Hello, friends! Perhaps the appearance of this article is somewhat premature, because at first I wanted to write it after returning from the trip. But in the process of preparing the next trip (this time to the resorts of the Azov Sea), a lot of information was obtained, and in order not to lose it in the depths of my computer, I decided to share with you what I learned. Maybe some of you are also planning a trip in this direction soon, and my information will somehow help you.
It so happened that it was not possible to go anywhere with the children for the May holidays. Therefore, we decided to make up for lost opportunities for vacation in May with a trip in June, taking a few more days along with the weekend dedicated to Russia Day.
There were many options. And initially a trip to St. Petersburg was planned. But somehow it was not planned very actively, and therefore good and inexpensive train tickets were already sold. And I didn’t want to ride on the top or side shelves at all. Therefore, it was decided to go on a trip by car. And this time, the resorts of the Azov Sea were chosen as the object of research.
I'll explain why:
- The sea warms up faster there - this is perhaps the main argument, because the trip was planned in early June, and even with small children
- Not far to go (you can get there from our city during daylight hours)
- Relatively inexpensive housing
- Good sea for families with children (shallow, hopefully warm, sandy beaches)
- Clean air and good climate, distance from big cities
- Quite a lot of entertainment for children - parks with children's entertainment, water parks, dolphinariums, zoos
We looked at the preliminary weather forecast and, if we believe it, it should already be warm, but without extreme heat. But with water temperature it’s more difficult. Experienced travelers recommend this simple method: if it has been hot in the last three weeks, then the water will definitely warm up.
Golubitskaya
How to get there: 55 km from Anapa airport.
Golubitskaya has a lot of entertainment for children
By the standards of the Azov Sea, Golubitskaya is considered a large resort, although only about 4 thousand people live in the village. This is one of the best places in Russia for a seaside holiday with small children - a very gentle slope, sandy bottom, sand or small shell rock on the shore. Older children will be interested in the largest water park and dolphinarium in Azov. Holidays in Golubitskaya can be called health-improving. In addition to the steppe air, which is useful in preventing problems with the respiratory system, the mud of Golubitskoye Lake has a healing effect. Both children and adults can take mud baths.
What to see in Golubitskaya: estuaries overgrown with blooming lotuses.
Dangers of the Azov Sea for holidays with children
This sea is considered very popular and safe among families with limited financial resources and small children. But, like everywhere else, there are unsafe places where you need to be careful.
- You should not sunbathe on black sand. After a storm, there are black stripes with radioactive thorium, where the radioactive background is increased.
- On the beach of the Mashinostroitel boarding house in Yuryevka, you need to carefully pay attention to the warning signs about the prohibited swimming area. This is due to the undercurrent.
- There is no need to set up tents next to high cliffs that collapse after rain.
- Rescuers often have to return those who like to swim on inflatable mattresses to shore because they are carried away into the open sea. It's better not to use mattresses.
- Marine life abounds. Of course, there are no dangerous creatures. But encounters with a stingray are undesirable, whose poisonous spines will cause pain. And there will be troubles from contact with an eared jellyfish. There are also mussels with very sharp edges; after cuts, such wounds take a long time and painfully to heal.
- Another feature is the humid climate, which is not suitable for heart patients and people with respiratory problems.
All these dangers can be easily overcome if you are attentive and careful. It is safer to swim only on official beaches.
Dolzhanskaya
How to get there: 270 km from Rostov-on-Don airport.
Long Spit - beach of the village of Dolzhanskaya
Relaxation in a nature reserve on the seashore. Dolzhanskaya is a small village in the Russian south, ideal for a relaxing holiday for families with children. There are also healing muds here, and the healing effect is enhanced by the aroma of the pine forest and steppe herbs. Dolzhanki Beach is located on the Dolgaya Spit, which separates the Taganrog Bay and the Sea of Azov. It is covered with small shell rock, saturated with minerals.
Please note that there are often waves in Dolzhanskaya.
There is little entertainment in Dolzhanka. One of the main ones is horseback riding and horse riding lessons. In addition, there are several children's playgrounds on the shore where you can jump on a trampoline or go down the slides.
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Yeysk is our choice
Yeysk is a southern port city in the northwestern part of the Krasnodar Territory with many parks, green alleys and shady squares and numerous beaches on the Yeisk Estuary and Taganrog Bay.
Yeisk also has plenty of children's entertainment:
- Water park "Nemo" on the shore of Taganrog Bay on Primorskaya embankment
- Dolphinarium (Schmidt St., 16/1)
- Crocodile Canyon with amazing snakes, crocodiles, turtles (Schmidt St., 16/1)
- Children's (Krasnaya St., 74/2), where you can have a very fun and organized time with children of different ages
- Oceanarium "Shark Reef" (Schmidt St., 15/1).
