The city has a long history, full of destruction and restoration, and is covered with vineyards, luxurious historical and architectural monuments that coexist harmoniously with picturesque nature. Visitors often wonder what they can see in Yalta and the surrounding area and where to go with only one day to spare.
What to visit in a day
There are so many interesting places in the vibrant town that those who come here for the first time get their eyes wide open. If you only have one day for an excursion, spend it within the locality:
- Walk along the embankment and ancient streets, look at the devil's staircase, where the film based on the famous novel by Bulgakov was filmed.
- Explore holy sites and preserved baths.
- See the area from above with a cable car ride.
- Go around Chekhov's house.
- Spend an hour on Massandra beach.
- If you are thinking about what to see with your children in 1 day and what to do in Yalta, this list will be the best route option.
Promenade along the embankment
The coast stretches for more than a thousand meters, offering stunning views of the mountain ranges and docked ships. This is the most popular and visited part of the city, where a large number of tourists are concentrated during the high season. The Yalta coastal area is an elegant combination of the luxury of expensive boutiques, fashionable restaurants right at the sea's edge, panoramic hotels, inexpensive baked goods and freshly squeezed juices.
This is a place where even a lonely visitor will never be bored; everyone will find something interesting and entertaining for themselves. Street musicians sit here and there is a summer theater where celebrities come weekly.
There are also rows of souvenir and art shops. No matter where in Crimea tourists travel to Yalta, a trolleybus, bus and taxi will bring them exactly here. Even if you are in the city for just a couple of hours, you should definitely set aside time to walk in the shade of the spreading coastal palm trees. This is the best place to go in Yalta in the evening. While there, visit the Artists' Alley and see the Isadora Duncan sycamore tree.
Crocodilarium
Located in the very center. The unique collection of reptiles has been open to tourists since 2011. Here you will meet alligators from different parts of the planet, including the largest representatives of this family - caimans. The exhibition is constantly being updated; it already features herbivorous iguanas, formidable monitor lizards and many varieties of turtles, including the vulture.
Ancient Greek galley
There is another interesting place on the shore - a cafe designed in the shape of a ship and named like the schooner Hispaniola. When you go there, you can feel like a hero of the feature films “Robinson Crusoe” or “Treasure Island”. In front of the building there are edelweiss umbrellas, installed in the mid-20th century.
Roffe Baths
The structure was erected on the territory of the France Hotel at the end of the 19th century by an architect who by that time was already the designer of the famous Livadia Palace. This fabulous original building made of snow-white marble, decorated inside with Moroccan stucco, is known for its healing effect. Purified and salt water has a positive effect on the body. At one time, famous personalities and famous writers such as Chekhov, Bunin and Chaliapin visited the baths. During the war period, the building was completely destroyed, but the baths themselves remained intact. Before the collapse of the USSR, they wanted to raze the ruins to the ground, but due to public protests, they preserved them. After the collapse of Soviet power in 1996, restoration efforts began and the building was given the status of a monument.
Small cable car
If you are not interested in ancient buildings, enjoy the views of the city from above.
On the section of the route from the Tavrida Hotel to Darsan Hill, there is a 600-meter cableway, the name of which in common parlance sounds like “Small Cable Car”. You can cover the one and a half kilometer flight to the hill in 15 minutes on a lift and admire the impressive views from the top from a 138-meter height, and then take a leisurely walk back.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The incredibly beautiful, fabulous structure is an architectural masterpiece and the pearl of Yalta. The monument to Old Russian culture is located in the center of the village on the street. Sadovaya. It impresses with its scale and luxury, with stunning openwork facades and sparkling gilded domes. The temple was planned in honor of the ruler Alexander II. The doors of the sacred place are open to visitors without breaks and weekends, admission is free, but at the gate you are asked to turn off all gadgets - filming inside is prohibited so as not to damage the preserved mosaic image of Alexander Nevsky and the luxurious interior decoration. The large-scale bells, custom-made in Moscow specifically for this cathedral, unfortunately, did not survive to this day and were redesigned back in Soviet times.
