was afraid that I would see something similar to it in Alushta. But what I saw was truly fascinating.

Every year, historians and reenactors hold festivals in the Sudak fortress, visiting which you can easily be transported to the Middle Ages.

An attraction worthy of your attention!

13) Livadia Palace

To say that the Livadia Palace made a strong impression on us is to say nothing. Imagine a leisurely walk through the park, and suddenly you come to a palace.

The palace simply amazes with its whiteness and grandeur. Well-groomed lawns and palm trees against the backdrop of the palace look especially bright, and the blue Black Sea is visible on the horizon. Amazing view!

I would also like to say that it was here that the division of Europe took place following the Second World War. Such great personalities as Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met here at the Yalta Conference in February 1945. And you can visit the exhibition wax figures and immerse yourself in that atmosphere.

It starts at the Livadia Palace and you can take a leisurely stroll in the shade of the trees and enjoy the views from the path.

14) Vorontsov Palace in Alupka.

Vorontsov Palace also deserves your attention. The palace belonged to Count Vorontsov, one of the richest people of that time, and its architecture is made in the English style, but interweaves elements of different historical eras.

The Southern Terraces deserve special attention, with the famous lions, which offer stunning views of Ai-Petri.

The palace park (Alupkinsky) is also beautiful - a masterpiece of park and garden art. Walking through the park, you will be impressed by the scope of thought of its creator, Karl Antovich Kebach.

It’s worth visiting the Vorontsov Palace, but you need to set aside a full day to explore it, otherwise you simply won’t be able to see everything.

15) Chersonese Tauride in Sevastopol.

Chersonese Tauride was founded by the Greeks, and on this moment included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO.

I can’t say that I was very impressed by Chersonesos, or rather by its ruins. But everyone should visit it. Quite an interesting place. The remains of an ancient amphitheater and columns are impressive.

What more can be said? It was here that the Baptism of Rus' took place, and the font in which Prince Vladimir baptized Rus' remained. The very beautiful Vladimir Cathedral, which is located almost in the center of the ancient settlement.

They also say that when diving into the sea, you can see the remains of ancient ruins underwater. And this sight evokes strong emotions. I managed to visit Tauride Chersonesus in December and didn’t really want to dive with a mask, although I swam that day. The color is very beautiful by the sea. 🙂

I hope mine short list will be useful and interesting for you, and you will visit one of these places. Or perhaps you know other interesting attractions that you think should be on this list. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Unusual, interesting and non-tourist places in Crimea that we visited and recommend you visit. Find out what you can see in the vicinity of Sudak, New World, Bakhchisaray, Tarkhankut, Yalta. We also give tips and recommendations on how to get to these places.

In this article we will talk about interesting places in Crimea that we visited in 2014 as part of - non-trivial and little-known or, for some reasons, little-visited attractions of Crimea. That is, we will not talk about mega-popular places where tourists usually go, for example, the Swallow's Nest or the Genoese fortress. Of course, these sights of Crimea, which have become its business card, is worth a look, but about them another time. Also in the article we give advice on visiting interesting places in Crimea and describe how to get there.

The most convenient and interesting way to travel around Crimea is by rented car. You can find a car on the Skyscanner Car Hire website - there are wide choose cars, rent from 1,700 rubles per day.

New World: reserve and Karaul-Oba massif

The Novosvetsky Nature Reserve and the Karaul-Oba mountain range are located between the villages of Veseloe and Novy Svet. These places do not receive close attention from tourists. They usually get here rare lovers hiking in the mountains, and even then they do not visit all the nooks and crannies of the reserve. The trails in the reserve are good and marked, but in some places you need to be attentive and careful. Just in case, it is better to have a map with marked trails and GPS so as not to lose your way and not miss anything interesting.

How to get there: You can climb to the reserve either from the New World (as we did) or from the Vesyoly side. We advise you to get to Vesely - Kutlak Bay - and go up from there, and then go down to the New World. Entrance to the reserve is free. If you walk through the village of Novy Svet, you need to go along Shalyapin Street and start descending along the path leading through the gorge to Tsarskoye Beach, almost immediately you will notice a path running along the gorge on the right side - this is exactly what you need.

