Sights of Alupka - what to see on your own

Although Alupka cannot be called a place full of tourist attractions and entertainment, you will not be particularly bored to rest here. The resort is conveniently located not very far from the center of Yalta, so if you wish, you can get access to all the interesting places and entertainment of Greater Yalta. It is enough just to take the suburban bus number 107 or 115, and in 20-30 minutes and for 36 rubles you will be in the city center.

In Alupka itself, there are also several attractions worth visiting. So, it is in Alupka that one of the most beautiful and large–scale historical palaces of Yalta is located - the Vorontsov Palace. You can also visit the museum of the hero of the Great Patriotic War, the famous pilot Amet Khan Sultan, or walk to the cable car to Mount Ai-Petri. See the full list of attractions in Alupka and the surrounding area below, and what to see in Yalta here.

As for entertainment, everything is very modest with them here, too. At the City and Alupka beaches in high season it is offered to ride a banana, rent a SUP-surf or catamaran for walks on the water. From the pier on the Alupka beach, pleasure boats depart along the coast to the Swallow's Nest Palace. And that's pretty much it. If you want to get other tourist entertainment, you need to go to the center of Yalta or to the neighboring village of Simeiz, where there is a good water park "Simeiz" with sea water. For adults and young people, there is also not much to turn around with entertainment: in the evening, except in one of the kebab cafes, there is nowhere to go, there is not even a walking area and a normal promenade.

But the greatest opportunities for exploring the sights in Alupka are provided by organized excursions that can be purchased at hotels and from distributors at the resort. Their choice here is almost as large as in the center of Yalta, so if you wish, you can go on a one-day or multi-day trip even to the most remote corners of the Crimea. You can also pick up more interesting adventures on the search sites for unique excursions from local residents:

• 📷 Search for excursions in Alupka on Sputnik8.com
• 📷 Search for excursions in Alupka on Tripster.ru

And now the promised list of attractions and entertainment of Alushta, which you can visit during your vacation on your own, indicating the time of their work, the cost of visiting and how to get there:

Vorontsov Palace

This is the main attraction of Alupka and one of the most beautiful palaces of Yalta, a must-visit place. The yard was built for a very long time, from 1828 to 1848, by the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk Territory, Count M. S. Vorontsov. The English architect Edward Blore worked on the project, and, interestingly, he did it remotely, never arriving at the construction site. Today there is a museum in the palace, and there is a beautiful landscaped park around it, where you can walk for free. Read more about the Vorontsov Palace here.

Amet Khan Sultan Museum

This one is dedicated to a native of the village, a military pilot, twice hero of the Soviet Union Sultan Amet Khan (1920-1971) - a man who earned the title of master of piloting and air combat. During the Great Patriotic War, he scored 30 personal victories in battle, and 19 victories while participating in a group. He went through the whole war and died during a test flight. This unique museum tells not only about the life, exploits of the hero during the war and the post-war period, but also tells a lot about airplanes and aviation. It is small, consists of three halls. Among the exhibits are personal belongings, photographs, awards of Amet Khan, models of aircraft on which he flew, and not only. Learn more about the Amet Khan Sultan Museum here.

Ai-Petri Mountain

Ai-Petri is the most famous mountain in the Crimea, and, perhaps, it can be called the most famous natural tourist attraction of the peninsula. The mountain is considered a landmark place of the Crimean Peninsula and in our opinion is definitely worth a visit. From its top there are magnificent panoramic views of the surroundings, and to attract tourists and their convenience, a cable car operates all year round. A whole complex with tourist entertainment has been formed on the mountain: there is a cafe, an extreme rope bridge, a zipline, horseback riding and ATVs, and a market for tourist goods. The bravest can climb even higher along the path to the highest point – the teeth of Ai-Petri (1234 m). And here you can visit three caves – Trekhglazka, Geophysical and Yalta. But as of 2023, the Three-Eye and Geophysical were closed. Read more about Ai-Petri here.

Church of the Archangel Michael

This is the most significant Orthodox church in Alupka. It was built in the Russian-Byzantine style with high gilded domes and unpainted walls, which looks quite unusual compared to other temples, and more like an old castle.

The history of the Church of the Archangel Michael, as well as many temples that survived the Soviet period, is tragic. The beginning of construction dates back to 1903, when the foundation was laid, the stones of the first Alupka church, destroyed by a landslide, were laid in its foundation. Read more about the Church of the Archangel Michael in Alupka here.

Simeiz Water Park

There are several water parks in Yalta, the closest to Alupka is located in Simeiz – this is a water park with sea water "Simeiz", it used to be called "Blue Bay". This is an outdoor water park, so it works only in summer from June to September. It operates at the hotel complex of the same name, but it can also be visited from the outside. The water park cannot boast of the largest territory, modern attractions and extreme slides, but it is one of the most cozy and beautiful water parks in the Crimea. The territory is surrounded by greenery, decorated with living flower beds, and the attractions offer views of the mountains and the coast. Learn more about the Simeiza water park here.

Shaan-Kaya Mountain and Lake

Shaan-Kaya Mountain is translated as Falcon Mountain, and in different sources it is mentioned in different ways: Nishan-Kaya, Shanghai, Shan-Kaya, Target. It is considered one of the most difficult for conquerors of the peaks in the Crimea, despite the fact that its peak is only 871 meters above sea level. On one side (south) the rock looks impregnable - steep and steep, on the other more gently sloping – wooded. All along the way and the very top, stunning views of the mountainous part, Simeiz, Alupka and the sea are provided. It will be easy for ordinary tourists and non-athletes to climb to the top of Shaan-Kai along one of the well-marked paths along the northern slope. The route passes through the most beautiful places, past the Shaan-Kaya lake, vineyards, through the pine forest. On the way you can eat blackberries, dogwood, plums in the season of their ripening. Learn more about Shaan-Kaya Mountain and lake here.

Massandra Tasting Room

The Massandra tasting room or Vorontsov wine cellar in Alupka is the second most important tasting room after the Massandra winery in the center of Yalta. The wines of the Massandra factory are a business card not only of the Crimea, but also of the world-famous brand of wines. Visiting the tasting room is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the history of winemaking in the Crimea, to learn about the stages of production of this type of alcoholic beverage. In addition to visiting the basements, you will be told about some varieties of wine and offered to taste 9 samples of wines (dry, strong, dessert). After the tour in a specialized store you can buy a copy you like. Special connoisseurs will be able to purchase collectible vintage wines. Read more about the Massandra tasting room here.