Beaches of Sevastopol

Overview of the beaches of Sevastopol

It is generally believed that Sevastopol is, first of all, a hero city with a large number of historical and cultural attractions associated with the heroic events of the Crimean War and the Second World War, and it is for the sake of attractions that it is worth going here.

However, in fact Sevastopol is also a beach resort. Despite the fact that the largest seaport in Crimea is located in the city and warships are based, there are a lot of decent beaches here that will satisfy the needs of even sophisticated "beachgoers". In total, within the coastline of Sevastopol, you can count a couple of dozen more or less well-known beaches, and several dozen more little-known and nameless, suitable for swimming but difficult to access. There are city beaches (those within the city limits), as well as many full-fledged beach resorts in the suburbs and villages belonging to Sevastopol and connected to the center by public transport. For example, these are the resorts of Kacha, Lyubimovka, Orlovka beach, Balaklava, beaches at Cape Fiolent and much more.

Most of the beaches of Sevastopol are pebbles and rocky shores. But there are also good sandy and mixed beaches in the north in Kacha, German Beam, Orlovka. Although there is an opinion that the proximity of a big city and a port has a bad effect on the purity of water and ecology, the water is very transparent almost everywhere, even suitable for diving with a mask and scuba diving.

If we summarize all the beaches of Sevastopol as a whole, then here are their main pros and cons:

How and how to get to the beaches in Sevastopol

Most of the city's beaches can be reached on foot from the center, and some need to be reached by bus. You can get to remote beaches by public transport with a transfer, especially for beaches on Fiolenta and in Balaclava. And the independent resort villages of Kacha, Orlovka, and the beach in German Beam are generally accessible only by commuter buses at the Northern Bus Station. But don't worry, next we will tell you about each of the beaches and how to get to them yourself in more detail, and here you can read, how to use public transport in Sevastopol.

If you are traveling by private car, then for sure there will be an idea to go to the seaside for a rest by car. But this is not always a good idea, because there are problems with parking, and indeed not all beaches can be reached and parked nearby. So first read the descriptions below to understand whether it is possible and worthwhile to go by car to a particular beach in Sevastopol, or it is better to use public transport.

There is another category of hard-to-reach beaches, which cannot be reached along the coast at all. The fact is that the shores in Sevastopol are very rocky and high, and therefore it is not possible to go down to the water everywhere. You can get to them only by sea on private boats or recreational tourist boats. Basically, such boats depart from the pier in Balaklava. You can use a regular boat or hire a full board for your company, and then you will be taken to the desired secluded beach, and then taken back.

And now we will tell you more about the most popular public beaches in Sevastopol and its surroundings. For convenience, we have divided the list into two categories: urban, which can be reached on foot or quickly by public transport without a transfer; and to distant beaches and suburbs, where you will have to travel for a long time with transfers by bus or private transport.

Urban beaches

To the city beaches of Sevastopol, we have included those that can be reached on foot from the city center or during a short trip by public transport without transfers.

• The fat man

  

  Tolstyak is one of the few urban beaches of Sevastopol, easily accessible from the center and suitable for combining sightseeing and beach holidays. It is located on the north side of Sevastopol Bay ("Fat Man" on the map), and you can walk here, having previously crossed from the center by ferry for 30 rubles to the pier Radiogorka or Severnaya. When you almost reach the beach, you still have to go down a steep slope with a drop of about 30 meters.

  The "fat man" is small, its equipped part is about 200 meters long. There is a lifeguard tower, a changing cabin, deck chairs are offered for rent at 100 rubles / day, and nothing else. From entertainment there is a windsurfing base where you can rent and take an initial course of windsurfing, SUP-surfing, kayaking. There are pebbles on the shore, and there are large ones with sharp corners, a lot of large stones. So for swimming here we highly recommend wearing special beach shoes, otherwise it will be very painful for the feet. There is some yellow sand, but far from the water. The depth is not very deep, the descent into the water is gentle, but given the large number of stones and old concrete with reinforcement, it is better to be extremely careful, carefully look after the children. Read more about the Fat Man beach here.

• Skipper and Konstantinovsky

  

  These are two urban beaches located in small bays of the great Sevastopol Bay on the north side of the center ("Skipper" on the map and "Konstantinovsky" on the map). 5-10 minutes walk from them is the ferry pier "Radiogorka", where you can swim from the center from the marina "Artbukhta" for 30 rubles / person.

  These beaches are completely wild, there is no infrastructure and amenities for recreation. But there is plenty of port infrastructure on the shore: concrete, breakwaters, fittings and the corresponding mud in the water. "Skipper" is generally all concrete. Konstantinovsky is a little better, there is even sand, although there are still old abandoned concrete blocks around and under the water.

