| Yalta | ||
.jpg/250px-Yalta_(8169149353).jpg) | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Crimea | |
| Altitude | 200 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 283 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 136 339 (2010) | |
| Prefix tel | 380 654 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 98600 - 98639 | |
| Time zone | 3 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Yalta (also Yalta according to the Anglo-Saxon transliteration, in Russian ed Ukrainian: Ялта) is a resort town of the Crimea.
To know
Yalta is a famous place, with an importance dating back to the 19th century and its use as an exclusive sanatorium as well as for mass tourism in the communist period. Today, tourism continues to support the city, which is understandable given its beauty and proximity to many of Crimea's major attractions.
Russian is the main language - understanding it without basic knowledge will be difficult but not impossible. Ukrainian is also spoken. Crimean Tatar, which has a dialect very close to Turkish, is spoken by the predominantly Muslim Crimean Tatar peoples: if you talk about Crimean Tatar (and even if you don't!), You will be warmly welcomed by the Tatars. English isn't widely spoken, but you may be lucky with younger ones if you want to try. Many of the signs are in English.
When to go
Summer sees the city flooded with mainly Russian tourists. However, a visit can be considered at any time of the year: average temperatures are always above freezing (although they can drop occasionally). Spring and autumn have pleasant weather which can exceed 20 ° C. Winters are not as cold as in the rest of Russia. Protected from the north by the mountains and warmed by the Black Sea, there is never a lot of snow in winter, but beware of winds as they can be cold. Summers are very hot, 32 ° C.
How to orient yourself
Yalta: full screen map.Yalta is a city that develops mainly in length along the coast. The city in turn is divided into the various locations where you can find the other attractions. The center is represented by the waterfront especially by the Lenin square.
How to get
By bus
Mashrutkas are faster but a little more expensive (2 euros). Buses also go to Sevastopol and to other cities throughout the Crimea.
- 1 Yalta bus station, Moskovska St, 8 (Take Mashrutka 20 from the center.). The autostrazione is on two floors, with several bus stopping points. There is also a left-luggage office open from 6: 00-22: 00. Tickets can be purchased online on the website (in Russian).
- Yalta-Simferopol (about 2 hours) 166 rub 16.60 rub per suitcase. The route to the airport may be crowded, so it is advisable to book in advance.
By taxi
A taxi typically costs 10 to 20 euros and will take just over an hour from Sevastopol or Simferopol.
By trolleybus
From 2 Trolleybus station you can reach Simferopol via Alushta in almost 3 hours. The quality of trolley buses varies. While the old Soviet ones may look retro, consider waiting for one of the more modern, less quaint but more comfortable.
Below is the list of stops:
- Simferopol railway station - Marjino - Lozovoje - Pionerskoje - Dobroje - Zarechje - Perevalnoje - Angars'kyj Pass (752 m) - Fontan Kutuzovskij - Lučistoe - Verkhnjaja Kutuzovka - Nižnjaja Kutuzovka - Alušta - Lazurnoje - Malyj Majak - Kiparisnoje - Puškino - Partenit - Zaprudnoje - Artek - Krasnokamenka - Gurzuf - Ai-Danil - Nikitskij botanical garden - Sosnjak - Massandra - Yalta.
How to get around
By public transport
A decent network of mashrutska cheaply connects the city center and outlying areas. You pay when you are on board or when you get off - this can be a bit confusing at times!
The mashrutkas at the palaces sometimes, but not always, have "Дворец" (meaning palace) mentioned on their itineraries:
- N ° 11 - goes from the main bus station and stops on Ulitsa Kievskaya and on top of Ulitsa Pushkinskaya before finishing at Livadia Palace.
- N ° 32 - goes from the mashrutka station in the center of Yalta to the Livadia palace, the Gaspra Sanatorium (next to the swallow's nest), Miskhor (next to the lower station of the Ai-Petri cable car) and finally to the Vorontsov palace a Alupka.
- Mashrutka 27 and 102 - they run a similar route to 32, but they go from the Yalta bus station, not to the city center.
TO Livadia, 27, 32 and 102 have a stop on the main street of Sevastopolskoye Shosse, which is close by from the building; number 11 ends up on a smaller street on the same level as the building:
- 5 and 100 between Palazzo Livadia and Palazzo Massandra, through the center of Yalta.
- Trolleybus 2, mashrutka 34 and bus 29 - depart from the Ulitsa Moscovskaya stop at Verkniy Massandrovskiy park, from where it is a long uphill walk to Massandra Palace - 34 continues towards Nikita botanical gardens.
By cable car
In Yalta there is a cable car lift station:
- 3 Yalta-Gorka cable car, Lenina embankment.
400 rub (Sep 2017). 
10:00-23:00. The cable car takes you to a viewpoint. 
400 rub (Sep 2017). 
10:00-23:00. The cable car takes you to a viewpoint.
