| Crimea | |
.jpg/250px-The_Swallow's_Nest_castle_on_the_Aurora_cliffs_of_cape_Ai-Todor_(2005-09-229).jpg) | |
Location  | |
| State | Russia (de facto) Ukraine (de jure) |
|---|---|
| Capital | Simferopol |
| Surface | 26,100 km² |
| Inhabitants | 2.353.100 (2014 estimate) |
Crimea (in Russian: Крым; in Ukrainian: Крим) is a region of the Southern Russia.
To know
The Russian ruble has replaced the Ukrainian hryvnia as the legal currency of Crimea.
 | ATTENTION: Following the proclamation of independence of the region fromUkraine and in the referendum with which citizens would have chosen by a large majority to join the Russian Federation, Crimea remains a controversial region from an international point of view. Wikivoyage does not take a stand on these disputes; we only want to address the practical problems of the journey:
It is also added that:
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Geographical notes
There Crimean peninsula is connected to Ukraine by two narrow isthmuses of land, making it more like an island with two natural land bridges extending into the Black Sea. A ferry connects the Strait of Kerch to 5 kilometers, to the peninsula of Taman in mainland Russia, but a bridge is under construction which will shortly connect the two banks, also allowing rail traffic.
Background
The peninsula was the scene of the Crimean war between 1854 and 1856; Britain and France invaded Crimea to support Turkey in a dispute with Russia. During this war, Florence Nightingale she more or less invented the profession of the modern nurse and William Howard Russell the war correspondent. The most famous battle was in Balaclava, near where the invading forces had landed.
Spoken languages
The spoken language is mainly the Russian (68%), but many also speak theUkrainian (19%). Little knowledge ofEnglish except in the more touristic areas such as Yalta where there are also signs in English.
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Simferopol (Simferopol ') - The capital. The train station is very clean and beautiful. For the most part it is a transit point towards the coast or towards the mountains. It is famous for having the longest trolleybus service of 86 km.
- Alušta - The first city on the beach in the direction of Yalta from the west, this city does not have many attractions, except the old quays turned into beaches.
- Bachčysaraj - Located in a canyon between Simferopol is Sevastopol, this city boasts numerous interesting sites to visit, including the Khan's palace, the rock cities (Kachi-Kalion, Chufut-Kale, Eski-Kermen, Shuldan) and the Armenian monastery built in a cave.
- Yevpatoria (Evpatorija) - City famous for the coexistence of the three religions and for the Juma-Jami Mosque
- Feodosia (Feodosija) - Feodosiya is located 100 km east of Simferopol. From the outskirts it looks like an urban industrial disaster but once past the factories it has a very nice old town. Very similar to Odessa for architecture, but only on a smaller scale. This is where the Ayvazovsky Museum is located.
- Gurzuf - A small coastal town that maintains (and perhaps has regained) its old Ottoman characteristics. Near Yalta off the road to Alushta, its climate is very similar to the French Riviera. Wonderful views and clean, warm sea.
- Yalta (or Yalta) - A very beautiful city that contains many of the Tsar's palaces and other great monuments. Yalta is a tourist center, containing a mixture of Soviet hotels and modern high-end apartments. Yalta was once the main destination for many Russians before they were allowed to travel outside the Soviet bloc.
- Kerč (or Kerch) - Your last stop before reaching the eastern edge of Crimea and heading into the strait to the rest of Russia.
- Koktebel - Located between Feodosiya is Sudak, this small town has a large bathing area. It is located under a spectacular wilderness area to the west that can only be visited by guided tour.
- Kurortne
- Sevastopol (Sevastopol ') - An important port for the Russian fleet of the Black Sea navy. The city has the title of "Heroic City" due to its resistance to the Nazis during the Second World War. Numerous monuments to the military of the past. Nice shops.
- Sudak (or Sudaq) - A beautiful coastal town with the remains of an old Genoese fortress.
Other destinations
- Balaklava - famous for the Crimean War of the 1850s, the infamous Light Brigade charge, and home to a former secret Soviet submarine base.
- Grand Canyon Bolshoi
- Kara-Dag (literally: "Black Mountain") - A volcano set up as a nature reserve.
- Mangup (Mangup Kale)
How to get
Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Russian immigration and customs agencies have started operating in the peninsula's ports of entry, and foreign nationals now need regular Russian entry visas to visit Crimea.
