Interesting vacation in Crimea

In Soviet times, Crimea was considered one of the most prestigious health resorts, residents of the entire vast territory of the country strove to the Black Sea coast to enjoy the charm of southern nights, breathe in the healing air, lie under the tender Crimean sun and, of course, improve their health. Every year the resort is gaining more and more popularity, spoiled by overseas countries, tourists tend to touch the amazing past of the peninsula and just relax in numerous hotels and boarding houses, whose service has improved many times over in recent years.

Attractions of Crimea

The Crimean peninsula is like a small state inside the country, this picturesque place with world-famous sights and distinctive history is a historical monument that every Russian should visit at least once in his life.

The peninsula is washed by the Azov and Black Seas, as for tourist destinations, everything is extremely simple here, the territory is divided into 4 parts - central, eastern, western and southern. Every corner of Crimea is unique and has its own characteristics, both natural and in terms of infrastructure development, but in almost any of them the tourist will find sandy beaches (with the exception of Central Crimea), incredible seascapes and historical sights that are associated with the names of great people who created here, Aivazovsky, Green, Chekhov and other prominent figures of culture and art.

Arriving at relaxation to Crimea for a couple of weeks, you can hardly see at least half of the places that have glorified this marvelous land. But it is simply impossible to leave the peninsula without seeing its main symbol. The magnificent snow-white castle "Swallow's Nest" (Alushta) seems to soar between the sky and the sea, because it was built on the 40-meter rock "Aurora". The building is rather miniature and is a pseudo-Gothic building.

The structure was originally wooden and was a small mansion on the ledge of a promontory, until a famous industrialist from Germany wanted to convert it into a castle from the era of medieval knighthood with lancet windows, battlements and pointed spiers that crowned a tower of three tiers. The interior decoration cannot be called rich. Of interest are only old fireplaces and beams made of valuable ebony with supports in the form of frogs.

Currently, there is a restaurant in the castle. There is also an exit to the balcony, from its platform an extraordinary view of the sea opens.

Genoese fortresses are a kind of historical artifact that clearly demonstrates the multinational past of the Crimean peninsula.

In the 13th century, Crimea was an important economic center, which is why noble traders from Genoa came here to establish contacts, they choose modern Sudak as a stronghold.

In 1371, the construction of a whole complex of defensive structures began, which lasted more than a century. The Genoese established their military base on an area of ​​about 30 hectares on a mountain called the Fortress (the mountain is a coral reef in its origin). The Genoese fortresses are a complex reminiscent of the romantic and bloody era of the Middle Ages; it is crowned with 14 crenellated towers, which are a kind of symbol of the city.

Subsequently, the Fortress had an equally interesting history. In the 15th century, it was taken by the Turks, after which its renovation and some architectural changes began. The new owners really wanted to have a mosque, but the next owners rebuilt it first into a Catholic and then into an Orthodox church.

Today the cathedral is a historical museum with many interesting exhibits.

The south coast of Crimea - one of the most wonderful places to stay on the entire Black Sea coast, it was not without reason that the imperial families chose it for the construction of their summer residences for two centuries.

The most famous landmark of Yalta is rightfully considered the Livadia Palace - the pearl of Russian architecture, the most visited place, here the flow of tourists does not dry out all year round.

Once the area on which the palace is now built belonged to the Tatar people. As a result of the seizure of lands, the "Sacred Meadow", as the Tatars called it, passed to Russia along with the entire territory of Crimea. The local residents left the southern coast and all the lands were acquired by a colonel of the Russian army, a Greek by origin, and he named them Livadia in honor of the city in which he was born.

Later, Livadia was passed from hand to hand, and in the 60s rich aristocratic families firmly settled here. In just a few years, by the order of the imperial family, luxurious snow-white buildings in the Italian style - the Big and Small Palaces - were built on the territory of the estate. This majestic palace and park complex includes several fountains and a rotunda. The yard is planted with rose bushes and evergreen tropical plants.

Having gone to Livadia, tourists can not only see firsthand how the families of the emperors lived, visit the famous botanical garden, but also improve their health in the sanatorium located here.