By taxi
Taxis are everywhere; some are genuine, and some are just people offering a ride for a fare. If they speak English it means the rate goes up, but it's still very reasonable, so learn to haggle - if the price is too high, forget it, as there will always be someone else ready to bargain.
A ferry service connects the 4 harbor on the waterfront (on Ulitsa Ruzvjelta) to nearby beaches and cities as well as to the Swallow's Nest (500 rubles from Yalta, 400 rubles from the Swallow's Nest).
Luxury cruise ships visit Yalta during the summer by taking a tour of the Black Sea, certainly a nice way to travel.
What see
Most of the attractions are somehow out of town and will require a bus, boat, or taxi to reach them. However, inside the city you can see:
- 1 Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Where Krasnova Ulitsa and Morskaya Ulitsa meet Sadova Bulitsya). A 1902 Orthodox cathedral in a traditional style.
- 2 [link not working]Chekhov House-Museum, 112 Ulitsa Kirova. Chechov wrote "The Lady with the Dog" and many of her other stories here. The house is small and there is a museum nearby dedicated to the writer, well worth a look if you like his work. Unfortunately, the Chechov house is falling apart due to a lack of funds. The good news is that a fund has been set up to raise a large sum of money to restore the house in the future.
- 3 Armenian church (Armyanskaya Tserkov), 3 Zagorodnaya ulitsa. Built in 1909-1919 on the basis of the millenary church of Saint Hripsimé a Vagharshapat, Armenia. Above the city center, at the top of some stairs, the beautifully detailed church is worth a visit. The stonework, arches and elaborate corners make this a very nice place to spend some time in the shade.
- 4 Lenin statue, Lenin boarding, Yalta waterfront..
- 5 via Roosevelt (Улица Рузвельта / Ulitsa Ruzvjelta). Not an exceptional place but a picturesque reminder of the city's important role in World War II. Try to find the plaque with Roosevelt's profile embossed and a short description in Russian and English.
The other places are not reachable on foot
- 6 Livadija Palace (Mashrutka 5, 11, 27, 32, 100, 102). This was the Tsar's last residence. It also hosted Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt for the Yalta Conference in 1945, in which they predicted the division of Europe at the end of World War II. You can enter and walk past the meeting room, which has been created to match historical photographs from the meeting. It is also possible to see the private chapel of the imperial family which is beautiful. The Palace itself is around 100 years old, although the gardens on the grounds were planted long before the Palace was built. There is a nice view of the Black Sea and Yalta from the palace.
- 7 Massandra Palace (Mashrutka 5, 34, 100, Trolleybus 2 and bus 29). French-inspired castle outside the city and in the hills. Originally a summer palace of Alexander III, it was later used by Stalin as a summer retreat. The gardens are very pretty, as is the surrounding bucolic countryside. It is necessary to take a long walk uphill from the main road, so make sure you wear suitable shoes.
- 8 Nikita Botanical Garden (Никитский ботанический сад) (Take mashrutka 34 from the center of Yalta.), ☎ 7 978 846-58-28. 9:00 - 17:00. Founded in 1812, one of the oldest operational scientific botanical gardens. A lovely place to sit under the cherry blossoms and read Checkov.
Events and parties
What to do
Locals always stroll around the harbor front at night - it's a great way to spend the evening, or you can people watch while enjoying a drink in one of the many cafes. The waterfront is well over a mile long - from McDonald's on the east end to the Oreanda Hotel in the west. Walking along the beach can be tiring because it is "rocky".
The promenade (Lenina Naberzhenaya) has shops, cafes and various entertainment. The beaches have smooth pebbles, not sand. Some are better than others, and for a small entrance fee, you can access a nice beach near the Soviet tourist monster, Hotel Yalta, east of the city center.
Walk along the tsar's path (Tsarskaya Tropa, Russian: Царская тропа, also called Solnechnaya Tropa, Russian: Солнечная тропа) which runs for 6 km from the Livadia palace up to the castle, as the former coastal home of Prince A. N. Golitsyn, a friend of Alexander I, now the Yasnaya Polyana resort. Mashrutska 26 will take you back to Yalta. The trail continues until it reaches the end where it heads uphill to Yasnaya Polyana. However, at the point where it starts to climb, if you head downhill on the nearby road, you will end up at Swallow's Nest. The start of the trail can be difficult to find - it is slightly downhill into the palace and the row of buildings is next to the chapel.
- Massandra winery. If you like wine, this place will be of interest to you. Guided tours will take you through the cellars that house one of the largest wine collections in the world. When you are done with the tour you will be able to taste some of the wines they have to offer.
- 1 Yalta Zoo (Planeta obezyan i dikikh koshek / Планета обезьян и диких кошек), Drazhyns'koho St, 50, ☎ 7 495 139-10-51. 0 - 24. Interesting with a variety of animals that includes all types: from lions, to bears, to monkeys. Some of the cages are a bit small, but the animals appear to be well cared for. There is a small aquarium in front of the zoo which is not worth seeing.