Since December 2014 it is no longer possible to travel from Ukraine to the Crimean peninsula by public transport. Unless it is a Ukrainian passport, you will need a special permit from the Ukrainian government to cross the border on foot.
Officials of the Ukrainian border authorities announced in 2014 that entry into Crimea not from mainland Ukraine will be regarded as "illegal entry into the territory of Ukraine". In practice, it means that if after entering Crimea from mainland Russia, a foreign citizen tries to enter mainland Ukraine, he will be subjected to administrative or criminal proceedings (a fine, a possible denial of entry to Ukraine or a prison sentence). .
Cruise ships have been banned from docking in Crimean ports since March 2015 due to EU economic sanctions.
By plane
There are flights to Simferopol from Moscow, St.Pietroburgo, Rostov and many other Russian cities. No international flights operate on Simferopol. The nearest airports with international flights are Krasnodar and Rostov in Russia.
Frequent connections by passenger and vehicle ferries operate across the Kerch Straits, between the port of Krych and the port of Kavkaz, one step away from the Russian mainland. As of April 2014, the one-way passenger ticket is RUB 162 for adults and RUB 81 for children; transportation of a car costs 1190-1688 RUB. (Information on ferries for 2014, in Russian) The ferry service is subject to weather conditions and may be interrupted for 1-2 days in a row due to bad weather. To consider the possibility of queues and long waiting times during the high season, especially at the end of August.
On the train
The rail ferry between Kerch is Krasnodar Krai in Russia it is used only to move goods transport vehicles. There is a direct train between Rostov-on-Don and Simferopol, but has two separate trains: one that takes passengers to the ferry on the Taman Peninsula and the other between the port on the Crimean side and Simferopol. It is more common, however, to use a combined ticket sold by the Russian Railways. This ticket includes a train to Krasnodar or Anapa, with bus service to the ferry, the ferry itself and the bus service between the ferry and the Crimean cities.
The transport services make connections between the various main ports of Crimea and the ports of Krasnodar Krai (Anapa, Novorossiysk, Feodosiya). Most of these ferries do not accept personal cars or individual passengers.
In March 2014, plans were announced for the construction of a 5 km long bridge across the Kerch Strait. The opening of the bridge is scheduled for 2018.
By bus
A frequent bus service connects Crimea to mainland Russia. Buses operate to several destinations in Krasnodar Krai, including Krasnodar, Anapa, Novorossiysk is Sochi. All buses cross the Kerch Strait by ferry.
How to get around
By car
You can move around the Crimea by mini bus. You can also go by taxi. Prices vary; be prepared to look for the best rates, as you will always find someone to bargain with. Many private citizens also work as pseudo taxi drivers. Taxis range from modern comfortable cars to gas-powered Soviet cars from the 1950s!
Frequently while traveling in the country, if you look like a foreigner (for example with a backpack) and stand in an "important" street people will stop and ask if you want a ride ... for a certain price. Fortunately that price is usually small enough for very long distances.
Traveling by car to Crimea is perhaps the best and easiest way, avoiding the waiting times of public transport. The road system in Crimea is in good condition but there is a very strict zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving. Police patrols are frequent, in addition to roadside checks for documents, but the number of victims on the roads remains very high.
In some coastal cities such as Sevastopol, Balaklava and Yalta there are ferry services to take you to nearby beaches or to move between cities.
On the train
There are several rail connections between some Crimean cities with rail service.
By bus
Crimea is covered by an efficient bus service and mashrutka that lead almost everywhere.
By taxi
Taxis are everywhere, especially in tourist cities. Prices are generally cheap, although the taxi drivers speak almost exclusively Russian. There is also an internet booking service with Air taxi even if it is only in Russian.
What see
- Khan's Palace, Bachčysaraj. The Khan's palace is located in the small mountain village of Bahkchisaray halfway between Simferopol and Sevastapolis. The palace was the seat of the Crimean Tatar rulers dating back to 1443. With the Ottoman conquest of Crimea in 1475 the Khanate became a vassal state of the Ottoman Empire but remained as the rulers. After the Crimean War with the victory of Russia all the Khans became part of the Russian nobility, but the capital of Crimea was moved to Simferopol. The headquarters buildings include impressive gardens, several old mosques among the cemeteries, a harem and of course the palace itself. You can take a guided tour of the palace but only in Russian.