Temple of John Chrysostom
This is the first Christian religious building to be built of stone. Construction began in 1835 with the active financial participation of Count Vorontsov. Externally, the church is similar to English houses of those times. Its facades are painted in mustard tones, and its five domes are gilded. The three-cascade bell tower has become one of the business cards; it stretches 45 m in height and is clearly visible both from the sea and from the shore.
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
For lovers of rare exotic plants, an abundance of diverse plantings and wild flowers are presented in this green paradise. If you don’t know where to spend a warm day, what to see in Yalta and where to go, head here. Plants have been grown in the oldest Crimean garden since 1812. Today the collection of living exhibits includes more than 15 thousand species. The lush decoration and interesting landscape design of the park will captivate both inveterate gardeners and people who are far from the dacha business. Tourists come here for the whole day, leisurely stroll around the area in the shade of hundred-year-old trees, enjoy the aroma of flowers and take photos near the bamboo grove. In mid-spring, an exhibition of tulips is held here, in the autumn - chrysanthemums, then the ground here is dotted with a carpet of thousands of types of multi-colored buds. The garden is conventionally divided into 4 parts; at the entrance, each visitor who has bought a ticket receives a map, which he uses to determine what he wants to see first. The complex includes an exhibition of orchids and cacti, as well as a museum with 3 thousand exhibits and tasting of Crimean wines from grape varieties growing on these lands.
Massandra beach
The international Blue Flag award already speaks of the excellent quality of beach coverage, sea water and comfortable beach infrastructure of Massandra Beach. Among city beaches, this is the most popular place for swimming, sunbathing and sea activities. The coastal strip is dotted with large and small pebbles, and the depth of the sea increases quite quickly, so you need to watch the children more carefully here.
All beach areas, separated by 6 breakwaters, have sun loungers, sun umbrellas, changing cabins, showers and toilets. A zone of increased comfort, in addition to the listed infrastructure, is a bungalow. There are lifeguards on duty on the Massandra beach, a first-aid post, a bar with soft drinks and a cafe.
The territory of the Grand M Beach beach club stands out for its increased comfort, with the possibility of relaxing on open and roofed terraces, and the presence of a swimming pool with water from mountain springs. As evening falls, the club turns into a beach cafe with DJ performances, dancing and entertainment programs.
What interesting things to see in Yalta in three days
This time is not enough to get acquainted with the local culture and architecture; if you have the opportunity to spend a weekend in a sunny resort town, see the main attractions: the three palace complexes of Greater Yalta - Massandra, Vorontsov and Livadia; spend the evening wine tasting or in the restaurant of the most famous building in Crimea - Swallow's Nest. If you have time, go to Miskhor and take the cable car up to Ai-Petri to feel the grandeur of the Crimean Mountains and enjoy the impressive views from above.
Alexander Palace 3 in Massandra
Massandra Castle, surrounded by green coniferous forest, was built high in the mountains. Its construction started in 1881 by order of the son of a high-ranking official - Governor General Vorontsov. However, before the idea was realized, he died. Then the unfinished estate was bought to furnish a house for Emperor Alexander III. Unfortunately, he was also not lucky enough to move into these walls. During the heyday of communism, the building served as a resting place for senior party officials. After the collapse of the USSR, a museum was opened on the territory. The palace has almost completely preserved the decoration of past years: wooden furniture, a luxurious billiard room, solid flights of stairs, and most importantly, a huge mirror in a massive frame. Having looked into it, tourists make their deepest wishes, which, according to popular belief, must certainly come true. The museum complex is open 7 days a week.
Vin
For gourmets and those who like to enjoy a glass of fortified wine, in almost all kiosks on the peninsula you can buy a general educational bus tour to the winery. The products of this brand are considered one of the best and most awarded in the world. Every year, a couple of samples from the wine collection win prizes at prestigious international competitions. In addition to the classic tasting, visitors will be guided through the underground cellars and shown bottles of the aromatic drink, aged for decades and priceless.
