Holidays in Yalta by the sea - 2021: 10 tips from a local

Holidays in Russia are not the worst option. We are starting a series of articles about holidays on the domestic coast.

Given:

• Yalta is the most active and beautiful (according to many assurances) city in Crimea.
• And Katya - who lives in Yalta and knows how to have a good rest in her hometown.

She will tell you where to stay, swim, eat, have fun, get in touch with history, and how to fall in love with the resort even in high season. And since many have Yalta scheduled for 2021 holidays, prices will also not be ignored.

How to get to Yalta? Ticket prices

In Yalta and nearby there is no airport or railway station. And this is more a plus than a minus: the city is cleaner and more secluded, and getting to major transport hubs is not a problem.

You can get to Yalta like this:

• By plane - fast, comfortable, but not super cheap.

Search for airline tickets on Aviasales or Skyscanner.

In the 2021 season, direct flights fly from 50 cities of Russia. So, a plane ticket from Moscow costs from 10,000 rubles per person round-trip, from St. Petersburg - from 15,000 rubles.

Passengers arrive at the only "air gates of Crimea" - Simferopol airport. Then you get to Yalta by bus (from 200 rubles, 2 hours on the way), trolley bus (165 rubles, 3 hours on the way) or taxi (from 1500 rubles).

• By bus - long and cheap.

View the available flights on Tutu.
There are about 20 routes from Russian cities to Yalta. For example, a 30-hour bus trip from Moscow costs 3,000 rubles one way.

• By train - dreary.

There is no railway connection between the peninsula and the mainland. But there is a "Single" ticket, which takes a train to Anapa or Krasnodar, and then by bus to Yalta or other resorts of Crimea. Both tickets are purchased together.
For example, the Kazan-Anapa train costs from 3000 rubles one way + a surcharge for a bus to Yalta is 700 rubles.

• By car - for amateurs.

On May 16, 2018, the Crimean Bridge opened, connecting the peninsula with the mainland. But for now, motorists are not happy: after 85 km from the crossing, traffic jams begin. Drive 300 km from the bridge to Yalta, it takes 6 hours to drive (through Sudak along a mountain serpentine). I advise you to lengthen the road by 1 hour and drive through Simferopol if you get sick at sharp turns.

As for me, the most comfortable and time-efficient way to get to Yalta is by plane + taxi (especially if there are 3-4 people in the company).

Vacation season in Yalta

The holiday season in Yalta begins with the May holidays and ends in September.

• In May and until mid-June it is comfortable to sunbathe (air + 20 ° C… + 25 ° C), swim in the sea is cool (water + 18 ° C… + 21 ° C).
• Therefore, most vacationers arrive in July and August - when it is + 28 ° C ... + 30 ° C outside, and the Black Sea warms up to + 23 ° C ... + 25 ° C.

To be honest, I don’t understand how people don’t melt in the seasonal heat, when even the sea is not very refreshing. I rarely go to the beaches in summer, the best weather in Yalta for me is in autumn. The velvet season begins in September. The air and water temperature is kept around + 22 ° C, but at the end of the month it drops to + 20 ° C.

And of course, I must also mention one of the main features - the local climate is good for health. Coniferous phytoncides and sea breezes create ideal conditions for the treatment of heart, lung and nervous system diseases.

When to go to Yalta?
(water t is indicated)

Green and Yellow are warm, but watch the temperature of the sea
Red is cold, but even at this time Yalta is good!

Districts of Yalta

Note: there is Yalta (city), and there is Big Yalta - this is the territory from Foros to Krasnokamenka, which includes Yalta-city.

I'll tell you about the first one. Yalta is a small city, without traffic jams you can drive through it in 30 minutes. When choosing where to stay, look at the distance from the sea and the relief. The city is full of climbs, and the short distance from home to the beach does not guarantee an easy journey, especially if you are with children and strollers.

Many tourist sources write that there is an old Yalta with rickety houses and a new one with modern buildings. In fact, everything is mixed with us: dilapidated buildings and new high-rise buildings, there are also sleeping areas.

If you are driving on your own and planning rent an apartment, here are my 2 tips:

• Look for housing on Sutochno.ru (here Yalta residents rent out their rooms, apartments, studios)
• Take a closer look at the following areas:

— Gogol street (from Pionersky Park to the embankment). Calm flat area, near Pushkinskaya alley.

— Kirova street (from the embankment to the institute of grapes and wine). 10-15 minutes to the sea, tiny Yalta courtyards, stone houses of the XIX century.

— Drazhinsky street (over Massandra beach). 5-10 minutes to the sea, a large selection of accommodation: from rooms with grandmothers to luxury hotels. But here it is very narrow, the houses are close to each other.

