Alushta is a large resort town on the southern coast of Crimea. Alushta is located 45 km from Simferopol and 30 km from Yalta. Based on our recent experience, we tell you about an independent holiday in Alushta. How to get there, where to stay, which beach, where to go, what to see and where to eat.
How to get to Alushta
- The nearest airport is in the city of Simferopol. There is also a railway station there, but trains do not run to Crimea until 2022.
- You can get from Simferopol by public transport: trolleybuses 51, 52, as well as numerous buses and minibuses. Travel time is about 1.5 hours. Most often, transport leaves from the Kurortnaya bus station.
- A taxi from the airport will cost about 1500-2000 rubles. Taxi calling apps do not currently work in Crimea.
- You can order a private transfer here.
Artek trail
The Artek Trail is the shortest route to conquer Ayu-Dag, and runs on the border between the Alushta and Yalta regions, in the Partenit area. The year-round route, which runs through protected spaces, was developed more than 90 years ago. To this day it remains one of the most popular and memorable.
The beginning of the movement is marked by an information board, which indicates the length of the route and the direction - southeast. By the way, in 2016, the Artek trail was reconstructed: warning signs, benches and garbage containers were installed, steps were installed, and observation platforms were equipped. Every year the area adjacent to the trail is treated for ticks.
At the very beginning, the path to Ayu-Dag passes through a low-growing forest overgrown with lichen, ivy and moss, then the path begins to wind between rocks and stone rubble. The higher tourists climb, the more impressive panoramas open below. In addition to Partenite and the view of the main ridge of the Crimean Mountains, in clear weather you can even see the tip of Cape Meganom and the gazebo of the winds.
Bear Mountain itself is an open-air museum, the “exhibits” of which are over 577 species of flora, 16 species of fauna and many man-made objects. In addition, 40 of the 200 minerals found on the peninsula can be found on the ridge. Also on Ayu-Dag there are remains of archaeological monuments from the Middle Ages, including basilicas and the monastery of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, founded in the 8th century by John of the Goths.
Artek trail. Photo: somethings.narod.ru
Tourist information
Route length
: 1.5 km
Difficulty level
: medium
Duration
: 1 hour.
Where does it take place?
: on the territory of the state nature reserve of regional significance "AyuDag"
Starting point
: at the fork of the old highway to Partenit and "Artek"
Ending point:
peak 570 m high
Beaches of Alushta
All beaches in Alushta are free and look approximately the same. As a rule, this is a small section of pebble shore, with breakwaters on both sides, and a concrete embankment at the back. The water is clean and clear if there are no waves. We did not notice any garbage or dirt, either in the sea or on the beach.
Small and large pebbles on the shore and in the water. There are no sandy beaches in Alushta. We recommend that you immediately buy swimming shoes so that it doesn’t hurt to walk on rocks and swim normally.
All Alushta beaches have sun loungers (for a fee), sun canopies, changing rooms and lifeguards. Toilets are not common, as elsewhere in Crimea. There are dozens of such short beaches.
There is a beach for the disabled in the center near the semi-rotunda. Other people are not allowed to go down on it; they immediately drive you away.
The Laskiy Bereg beach, which is located to the left of the rotunda, is the only one here without a concrete embankment and with a hint of sand. But closer to the water there are stones again.
Here for the first time we saw two-story beaches! Below people lie on pebbles, and above on the roof on sunbeds. By the way, a sun lounger costs 150 rubles.
Alushta is also remembered as a city of breakwaters. Probably there is more boom here than anything else in Crimea
When is the best time to go?
Alushta is located in the center of the southern coast of Crimea - the warmest place on the peninsula, but due to the winds there is no sweltering heat here, as in Yalta. The swimming season lasts from June to early October. At the beginning of summer, the water in the sea is already warm +21…+23°С, however, according to reviews, “low temperatures” occur in Alushta. This is the name given to cold currents or surges of warm water when the sea temperature drops to +14...+16°C.