Snow-white Livadia Palace
This is one of the most famous residences on the peninsula. It was she who became the last place of residence of the Emperor of the Russian state, Nicholas II. The ensemble of buildings was erected at the beginning of the 20th century and included, in addition to the palace, several other buildings, including a church and a cozy courtyard. Livadia is also famous for the grandiose historical event that took place at the beginning of 1945 - the Yalta Conference. It was attended by senior officials of the governments of the anti-Hitler coalition - the USSR, Great Britain and the USA.
Castle Swallow's Nest
Located on the very edge of the cliff, it is depicted on banknotes, posters, maps, souvenirs and advertising of travel agencies. This is a full-fledged calling card of Crimea, and if you come to the peninsula for the first time, you can’t help but visit here. Destructions, strong earthquakes and several reconstructions form the long history of the monument, when Baron von Stegel decided to order the design and construction of the castle in a consistent German style. A small complex was erected on a high cliff, surrounded by impressive mountain landscapes and the depths of the sea.
Vorontsov Palace
This is a luxurious residence built by the English architect E. Blair for the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory. This is one of the most educational and colorful places you can go and take a walk in Yalta. Despite the pronounced English style in architectural details, the presence of oriental motifs is clearly visible in it. Before the events of the revolution, the estate served as a summer palace for three generations of the Vorontsov family, but with the advent of communism it was nationalized. During the war years, the premises were plundered by the Nazis. The latter stole more than 500 paintings and priceless graphics. Only some of them later returned to the walls of the palace. Since 1956, it has been a museum.
Mount Ai-Petri
The 1234 meter high peak offers impressive landscape views. On the plateau you can eat deliciously, tasting the best national dishes of Crimean Tatar cuisine. Rise to the hill from the lower station of the cable car, which originates near the Vorontsov Palace. The lift is listed in the Book of Records as the longest unsupported span in Europe. The journey will take 15 minutes.
Silver gazebo and Wuchang-Su waterfall
The trip can be combined with a visit to Mount Ai-Petri. After admiring the views of the sea coast from above, you need to take a bus and go down. It is on the path of this serpentine that you will meet the Uchan-Su waterfall and the Silver Gazebo. The water streams are decorated with a monument in the form of an eagle. According to legend, if you tie a red ribbon around its wing and make a wish, it will definitely come true.
Massandra Palace
The Massandra Palace was built for the son of the famous politician Count M.S. Vorontsov in the 80s of the 19th century. A few years after the death of the owner, it was acquired for the royal family of Alexander III. Then, in Massandra, a 3rd floor was added to the two-story palace, and the facade was decorated with decorative elements that added charm and eclecticism.
However, due to the death of the emperor, the construction was completed by his son, Emperor Nicholas II. Since 1992, the palace has been operating as a museum, where visitors get acquainted with the interiors of the royal rooms of the second half of the 19th century, decorated with stucco, exquisite wooden carvings, tiles and frescoes. Of interest is the inspection of furniture located in the halls for official receptions, the study and bedrooms.
The walls of the rooms are decorated with portraits of members of the royal family and paintings by Russian artists; an important addition to the interior was the collection of royal porcelain dishes and vases. The palace grounds are also delightful with sculptures of heroes of Greek myths, the beauty of fragrant roses and a picturesque park. The museum is open to visitors from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and until 20.00 on weekends.
What to see in a week
This time is not enough to review all the attractions of the resort town, but if you develop a route in advance, the program can include a maximum of fascinating places that have left their mark on history:
- Families with children are recommended to go to the Glade of Fairy Tales and visit the zoo.
- For flora lovers, go to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
- Representatives of the stronger sex and real gourmets will be interested in tasting wines from the best varieties of Crimean grapes.
- All tourists, without exception, will be inspired by the preserved interiors of medieval castles.
- Those who prefer art can buy a ticket to a performance at the Yalta Theater named after A.P. Chekhov.