Beautiful places of Crimea

Ai-Petri (translated from Greek means Mount St. Peter) is a majestic mountain, towering over the Crimean Alupka and the village of Koreiz, its main peak reaches more than 1200 meters. All the beauty of the mountain range can be seen in the predawn hours and at sunset, when the sun's rays illuminate its teeth and give it a resemblance to a medieval transcendental castle. An extraordinary view of the sea, the Swallow's Nest, the Vorontsov Palace and the Diva and Cat mountains opens from the 300-meter Ai-Petri platform. Many legends and legends are associated with the name of the mountain, which guides and climbers will tell you, but it is impossible to imagine all the greatness of this place without visiting the Crimea.

An equally interesting place is the cave city of Chufut-Kale, which is located on a mountain plateau surrounded by valleys, near Bakhchisarai. There are several versions of the creation of the city, one of them says that this is one of the reliable defensive structures built by order of the Byzantine emperor in order to protect the city of Chersonesos, however, no documentary information about this was found. The rapid development of the cave city took place in the 15th century, when one of the rulers of the Crimean Khanate decided to establish his residence here, then a palace was built and a mosque expanded. At the end of the 19th century, the last inhabitants left Chufut-Kale and the city was deserted.

Experienced tourists recommend going to the cave city under the guidance of guides who can tell the story of this amazing ancient monument.

Cape "Chameleon" is another wonderful natural phenomenon of Crimea, which got its name due to the ability to radically change color depending on the season and weather conditions. The cape is located not far from the town of Koktebel. The secret of "Chameleon" is that it consists of very small clay minerals, which reflect light in different ways, the angle of incidence of the sun's rays and determine the color of the ridge at one time or another. Historians say that earlier the cape was much wider and tourists could walk along it, admiring the overflows up close and without fear of collapse. Now, due to erosion, the cape has become rather narrow.

Crimea hotels all inclusive

Despite the fact that in recent years Crimea has been actively developing tourism, yet this is not Turkey or Egypt, so there are not so many all-inclusive hotels here. Such offers are especially relevant for vacationers with children who, during a short vacation, do not want to worry about finding a suitable catering establishment and strive for a certain level of comfort.

The five-star hotel "Atlantic" is one of the best on the peninsula. The sea is just 10 meters away, and there is a bus stop to Feodosia nearby. Rooms are furnished in a classic style, each has everything you need - refrigerator, bathroom, TV and free internet. The hotel's restaurant serves gourmet European cuisine. Entertainment - billiards, sauna. The famous Ganuez fortress is located in the vicinity.

The luxurious hotel "1001 Nights" with an unusual design in oriental style is located not far from Yalta, its rooms offer a magnificent view of the sea and Mount Ai-Petri. It is very convenient that next to the hotel there is a picturesque park where you can breathe in the healing air, arrange a romantic date or just take a walk with your children. At the service of residents there is children's and adult animation, concert programs, procedures in the spa complex.

Riviera Sunrise Resort & SPA - although it has only 4 stars, it claims a high level of accommodation and comfort. This is not just a hotel, this is a real hotel complex, consisting of two buildings, this option will not leave even the most sophisticated tourist unhappy. Here guests are provided with a separate beach, indoor and outdoor swimming pools - for adults and children, and, of course, the whole range of procedures for body and soul: bath, sauna, massage and beauty parlor.

Hotel-boarding house "More" is the most suitable option for families with children, because all conditions have been created for them: a playground and a children's room, a special separate pool and the opportunity to use the services of a nanny. In addition, there is a nice bonus - babies under 5 years old are accommodated free of charge. The hotel is located on the first line, in a picturesque juniper grove on the southern coast of the peninsula.

There are also activities for adults, at any time you can visit the spa, play billiards, visit excursions, restaurants and cafes for every taste and budget.

Beautiful beaches of Crimea

Speaking about vacation in Crimea, it is impossible not to touch upon the topic of beaches, because most tourists tend to come here precisely because of beach holiday, fortunately, there are plenty of such places on the peninsula, they are all different and everyone will find a coast to their liking.

The beaches of the village of Balaklava are distinguished by the fact that you will not find a large crowd of people here, cozy and clean green bays are far from civilization, there are no cars or large buildings. Only wild secluded beaches, which can be reached by boat or along a long and winding mountain trail. One of them is called "Inzhir" - a picturesque place with a pebble entrance to the clear sea, unspoiled by tourists and the pine aroma of pine trees surrounding the bay. It is possible to get to this paradise along the Great Sevastopol Trail (Health Trail), but keep in mind that the journey will not be easy, so those who are not ready to overcome all the descents and ascents in the summer heat can hire a boat for a nominal fee.