If you want to have a good rest on the beach and save money, come to the resort during the high season - in September. Alushta sanatoriums operate all year round, because climatotherapy and mineral water treatment are available both in summer and winter. Most precipitation falls from October to February.
veronikam76: “We went in July for 8 days. The sea is cool and clean. One day we saw jellyfish and even touched them. There were 3 storms and they stopped in the evening.”
- Holidays in Crimea in summer
- When is the best time to vacation in Crimea?
Alushta
Alushta embankment
The embankment stretches for several kilometers along all the beaches. In the central part of the city, the embankment is wide, short and uncomfortable. When approaching the beach from Gorky Street, on the way there will be some kind of ridiculous amusement park, a souvenir market, restaurants and a jumble of different buildings.
There is a small park here.
For some reason, in the central part of Alushta, cars can drive along the embankment. Not all of them, only official ones, but they travel often, which creates inconvenience.
If you move towards the Professor's Corner area, the embankment becomes more pleasant for walking. Cars can also pass there, but along the road there is a separate pedestrian zone for people. There are cafes, restaurants, drinks on tap.
Valley of Ghosts
The Valley of Ghosts on Demerdzhi is a collection of strange boulders and rocks, covered in legends and mysteries. Avid hikers often include this route in their mandatory program for visiting the Crimean Mountains because of the extraordinary landscapes and stone creations that play with bizarre shadows in the sunset rays. When the lighting and time of day change, the natural “theater” of pillars and faces, columns and towers, mushrooms and battlements begins to “come to life”, changing outlines, color, and even appearance.
So, we begin our walk from the village of Luchistoye, following the signs. The official entrance to the territory of the gorge begins at the border of the stone chaos formed when the slope collapsed during the earthquakes of 1891 and 1966. A clearly visible path leads travelers up a kilometer - to the foot of the Valley of Ghosts.
The first one that greets tourists on the way to the top is the famous Nikulinsky nut, sitting on which the Balbes threw nuts at Shurik. One of the episodes of the comedy “Sportloto-82” was filmed here. Passing the venerable “film veteran” we rise even higher, to branches leading, among other things, to Solnechnaya Polyana.
The closer tourists get to the mountain that “gives birth to clouds,” the more monumental the stone army looks, consisting of “Giants,” “Finger of Peter,” “Monomakh’s Cap,” and “Broken Heart.”
At the tip of the ridge one can see the “Head of Catherine II” (Khoi-Kai), which is also called the “Sphinx” for the similarity of the royal profile with the silhouette of the Egyptian man-lion. Article on the topic: Top 10 mountain peaks of Crimea that are worth conquering for tourists.
Road to the Valley of Ghosts. Photo: takiedela.ru
Tourist information
Route length
: 2.5 km
Difficulty level:
easy
Duration
: 2-2.5 hours.
Where does it take place?
: on the territory of the state natural reserve of regional significance “Demerdzhi Yayla”
Starting point:
the village of Luchistoye
Ending point:
Valley of Ghosts
Professor's Corner Alushta
This is the western part of Alushta. More comfortable, more beautiful views. The beaches are the same, though. The area is more calm and quiet. It got its name due to the fact that in the 19th century, famous scientists and professors began to build dachas here.
For relaxation, we would probably choose accommodation in this part of Alushta. I liked it visually more than in the center. Here are some good hotels right on the first line:
- VK Hotel Royal
- Hotel Aquapark 4*
- Hotel Terrasa
Stone mushrooms
In the valley of the Sotera River near Alushta there are stone formations in the shape of giant mushrooms, unusual for the Crimean nature. Their caps are made of hard rock, and the rest is made of crushed stone mixed with earth and clay. The proximity of heterogeneous rocks is a sign of glaciation that took place in ancient times. Over time, the aboveground part is subject to air and water erosion, forming a remnant similar to a mushroom stem.
Stone mushrooms
Until 1983, there were three large mushrooms in the valley, several meters high, but the tallest one, called the “Valley Guardian,” fell. It is possible that not without human intervention. Attempts to push or swing the frame of the mushroom, especially in wet weather, can destroy both the mushroom and the tourist. The formation of rock mushrooms continues today: at the turn of the century, three small mushrooms were discovered growing.