  To be honest, we (the authors of the site) believe that both of these beaches are unlikely to be a good choice for a holiday: they are too unsightly, and they are located in the very center of the bay, along which huge cargo and warships are constantly cruising. In addition, just a 20-minute walk from here is a much more decent beach Fat Man. If you still decide to relax here, be careful while swimming, because there is a chance to run into the reinforcement under water or just hit the sharp edges of concrete hard.

• Crystal

  

  This is the most central beach of Sevastopol, it is located just a kilometer from Nakhimov Square. Moreover, there are actually two Crystal beaches: one concrete and equipped begins already in Artillery Bay on Admiral Pereleshin embankment, and the other rocky and wild is located in a small Crystal Bay behind the cape ("Crystal" on the map).

  The concrete Crystal Beach is well equipped: there are sun loungers, toilets, showers, a cafe and a promenade nearby, and indeed the entire city center with shops and tourist shops will be at hand here. True, there are no water activities here, after all, this is the water area of the port. The descent into the water takes place on concrete steps and metal stairs, and you will immediately get to a decent depth of two meters.

  Although the beach is extremely close to the port, and there is urban development around, the water here is surprisingly clear. Although, of course, its transparency does not mean at all about its safety and cleanliness, so in our opinion it is still better to sunbathe here than to swim. Well, it's worth forgetting about a relaxing holiday here, especially in the evening or on weekends, when nearby cafes turn on loud music, and local tipsy young people gather on the embankment. Read more about Crystal Beach here.

• Sunny

  

  This is a small equipped and public beach near the archaeological reserve Tauride Chersonesos. Just don't confuse it: Solnechny is not located on the territory of Chersonesos (all beaches are closed there now), but nearby (Sunny beach on the map), it has a separate entrance. By the way, from here you can cross the water or through a concrete breakwater to the rocky closed beaches of Chersonesos, however, in this case you will formally be considered a stowaway violator.

  The length of the beach is only 100 meters, but it is very wide. There is sand and small pebbles on the shore, and therefore it has not in vain earned the love of tourists and locals, especially for family holidays. The depth here is small, and since it is located in a protected bay, the water here warms up better than in the sea. In general, in our opinion, this is the best place for a beach holiday with children among all the city beaches of Sevastopol. Learn more about Sunny Beach here.

• Blue Bay

  

  The Blue Bay is located within the city part of Sevastopol in the bay of the same name (Blue Bay beach on the map). You can take city buses No. 77, 195, 105 and 102 to the Blue Bay bus stop, and walk from it a little less than a kilometer, or 10-15 minutes.

  Due to the fact that the beach is located in a bay and surrounded by rocks, it is well protected from wind and waves. There is always clear blue water here, and in sunny weather it turns turquoise. Many tourists in the reviews admit that this is the best beach in the city, and we completely agree with them.

  Unfortunately, the beach is small, only 70 meters, and therefore during the peak season it is crowded with vacationers. If you want to take a good place and not push elbows with neighbors along the shore, it's better to come here early in the morning. If you are unlucky and have not found a place, we can advise you to go further along the shore and look for a quieter place near the rocks. Learn more about the beach in the Blue Bay here.

• Uchkuyevka

  

  The Uchkuyevka district and beach are located just three kilometers from the center, but on the north side of Sevastopol Bay, and therefore it is too long and expensive to get to it by land, bypassing the bay. It is much cheaper and faster to use the regular ferries between Grafskaya and Severnaya marinas, and then drive North in just 10 minutes by city bus (Uchkuyevka on the map of Crimea). And by the way, it is not at all necessary to travel from the center to Uchkuyevka, but you can settle here right next to the beach, because this is a completely independent resort area.

  The beach in Uchkuyevka is the sandy beach closest to the center with yellow sand and very small pebbles. It stretches continuously for almost one and a half kilometers, spacious and well equipped in its central part. The depth is small and suitable for relaxing with children. There are free changing booths, traditional plastic deck chairs from 200 rubles/day and more comfortable double gazebos for 800 rubles/day are offered for rent. There is a zone with traditional water activities such as banana riding and gyro scooter rental, but there is not much variety of entertainment. Even at the peak of the season, the beach in Uchkuyevka is not crowded, there are plenty of places to relax. Learn more about the beach and Uchkuyevka district here.

Distant beaches and suburbs of Sevastopol

These are beaches that are located within the city limits or belong to Sevastopol as its suburbs, but at the same time they are located so far from the center that they need to be reached by commuter buses or public transport with transfers. For the most part, these are independent resort villages where you can stay for the entire duration of your vacation, and if necessary, get out to the city center for a hike to the sights and shops, or just for a pleasant walk.

