Where is it better to go to the Crimea, the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov

For most tourists going on vacation in the Crimea, this question is usually not even worth it, since everyone automatically chooses resorts on the Black Sea coast. Indeed, all the most developed and popular places are located on the southern coast of the Crimea (YBK), in the West and east of the peninsula, but the northern coast, washed by the waters of the Sea of Azov, is much less popular. There are only a few resorts on it, about which few tourists have heard at all: Shchelkino, Mysovoye, Kamenskoye, Kurortnoye, Pesochnoye, and the beaches of Arabatskaya Strelka. But there are pluses in the rest on the Sea of Azov, because of which some tourists choose this particular Coast, and every year they return only here. So, here is a comparison of holidays on different seas in the Crimea, their pros and cons:

Which sea is warmer?

Although the Sea of Azov is further north, it is much warmer than the Black Sea. The reason is simple – it is smaller, and therefore warms up faster. Of course, year after year does not fall, but still most often in early June in Azov you can comfortably swim even for children. According to our (authors of the site) subjective feelings, the Black Sea lags behind warming up as the Azov Sea for two or three weeks, and even in the hottest time it does not warm up as well as the Azov Sea.

And yet, you probably heard that on the Black Sea coast, even in the hottest period, there are times when, due to the mixing of deep-sea and surface layers of water, it becomes sharply colder for several days, so you can not even swim. On Azov, nothing like this happens, and if it has warmed up, then it will be so until the end of the season.

Conclusion: if you are planning a trip to the Crimea in May or early June, or go with children, it is better to go to Azov, it is warmer.

Where are the best resorts?

There are much more resorts on the Black Sea coast, and they are much more developed. On the Azov Sea, in fact, there is only one more or less developed place-the city of Shchelkino, and even then, in terms of the development of tourist infrastructure and the presence of attractions, it can be compared, except with the Black Sea resorts based on settlements. In general, wherever you go to the Azov coast, the situation and the development of infrastructure will resemble a village.

Conclusion: more developed resorts and infrastructure on the Black Sea.

Where are more entertainment and attractions?

In this matter, the Black Sea beaches and resorts are out of competition. In addition to beach entertainment and developed tourist areas with cafes, bars, discos, there are water parks, zoos, dolphinariums, active recreation and entertainment. In general, if you really go to have fun, then to the resorts of the Black Sea. The same applies to attractions, almost all of them are located on the Black Sea coast or in the center.

Conclusion: if you do not want to spend time at the resort as in the village or in the country, it is better to go to the Black Sea.

Where are more spacious beaches and fewer vacationers?

After 2014, the tourist flow even to the Black Sea resorts of the Crimea has significantly decreased, and it is no longer possible to see crowded beaches on which you have to take a place early in the morning. But on the Azov coast there are many times fewer people, and the beaches are very long, stretching for many kilometers. And what can we say about the sandy spit of the Arabat arrow (plat), The Beach of which stretches for 66 kilometers!!!

Conclusion: the beaches on the Sea of Azov are much more spacious and deserted than on the Black Sea.

Where are the best beaches?

This issue is very controversial, because everyone has their own vision on this matter. Therefore, we will characterize in general each of the shores, and you have to choose:

• Azov beaches

  All Sandy, the sand is beautiful yellow, mixed with fragments of shells. The depth is small: in some places you can go a good hundred meters before the water reaches the chest. The waves here are mostly small. There is almost no entertainment on the beaches, and in general there are a lot of undeveloped wild places.

• Black Sea beaches

  The whole YBK is a Pebble Beach. Gray and yellowish sand is on the West Coast (Lyubimovka, Saki, Yevpatoria, Mirny, Olenevka, etc.), and in the East (Feodosia, Beregovoye, Primorsky, Kerch). The depth is different everywhere, but in many resorts it is not at all suitable for bathing small children, too sharp a slope of the bottom. But most of them are "packed" with changing booths, sun loungers and umbrellas (for rent), a lot of beach entertainment. However, if you like beautiful beaches, you will be disappointed in many places: along the coast there are old dilapidated concrete embankments with rusty fittings sticking out, and the beach is divided into short sections by terrible concrete breakwaters. Well, the waves here are more often and more. But in fairness it should be said that there are also fabulously beautiful places surrounded by rocks and with picturesque views into the distance. But it is worth lowering your eyes, and then again concrete, rebar, rust.

Which sea is safer?

The sea of Azov is much shallower and warmer, there are fewer poisonous animals in it, so it is definitely safer (see dangers in Crimea for tourists). The depth on most beaches is small up to tens and hundreds of meters, the waves are smaller, because even the youngest children are safer to swim, although, of course, it is still necessary to look after.

Conclusion: The Sea of Azov is much safer, especially for children.

Which sea is cleaner?

Most tourists believe that the Sea of Azov is dirtier. This is partly true, the water here is usually more turbid, but not everything is so clear. The mud in the water is mostly natural - a suspension of sand and clay, because all the beaches here are Sandy, the bottom is clay. And on the Black Sea, due to pebbles and the absence of small particles, the water is much more transparent. But on the other hand, on the Azov coast of the Crimea there is no industrial production and there are no large settlements that drain sewage into the sea.

Where is the best fishing?

The answer to this question is unequivocal: it is better in Black. The underwater world here is much more developed, the fish is larger. On the Azov, too, they fish, then the specimens are much smaller, and in our subjective opinion it is more difficult to catch.

Conclusion: fishing in the Black Sea is more diverse and interesting.