— Streets Kievskaya and Moskovskaya (go from the bus station to the embankment). Quiet flat areas 10-15 minutes from the center, there are markets.

— Massandra and Livadia... Urban-type settlements, but in fact, these are already areas of Yalta. Can be reached in 20 minutes from the center. I love them for their calmness and lack of crowds during the season. Of the minuses: 20-30 minutes walk to the sea (and back up the hill), few cafes, shops. But there are palaces and forest paths!

— Gratifying... If the prices for rest in Yalta by the sea bite, you can stay in this beach town, only 5 minutes from the city by car.

The cost of tours to Yalta - 2021

Of course, Yalta is always open for "package" tourism. You can fly to Crimea from 18 cities of Russia - from St. Petersburg to Krasnoyarsk. This is a comfortable way to relax, as the price includes direct flights, transfers and hotel accommodation.

All travel options from tour operators are collected by online aggregators:

• Travelata
• Level.Travel
• Onlinetours

In addition, there you can see if direct flights are open for your city, on what days they are carried out. Well, and find out the prices, of course (services do not make extra charges, the cost is directly from the tour operator).

✓ On a voucher, a vacation in Yalta in 2021 costs from 45,000 rubles for 7 nights for two.

✓ Family vacation (mom, dad, child) for a week - from 70,000 rubles.

✓ Prices for holidays in Yalta according to the all-inclusive system - from 80,000 rubles for 7 nights for two. This is available literally in 3-4 hotels.

Note: if you plan to go on vacation to Yalta before July 2021, be sure to see if the conditions for a tourist cashback from Rosturizm are suitable for you (return 20% is a good offer).

Yalta on your own: how much does it cost to stay?

Now the next step is independent tourists. As I said, vacationers in Yalta:

• or live in apartments from private owners (to help - Sutochno.ru)
• or they rely on the hospitality business and choose hotels, boarding houses, holiday homes, etc.

Booking the latter is a little more difficult - not all well-known search engines work in Crimea. I recommend Booking, but be sure to check the box "I travel for work", otherwise the system will not find anything.

Inexpensive rest in Yalta most often means living in the private sector. Because hotels are 2-3 times more expensive. And if you choose all inclusive, the prices will be even higher.

The cost of living in hotels in Yalta:
(Double room per day)

Nevertheless, the desire for comfort and service is quite natural, so here is a selection of hotels in Yalta that are popular among tourists:

• 4 * Yalta Intourist is probably the most famous Black Sea hotel. Well, seriously, who hasn't heard of Intourist? The hotel is huge, with a beautiful green area, but the number of rooms needs updating. First coastline.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 125,000 rubles for two (all inclusive)
  Price per night: from 15,000 rubles
• 3 * Levant is a family hotel by the sea. Free sun loungers, good food and animation for children. Near the embankment - a pleasant walk in the evening.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 80,000 rubles for two (breakfast)
  Price per night: from 10,000 rubles
• 3 * Ripario Modern is a good hotel in the village of Otradnoye near Yalta. He gets good reviews from older tourists, those who need a vacation in Crimea with meals and a swimming pool (like a boarding house). The young ones are reminded of the scoop :)
  Unavailable by voucher
  Price per night: from 7000 rubles
• 3 * Bristol is a highly rated reliable treshka in the center of Yalta. To the sea - just 400 meters.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 70,000 rubles for two (breakfast)
  Price per night: from 6000 rubles
• 5 * Mriya Resort & Spa - located in the village of Opolznevoe (30 minutes from Yalta), and this is a huge spa resort. The cost is off the charts, but the reviews are all great.
  Tour for 7 nights: from 170,000 rubles for two (no meals)
  Not available for Booking

Rest in the private sector of Yalta by the sea

The housing market for tourists is definitely dominated by apartments, rooms, houses. This is understandable, if you go on a budget vacation to Yalta in 2021, prices for the private sector are more acceptable:

• rooms with grandmothers - from 500 rubles / day,
• summer cottages with outdoor amenities - from 800 rubles,
• tiny apartments in the old fund - from 1000 rubles,
• modern apartments in elite new buildings - from 2000 rubles,
• whole villas and houses - from 4000 rubles.

Rest in the private sector of Yalta by the sea (say, no further than 200 meters to the beach) costs at least 3,500 rubles per day.

I will tell you how to find a private owner without intermediaries:

- Book in advance via the Internet at Sutochno.ru. This is a large site for the delivery of housing, there are many ads from the owners.

- Monitor inexpensive housing in Yalta on the spot, walk through the courtyards and streets, the owners often hang out signs of delivery.