• Jasper Beach

  

  Jasper is perhaps the most famous beach on Cape Fiolent, and, at the same time, the most inaccessible. To get to it, you will have to go down the steps to 170 meters, and go up the same amount after a rest. If you think that 170 meters is not much, then imagine that you need to go down and then climb to a height of 60 floors!!! Jasper is located 15 kilometers from the center of Sevastopol on Cape Fiolent (Jasper beach on the map). You can take buses No. 3, 24, 35, 79 to the stop "Monastery", and from there through the residential area on foot a little less than a kilometer to St. George's Monastery, where the descent down the stairs begins. You can also take tourist boats from Balaclava for 250 rubles/person in one direction.

  Despite the inaccessibility, Jasper Beach is never deserted. And this is not surprising, because according to the reviews and estimates of tourists, this is one of the most beautiful beaches in Sevastopol and throughout the Crimea, and the most developed and equipped in the area of Cape Fiolent. The water here is very clear, the waves are small. There are small pebbles on the shore, but the problem is that very large smooth stones come across at the water's edge and under water. That's why walking along the shore or even just standing in the water is very uncomfortable and painful, it's better to swim right away. From the amenities on the shore there is a changing cabin, there is a rental of deck chairs, catamarans, kayaks and surfboards for SUP-surfing, there is a temporary cafe with fast food and drinks at very high prices. But all this is only at the peak of the season in July and August, and the rest of the time none of this may not be. Learn more about Jasper Beach here

• Tsarskoye beach or Tsarskoye Selo

  

  Wild pebble Tsar Beach is located 15 kilometers from the center of Sevastopol on Cape Fiolent (Tsarskiy beach on the map). Sometimes it is also called Patriot Beach or nudist beach, or even Diana's Grotto beach, although in fact it's all the same place. It is best to come here by your own car, but you can also take buses No. 3, 24, 35, 79 to the stop "Recreation center Caravella" or "Tsarskoye Selo", and from there through the residential area on foot a little less than a kilometer. Then you will have to descend 100 meters down a steep staircase from a high steep bank on Cape Fiolent.

  The water here is amazingly clear, you can dive with a mask. The total length of the beach is 200 meters, and it is divided by a rock in the middle and bounded by steep cliffs at the edges. There are only pebbles on the shore, small and flat, so it does not create much inconvenience when entering the water. But do not forget that there is a sharp rock of volcanic origin around, because Cape Fiolent is a former volcano, and therefore swimming shoes will not hurt here at all, as there will be no unnecessary caution when bathing. On the shore, too, be careful and stay away from vertical rocks, as stones sometimes fall from them from above. A special decoration and at the same time entertainment of Tsarskoye beach is a natural landmark - Diana's Grotto.

  There are no amenities on the shore of the Tsar's beach, you will even have to change clothes behind rocks or hiding behind a towel. Therefore, take a towel or an air mattress with you, you can have an umbrella from the sun, water is required, you can have something to eat. Sometimes in peak season there are kayak rentals and SUP-boards for 500 rubles / hour, it is much safer to explore the grotto on them. You can also rent a mask with a diving tube. Read more about the Royal beach here

• The Caravel

  

  Another famous beach "Caravella" is located on Cape Fiolent near the grotto of Diana (). You need to get here in the same way as to Tsarsky Beach, see above. It will take 90 meters to descend the stairs here, which is less than Jasper (170 meters) or Tsarsky (100 meters), but still the descent is long and exhausting, especially in the heat, because there is no shelter throughout the descent. Despite this, there are always plenty of people who want to relax here because of the clean water and beautiful views. By the way, only from the Caravel you can see Diana's through grotto from the shore, and if you want to swim and swim through it on a kayak or surfboard.

  The beach is small in area, because in high season it can be crowded and there is not enough space for everyone. There are mostly large pebbles on the shore, sometimes with sharp stones. The entrance to the water is steep, and there are large boulders at the bottom, and therefore, without special shoes like "aquashuz", you should not even think about comfortable bathing. The Caravel is modestly equipped: there is only a rental of deck chairs, kayaks and SUP-surfs are offered, and even then only at the height of the season. Therefore, it is necessary to take with you water, food, bedding or an air mattress, an umbrella from the sun, sunscreens. Read more about the beach "Caravella" here

• Bounty

  

  This is one of the farthest beaches in Sevastopol, very famous for its sonorous name. It is located in the cozy bay of Alexandra, 15 kilometers from the center (Bounty Beach on the map). You can get there by city buses No. 3, 24, 79 or 35.