- You definitely need to walk along the embankment, see the existing temples and the Armenian Church, and climb the majestic Mount Ai-Petri.
Cactus greenhouse
The special pride of the Nikitsky Garden is its impressively sized indoor cactus greenhouse - one of the largest in Europe. The cultivation of winter-hardy prickly pear cacti, agaves and yuccas began here almost a century ago. Today you will see almost all types of cacti and succulents - drought-resistant plants growing in the desert areas of South America.
Here, more than 600 varieties of cacti are amazing in their shape and colors. Cactus growers here will be offered to purchase the species they like and will be given recommendations for growing them. In total, about 500 species of succulents grow under the roof of the greenhouse and the open terrace - plants with thick stems and succulent leaves that are not afraid of drought and store water during rains.
Such plants include the well-known “money tree”. For your information, a visit to the cactus greenhouse is included in the program along with the Montedor Park and the Garden of Eden, for which a new entrance has been opened near the bus stop opposite the lower colonnade.
Interesting places
When you have already looked at all of the above points on the map of Crimea, and do not know where to go on an excursion in Yalta, pay attention to the following monuments:
- House of F.F. Meltzer.
- Vin.
- Palace of the Emir of Bukhara.
- Museum complex of L. Ukrainka.
- Count's estate of Mordvinov.
- Yusupov Palace, referred to as the “Pink Estate”.
- Foros Park with unrivaled fountains.
- Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Great Martyr Alexandra.
- Nikitskaya cleft with a climbing wall.
- Mountain forest nature reserve.
- Studio.
No matter how many times you visit the resort town, new attractions will open up to you.
Palace of Count Mordvinov
With its grandeur, the historical two-century building of the palace of Count Mordvinov, standing on a hill in a luxurious park area, attracts attention on Sverdlov Street. On the north side it is fenced by a mountain. The landscape of the palace grounds is full of centuries-old trees, oddly shaped shrubs and skillful sculptures.
Built in a Mediterranean architectural style, it is reminiscent of Italian Renaissance villas. Standing out with graceful facades built from alternating greenish Gurzuf sandstone, which changes color in different lighting with ashy local sandstone, the mansion creates the atmosphere of medieval Tuscany around it. The interior decoration of the Mordvinov Palace is breathtaking.
Marble, valuable types of wood, skillful mosaics and decorative stucco were used to decorate the interior. The wall paintings alone in the 79 rooms in the palace occupy 2,000 square meters. m. The use of architectural forms in the interior - marble columns, original balconies, fireplaces and other details evoke genuine admiration.
What's interesting in the area
The entire southern coast of the peninsula is dotted with fascinating monuments. In order not to go somewhere you know you won’t like, before the excursion you should read reviews, study photos and determine the most interesting places in Yalta and the immediate surroundings that you need to visit. Ratings of fascinating corners of the South Coast strongly recommend visiting:
- The royal path.
- Church in Foros.
- Count's palaces.
- Bird home.
- Zoo and Glade of Fairy Tales.
- Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
Museum of Automotive Art
The Museum of Automotive Art, which opened in 2021, has already collected many unique examples of not only retro cars, but also cars created on the basis of past years, embodying the imagination of the masters. You will be surprised by one of the fruits of the boundless author's imagination that served as the foundation of the museum - a shark car created on the basis of an old Pobeda.
A place of honor here is given to the legendary exhibits of the Soviet automobile industry: the humpbacked “Zaporozhets”, “Pobeda”, “Volga -21” and their brothers with originally designed tuning. So far, the Museum of Automotive Art offers no more than 20 original author’s models for viewing, but there are plans to increase their number by another 10 times.
All exhibits presented in the museum pavilion are on the move and participate in permanent automobile exhibitions, races and other events. Visitors who are car enthusiasts and boys especially like the fact that they can climb into the car, start it, look under the hood, and take a photo in front of a rare model with its own entertaining story about those people who once owned the car.
Where to go with the whole family
When coming on a family vacation, you need to decide in advance what to visit in Yalta with children, where to go and what to see. We advise you to show your child the following places.
