Sights of Simeiz - what to see on your own

There are no significant sights in Simeiz, everything that is interesting in the village can be viewed in one day. You can explore the Juma-Jami Cathedral Mosque, the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and several architectural attractions, two of the most famous of which are the villa "Dream" and "Xenia". Near the village there is a low rock Panea, on which the remains of the ancient Panea fortress have been preserved. Another interesting place is the Diva Rock, to the top of which you can climb the stairs to get a stunning view of the village and the coast. You can walk 3 kilometers on foot and watch the unique radio antenna of the Crimean radio telescope in the neighboring village of Blue Bay. A complete list of all attractions in Simeiz is presented below.

If there are not enough attractions in the village for you, then you can easily take a bus or taxi to other interesting places within Greater Yalta on your own during the day (see about all the sights of Yalta here), or buy excursions to all corners of the Crimea from distributors on the street or on these sites with reviews:

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

And a little bit about entertainment in Simeiz. In the neighboring village there is an excellent water park "Simeiz" (former "Blue Bay"), you can get to it on foot or by bus number 107. Inflatable slides are installed on the beach for children, and bicycle rental is available on Lenin Street near Cypress Alley. There are no other entertainment for children.

If you like extreme sports, you can practice rock climbing on the Swan Wing Mountain. But, according to our information, there is no organized camp, equipment rental and instructors here, so you'll have to take care of everything yourself. If rock climbing is too difficult for you, you can walk up the "Cat" mountain, whose shape resembles a recumbent one... Well, yes, a cat.

As for evening entertainment, discos and bars are open in the evening on the conventional promenade along the city beach.

And now we present to your attention a complete list of the sights of Smeiz, indicating the opening hours, the cost of visiting and how to get to them yourself:

Cypress Alley and Simeiz Park

This is the main walking tourist area of Simeiz resort, where you will spend most of your time off the beach. The fact is that there is no promenade in Simeiz as such, and that small section of the coastal fortification that stretches along the beach is not in very good condition, and indeed almost all of it is occupied by stalls and cafes. So if you want to take a walk, then you need to recover in Simeiza Park, the decoration of which is a beautiful and cozy Cypress Alley. Learn more about Cypress Alley and Simeiz Park here.

Diva Rock

One of the most picturesque places in Simeiz is the Diva Rock, which is located in the sea ten meters from the shore at the right end of the Simeiz beach. You can climb to the top of the Diva, there is an observation deck. It offers "stunning" views of the coast of Simeiz and the whole village, and you can also see the neighboring mountains and resort villages. To climb up, you can use the paid suspended staircase-attraction for 500 rubles, or take the free route along the stone stairs on the slopes. Both options can be combined – go up the suspended stairs, and go down the free stairs, or vice versa. Read more about the Diva rock here.

Panea Rock and the ruins of the medieval Panea Fortress

The majestic Panea Rock (Panea) is located on the shore in Simeiz opposite the Diva Rock. There is an observation deck on the mountain, which offers wonderful views of the surrounding area. But it is worth coming here not only for the beautiful views, but also to see the remains of the ancient Paneeti fortress of the late XIV-early XV century. Basically, only stones and a foundation that is difficult for non-specialists to distinguish remained from it, but in some places fragments of the fortress walls still remain. It is believed that there was not only a fortress here, but also a church. Read more about the Panea Rock and the ruins of the fortress here.

The Swan's Wing Rock

The Swan's Wing is another picturesque rock along with the Diva Rock in Simeiz, but it is no longer in the water as a Diva, but on the shore on the way to the neighboring Blue Bay resort. Also, unlike the Diva, it won't be so easy to climb it, you'll immediately need climbing equipment and skills. After all, it is thanks to its vertical and impregnable walls that it is so popular with fans of this extreme sport. Well, if you are not fond of climbing, you can watch how others do it, there is always someone training here. Read more about the Swan's Wing rock here.

Mount Koshka

This is a unique natural monument and a specially protected natural area near Simeiz. The mountain got its name because from the shore it really resembles a cat. If you look closely, you can see the outlines of a head with an ear and a rounded back of a sleeping cat. On the rocky breaks of the mountain you can see the ruins of ancient Taurus settlements of the VI-II centuries BC and the ruins of the fortress Isar Limena-Kale of the XIII—XV centuries. Another remarkable place on the mountain is a unique "swinging dolmen", which is a large stone above the cliff, supported by several small stones. Climbing the cat mountain is not difficult and even small children can do it. Read more about Mount Koshka here.

Villa Xenia

One of the architectural monuments of the late XIX – early XX centuries in Simeiz, along with Villa Dream, is the villa "Xenia". The building is located in the center of the village at the beginning of the Cypress Alley, and is designed in Art Nouveau style with Gothic elements. The author of this project was the famous architect N.P. Krasnov. Today, the building of this historical monument is abandoned and is being destroyed. It will not be possible to get inside and into the territory due to the emergency condition. You can see it only from the outside. Read more about Villa Xenia here.

Villa Dream

Like Villa Xenia, Villa Dream is an object of cultural heritage of Russia. The building is made in an unusual Moorish-style architecture, and resembles a mosque with a minaret. The Russian architect N.P. Krasnov, who built many palaces and mansions on the Black Sea coast, was involved in the project. Currently, the "Dream" is in disrepair, it can only be viewed from the outside. Work on its reconstruction is not carried out. Read more about Villa Dream here.

Juma-Juma Mosque

At the entrance to Simeiz, the minaret of the Juma-Jami Mosque, the only mosque in Simeiz, rises near the local bus station. It can be attributed to the sights with a stretch, but it will be of interest to Muslim believers. The building, according to some sources, dates back to 1913. Like all religious sites, in subsequent historical periods, it was destroyed and misused. Only in 2011, with the construction of the minaret, it acquired a real look. Read more about the Juma-Juma Mosque here.

Pokrovsky Temple

The Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Intercession Church in Simeiz is located on a hill and is visible from almost every point of the village. It is one of the viewing points of Simeiz, from where the view of the village itself and the coast extends. The interior is decorated with beautiful paintings of the lives of saints on the walls and ceiling. Genuine delight is caused by a low oak iconostasis with icons. The territory around the temple is carefully monitored by the staff. If you're around, it's definitely worth going into it. Read more about the Pokrovsky Temple here.

Simeiz Water Park

The main entertainment in Simeiz, in addition to the beaches, is the 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.

RT-22 Radio telescope of Simeiz Observatory

The large radio antenna of the RT-22 radio telescope of the Simeiz Observatory, which in turn is part of the large Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, is located in the village of Blue Bay (Katsiveli) on the beach, which is known to vacationers as the beach under the telescope. This impressive structure is unlikely to be of interest to an ordinary tourist, but if you are at least a little interested in technology, astronomy or scientific research, then you will undoubtedly explore this object with interest. Read more about the RT-22 Radio Telescope in Simeiz here.