Tourist information about Sudak in Crimea

General information

Sudak (mean Sudak) is a city on the Black Sea coast in the south-east of the Crimean peninsula (Sudak on the map of Crimea). The population of Sudak is slightly more than 16 thousand people, excluding suburbs. Often, resorts are also referred to Sudak (or Sudak city district) Novy Svet, the village of Veseloe, the village of Morskoye, Sunny Valley and Pribrezhnoe, considering them just remote Sudak beaches. Indeed, they can be easily reached by local city and suburban buses, but still, they are independent resorts with their own beaches and infrastructure.

The city has a very ancient history, in 2012 it celebrated its 1800 anniversary. Its history began around 212 AD with the foundation of a settlement of the Sugd tribe at this place. The Byzantines and Genoese who lived here in ancient times called the city in every way. It received its present name during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. If you translate the word Sudak from the Turkic language, you get "mountain forest" and "water", this is exactly what this area is.

Sudak Bay from all sides, except the sea, is protected from the cold wind by mountain ridges, entirely covered with forests of beech and oak. The city seems to share the whole nature of the Crimean peninsula. On the eastern side is the arid Kapsel Valley, 42 km in this direction is a large city Feodosia. If you turn to the west, you can already see a typical Mediterranean area here, after 47 km from the city Alushta the Southern coast of Crimea begins. Sudak itself is located in the valley of the river of the same name.

The territory of the city is gradually growing, it itself is being transformed, and in this connection the number of inhabitants is also increasing. In 2015, the population in the city of Sudak was about 16,500 people, most of them Russians, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. During the holiday season, approximately 180,000 people rest in the city.

Rest in Sudak

Sudak is a typical beach resort of Crimea. Although, not really, because this is the only place with quartz sand. It is believed that this sand has healing properties, and local sanatoriums actively use this, positioning rest on their beaches as a treatment. Whether this is really the case is difficult to say, but the fact that thanks to quartz sand, local beaches have a not very beautiful grayish hue is unequivocal.

This is where all the advantages of Sudak beaches, unfortunately, end. The whole city Sudak Beach is a rather sad sight, not at all pleasing to the eye. It is all divided into sections by terrible concrete breakwaters (buns), rusty twisted fences and other metal structures that, as one might think, have remained since Soviet times. In some places, storm drains fall directly into the sea.

There are only a few well-equipped and pleasant-looking sections of beaches, but in high season they are so crowded that you need to come early in the morning to take a seat. Fortunately, you can take the bus to much more pleasant beaches of the village of Novy Svet, Tsarsky Beach, Kapsel Bay.

In addition to a beach holiday in Sudak, there is something to do, because this is a fairly developed place in terms of tourism. You can go fishing or diving tour; make hiking trips on your own or as part of a group along mountain tourist routes from the village of Novy Svet; walk along the ecological Golitsyn trail or Cape Alchak-Kaya; go for a boat trip to Karadag volcano or horseback riding in the surrounding area. With children, you can visit the Sudak water park – the best in the Crimea, take them to an amusement park. In the evening in Sudak, you can walk along the tourist street Cypress Alley or along the embankment, which are filled with cafes, restaurants, bars, retail shops and street entertainment. The situation on these streets in high season almost always resembles a holiday. There are several nightclubs with modern music in Sudak (Gourmet, Surf, Cowboy, Egoist, Asia and others), and if you prefer a simpler atmosphere and music, then restaurants working late are at your service. There is also a bowling alley, a concert hall, a cinema.

As for the sights, there are very few of them in Sudak. In the city itself there is one of the brightest sights of the eastern part of the Crimea – the Genoese fortress, there is a historical museum, on the outskirts there is Cape Alchak Kaya. You can drive to the Novy Svet, where there are several more interesting places and walking tourist routes in the mountains (see sights of the Novy Svet). By sea, you can take a walk along the bays of the Novy Svet and the Karadag volcano. Of course, in travel agencies you can buy excursions to any point of the peninsula.

In general, the situation in Sudak is moderately noisy, there is no fuss here, as in Yalta. Therefore, the city is perfect for families with children, the elderly and newlyweds for a honeymoon.

Infrastructure in Sudak

All business and production in the city of Sudak is built on tourism, the production of champagne and fine wines, rose oil.

The city itself gives the impression of a small, cozy, compact and thoughtful settlement. Here you can find good shops, cafes, bars and restaurants for every taste and budget.

You can stay in a hotel or in the private sector: the choice is huge, the prices are not overpriced. This is used by those who prefer the beaches of the Novy Svet, but cannot afford to stay directly in the village due to inflated prices. To date, the best hotel complex in the city of Sudak is "Forum", built recently, located successfully, works all year round. Read more about Sudak hotels and beaches here.

As for nutrition, there are no problems with this at all. In Sudak there are a lot of canteens aimed at visitors, where an adult can eat in the region of 200 rubles (dishes from 40 USD). There are canteens on the embankment, Cypress Alley and other areas of the city. There are many fast food establishments on the embankment and Cypress Alley, where you can have a snack with pita bread, chebureks, hot dogs, drink cool drinks or draft beer.

Shopping in Sudak is poorly developed, there are no large shopping centers here. But there are no problems with buying everything you need. There is a grocery supermarket PUD (former ATB, Lenin St., 38), where the lowest prices are traditionally maintained, several markets and many small shops throughout the city. The main trade for tourists is concentrated in the area of Cypress Alley, where tourist goods and souvenirs are sold in a variety of small shops and shops.

Weather and tourist seasons in Sudak

The high tourist season in Sudak falls on July-September, although you can come and swim in June, and the first tourists arrive here in early May. The water in May is still too cold for swimming, but it is already possible to sunbathe and hike around the neighborhood.

September is traditionally considered the velvet season. Already in the first days of September, there are noticeably fewer tourists, prices are falling. Cafes and restaurants are open until the last days of the month.

Current weather in Sudak and forecast

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Useful tips about Walleye

Shopping. Everything is for sale on Cypress Alley, but the prices are somewhat overpriced. If you want to save money, it's better to find a store or market away from the alley. The lowest prices for products in the supermarket PUD (former ATB, Lenin St., 38). There are no large shopping centers.

Bus tickets. To buy bus tickets from a local bus station, it is not necessary to go to the outskirts of the city. You can buy tickets at the cypress alley at the additional ticket office (open from 9 to 14 hours).

Housing in Sudak. If you arrived in Sudak without a pre-booked accommodation, then you can pick it up from intermediaries right at the bus station.

Bus to the Novy Svet. To get to the Novy Svet by bus, it is better to first get to the terminal (bus station), because in the city you can simply not get on the bus.

Paid beaches. There are no paid beaches in Sudak, it is illegal to charge for access to the beach. But if you can't get to the shore of one of the sanatorium beaches from the embankment, you can easily do it from the neighboring beach.

Tickets to the water park. Do not rush to buy tickets to the water park at the ticket office, because on the embankment and Cypress Alley from distributors you can buy them at a discount, or get a discount coupon.

Excursions to the Novy Svet. You can completely do without paying for an excursion to the village, and independently go there by bus for 27 rubles and see its sights (champagne and wine factory, Golitsyn trail, Tsarsky beaches, etc.). You will not need transport to move around the village, you can walk around everything.

Water problems. There are minor problems with water supply in Sudak, so when booking accommodation, check if there is water, including hot.