- Park named after Poddubny with more than 30 types of attractions. This is the oldest park in Kuban, which is located on the shore of Taganrog Bay.
In addition, Yeysk is one of the best mud resorts on the Azov-Black Sea coast, a healthy climate, shallow, well-warmed sea and sandy, shell and pebble beaches.
The resort is located at the base of the Yeisk Spit on a peninsula and is washed on three sides by the Sea of Azov. Yeysk is located 180 kilometers from Rostov-on-Don and 250 kilometers from Krasnodar.
You can get to Yeysk in different ways: by car, plane, train or water transport.
By the way, according to the results of the ranking of the best beach resorts in Russia by the cost of a summer vacation, presented by the travel portal Travel.ru, Yeysk took 5th place.
The initial parameters were vacation during the peak tourist season (second half of July), accommodation - in budget hotels (2-3 stars), location - near the sea and beach area, meals - set lunches in inexpensive cafes, cost of an excursion popular in given location, and the cost of a ticket for public transport, as well as the cost of a transfer from the railway station or airport to your place of residence (but only on public transport). According to these parameters, the city of Yeysk is among the top five budget beach holiday leaders. Here you can relax for 2140 rubles.
All this in general and in general, as well as the formed opinion based on studying a large number of reviews of those who had already vacationed in these places with children, put the final point in the choice. All that remained was to find suitable housing. We were counting on a budget of 12-14 thousand for 7 days for four: two adults and two children.
Preference was given to mini-hotels, guest houses and turnkey houses. I want to say that good options for these dates were, for the most part, already booked. People took care of their upcoming summer vacation in advance. Therefore, they chose from what was left. Although, of course, sometimes the thought crept in: not to book anything, but to go “at random” and get your bearings on the spot. But we were traveling with children. Therefore, the surprise factor could play a bad joke on us in this case.
Choosing housing in Yeysk
Firstly, it was necessary to understand in which area it is better to choose. Because there is sea on all sides: from the east - the Yeisk Estuary, from the west - Taganrog Bay.
We focused on a calm, quiet holiday, so the following were important:
- The sea is within walking distance
- Sandy beach with good conditions for children
- Small number of guests
- Availability of any children's entertainment
- Comfortable accommodation with all amenities.
I’ll say right away that on the first day I was simply confused by the abundance of offers and, after sitting for half a day, I still didn’t understand where and what to look for. A lot of different types of housing were offered - hotels and boarding houses, guest houses and recreation centers, mini-hotels, apartments and private houses.
In order to somehow streamline and narrow down the search area, I decided to understand for myself and try to figure out which area of the city has the most suitable conditions for us. And since the main condition is a good children's beach in the immediate vicinity, it was decided to start by exploring the beaches of Yeisk.
Beaches of Yeysk
As it turned out, there are several of them in the city and they are very diverse: sandy, pebble, shell, rocky and, most often, mixed (sand-shell and pebble-sand).
The main beaches are located on the Yeisk Spit: Central City Beach, Children's Beach, located opposite the Central Beach, Youth Beach, Kamenka Beach. There are also small individual beaches on the coast of the Yeisk Estuary (the area of the second microdistrict).
To make it clearer, let’s look at each in more detail.
Central city beach
Stretched along the Taganrog Bay for approximately half a kilometer. It is considered (according to reviews) the best beach in the city. Clean, the bottom and shore are sandy, a gentle entrance, shallow depth at the entrance and a maximum depth of up to 1.5 meters. The water warms up well.
Lots of entertainment for adults and children. The beach is equipped with changing cabins, paid toilets, there is a rental of sun loungers and umbrellas, and spreading trees provide natural shade. There is a place to eat.
The central city beach is divided into two parts: Central - from the side of the Taganrog Bay and Children's Beach from the side of the Yeisk Estuary. They are located across the street from each other.
Children's city beach
Its length is approximately 300 meters, not a very large coastal beach area. Sand and shell (mixed) shore. Shallow, the greatest depth is 1-1.5 meters. There is a lot of entertainment for children (trampolines, water slides, bananas, jet skis, tablets).
It is an ideal and completely safe place for children. Complete absence of waves. If there are no adults who like to swim in the depths, this is a perfectly suitable place to relax with children.
The central city beach, both for adults and for children, is, according to many vacationers, the best. The only drawback is that there are a lot of people there, and you need to get there early.
At the very end of the Yeisk Spit there is also Youth Beach (here is the maximum depth), but we will not talk about it, since its name speaks for itself.
Beaches of the Yeisk Estuary
They are located in the waters of the Yeisk Estuary on the right side of the city in the form of small sections along the coastline. According to reviews, the most popular sections of the beach are in the area of Nizhnesadovaya Street at the intersection with Pionerskaya, Plekhanova, Krasnaya, Barrikadnaya and Svobody streets.