Be careful when choosing accommodation. Unfortunately, many landlords believe that the very location in Yalta makes their property unique, and do not really invest in normal amenities for vacationers. Read reviews, check the condition of equipment and furniture, make sure that the beach is where you were promised 🙂

Guest houses in Yalta

Inexpensive private sector in Yalta also includes guest houses (from 2000 rubles per room). Usually they are located in quiet corners of the city, where everything is compact, a lot of greenery, close to the beach.

Good guest houses:

• Seagull - from 3600 rubles / night
• Taurus - from 4400 rubles / night
• Montpensier - from 3400 rubles / night
• Anlemari - from 5500 rubles / night
• Chestnut Mansion - from 5700 rubles / night

Food prices in Yalta - 2021

The prices for food in Yalta classically depend on the place where you have lunch and dinner or buy food. I really do not advise you to shop in small shops near the embankment and beaches, as well as to dine in questionable eateries.
As I said, the city is small, and you can easily get to a large store or market in order to "get" food at an adequate cost.

About shops.
Major supermarkets in Yalta:

- Buffet

- Pud ​​(the most budgetary)

- Highway

- Neighbors

The central market is located on Kievskaya street, local points with fruits / vegetables / farm products can be found in all districts of the city.

Approximate food prices in 2021:

• A liter of milk - 60 rubles
• Bread - 25 rubles
• Apples, kg - 50 rubles
• Peaches, kg - 70 rubles
• Potatoes, kg - 35 rubles
• Tomatoes, kg - 80 rubles
• Cucumbers, kg - 60 rubles
• Eggs, 12 pcs. - 60 rubles
• Chicken, kg - 230 rubles
• Local beer - 55 rubles
• Local wine - from 300 rubles

Fruit prices depend on the place of origin. Everything that is grown and produced in Crimea is cheaper.

About institutions.

+ The average bill in a cafe is 600-800 rubles excluding drinks.

+ Popular Crimean pasties cost 100 rubles and are often served in Tatar cafes. In these, you can eat a hearty meal for 400 rubles.

+ On the beach for the same amount you get a small burger / hot dog with fries.

+ My favorite cafes: "Home-style dining" - this chain is scattered all over the Crimea, tasty and inexpensive; Orange is a cool place to sit on the waterfront; "Capri" - I responsibly declare that here is the most delicious pizza in Yalta!

Transport in Yalta - buses, taxis

Since the rest in Yalta on the seashore "bites" in cost, many live far from the beach. And in this case, you cannot do without moving around the resort (and around the surroundings, for the sake of interest).

Urban transport here is buses (about 35 routes, including Big Yalta) and trolleybuses (2 in the city and 4 suburban directions). The fare in Yalta is 13 and 14 rubles, respectively. Although public transport in summer is a dubious pleasure: heat, lack of air conditioning, traffic jams in the center, an unlimited number of passengers ... Sometimes it is more pleasant and faster to walk.

From the Central Bus Station you can get to the resort villages of Big Yalta:

• to Simeiz, Alupka, Katsiveli, etc. (from 90 rubles),
• and to other cities of Crimea - to Evpatoria and Feodosia (from 500 rubles), to Simferopol (from 250 rubles).

Yandex taxi does not work in Yalta, the most popular taxi services are Pyaterochka, Algis, Volna. On average, the prices are as follows: 100-150 rubles for a trip up to 2-3 km, then 10-15 rubles for each km in the city.

It is interesting, but I remember the city without traffic lights at all - that is, literally there were two or three of them all over Yalta. Now, with the tourist boom, there have been more traffic controllers, and that's good.

Car rental in Yalta

There are no large rental offices in the city, and the most popular service for renting a car in Yalta online in advance is Myrentacar.

• Prices for economy class cars with mechanics: from 950 rubles / day in low season and from 1500 rubles - in high season.

Vacation with personal transport is cool, but in summer in Yalta it can be spoiled by traffic jams that cannot be avoided. Sometimes they start 10 km from the city. Maybe it's better to rent a retro moped? 🙂

Entertainment and excursions in Yalta

The main entertainment in Yalta is the sea. But, for the umpteenth time I am writing, our city is small, therefore, in between trips to the beaches, it is imperative to introduce a cultural program.

Of course, we all know: to see the city and its surroundings with meaning and history, you need to take an excursion and a guide. And so many people say that Crimea is undeveloped, but even here the excursions go online - to see the "assortment", read reviews and decide on the one that suits you, follow:

• Tripster
• or Sputnik.