If you climb up from the valley of mushrooms, you can see the Geyser waterfall. The name is explained by the fact that the water flow, rushing down, hits the stone bowl with force, forming something like a geyser.
Stone mushrooms are located one and a half kilometers from the Alushta-Sudak highway. The most convenient option to get there is with an excursion from Alushta. When visiting on an independent basis, take a bus from Alushta heading to Sudak or the villages of Rybachye or Privetnoye, you need to get to the “16th kilometer” transport stop (landmarks - the overpass or the Vodaeda cafe). Opposite it is an old house, from which the road to the stone mushrooms begins, which will take about 20 minutes. Having risen to a wide clearing, you should go down to the river and walk along its bed along a well-trodden path, following the signs.
What to see in Alushta
There are some attractions in the city that you can visit on your own. For example, the house in which some episodes from Prisoner of the Caucasus were filmed (we didn’t recognize it). Address: st. Lenina, 3 — on the map
On the embankment you should definitely find a semi-rotunda and take a photo in front of it. A point on the map
But you shouldn’t waste your time on the tower of the Aluston fortress. Nothing interesting, just a brick tower surrounded by bushes and village houses.
- park of Crimean miniatures (~500 rubles)
- 2 dolphinariums
- aquarium
- local history museum
- old mansions
- Church of All Crimean Saints and Fyodor Stratelates
- Lazurnoye nudist beach and abandoned boarding house
- You can visit Aivazovskoye Park in the neighboring town of Partenit on your own
- It’s not difficult to get on your own to Gurzuf and Yalta, where you can go on a boat trip to the Swallow’s Nest
- Take an excursion to waterfalls, palaces, the top of Ai-Petri and throughout Crimea.
Aquarium
Opposite the miniature park is the largest Crimean aquarium, which looks like a flying saucer. At its entrance, a crocodile smiles welcomingly at visitors.
Crocodile near the entrance to the Aquarium
The four halls of the aquarium are home to 250 species of fish, eight species of turtles, five species of crabs and three species of crocodiles. The first hall is stylized as a cave in which the “locals” live - the inhabitants of the Black and Azov Seas. In the second and third halls you can see freshwater animals. Among them are very dangerous creatures, a real meeting with which may well be the last. These are the aggressive Cuban crocodile, piranhas, moray eels and the most toothy of fish - hydrosinus vitattus.
The most colorful is the fourth hall with the marine fauna of the Red Sea and the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. However, some handsome men are very dangerous. For example, the zebra lionfish hides very poisonous spines in its fins, with which it infects unwary prey.
In the fourth hall of the Aquarium
Since 2015, the Alushta Aquarium has expanded its profile by opening the “Jungle World” on the second floor. In it you can see monkeys, raccoons, noses, lizards, snakes and many birds.
Address: st. Gorky, 4. Opening hours: from 9 to 19–21 hours. An adult ticket costs 600 rubles, and a child ticket (3–13 years old) costs 400.
Transport
You can travel along the embankment from the Professor's Corner to the central beach on these electric minibuses. We nicknamed them tuk-tuk. The fare is not cheap - 100 rubles per person (there may be discounts for children). You can’t go for a ride every day, but you can definitely afford it once if you’ve gone far so you don’t have to walk back.
In Alushta itself there are trolleybuses, buses and minibuses. A trolleybus ride costs about 15 rubles around the city. About 200 rubles to Simferopol. Minibus No. 109 to neighboring Partenit costs 35 rubles. Minibus to Yalta 100 rubles (trolleybus 52 is cheaper). Almost all routes are marked on the Yandex map.
Funa Fortress
Another fortress is Funa, located on Mount Demerdzhi (“Blacksmith”). This fortress was built in 1423 to defend the Orthodox principality of Theodoro, which briefly owned these lands. Over the course of subsequent history, the fortress was repeatedly destroyed by natural disasters and wars, after which it was restored. The last time this happened was in 1927, due to the famous Yalta earthquake. Slow restoration of the fortress continues to this day.