The beaches that are located closer to the Central Beach are mostly small-pebble, while further along the coast they are sandy and shell-like. The entrance to the sea is gentle, level, the bottom is sand and silt, the maximum depth is up to 1 meter. These are quiet, calm beaches, but, according to reviews, not equipped (“wild beaches”).
Kamenka Beach
If we go down a little south of the Central Beach from the side of Taganrog Bay, we find ourselves on Kamenka Beach. It is a little south of the Yeisk port. The beach stretches for about a kilometer on the coast along the Taganrog Bay. The depth does not reach more than one and a half meters.
The coastal shore is heterogeneous: the sandy beach is mixed with areas covered with stones (apparently, this is why the beach got its name).
On the northern side of the beach, from the port to Rostovskaya Street, the shore is mostly sandy and comfortable. From Rostovskaya and further the beach becomes more and more rocky and gradually turns into pebbles.
Kuchugury
How to get there: 65 km from Anapa airport.
Kuchugury has one of the best beaches for children in Russia
One of the main resorts of the Azov Sea for children. In Kuchugury there are even guest houses with children's animation. The village is small, so there are no large hotels, but there is a very friendly atmosphere. You can get around it in literally 20 minutes, and within a couple of days after arrival, all vacationers know each other.
There is fine, pleasant sand on the shore, the sunset is very gradual, so the water warms up quickly and is warm already in June. There are standard beach activities - banana, parachute, catamarans.
In the center of the village there is an amusement park.
Entertainment on the beach and animation for children
Every day during the May holidays and the entire summer season, the resort's animation team works at the Kazachiy Bereg hotel. The animation schedule includes games, dances, master classes, concerts, performances and special game discos for children, which make a holiday with a child by the sea unforgettable.
An animated morning begins on the beach with light dance exercises, which is popular among young guests, and continues with games on the beach or on the water.
Along the beach line there are inflatable beach slides, playgrounds and attractions that help parents divert their children's attention from the sea.
From early morning until late evening, guests of the Kazachiy Bereg resort have a rental point where you can rent scooters, bicycles, hoverboards... or children's electric cars. By the way, electric cars are a favorite pastime not only for kids, but also for dads. They walk importantly along the beach street with remote controls in their hands, controlling the movement of a children's vehicle driven by a small driver.
Peresyp
How to get there: 59 km from Anapa airport.
The main advantage of the sea in Peresyp is the shallow water
Between Golubitskaya and Kuchugury there is another very small village, but a popular children's resort of the Azov Sea - Peresyp. It has all the same advantages - shallow water, sandy and shell beaches, clear sea. Peresyp is suitable for those who prefer privacy and silence. Tourist accommodation is mainly in the private sector, and vacations are more reminiscent of a country house format than a resort one. For entertainment you will have to go to neighboring settlements, but they are all nearby - Taman, Kuchugury, Golubitskaya.
What to see near Peresyp: the healing lake Blue Balka and the Lotus Valley.
Poseidon
A gorgeous beach on the Taman Peninsula. This is a whole complex with wellness treatments and entertainment.
The beach is decorated in ancient Greek style. And it is located next to the village of Peresyp.
There are two swimming pools with unique healing mud on the territory. You can also take a wine and beer bath. They improve the condition of the skin and have a general strengthening effect.
The beach has everything for a comfortable stay. There are children's attractions, a zoo, an aquarium, an ostrich farm and much more. You can taste local Taman wines.
Entrance fee - 400 rubles.
Taman
How to get there: 75 km from Anapa airport.
Thanks to Lermontov, the whole world knows about Taman
Taman is a large settlement relative to the resorts of the Azov coast - more than 10 thousand people. It is also quiet and calm here, and leisure time tends to be more educational. There are no water parks or dolphinariums, but there are several museums, the most famous of which are the Ataman ethnographic complex and the Lermontov Museum.
However, there are standard resort entertainment in Taman - boat rides, an amusement park, water activities.
The beaches in Taman are sandy, but the slope is not as flat as in Kuchurugi or Golubitskaya. But in just 15 minutes you can drive to the Black Sea coast: the village of Volna will greet you with shallow waters and dolphins splashing almost near the shore.
Where and when can you go in summer 2021?
This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many families had to reconsider their vacation plans and shift their focus from foreign resorts to domestic ones.
Moreover, the holiday season has already opened in the Krasnodar Territory and Crimea. Read about whether there is a chance to cross the border for tourism purposes in the near future here: When will the borders of Russia be opened for tourists and movement.
Some families have never visited Russian resorts, preferring the UAE, Thailand, Cyprus, Turkey and other popular international resorts. Others may have been to the beaches of our south themselves, but have never vacationed there with children. It is worth noting that this year domestic beaches are preparing for a special rush and low prices should not be expected.