"Aquatorium" dolphinarium
The pool is located in the village. Vinogradnoye, near the Livadia Palace. You will be able to attend an exciting show, accompanied by a musical performance, in which dolphins, beluga whales and fur seals take part.
Yalta Zoo with an aquarium
You need to go here for the whole day. A vast territory with an abundance of terraces and natural views, equipped with spacious enclosures housing more than 1,000 fauna.
Space Museum
This place was repeatedly visited by politicians, astronauts and pilots. It was their concern for children and the future that prompted the organization of an astronautics exhibition here, the founder of which was Yuri Gagarin himself. The exhibits are located on the site of the famous children's camp "Artek".
Water park "Atlantis"
The water park was built near the sea. Its design will undoubtedly delight the little members of the family - destroyed cities are imitated on the territory and statues of ancient heroes are installed. An exciting rendezvous awaits you on slides of varying heights and complexity. There is entertainment here for lovers of a relaxing holiday and true extreme sports enthusiasts.
Crocodilarium
Crocodilarium has something to surprise nature lovers. Opened in 2011, it has managed to gain popularity among tourists. Over the course of several years, the crocodilarium has been replenished with many species of crocodiles, turtles, snakes and reptiles living in conditions close to their natural habitat. For the rare Siamese crocodile, habitat conditions have been created in a combination of fresh water and swamps.
The peculiarity of sharp-winged crocodiles, which dig holes in the ground for wintering and, in the warm season, swim in sea water, was also taken into account. Here you will see the world's largest saltwater crocodile, a native of Australia, and the smallest smooth-faced caiman, an inhabitant of tropical rivers. A member of the Ghanaian gharial family, an endangered species dating back 65 million years, also lives in the crocodilarium.
You will also see the African Nile crocodile, famous for its size and the presence of a third eyelid, the Cuban crocodile, the Spectacled Caiman and the Blunt-snouted crocodile. In total, the crocodile house is equipped with 25 large aquariums, which have become the residence of these species of exotic fauna. You will find the Crocodilarium at the end of the promenade by the huge figure of a crocodile at the entrance.
Where to go for a walk in Yalta
One review cannot describe all the landscapes and architectural beauty that can be seen near the famous resort. Don't try to do everything and everywhere. Do not forget that first of all you arrived in a summer resort city to take a break from the bustle and heavy air of industrial areas. Here, the main attractions are the sea and the mountains. Stroll through parks and squares, sheltering from the heat under the shade of palm leaves, drink a cup of coffee in coastal cafes and listen to local artists by the flowing water fountain on the embankment.
Church of St. John Chrysostom
In the historical center on Polikurovsky Hill, surrounded by a cypress park, the building of the Church of St. John Chrysostom delights with its beauty. This church, dating back to the first half of the 19th century, became the first religious building of the resort town made of stone, for the consecration of which Tsar Nicholas I himself came. Whether you are on a mountain, in the sea or in a valley, you will see a temple with an architecture unconventional for Orthodoxy with features of a pseudo-Gothic style from everywhere .
After several reconstructions, today we see the architecture of the church in a combination of European Gothic with “Moscow Baroque”. The highlight of the complex is a white and pink three-tiered bell tower with four snow-white bulbs at the corners of the upper part and completed with a golden dome topped with a cross. Inside the temple is decorated with wooden decor on carved icon cases, dome, and vaults.
There are paintings of biblical scenes on the walls. In the temple you will see many family heirlooms passed down by generations of residents, several shrines, the main one of which is called the reliquary of St. Luke. Near the church there is an ancient cemetery where famous people of the country and city found peace.
Small cable car
Address: next to the entrance to the Tavrida hotel
A must-see attraction is a ride on the Yalta-Gorka cable car. From the embankment you have to climb to a height of 120 meters above sea level in just 12 minutes. A special feature of the Yalta cable car is its double colored cabins. The end point is Darsan Hill, where you can admire the panoramic view while sitting in a cozy cafe. Entertainment doesn't come cheap. For an adult ticket you will have to pay 400 rubles.