Ruins of the Funa fortress
Opening hours: 9–18. A regular ticket costs 75 rubles, and an excursion ticket costs 100. From the entrance to Luchistoye, a paved road leads to the mountain, at the foot of which the Podkova equestrian club is based.
Where to eat in Alushta, proven restaurant
We only recommend food where we ourselves have eaten. Cafe Capri is located in the very center on the embankment at the entrance to the sea. We walked past looking for somewhere to eat. There were almost no visitors, but they still came in to look just because of the modern design. Cafe on the map
As a result, we ate there all day. The portions are large, the food is prepared tasty and quickly, and the dishes look beautiful. The downside is that the prices are a little more expensive than in other places. Literally 20-50 rubles. Apparently, that’s why many people come in, look at the menu and leave. And in the evening they add +50 rubles to the check for “live music”.
You can also order an omelet here for breakfast. And they will bring you not a square casserole from the canteen, but a normal real omelette. We took it with cheese. Tasty, but, of course, a little expensive for such food.
Dolphinarium "Watercolor"
The leading artists of the dolphinarium are the dolphins Gena, Hector and Neptune. In addition to acrobatic stunts, they play water basketball, sing and even draw. They are complemented by dances of fur seals.
Entrance to the Dolphinarium
This dolphinarium not only hosts performances with the participation of dolphins and fur seals, but also dolphin therapy sessions. Pre-registration is required to participate. You can also take photos with dolphins and feed them.
During the show
Address: st. Gorky, 7D. Opening hours: daily, except Monday. Sessions start at 12, 15 and 18 o'clock. Ticket price – 900–1000 rubles. Swimming with dolphins costs 3.5–6 thousand rubles. For a photo taken on your smartphone you need to pay 500 rubles, and for a professional photo – 600–1000 rubles. A full ten-day course of dolphin therapy costs 30–50 thousand rubles, and a one-day course costs 4–5.5 thousand.
Alushta reviews
- Alushta is conveniently located. Getting from the airport is not difficult and all the main attractions of Crimea are nearby.
- The beaches of Alushta are mediocre, the views from the beach are also ordinary. Mountains in the background in the distance. It’s better in Sudak or the New World.
- All beaches are pebble, there are no sandy ones. But they are free.
- The embankment is not the most beautiful in Crimea, and besides, cars drive along it. In the Professor's Corner the embankment is nicer.
Personally, we didn’t particularly like anything here; the resort didn’t evoke any strong emotions. There are several advantages, and there are also disadvantages. But this is our opinion. You will have yours. After all, we had already traveled to Alushta through a number of resorts, starting with Feodosia.
Write in the comments how do you like this resort? Would you like to relax in Alushta? And if you have already been, then write your reviews.
Jur-Jur waterfall
Address: Generalskoye village.
The sights of Alushta are represented by many natural beauties. Not far from the city, in the picturesque, wooded Khapkhal gorge, there is the deepest waterfall in Crimea - Dzhur-Dzhur. Its height is about 16 meters, formed by the Eastern Ulu-Uzen River. Translated from Turkic languages, the name of the waterfall means “murmuring”.
Jur-Jur waterfall is a popular tourist destination. Next to it there is a cave 750 meters long with the same name. If you go up from the waterfall, you can see three natural bowls with clear water.
According to legend, each of these bowls has healing and magical properties: if you take a bath in the first, all sins will be forgiven, the second bath will give you youth and health, and the third will give you good luck in love. It is not surprising that there are always a lot of people who want to take a dip here, despite the fact that the water is very cold - no more than 10˚C.
The best palaces and estates
Among all the sights of Alushta, lovers of beauty will especially like some palaces and estates, which are interesting both for their architecture and the interior decoration of the buildings.