If you set off on a journey for new unusual impressions, then you should definitely visit the so-called "Cup of Love" on the extreme western point of the peninsula - Cape Tarkhankut. To find this local attraction, you will have to move quite far from large settlements, the nearest of them, Evpatoria, is about a hundred kilometers away.

The "Bowl of Love" is a natural pool surrounded on all sides by rocks and snow-white reefs. A particularly picturesque picture appears in a storm, when splashes hit the rocks and scatter in all directions. In calm weather, this romantic corner resembles a large Jacuzzi bathtub, which is connected to the sea by a six-meter tunnel and is filled with water.

On the southern coast of Crimea, you should definitely visit the village of Simeiz, immersed in greenery. The beaches here fully meet the requirements of sophisticated tourists, the infrastructure is developed, the coastline is wide and covered with pleasant small pebbles, the entrance to the sea is gentle and perfect for families with children. Huge rocks stand right in the sea, and pines, cedars and cypresses grow around, the air in Simeiz is unusually pleasant, filled with coniferous phytoncides.

There is also a wilder beach in the village called "Blue stones", it is located next to the rock "Diva". Fans of diving and fishing come here for the thrill. Everyone can choose their own stone and sunbathe there.

Features of Crimea

Unfortunately, Crimea is not only a warm, gentle sun, an unforgettable beach vacation, hospitable people and fresh fruits and vegetables. Since ancient times, this small piece of land has been raided by foreign invaders, its "masters" have changed more than once throughout history, bloody wars and fierce battles for power took place here. Therefore, the national question on the peninsula has always been quite acute, and in recent decades it has been strongly politicized.

In addition to Russians and Ukrainians, a significant part of the population is occupied by the Crimean Tatar ethnic group, which is considered indigenous. The history of their life on the peninsula is not so simple; in 1944, by order of Stalin, almost all Crimean Tatars were deported, and they were rehabilitated and were able to return to their homeland only in 1989.

Crimean Tatars live separately, in small suburban settlements near large centers, which were created over the years especially for these national minorities. Tourists should remember that Tatars profess Islam and do not welcome photography without their consent.

The inhabitants of the peninsula mainly speak Russian, all traditions and customs correspond to the Soviet era, older people are adherents of this particular culture, and young people gravitate more towards the culture of the West, however, as in Russia. And in fact, and in another case, you can find positive points.

Whoever says anything, but on the territory of Crimea, there is no acute issue of relations with indigenous and newcomers, Russians and Ukrainians. Perhaps, as a problem, one can only name the lack of a special national flavor that tourists would like to feel. At the moment, the owners of restaurants, cafes and other public institutions strive to bring the peculiarities of Russian national culture.

How much will a vacation in Crimea cost

As the number of people wishing to get to Crimea during the hot season of vacations becomes more and more, the infrastructure of the peninsula is developing and prices are growing. How much will a trip to Crimea for 7-10 days approximately cost?

• The fastest and most comfortable way to get to the peninsula is by air, a round-trip ticket for one person will cost about 8 thousand, if you fly from Moscow, from St. Petersburg - from 9 thousand, from Yekaterinburg - from 14.
• It is better to look for the most budgetary housing in the private sector, for example, in such settlements as Okunevka, Nikolaevka, Shtormovoe. If you try, you can find a double room for only 300 rubles a day. In larger resorts, a place in a guest house can be purchased for 600 rubles for two per day, but the average price fluctuates around a thousand.
• Of course, the cost in hotels and boarding houses depends on the comfort of conditions, proximity to major attractions and seasonality. The starting price starts from 1,500 thousand, on average, a day's stay will cost 2-3 thousand rubles.
• Prices for food and meals in cafes and restaurants differ little from Russian ones. The rule “the farther from the sea, the cheaper” does not apply here. Budget establishments can also be found near the waterfront. If you are on a budget, look for chain cafes, small home-food canteens or snack bars, where you can have a hearty lunch for 100-200 rubles, the average restaurant bill starts from 400 rubles.
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables are the cheapest on the market, all the more you can bargain here. The average price of a bottle of local wine is about 250 rubles, it can be purchased in specialized stores or on tap right on the beach.
• It is possible to buy a ticket for two from 3,000 rubles, however, this cost most often does not include food and living conditions leave much to be desired, while the duration of the vacation will be very short. Those who are used to having an all-inclusive vacation will have to pay from 50 thousand for two with full board and departure from Moscow.