Glade of fairy tales
If you are vacationing with a child, be sure to give him the joy of visiting the “Glade of Fairy Tales” - a town in a picturesque forest on Mount Krestovaya, where the fairy-tale characters depicted in the sculpture settled. This magical place at the foot of the bizarre Stavri-Kaya rock, similar to a castle, has become a real children's open-air museum.
Next to it, the noisy stream of the Wuchang-Su waterfall falls from a height, creating a mysterious a. The old-timers of Polyana - Chernomor, Taras Bulba, Bubble, Pinocchio, Laptya and Solominki every year welcome new residents to their fairy-tale city, where they have already formed: “Pushkinskaya Polyana” with the heroes of the poet’s fairy tales and a pond where the old man catches a goldfish, “Slavic Field” "with the heroes of Russian epics, the domain of Doctor Aibolit.
Baba Yaga settled in a hut on chicken legs that creaksly turns towards people. Guests are invited to the “Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors” with metal guards guarding the entrance. Some museum visitors would not mind being in the mouth of a wooden dragon, while others would like to take a photo hugging Vasilisa the Beautiful. Before entering the museum, there are signs on the epic stone indicating which way to go and a warning not to waste time.
Bus station
We arrive at bus station on Moskovskaya Street. Buses come here from all cities of Crimea. It looks like this.
We don’t need the bus station itself now, but we need a trolleybus depot . It is located on the left across the road from the Yalta bus station, if you stand facing it. There is no need to cross the road; we go down into the underground passage and get off at the trolleybus station.
At the ticket office we buy a ticket for trolleybus 52 to Nikita . Why is the trolleybus legendary? Because it runs along the longest trolleybus route in the world from Yalta to Simferopol.
How to get there
The easiest way to get to the peninsula is by plane. Russian airlines Aeroflot, S7, Donavia and Utair, as well as charter airline Vimavia, fly there from all three Moscow airports. Planes are often full, so it's best to book tickets in advance, especially if you want to sit by the window or with a companion. The flight takes 2.5 hours. Round-trip fares from Moscow start at 5,500 rubles (about $86).
At the moment, the only travel company for foreign guests working in the south of Russia, including Crimea, is Southern Comfort - tours to the south of Russia. The company employs guides who speak English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and other languages, reliable drivers and managers who can organize individual tours in accordance with the wishes of the client.
House-Museum of A.P. Chekhov
A visit to the memorial house-museum of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, located in the house built by the writer, called the “Belaya Dacha”, will reveal many interesting facts about the last years of his life. Chekhov had to settle in Yalta due to poor health. His mother and sister moved with him in 1899. The family settled in a house built by the writer on the plot he acquired.
Under the roof of this house his famous works were born: the stories “The Lady with the Dog” and “In the Ravine”, the plays “Three Sisters” and “The Cherry Orchard”, and the stories “The Bishop”, “At Christmastide” and “The Bride”. After Chekhov passed away, his sister became the mistress of the house, who came here for the summer and maintained the house. Thanks to her efforts, the life-time environment of the Belaya Dacha was preserved.
The museum has exhibitions with the writer’s personal belongings, notebooks, and items that were in his use. Here you can see rare archival photographs of the family and a collection of letters. In total, more than 1,700 exhibits are preserved in the funds of the memorial museum. To house the entire legacy of the writer and promote his work, another building was built on the territory of the museum complex, and work began on restoring the botanical garden planted by Chekhov.
Tips for tourists
5 years have passed since the referendum on Crimea took place, as a result of which an agreement was signed between the peninsula and Russia. It has become the source of significant controversy between Russia, Ukraine and the West, with many embassies warning against travel to the peninsula. As a result of economic sanctions imposed in connection with the referendum, traveling in Crimea has become difficult: virtually no international airlines operate here, and tourists must carry a handful of cash. Bank and credit cards are not accepted anywhere, although you can change foreign currency in banks.