Staircase of Taurians, valleys of Hell and Paradise, Peak Cosmos and Peak Karaul-Oba

We recommend everyone to visit this truly unusual and interesting place in Crimea. In addition to the stunning views, this place has a special charm. It is believed that the ancient staircase, which was built by the Tauri, is more than 2.5 thousand years old. Whether this is true or not, the climb up this stone spiral staircase You will definitely be impressed. Be careful - the stairs are limited on one side only and go along the cliff. In some places the width of the stairs reaches only 40 cm, and the steps are dilapidated and worn out. One place is especially dangerous - about half the way you need to cross a kind of “flight” of stairs over a cliff.

Along the Staircase of the Tauris you can climb to the platform where the sanctuary of the Tauris was previously located. From there you have a stunning view of the bay and Cape Kapchik. From the site you can climb to Cosmos Peak, but be careful: the stones slide and strong winds often blow. By the way, Cosmos peak is mistakenly mistaken for the peak of Karaul-Oba. In fact, the top of the mountain is on the other side of the Valley of Paradise; a separate path leads there.

(Photo © Mourner / flickr.com)

Advice: Wear comfortable shoes, preferably lightweight sneakers with non-slip soles, as the rocks and tree roots are very slippery in some places. Bring a backpack to keep your hands free, as well as drinking water and something to snack on.

How to get there: Climb the trail in the manner described above either from the New World or from Vesyoly. We walked from the New World along a marked path to a fork; at the fork you need to go right along the path to the Valley of Paradise (in spring and early summer it blooms beautifully). Then you need to walk along the valley, about halfway along the so-called Tarzan's path of tree roots leads to the left, which ends with stone boulders. There you will see the Staircase of the Tauris, along which, after passing through the narrow and cool Adam’s Bed (cleft), you can climb to the plateau and Cosmos Peak.

Where to stay in Crimea? It is better to search for hotels, apartments and houses on the popular Hotellook service - there you can find very cozy accommodation at any price! For example, apartments by the sea in Yalta cost from 4,200 rubles per day. Also good propositions inexpensive housing can be found in our.

(Photo © Ekaterina Sotova / flickr.com)

Kutlak Fortress

On the western slope of Karaul-Oba you can find the ruins of a fortress built around the 1st century BC. What remains of the once impregnable walls are pitiful ruins, which tourists know almost nothing about.

How to get there: Through the village of Veseloe or through the New World along the ecological trail described above. Use OSMAnd - all the trails and attractions, observation decks and other POIs are marked there.

Cape Kapchik

Everyone who walked along the Golitsyn Trail reached Cape Kapchik, but not everyone went beyond the prohibitory sign installed on it. If you follow the path further, you can go around the cape and come out to a small and cozy observation deck, pleasantly blown by the wind - you can relax there. Be careful, in some places the path is very narrow and goes over a cliff. It is forbidden to climb to the top of the cape, since, according to rumors, people have repeatedly fallen from there, although some daredevils still climb to this day.

How to get there: Walk along the Golitsyn trail and go past the prohibitory sign, then follow the path that goes around the cape.

(Photo © - alsurdeunhorizonte.com - / flickr.com)

Surroundings of Sudak

Ai-Georgiy

This mountain in the vicinity of Sudak is unusually picturesque, as is the road to it. Only a rare tourist decides to climb it, and yet the view from the mountain is simply stunning: on one side there is almost sheer cliffs, the valley and Tokluk ridge, on the other - dried out, lifeless, but so beautiful beams. The height of the mountain is about 500 meters.

Advice: You need comfortable and reliable shoes, as well as a supply of drinking water.

How to get there: It is better to go through the village to which the road leads from the highway. You need to walk along the vineyard, and then turn right along the path and go deeper into the forest. Half of the path passes through this forest, it is very easy to walk. Next begins the juniper grove and a steep climb to the top, which will take about 40 minutes. The descent is difficult, as the stones roll down under your feet. Try to hold on to the juniper branches and step on the roots, using them as a ladder. It is better to climb to the top either in the morning or closer to sunset.

There are also not very many visitors to this cape, famous in certain circles - mostly people come here for the silence, secluded beaches and walking. Meganom can rightfully be called one of the most interesting places in Crimea - there is an opinion that there are places of power on the cape, that here witches hold covens and have picnics on the side of UFOs. We wandered around this mysterious cape and we can say that there is definitely something about it: the desert landscapes of Nevada coupled with the sea, the sultry ringing silence, weird shape rocks and boulders and circles made of stones set the mood in a mystical mood.