The palace of Princess Gagarina is made in the Romanesque style and already from afar attracts the attention of tourists with its unusual architecture and bright orange walls. And even though the building is now part of a sanatorium, it’s worth a visit to admire the narrow windows, towers topped with sharp spiers, the Gagarin coat of arms and the beautifully entwined vine-covered eastern wall of the palace
The Golubka dacha will allow you to learn more about the history of the city and the life of retired General Golubev. Stalin once stayed here while he was traveling to the Yalta Conference in 1945, members of the revolutionary committee of Alushta were kept in the basements here in 1918, and finally, it was here that the heir to the Russian throne, Nikolai Alexandrovich, met Princess Alyssia of Darmstadt, who became his wife. The Karasan Palace is simply impossible to ignore - its appearance is so gorgeous, because the architects combined the architectural styles of several countries and eras when creating it. But no less than the exquisite palace, tourists will be attracted by the landscape park that surrounds it, where about 220 species of plants from several continents are collected.
Palaces, museums, temples
Alushta is not only the city itself, which has a rather modest size - only 12 square kilometers, but also the surrounding surrounding villages, which are generally part of Greater Alushta. Writers such as A.S. Pushkin, A.S. Griboyedov, M. Gorky loved to walk here and continued their creative activities. In memory of them, sculptural monuments were erected in the city.
The palace of Princess Gagarina is very interesting from an architectural point of view. Initially, in the 19th century, a palace in the Empire style was built on Cape Plaka for the Taurian governor Andrei Mikhailovich Borozdin. By the way, the above-mentioned writers visited his estate: A.S. Pushkin, A.S. Griboyedov and other eminent guests.
After the death of the governor, the estate passed into the hands of his daughter, then her wife, until in 1857 Princess Gagarin, the Georgian princess Anastasia Orbeliani, became the owner. In her old age, the princess decided to build a new palace, for which construction materials were imported from other countries at a fairly rapid pace: marble, Venetian glass, tiles and tiles. The project was led by architect N.P. Krasnov - he is the author of the famous Livadia Palace in Crimea.
Begun in 1902, the luxurious palace was completed by 1907. The princess died that same year. The Gagarins' family coat of arms adorns the main entrance of the palace, which is more reminiscent of a medieval castle. The Latin inscription near the coat of arms reads: “In ancient times there is strength.”
Today the palace is the main building of the Utes sanatorium, which, by the way, is very popular among guests of the city. Here you can have a good and complete rest and improve your health. A holiday at Utes will bring many pleasant moments, because the territory of the sanatorium is located among the greenery of a beautiful park, laid out in the 19th century.
From here you have a magnificent view of the Black Sea coast. What could be better than the cleanest sea air, picturesque landscapes and well-spent leisure time on vacation? For example, visiting a local dolphinarium, zoo or botanical reserve.
Yes, the poet Dmitry Minaev said correctly about Alushta in his poem of the same name: “... in Crimea we will hardly find a more attractive area.” You have the opportunity to see this for yourself. Have a nice experience!
Health resorts
Alushta can also boast of various sanatoriums, boarding houses, hotels, holiday homes and other places designed for comfortable accommodation of visitors.
One of the largest is the Utes sanatorium. It is located on the shore of Cape Plaka, in the park. Not far from the city embankment in a very picturesque area is the Golden Ear resort complex. In 2011, it was recognized as the best family health resort. The sanatorium of the city of Alushta - “Crimea” is very popular. Photos, reviews and descriptions of boarding houses, hotels, medical institutions help you navigate the huge number of vacation spots on offer. Therefore, before ordering tours or booking hotels, you need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of the places you have chosen to stay. Reviews from those who have visited these places more than once will help you get your bearings.
Alushta is an excellent choice for spending your holiday. Her beauty is remembered for many years. It is not surprising that so many people choose to return to this place again and again.
Temple in the name of All Crimean Saints
The temple will first of all surprise you with its extraordinary architecture; you will seem to be transported to patriarchal old England. It became a wall decoration of the city of Alushta and was loved by all its residents for the uniqueness of the church building and the spiritual beauty of the interior decoration. Parishioners donated their savings for its improvement and decoration. Chief architect Toricelli used elements typical of Catholic buildings: the pyramidal tent of the bell tower, lancet door window openings, as well as colored stained glass windows. Inside, the ceiling is decorated with frescoes depicting the celebration of the Intercession of the Virgin Mary. The cathedral received its name in honor of the holy great martyr Theodore Stratelates, who is considered the patron saint of the Christian army.