- Chufut Kale, Bachčysaraj. An hour and a half hike up a beautiful canyon from the city of Bahkchisaray is the 6th century Chufut Kale cave. It sits high up in the cliffs, so the walk is a bit strenuous but not overwhelming. It is a city of what appears to have been the residence of several thousand people who built and carved their homes out of the limestone rock. The city was abandoned in the 19th century. There are a few other cave towns (around 14), completely different in size and beauty
- Bolshoi Canyon.
2 $. The Bolshoi Canyon is located on the opposite side of the mountain range where Yalta is located. It will take you about an hour and a half to get there by car from Yalta. It can also be reached from Bachčysaraj by hitchhiking or minibus. Bolshoi means "big or wide" in Russian. After reaching the park entrance you will need to pay a small fee (USD 2) to start the trail. From there there is a one-hour hike into the canyon along a small mountain stream. You never stop looking for a perfect view of the canyon because it is covered in lush vegetation, but it is still impressive. The trail ends at a small picnic area where a local man sells terrible wines and great fried dishes. There is a small waterfall and a swimming pool where you can make small dives or jumps. You can continue further up the stream without the path, but it is a bit more complex. - Caves. There are three caves equipped for easy access: Krasnaya, Mramornaya, Emine-Bayır-Hosar. And there are many caves that are not equipped and are attractive to speleologists.
- swallow's nest. The swallow's nest is an architectural folly, now an Italian restaurant.
- Livadia Palace. A former summer palace of the Russian tsars and a famous setting for the Yalta Conference.
- Massandra Palace. Another former palace of the tsars, which looks a bit like a French castle. But when he was visited by Stalin he decided not to stay there as he didn't feel very safe.
- Inkerman Rock Monastery. A rock monastery in a cliff that rises near the mouth of the Black River, in the city of Inkerman, administered as part of the Sevastopol sea port. It was founded in 1850 on the site of a medieval Byzantine monastery where the relics of St. Clement were supposedly kept prior to their removal of St. Clement from Saints Cyril and Methodius.
- Chersonea (Chersonea Taurica). Also known as Chersonesus. Ancient Greek colony founded in the 6th century BC in the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula, later known as Taurica. Nicknamed the "Ukrainian Pompeii" and "Russian Troy", the ancient city is located on the shore of the Black Sea on the outskirts of Sevastopol. Known locally as Khersones, the site is part of the Zapovednik National Historical-Archaeological Museum. (In Russia and the former Soviet Union, a zapovednik is a protected area that is kept "forever wild" for conservation purposes.)
2 $. The Bolshoi Canyon is located on the opposite side of the mountain range where Yalta is located. It will take you about an hour and a half to get there by car from What to do
Hiking in the Crimea is wonderful. There are very few backpackers and hardly any clearly marked trails (with signs). The trails, however, appear to be used. In the mountainous region you can practically choose two small towns and hike between them and be sure to experience an adventure. Campsites are few and far between but there are plenty of open spaces for camping; you have to be sensitive to the environment, of course, in the place where you choose to camp. For a brief description of an excursion see Bahkchisaraj.
At the table
The cuisine of Crimea in addition to the Russian and Ukrainian tradition is strongly affected by the Tatar presence.
Street food can be delicious in Crimea, even if a little heavy. Certainly try some local Tatar specialties such as chebureki (Russian: чебуреки), from an outdoor stand or from a cheburechnaya (Russian: Чебуречная, "chebureki joint"). These are succulent half-moon-shaped cakes, generally filled with lamb or beef (Crimean Tatars, being Muslims, do not eat pork) and fried in aromatic sunflower oil. The Samsa they are also good and are warm desserts filled with minced meat and onions.
Try the manti (Russian: манты), which are dumplings with lamb, often served with adjika (Russian: аджика), which is a very hot red pepper paste.
Try the lyulya-kebab and shashlik (Russian: люля-кебаб and шашлык), which are kebabs and grilled meat. If you can find it too shashlik pork, definitely worth trying. You will be more successful for this in a Russian restaurant, as pork is not served in Tatar restaurants.
Find a good Tatar restaurant and try the lagman (Russian: лагман). It is a lamb soup that is incredibly rich in vegetables and homemade pasta.
The ice cream sold on the beach includes molochnoye (Russian: молочное, "made of milk"). It is white, but it is not flavored with vanilla. It tastes like sweet milk.
If you see women walking on the beach selling something dry, it's probably there Paklava (Russian: паклава, baklava). They are thin layers of homemade dough, strung together to look like large flowers, deep fried and covered in nuts and honey. It is absolutely good.