Advice: You need comfortable shoes and drinking water (there is a cafe only on Rybachye beach). Be careful, in one place the path runs along a cliff - it is very narrow and crumbles. Moreover, if other people come towards you, it is unlikely that you will be able to disperse. If you are afraid of heights, it is better to pass this section by going down a little along another path - it will lead you to Cape Rybachy and merge with the main path.

(Photo © I. Maxim / flickr.com)

Alchak-Kaya and Aeolian harp

Another interesting place on the Crimean peninsula is the Alchak-Kaya tract. This cape near Sudak has been seen by everyone vacationing there. Most tourists follow the ecological trail from the embankment, but we strongly recommend climbing to the very top from the side of the highway - from there you can see a stunning view of the surroundings of Sudak: Ai-Georgiy, Meganom, Kapsel Valley and Karaul-Oba. The top of the cape is very picturesque - there is a juniper grove, a scorched valley and steep cliffs.

How to get there: If from ecological trail after a little wild beach turn left onto the path, you will see a through grotto - this is the Aeolian Harp. The climb is easy, and from here you can reach the top of the mountain. We recommend going up to the Aeolian Harp at sunset, when it is beautifully illuminated by golden rays.

Tarkhankut: interesting places in the west of Crimea

Big and Small Atlesh, Dzhangul landslide coast

I would call Tarkhankut one of the most memorable and interesting places in Crimea. Thanks to the almost complete absence sandy beaches and remoteness from the resorts, this place has retained its cleanliness and privacy. Those who go diving mainly go to Tarkhankut - the water here is crystal clear. We are not keen on diving and recommend going here for extraordinary beautiful scenery: steep cliffs, bizarrely shaped rocks, endless steppe and much more. You should come here either in the spring, when the steppe is in bloom, or at the end of summer - beginning of autumn: the season is closed at this time, there are almost no vacationers, hotels are cheap (we rented a room for 200 rubles), the village of Olenevka is quiet and silent, as if everything has died out - you feel himself the last person on earth.

(Photo © Andrew Kudrin / flickr.com)

We recommend renting a bicycle (cheap, leave your passport as a deposit) and go early in the morning to explore the surroundings - to the southeast, where Big and Small Atlesh, the Cup of Love, the village of Mayak (it was in these places that the famous Soviet films "Amphibian Man" were filmed) and "Pirates of the 20th Century") and to the northeast - to the Dzhangul landslide coast. Take plenty of drinking water and food, as these regions are deserted. On Bolshoy Atlesh there is a tent where you can buy water and snacks, but the prices are quite high.

How to get there: By bus from Yevpatoria to the village of Olenevka, then by bicycle/car along the asphalt road leading to the village of Mayak, which then turns into a country road. To shorten the journey back, you can take the road through the steppe.

(Photo © site)

Places of interest near Bakhchisaray

Chufut-Kale, Balta-Tiymez and the destroyed Dervish cemetery

Many people know and have visited Chufut-Kale in Bakhchisarai, but almost everyone passes by a small cemetery of dervishes, located slightly off the path leading to the cave city. It's cool, quiet, dark, mystical atmosphere and whispering leaves. If you do not go up to Chufut-Kale, but go further along the road, you can (and should) reach the old Karaite cemetery Balta-Tiymez, which can confidently be called unusual place in Crimea.

How to get to the Dervish cemetery: You need to follow the path leading to Chufut-Kale, then on the right you will see a stone gate covered with ivy - that’s where you need to go.

(Photo © myshich1 / flickr.com)

Yalta: Ai-Petri

In the noisy and touristy Yalta, we recommend making the ascent (or descent) to Ai-Petri along the unusually beautiful Taraktash trail. To those who don't love long climbs, we recommend taking the funicular up and walking down, enjoying the views.

How to get there: By minibus or taxi to the funicular (cable station in Miskhor). Be prepared for long queues for the funicular.

(Photo © mr. Wood / flickr.com)

Here is a small selection of interesting places in Crimea. You can read about our first impressions of the peninsula in the article.

Introductory image source: © Mourner / flickr.com.

 

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