Crimea is located in the south of Ukraine, bordering Russia to the east across the Taman Gulf and surrounded by coastlines and cliffs. This is a city that has little influence from the West and is known more for its war history than tourism. However, everything in Crimea is like the Mediterranean with warm sunshine and prices are only half of those in European tourist cities such as Venice or Naples (Italy), Nice or Marseille (France).
Cape Tarkhanut – the westernmost point of Crimea - Sergey Stepanenko.
Besides the beauty of the ocean, the green patches of forests and mountains create for Crimea the wildest space in Eastern Europe. Every summer, many tourists from Russia and Eastern European countries flock to Crimea to swim in the sea. Hot girls and muscular boys are everywhere and they consider Crimea a land of freedom and liberty.
In autumn, the air changes to be gentler and softer, it is the harvest season of the immense vineyards in Massandra, which was built to supply wine to the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II in the 19th century. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy bottles of fine Riesling with the scent of high mountain grass and a pearly white color.
In addition, major cities such as Yalta, Novyi Svit, Sevastopol are all less than an hour's drive from the Crimean capital Simferopil. Simferopil is also the only place with an airport in the entire peninsula.
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Swallow's Nest, also known as the Castle of Love, is a structure located near Yalta. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Crimea. The castle was built between 1911 and 1912 on top of a 39.6 m high cliff called Aurora Cliff. During its century of existence, the neo-Gothic castle was owned by several noble families and later used as a library and restaurant. In 2011, after restoration, Swallow's Nest opened as a museum.
Located right next to Yalta on the southern shore of the peninsula and with a perfect view of the Crimean Mountains, the Livadia Palace is a masterpiece of neo-Renaissance architecture with its large Arabic and Italian courtyards, Florentine-style turrets and elaborate Bramantesque windows. The palace's neo-Byzantine church was designed by the famous Italian architect Monighetti in 1866.
The Castle of Love or Swallow's Nest stretches out into the black sea with an extremely romantic view. Photo: globeimages.net.
The palace became known to the world in 1945 when it was the venue for the Yalta Conference, attended by the leaders of the three superpowers Stalin (former Soviet Union), Roosevelt (USA) and Churchill (UK) from February 4-11. Today, it is a museum and a conference venue.
Vorontsov Palace in Alupka is one of the oldest and largest royal buildings in Crimea. Built between 1828 and 1848 for Prince Mikhail Vorontsov as a summer residence, the palace was designed by the British architect Edward Blore (who also designed Buckingham Palace in the UK). The highlight of the palace is the surrounding park of 40 hectares with the entire garden designed by the famous artist Carolus Keebach.
Crimea is truly a land of palaces, the most beautiful castle of the peninsula is Massandra, located on the coast near Yalta. The castle was built in the 19th century for Tsar Alexander III in the middle of a green forest in the traditional French Renaissance style. Since 1992, Massandra has been used as a museum.
Khan Palace evokes the image of a mosque with its minarets reaching high into the sky. Photo: twiga_swala/Flickr.
The Khan Palace or Hansaray is located in the middle of the town of Bakhchisaray, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate, built in the 16th century. It is the only representative of Crimean Tatar architecture and a precious gem that has survived to this day. Currently, the palace is open to visitors to explore the Crimean Tatar culture and art with paintings, weapons, temples, harems and cemeteries along with the king's living quarters.
The Foros Church, or Church of the Resurrection of Christ, is known for its unique location on the 400-meter-high Red Cliff overlooking the Black Sea. Built in 1892 and located near Baidarsky Pass, the church was abandoned until it was reopened in 2002. Today, you won’t be surprised to see couples choosing Foros for their weddings.
Little Jerusalem is located in the center of Yevpatoria. The streets are lined with ancient architecture, with Crimean-Tatar mosques, Armenian churches, Orthodox churches, Karaim mosques, and Muslim residences. During the summer, Little Jerusalem hosts many festivals and prayer sessions. Tourists flock to Crimea to enjoy local cuisine, experience the fusion of different religious cultures, join in the dances, and bring back souvenirs.
You can also visit 4 of the 1,500 caves that are open to visitors to see inside, such as the Soldatskayathat mine or Kizil-Koba in the Perevalnoein Simferopol district with 6 floors, a lake and a 17.3 km long river below.