  It is not uncommon to find rave reviews and descriptions about it as the most beautiful beach with snow-white sand on the entire Chernomorskoe coast. But in fact, this is only partly true. In fact, the Bounty is rather an amazingly beautiful bay, rather than a beach, since as such there is almost no beach area on the shore. The shore here is supported by a steep rocky cliff, passing almost close to the water. That's why there is almost no place where you can relax. If you decide to come here to sunbathe, then you will have to lie on rocks and sloping rocks. Well, about the white sand – it is under water and not near the shore, and in order to enter the sandy bottom, you will first have to overcome a ridge of sharp stones. The way here will also bring a lot of difficulties. To get to the Bounty by land, you will have to overcome a steep and dangerous descent down a stone slope, in some places you need to hold on to the ropes. Read more about Bounty Beach here.

• Kacha

  

  Kacha is the farthest beach and resort village from the center, located 50 kilometers from the center, if you take the road to bypass the bay (Kacha on the map). You can get here by bus No. 36 from the Severnaya bus station, departs every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 22:30, 40 minutes on the way, the cost starts from 55 rubles. Also, from the center of Ushakov Square, bus No.137 departs every 60-80 minutes from 06:45 to 19:30, 1 hour on the way, the cost starts from 100 rubles. But in practice, vacationers often stop to rest in the Kacha itself, and from there they visit Sevastopol.

  The fact is that the beaches in Kacha are not so great that it's worth going to them from the center so far. The village and the entire area around it is almost 30 meters above sea level, and this is the height of a 9-storey building. And if in the center the descent to the beach is still relatively gentle and does not cause much trouble except for the need to work a little with your feet, then just outside the village, sharp and dangerous cliffs with a height of 20-30 meters hang over the shore. Another nuisance is the illegal development close to the water line, which occupies almost the entire central part of Kachi. Because of this, in some places the beach line almost disappears, and the waves reach almost the facades of buildings. Learn more about Kacha here.

• The beach in German Beam

  

  Before reaching a couple of kilometers to Kachi there is a nice wild beach, called the German Beam (German Balka beach on the map). You can get here in the same way as in Kacha, you just need to get off in advance at the stop "Turn to Vinogradnoye", and then walk a little.

  It is believed that this is one of the cleanest beaches in Sevastopol. It is possible to set up a tent camp here, and therefore it is popular with those who like to travel wild and road travelers. On the shore there is yellow sand mixed with small pebbles, and no infrastructure at a distance of a couple of kilometers. Learn more about the beach in German Beam here.

• Orlovka Beach

  

  Orlovka is located in Nakhimov district about 40 kilometers from the city center (Orlovka on the map). Although it is considered only a remote urban beach, in fact today it is already an independent beach resort, where you can spend your entire vacation with pleasure, or come here for a rest during the day.

  There is a pleasant, fine yellow sand on the shore, and only in some places there are small pebbles near the water. The depth is small, and the bottom is mostly clean and smooth. And all this beauty stretches for almost two kilometers, without being interrupted by any fences and concrete breakwaters. Learn more about Orlovka here.

• Lyubimovka

  

  Lyubimovka village is located 30 kilometers from the center, if you get here by land bypassing Sevastopol Bay, and only 6 kilometers away if you cross the bay by ferry and then take a bus or taxi at the Northern Pier (Lyubimovka on the map of Crimea). There are a lot of buses from the Northern bus station to Lyuimovka and often, the fare costs 26 rubles (in 2023).

  Lyubimovka is a great place for a day trip to the beaches from the center, and quite a tolerable independent resort. The beach here is very long and wide, mostly sandy, small pebbles cover the shore only at the water's edge. What is really wonderful is that there are no dams, breakwaters and fences here, so Monjo can walk along the coast without hindrance. The bottom here goes under the water quite steeply, after 4-5 meters the water reaches the shoulders, so children should be looked after carefully. The purity of the water in Lyubimovka is a controversial issue, since the proximity of a large city and ships constantly scurrying around the water area do not add transparency to it at all. And in a storm or during large waves, a suspension of sand and clay rises from the bottom, the water just turns brown. Read more about Lyubimovka here

Where to book hotels on the beaches of Sevastodol

Now, when you have decided on the best beach for you in Sevastopol, you can pick up and book accommodation. And if you want to learn more about the districts of Sevastopol for tourists, then read our overview of the districts of Sevastopol.

You can find and book hotels, apartments, apartments or sanatoriums in Sevastopol through the following websites or the search form from Ostrovok.ru . Booking through these systems, in addition to the obvious convenience of searching with reviews, also gives you a guarantee that you will not find yourself on the street or you will be settled in conditions that are not at all what they promised.