Due to the pandemic, dolphinariums, water parks, museums and entertainment venues may limit the number of visitors. Find out in advance whether there is a chance to get to a place or show that is interesting to you and your child, and whether the visiting rules have changed.
Do you plan to explore cultural or natural attractions that are far from the hotel? Find out in advance whether admission is closed due to coronavirus and whether there are excursions. Perhaps it will be more profitable and more comfortable to rent a car (don’t forget about child car seats!) and visit several places that interest you at once. This summer, it is worth taking a supply of masks and gloves with you for being in public places (for example, airports, train stations, museums).
If you choose an area with pebble beaches, buy your child shoes for swimming (by the way, adults will also have a much more pleasant time with such an update). Also, take compact raincoats for yourself and your child, which can be quickly taken out in case of bad weather.
Primorsko-Akhtarsk
How to get there: 167 km from Krasnodar airport.
Primorsko-Akhtarsk is a city with developed infrastructure
A city in Kuban with clean beaches and picturesque nature. Primorsko-Akhtarsk has classic children's attractions, cafes and even historical attractions. Therefore, a holiday here will be interesting for children of different ages. The infrastructure in the city is developing; in addition to small guest houses and the private sector, you can stay in small modern hotels with a swimming pool and entertainment program.
Reliable travel sites verified by UniTicket:
- You can find and book tours online at Travelata and Onlinetours .
- You can book and compare hotel prices on Booking . And the apartments are on Airbnb .
- You can choose the cheapest air ticket among all airlines on UniTicket and Aviasales .
- Find excursions around the world on Tripster and Sputnik8
- Buy insurance and not worry about your health at Cherehapa .
- Rent a car to see even more interesting places on Rentalcars . Or a bike on BikesBooking .
- Book airport transfer Kiwitaxi .
Restrictions due to COVID-19
| Yeisk Stanitsa Golubitskaya Dolzhanskaya Primorsko-Akhtarsk Ilyich Peresyp Sennaya Taman | From August 1, to check into hotels, inns and sanatoriums, you will need a certificate of vaccination, medical clearance or recent illness (except for children under 6 years old). If there are no certificates, sign a consent to vaccination within 3 days from the moment of check-in |
| Taganrog Semibalki | From August 4, food courts, swimming pools and water parks are closed, and attractions are closed. Cinemas and catering establishments operate with no more than 50% occupancy. |
| Kuchugury Shchelkino | For residents of the Russian Federation who have not traveled abroad - no restrictions. For those returning from trips abroad - 2 negative PCR tests (no more than 5 days after return). |
Taganrog
How to get there: 80 km from Rostov-on-Don airport.
There are many different attractions in Taganrog
This is the north of the Azov Sea, so in Taganrog there is no such heat in July-August as in the south. However, thanks to the shallow water, the water warms up very well, making swimming comfortable even for small children.
There are several beaches in the city. The most comfortable of them is Eliseevsky. Solnechny is a meeting place for young people, and Central is perfect for those who like to combine a beach holiday with sightseeing.
About 300 thousand people live in Taganrog; it is a large populated area. Urban hotels predominate here and the accompanying infrastructure is well developed. In particular, there are many entertainment centers, cafes, restaurants, attractions, and a water park. In addition, Taganrog has a rich history and many interesting sights.
When is the best time to go to the Sea of Azov with children?
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The Sea of Azov, unlike the Black Sea, warms up much earlier because it is relatively shallow. This allows you to go on vacation with your child starting in June. Sometimes the water warms up to +23 at the end of May, but for children under 10 years old it will still be cool. In June, the water temperature already reaches +26, and in July it reaches +29. Of course, such warmth will also appeal to the little ones, who will be able to splash around in shallow water for a long time without fear of freezing.
The second half of July will bring heat, so you should not go to the beach with an infant or kindergarten age during dangerous hours from 12.00 to 16.00, in order to avoid heat stroke. It is advisable to stay in the shade more.
In the second half of August, the heat will subside, maintaining warm sea water, which is optimal for a wonderful holiday with a baby. You just need to carefully choose a beach that is clean from algae that appeared during this period. This period has one huge disadvantage - the coast in some places is subject to active growth of algae. It's not dangerous, but children won't like the plants touching their skin.
But there is also a big plus: the Sea of Azov is less salty than the Black Sea, so babies’ delicate skin is safe when swimming.
Curonian Spit
This is a famous national reserve with a sandy beach, which is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. A suitable place for relaxation on the dunes of fine white sand. Maximum water temperature +22 C.
Equipped beaches can be found in the villages of Rybachye and Lesnoye, where the Dune tourist center operates. There are rentals of sun loungers and umbrellas, changing cabins, toilets, bars and cafes. Tourists are always interested in buying smoked fish from fishermen, and at the market you can buy unique amber products. The café serves delicious local cuisine. It is prohibited to pitch tents on other wild beaches.
