While the ski resorts of Sochi are crowded with tourists, the Yalta embankment is free for leisurely promenades against the backdrop of snow-dusted mountains. Here you will find modern cafes for every taste, where you can have lunch overlooking the sea and stock up on hot mulled wine for your walks. In Yalta and its surroundings you will find cozy courtyards with carved terraces and balconies, an embankment with boutiques, historical buildings and palaces, the picturesque Uchan-Su waterfall and even snowboard trails.
How to get there and where to stay
You need to fly to Simferopol. Travel time from Moscow is about three hours.
Upon arrival, right at the airport, rent a car to get to Yalta on your own and explore its surroundings in comfort. Car rental will cost from 2200 rubles per day*.
Here are several suitable options for where to stay in Yalta:
Palmira Palace – from 4900 rubles* per night per person;
Oreanda Premier Hotel – from 4400 rubles* per night per person;
“Eco Hotel Levant” – from 3900 rubles* per night per person.
What to do in Yalta in winter?
Combine a cultural trip with outdoor adventures. To find out how the writer lived, go on an excursion to Chekhov’s house, to fully enjoy the natural resources of Yalta – admire the almost hundred-meter-high Uchan-Su waterfall.
Visit Chekhov’s house-museum
For lovers of the classics, the Chekhov House-Museum is a must-visit. It was there that the great author spent his last years of life and wrote world-famous works: “The Lady with the Dog,” the plays “Three Sisters” and “The Cherry Orchard.” In the memorial museum you will feel as if you are visiting a writer – Anton Pavlovich’s notebooks and letters are laid out on the table, and it seems that the owner is about to enter the room and continue his work.
In January there will be an exhibition “Tell me who your friend is…”, it will introduce part of the author’s original stamp collection. It will also be possible to take part in the “Congratulations from Chekhov” event. Museum staff have collected funny excerpts from the classic’s New Year’s and Christmas correspondence, and everyone randomly pulls out a “Chekhov’s” wish from the box. A congratulation from the writer can become a pleasant souvenir that will remind you of the days spent in Yalta.
The cost of an entrance ticket to the museum is 300 rubles*. The full schedule, opening hours and visiting rules can be found on the official website.
Enjoy mulled wine or coffee on the embankment
Leisurely walks along the edge of the sea are what make you want to stay in this city for a long time. And to see off the sunsets more warmly, we recommend trying a warm drink in one of the many cafes on the embankment. Let’s share a few particularly nice places.
JuSt Cafe Yalta
Come here for baking. On the menu: chocolate biscuits, coconut-almond eclairs, crispy freshly baked croissants. If you want to eat more, we recommend trying the corn baguette with shrimp. Crispy French rolls are a timeless classic, and seafood filling will highlight the southern flavor of your trip.
“Van Gogh”
Atmospheric cafe on Massandra beach, where they will serve you delicious mulled wine. In addition to the classic and pomegranate options, the cocktail list also includes pear grog. You might want to stay at Van Gogh’s: the establishment positions itself as an artist’s studio with delicious food. Here you can taste bruschetta from Kerch anchovy, Neapolitan pizza and pumpkin spiced soup.
«Kofedvizh»
The coffee shop offers an alternative: its owners dream that Yalta residents and city guests will try black coffee. Therefore, every weekend there is a “Sunday pour-over” promotion – baristas offer filter coffee at a very reasonable price. Hurry up to get there! You can also buy merchandise in the coffee shop – T-shirts with inspiring quotes about your favorite morning drink.
“Prasad”
Paradise for vegetarians and healthy food lovers. Try risotto with oyster mushrooms and truffle oil, any dish with homemade Indian paneer cheese, signature falafel, salad with crispy eggplant and signature raw desserts. Exquisite presentation, unobtrusive staff and a peaceful atmosphere leave no chance not to fall in love with this place.
See the palace of the Emir of Bukhara
The Palace of the Emir of Bukhara is one of the most popular historical monuments of Crimea. The two-story building is made in the Moorish style, which incorporates a combination of straight and rounded lines and shapes, as well as asymmetry. In the decor of the mansion you can find columns with fine carvings and capitals, and oriental ornaments on the walls. In addition, the building is decorated with carved terraces, exquisite loggias and porticos.
Currently, the palace belongs to the Yalta sanatorium, so you can only view the historical monument and take memorable photographs from the outside.
Go to the Wuchang-Su waterfall
Winter is a great time of year to see the Uchan-Su waterfall, located on the slope of Mount Ai-Petri. This is the highest waterfall in Crimea (98.5 m), which is part of the Yalta mountain forest nature reserve.
Be sure to make sure that your gadgets are charged – in frosty weather, streams of water freeze and seem to float in the air, you will definitely want to capture this unusual sight in several frames.
It usually doesn’t take much time to explore a sight, so it makes sense to take a walk in a relict forest or along the Botkin Trail. Take care of the right equipment in advance: it is best to go on a trip in trekking boots and comfortable sportswear.
Snowboarding
For lovers of active recreation, snowboarding in the Ai-Petri mountains will be the most memorable moment of the trip. The resort is located on a mountain plateau, at an altitude of 1.3 km and has six trails of different difficulty levels.
There are professional instructors on site who are ready to advise beginners and help children understand the rules of safe skiing. There is a rental of ski equipment, and cheesecakes are also available for rent. You can refresh yourself after the ride and admire the panoramic views in the cafe at the top of Mount Ai-Petri. There you will be able to breathe in plenty of sea air and understand that the holidays were a success.
*Prices valid at time of publication