Here are group, and individual, and non-trivial excursions, they even interest me, a native of Yalta! :)

The main attractions for any tourist:

• Lenin embankment - to walk back and forth several times - well, just a must!
• Three royal palaces - each has its own story, all different and atmospheric: Vorontsovsky in Alupka (400 rubles), Livadiysky in Livadia (400 rubles), Massandrovsky in Massandra (400 rubles). The palace grounds can be visited free of charge.
• Cable car Miskhor - Mount Ai-Petri (400 rubles) - at an altitude of 1234 meters, a panorama of Big Yalta opens, you can go back on foot through a protected forest.
• Boat trip to the Swallow's Nest castle - 500 rubles round trip without disembarkation, 600 rubles with disembarkation for 1 hour.
• Temple of Alexander Nevsky - is free.
• House-Museum of Chekhov "Belaya Dacha" - 200 rubles. The museum is atmospheric, I would live in such a house :)
• Nikitsky Botanical Garden - a lot of unusual succulent plants, trees and shade, cost - 300 rubles.
• Sunny and Botkin trails - popular routes for walking in nature (hiking, as it is customary to call it now).

Holidays in Yalta are also celebrated with trips to the Chekhov Theater and the Yubileiny Concert Hall (Philip Kirkorov and company still come here). Plus, as elsewhere on the southern coast of Crimea, there are many water attractions and attractions here. Well, the nightlife is in full swing on the waterfront.

Beaches and sea

Everywhere in Yalta pebble beaches with a sharp set of depth.This has a positive effect on the purity of the water, but negatively for those who cannot swim. Be careful with children!

Almost all beaches are urban, public, with free admission. The most "densely populated" in the summer are Seaside and Massandra beaches... The first has not changed much over the past 20 years: all the same scattered cafes, stalls, old-school sun loungers and changing cabins.

But Massandra beach has changed greatly: sectors, retail outlets, cafes and restaurants are made in the same style, everywhere is clean and beautiful. There are three VIP zones (Corona, Havana and Grand-M beach), where you can rent sun loungers for 300-500 rubles per day. There is also a bungalow for 500 rubles per hour. Gastronomic festivals are often held on the territory of Massandra Beach.

A beach vacation can be organized on a couple of land plots on the embankment, but the water there is much dirtier (bay + boats), and it’s awkward to sunbathe in a swimsuit in the middle of the city.

Holidays with children in Yalta - reviews

I would not say that family vacations are a specialty of our city. Rest with children in Yalta is more than possible, but there is no special infrastructure. Remember that the beaches are pebbly and the depth set is sharp. There are no pools on the seashore. Of the additional difficulties - hilly terrain with descents / ascents, you need to carefully select housing.

On the other hand, the Yalta climate, walking and swimming in the Black Sea will make your child healthier. Older children will be interested in excursions to palaces, mountains, cave cities, ancient fortresses. 100% fun guaranteed:

• at the Yalta Zoo Fairy Tale - 400 rubles for children 3-10 years old, 800 rubles for everyone who is older.
• at the dolphinarium - performance: 400 rubles for a child, 500 rubles for an adult; swimming with dolphins: 2000 rubles for 5 minutes, 5000 rubles for 15 minutes.
• at the Atlantis water park - 750 rubles for children, 1600 rubles for an adult.
• in the open-air museum Glade of fairy tales - 400 rubles for children, 800 rubles for adults.

Pros and cons of Yalta

On the Black Sea coast and in Yalta itself, they go for tasty and healthy air, clean sea, historical and natural sights. All this is here in full, along with a large selection of accommodation and entertainment.

But the obvious disadvantage is the discrepancy between high prices in the private sector in Yalta and the service provided. And if you can prepare for this - read reviews on the Internet, then with the second significant disadvantage - crowds of tourists - you cannot cope with it. In July and August, there are too many people on the beaches, promenade, and attractions.

I advise you to come to Yalta either on your own or on a tour - no matter how convenient it is. And eat in local cafes, shop in the markets and travel to interesting points by minibuses / taxis.

+ Cool nature

+ More or less infrastructure

+ There is something to entertain yourself

- Many complain about "soviet"

- Prices in Yalta for 2021 are more expensive than in other resorts

- Deep sea

- Pebble beach (but here as you like)

- Crowded

With all its advantages and disadvantages, Yalta is one of the best places for a seaside holiday. Try to feel the atmosphere of the city: walk along the streets, look at the markets, meet the sunsets on the sea, and you will love this place. Yalta is the pearl of the Crimea, truly.

Questions and Answers

Here I will collect popular questions about the resort and answer them. Write in the comments what is interesting to you!

• Can I pay with bank cards?
  Yes, even in many places.
• Is there a Sberbank? Where to withdraw money?
  There are no ATMs or Sberbank branches. You can withdraw cash from RNKB or Russia ATMs - do not forget about the commission of 100 rubles.