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RussiaIn the city of Yalta itself, there are not many attractions, it is more a city of entertainment, of which there are a lot (see entertainments in Yalta). But around, on the territory of Greater Yalta, there are many interesting and significant attractions that are definitely worth a visit. Here is the famous palace and symbol of the Crimea-The Swallow's nest; perhaps the best botanical garden on the peninsula – Nikitsky Botanical Garden; Massandra, Livadia, Vorontsov palaces; AI-Petri mountain, and much more. Moreover, what is very good, most of these places can be visited independently, without resorting to the services of travel agencies or taxis, and having reached with the help of local urban and suburban transport. In general, attractions, entertainment and other interesting places in Yalta will be enough for a full two-week vacation. Below we have collected a list of the most complete list of attractions in Yalta and the surrounding area, with a brief description, indication of opening hours, cost and a detailed explanation of how to get there.
Well, if you want to see something else outside the city and district, you can purchase group excursions to all corners of the Crimea (offered from distributors on the streets or in travel agencies), or order individual sightseeing tours online through the form:
Nikitsky Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden was founded in 1812, i.e. more than 200 years. Today there is a scientific center for fruit growing and botany, but the park areas are open for inspection by everyone for a fee. It includes several gardens and parks at once, so sometimes there is a little confusion with what to visit and see here. At the time of writing, the garden includes: Arboretum (Arboretum) – this is the main part of the park, where tourists most often visit; Montedor Park (also includes a cactus greenhouse and the Paradise Garden exposition); seaside amusement park; Cape Martyan Nature Reserve. You can visit a choice of any of the parks, but most of the impressions will be from a walk through the Arboretum (Arboretum). It is best to visit the garden with a season from June to August, it is at this time that it is most beautiful and well-groomed. At other times, it is not so well cared for, the fountains are turned off, and the colors of the plants fade. Nevertheless, even in winter there is something to see. Learn more about Nikitsky Botanical Garden is here.
🕐 Working hours: from 08:00 to 18:00 (ticket office until 17:00)
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: payment to each of the parks and to the museum is made separately. The cost of tickets to the main park adults-300 rubles; children 7-14 years-150 rubles; up to 7 years-free of charge.
🚶 How to get there: the Botanical Garden is located in the village of Nikita, 8 kilometers from the center of Yalta (botsad main entrance on the map. You can get here from Yalta by bus number 29 and 29A, and you can take these buses not only at the bus station, they also pass through the center near the embankment. Travel in them costs 25 rubles, go every 15-30 minutes. Another option from the center of Yalta-trolleybus number 42 (20 rubles, every 30-40 minutes) to the stop Nikita or Nikitsky Botanical Garden on the South Coast Highway, and then on foot (25 minutes).
Vorontsov Palace
The Vorontsov Palace was built for a very long time, from 1828 to 1848, by the Governor-General of the Novorossiysk territory, count M. S. Vorontsov. 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 around there is a beautiful landscaped park where you can walk for free. Many tourists, by the way, come here and are limited only to viewing the park, and leave satisfied. And this is one of the reasons why it is worth visiting the palace and the park on your own, without an excursion group tour, so as not to be tied in time to tourist transport. In general, ideally, you should come here from Yalta or another city for the whole day, take a walk in the park and go on a tour of the palace, and finish the day on the beach. Learn more about Vorontsov Palace is here.
🕐 Working hours: the main exposition is open from 09:00 to 17:00 seven days a week, on Saturday from 09:00 to 20:00. Additional exhibitions from 09:00 to 17:00; Monday, Wednesday-weekend. Excursions start at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 with a group of 15 people.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: visit to the main exposition 350 rubles, other expositions from 50 to 350 rubles. South terrace with lions – 50 rubles. Visiting the park is free.
🚶 How to get there: Vorontsov Palace and park are located in the village of Alushta, 20 kilometers from the center of Yalta (Palace on the map. Several suburban buses go here, the fare costs from 30 rubles, 20-30 minutes on the way. There are the following routes: No. 132, 102, 107, 115.
If you come by private car, then you will have to pay 300 rubles for parking in front of the palace.
Livadia Palace
Livadia Palace is the former Southern residence of the Russian emperors, built at the end of the XIX century, also known for the fact that it hosted the famous Yalta Conference of the leaders of the three Allied powers – I. V. Stalin, F. D. Roosevelt, W. Churchill.
Today, the Livadia Palace and Park Museum-Reserve, open to tourists, is located in the palace and the park around it. Inspection of the palace is carried out only accompanied by guides. The tour tells about two milestones in the history of the palace – the Yalta Conference and the life of the family of Nicholas II. Learn more about Livadia Palace here.
🕐 Working hours: from 10:00 to 16:00; Monday and Wednesday-days off.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: visiting the park around the palace is free, a tour of the palace for adults-400 rubles; pensioners, students-250 rubles; children under 16 – 100 rubles.
🚶 How to get there: the palace is located 4 kilometers from the center of Yalta in the village of Livadia (Palace on the map. You can get here by bus 11, 100, 102, 115, 122 for 15 rubles. You need to go to the stop "Livadia (Palace)" or "Livadia", and then walk 5-10 minutes.
Swallow's nest
Castle "swallow's nest" it is the most famous symbol of the Crimea. His image can be found on advertising booklets, magnets, mugs, plates, and all sorts of other souvenirs. Built in a very picturesque place, on top of the 40-meter cliff of Cape AI-Todor. It is a monument of architecture and history.
However, if objectively-then this place can be called a typical "trap for tourists". You will spend no more than 5 minutes near the castle, and most of them near souvenir trays, or waving off annoying offers to take pictures with animators. Our opinion (the authors of the site) is that you should not go here specifically, but if you drive past, or have nothing to do in Yalta at all, then you can see. Learn more about swallow's nest here.
🕐 Working hours: from May to October 09:00-19:00, seven days a week; from November to April 09:00 – 16:00, Monday – day off.
💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: visiting the site near the palace is free, entrance inside is 200 rubles for adults, 100 rubles for children.
🚶 How to get there: Swallow's Nest is located in the village of Gaspra, 10 kilometers from the center of Yalta (swallow's Nest Castle on the map. Most often it is visited as part of Group sightseeing tours, but it is very easy to get there on your own by buses No. 102 (from the bus station, once an hour), No. 132 (from the center from Lenin Square, every half hour). In the summer from the pier on the embankment. There are pleasure boats, the cost of 300 rubles in one direction. By car you can drive along the asphalt road directly to the castle, but you will have to pay 200 rubles for parking.