Find a pastry shop to try trubochki (Russian: трубочки, "small trumpets"). A trubochka it is a form of cornucopia of short pasta filled with meringue and sometimes dipped in nuts. Delightful with chai (Russian: чай, tea).
Drinks
Beer in the Crimea is great and affordable.
Crimea is a wine producing region. Most of the wine is produced here by the famous winery Massandra Palace and in Koktebel ', is the dessert wine in the style of Port or Madeira. If it's the regular wine you are looking for, avoid anything marked with Портвейн (Portwine), Мадейра (Madeira), Мускат (Muscat), Токай (Tokay). For table wines, ask sukhoye vino (dry wine) or look for labels such as Сввиньон (Cabernet), Каберне (Cabernet) and Ркацтели (Rkatseteli) or look for Georgian wines, delicious and abundant.
Try the regional sparkling wine, produced in Noviy Svet (Russian: New Heaven, "New Light"), near Sudak. It is labeled "ампанское" (Shampanskoye, champagne). Try to buy it somewhere it is reliable. Noviy Svet is a beautiful place and it is possible to visit the caves where the wine is aged.
If you don't go anywhere else in Russia and Ukraine, try the kvass (Russian: квас). It is a very refreshing non-alcoholic drink made from fermented wheat, awarded for its protective properties.
Try the local kefir (Russian: кефир), a cultivated milk drink. When frozen, it is extremely refreshing on a hot day.
If you are feeling adventurous, you can search kumys (Russian: кумыс or кымыз), which is fermented from sea milk, a traditional drink of the Tatars and nomadic peoples of Central Asia.
Beware, some of the local mineral waters know very salty. Look for a Western European brand.
Vodka is inexpensive and plentiful, some of the supermarkets have the best prices and the widest choices.
Safety
The choices are limited for the banking sector. All Ukrainian banks had to stop operations on the peninsula; Visa and Mastercard are not accepted as of 2015 and no major Russian bank operates in Crimea, due to the risk of being subject to international sanctions. Sberbank, the state-controlled Russian bank, has remained out of Crimea, but is supporting a new Russian-domestic "Pro 100" (pronounced "pro-sto") credit card that it is slowly introducing. The only way to spend money is cash in local currency only, you can also change your own currency in banks.
Because of the penalties It is not possible to book hotels from Western countries through official booking services like Booking or Airbnb. However, the same services are available for Russian citizens.
Since 3 April 2014, the Deutsche Post of Germany has not accepted letters for Crimea due to the current political situation, same for the Italian post for which the parcel service is suspended.
On 5 August 2014, the MTS Ukraine cellular service was stopped in Crimea and its radio frequencies were assigned to the Russian carrier K-Telecom, causing the cell phones to be shut down. MTS Ukraine is a wholly owned subsidiary of a Russian provider Mobile TeleSystems, which appears to be entering Crimea again using a Russian subsidiary. SIM cards differ between carriers, even though the companies are jointly owned.
Since 2015, all mobile phones from non-Russian suppliers have not received signals on the peninsula, the result of international sanctions.
Motor vehicles are the biggest safety hazard in the Crimea. Drivers tend to keep speed limits as there is a lot of police, but road surfaces are unstable and lead to unsafe overtaking, even on coastal curves and mountain roads. Pedestrians cross the streets at their own risk. Be especially careful if a car does not stop at a pedestrian intersection; check the oncoming car before venturing to an intersection, because another can overtake and move on.
Crimea has no major problems with crime. However, foreigners are at risk of being robbed if they don't show valuables, with the exception of Yalta which during the summer which is full of rich Russians. Foreigners should not hitchhike or take unmarked taxis unless they are traveling in a group. The safest way for a foreigner to travel alone is to take a bus or one marshrutka (a microbus that follows the regular bus lines). Also, beware of drunk men at night, especially if your skin is colored. Also beware of the police, who may be corrupt and try to ask for "gifts" - that is, get bribed.
Discrimination by authorities against GLBT minorities is on the rise as Russian laws now apply to Crimea; a gay pride event that took place in Sevastopol in April and was canceled. The same warnings about anti-gay discrimination that apply to Russia must now also apply to Crimea.
The countryside, extremely poor, is very safe. You are more likely to be kicked by a horse than to be robbed. Crimeans on the whole are very nice, except when lining up for a bus or shop because they push. Respect for the queue is not contemplated.
At night avoid the lonely places where many drunks stop, they are not really a danger unless they disturb you.