Shopping
All areas of the Crimea are famous for theirs red onions. They are said to have been much sweeter than they are now, but they are still a very expensive delicacy elsewhere.
There vodka it is very cheap and abundant - you will be amazed by the many varieties available. Take a trip to the souvenir shops located on the opposite side of the harbor (the other side from McDonalds), for numerous jewels and other interesting souvenirs from Yalta. Beware if you speak English that prices tend to rise! For the best vodka, visit a supermarket or two outside the city center and you'll find a great selection at prices you won't believe.
The honey In this region it is possible to buy it almost everywhere, fresh honey from the hives. The best prices are during the summer.
Try shopping in the many markets for local produce. There are great deals for meat and vegetables. Some sanitary standards may need to be overlooked, but as long as you wash and sew your food well - you shouldn't have any problems.
How to have fun
Where to eat
There are several very nice cafes at the main market (Ovoshnoi Rynok). They are inexpensive, and they are cleaner and serve fresher food than many other areas. They have a good selection of food and it is well prepared.
The places in Yalta generally have their menus in Russian, but in some places you can also find them in English.
Moderate prices
- 1 Geneva, Yekaterynynska St, 1/33 (seafront), ☎ 7 918 343-00-33. 10:00-01:00. Modern Russian-style coffee room (i.e. understated, smoky decoration, loud but comfortably comfortable music).
- 2 Apelʹsyn (seafront), ☎ 7 978 854-28-31. Located on a platform in the shape of a Greek warship.
- 3 Koffyshka (Коффишка), im. Lenina embankment. Coffee and breakfasts with outdoor tables.
Average prices
- 4 Khuturok la mer (Хуторок ля Мер), вул. Свердлова, 9, ☎ 7 365 427-18-15. Seaside restaurant with good choice of food, even if the service is a bit sketchy.
Where stay
Summer sees the city flooded with tourists and there are plenty of apartments and hotels available. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes but don't expect Western standards most of the time. However, don't judge an apartment by its exterior: many decent places are housed in not very welcoming buildings.
Apartments further from the center may also have their water turned off overnight - this is common in Crimea. You might also suffer from power cuts, but it all adds interest to the local flavor. Also, keep the apartment away from trash in the summer, otherwise you will attract giant cockroaches!
Moderate prices
- 1 [link not working]Sobaka Hostel, Str. Chernova, 29a, ☎ 7 978 779-41-97, @SobakaHostelgmail.com. 550-2000 rub.
High prices
- 2 Villa Sofia, ☎ 7 978 782-04-63, @[email protected]. Luxurious hotel on the seafront
Safety
People are generally friendly and crime in this city of over 80,000 people is low. Tourists are safe as long as they stay alert: don't show money, avoid dark paths at night (avoid drunks).
Services are not always up to Western standards. For this one must be patient and appreciate the good side of Yalta.
Yalta is a city that extends over a large area (the great Yalta). The center and harbor are a great place to stroll, but beware of local motorists who tend not to let pedestrians pass. Traffic in the city in the summer months is heavy and can be blocked if you go with a motor vehicle. Sometimes you may notice that it is much faster to walk on foot.
How to keep in touch
Post office
The main post office is next to the Lenin statue at the eastern end of the waterfront.
Internet
A free wifi network covers the central area and the promenade. Places with wifi abound but wifi combined with sea views are in a decent cafe, power sockets and toilets are surprisingly hard to find.
There are also some internet cafes. Try Internet Cafe Stalker at 14 Ulitsa Kievskaya
Around
There are several interesting places in the metropolitan area of Yalta. Many are listed in the "Must See" section. Nearby are also present:
- 5 [link not working]Swallow's nest, Alupka (Mashrutka 27, 32, 102). 10: 00-19: 00 (May to November), 10: 00-16: 00 (November to May). Barely visible from the center of Yalta (look west from the promenade) is located near Alupka, this famous madness is the symbol of Yalta. Inside it hosts temporary exhibitions. It can also be reached by boat.
- 6 Vorontsov Palace, Alupka (Mashrutka 27,32,102). 30 minutes from Yalta.
- Gurzuf - small seaside town with Tatar flavor.
Further away:
- Alupka - the next major coastal city east of Yalta. It is on the route of the Yalta - Simferopol trolleybus.
- Balaklava - (about 1.5 hours from Yalta) beautiful port city, with a neglected Genoese fortified tower and formerly a closed city due to its submarine base.
- Bachčysaraj - the scenic route through the mountains and canyons makes this route an appreciable alternative to the coastal road.
- Sevastopol - bustling city of over half a million people. Home of the Black Sea Fleet.
- Simferopol - door of the Crimea. Good shops and lots of places to eat.
