All about rest in Sudak (Crimea)

Sudak is the hottest resort center on the Black Sea coast of Crimea. There are 315 sunny days a year, which is a record among all Russian cities. The peak influx of tourists is in July, but the swimming season opens in early June and ends in early October (in some small bays, the water warms up in the second half of May).

The history of the city dates back to 212, from the moment of the construction of the Surozh fortification. In the XIV century, on this place, the Genoese fortress was founded, it was its strong walls that limited the territory of Sudak on the map of the peninsula. The Alans are considered the founders of the city; subsequently, each new conqueror changed the name of the fortress. The total area of ​​the fortifications was 30 hectares, today only a small part has survived. A total of 14 towers were built, a wall with fortifications inside and a drawbridge on chains from the land side.

Today, the city is home to almost 18 thousand inhabitants, the area of ​​the city is 23 square meters. km. The city of Sudak received its current name from the conquerors from the Ottoman Empire, translated from the Turkic language it means "mountains and water": on three sides the Sudak Valley is surrounded by mountains, reliably closed from the winds and has access to the sea from the fourth side.

On the territory of the fortress there is a museum, 2 real cannons, and also festivals, tournaments and various master classes are constantly held. The coast is a narrow strip of quartz sand beach (6 to 20 meters wide). The embankment has been restored, almost all shops and cafes have been moved to Cypress Alley. In the city, the construction of guest houses, hotels, entertainment centers and cafes is proceeding at an accelerated pace.

The climate in Sudak is mild, Mediterranean, there is little precipitation and they fall mainly in winter. The swimming season begins very early, already at the beginning of June the water on the entire coast warms up to +22 degrees and remains warm until the end of September. Black quartz sand, which has medicinal properties, attracts tourists to all the beaches of the city. Rest in different months of the year is attractive in its own way:

• May suitable for visiting excursions and medical procedures (the heat has not yet come and the road is easily tolerated, minimal rainfall, the weather is favorable for people with cardiovascular diseases);
• June opens the swimming season, but there are still not very many vacationers, the sun starts to bake at lunchtime, this month is good for a beach holiday;
• July - a month of exhausting heat, maximum influx of tourists, suitable for relaxing in hotels, where you can sunbathe and swim on a private beach or in a pool with sea water, ideal time for SPA procedures and entertainment programs in the evenings;
• August pleases with a gradual decrease in heat, by the end of the month the influx of tourists decreases, an excellent season for families with children;
• September relieves the midday heat: you no longer need to hide at lunch from the scorching sun and you can sunbathe from morning to evening, it is cool at night, an ideal month for all types of recreation, without exception.

October in Sudak is considered a velvet season, it is already cold to swim, but walks along the embankment and the healing air of the New World still attract tourists of all ages. From November to March, winter comes in the city with a piercing wind from the sea and raging waves on the coast, the thermometer freezes at around +2, a good time for sanatorium treatment. In April, the Sudak Valley blooms with lush color, the air is filled with the mesmerizing aromas of flowers and herbs.

Accommodation in Sudak can be rented at any time of the year, the peak of price growth occurs in July, the minimum prices for accommodation and meals are set in winter. The city has several sanatoriums, hotels, tourist centers and many guest houses for every taste and budget. Also, local residents rent rooms and houses (with and without meals). It is most advisable to book accommodation in early spring, always with payment upon arrival.

The most expensive rental housing and payment for meals on the first line with access to a private beach and an all-inclusive system. Housing within walking distance (about 10 minutes walk from the sea) is already cheaper, but it will not be an easy task to walk - the sidewalks are narrow, the traffic of cars is very busy. The best option is a walk along the Cypress Alley (if it will be on the way from housing to the sea coast).

The cheapest option is to rent a room further from the sea, but then you have to take a taxi or public transport every day, although if half of the vacation is planned for excursions, this will not be a big problem.

You can rent a house, for example, in the Sun Valley: few houses, a sandy beach, a seabed of small pebbles, crystal clear water, which is an excellent alternative to the crowded Sudak embankment. If you need a secluded vacation, you should go in the second half of August, to one of the bays: Novy Svet, Veselovskaya, etc.- there are much fewer vacationers, housing is cheaper than in Sudak itself, you can get to the city center by taxi in 20 minutes. If you plan to travel with small children, you should carefully consider the choice of accommodation:

• check the availability of a children's menu, playgrounds, entertainment for children;
• ask where the night discos take place that can interfere with children's sleep, etc.

It should be noted separately multidisciplinary tourist and recreation complex "Sudak" with many years of experience and professional treatment (as well as accommodation and dietary meals):

• baths with hydrogen sulfide water (have a beneficial effect on the circulatory and nervous system);
• halotherapy in a salt room (strengthens the upper respiratory tract, has an immunoregulatory effect);
• mineral sulphate-hydrocarbonate water (normalizes the digestive tract);
• inhalation therapy (is the prevention of colds);
• pneumorepressing (improves blood circulation, helps to eliminate toxins);
• underwater traction of the spine, which is carried out strictly according to indications, based on X-rays and MRI results (which must be done at the place of residence, signed by your doctor and taken with you to the resort).

There are beaches in Sudak for every taste, it is difficult to name one of them the best, the assessment depends on personal preferences. In July, the thermometer rises to +38 degrees and all the beaches of the city are overcrowded with tourists. The sea in the bays becomes warm already in the last days of May, on the Tsarskoye beach it is warm until mid-October.

Central Beach can be reached through Cypress Alley or the Air Force Sanatorium (free admission). In July, this beach is overcrowded, the water in the sea becomes muddy due to the influx of tourists. Semi-wild beach "Meganom" and the beach on the island "Krabiy" famous for its crystal clear water, great for diving throughout the swimming season.

The city also has free for visiting sections of the coast with a well-groomed territory: Millennium and BBC Sanatorium Beach. There are 2 paid beaches in Sudak: "Mojito" (with the most grandiose parties) and at Cape Alchak, as well as three sanatorium beaches: "Horizon", "Falcon" and "Sudak" (entrance to them is strictly by passes). There is a wild nudist beach in Fox Bay; it is not recommended to visit it with children.

In Sudak, there are various excursion routes: walking, horse, sea, bus. It is advisable to take a bus excursion for the whole day (subject to good road portability and normal health), with a visit to several attractions far from Sudak: waterfalls, caves, mountains and gorges.

One 12-hour vacation trip will be enough for a change of scenery and new experiences.

The territory of the Sudak fortress is vast, there is a museum, in the open air you can shoot a bow, take pictures in stylized dresses and knightly armor, climb the observation decks, admire the magnificent view of the sea, as well as the city lying at the foot of the fortress, and take stunning photos.Every year in July and August in this architectural complex is held knightly tournament "Genoese helmet", which lasts for several days, impresses with its scale, colorful performances and medieval flavor.

To visit the Genoese Fortress, it is worth setting aside a whole day, during the midday heat, it is recommended to visit the archaeological museum with unique exhibits, which is located in the building of the former mosque. It is better to take food and drink with you so as not to waste time looking for a cafe.

It is worth remembering that it is quite easy to climb the mountain, but descending is very problematic, so it is better to use the well-trodden paths. The highest point of the complex is Watchtower: the ascent is very difficult, it takes a lot of time and effort (there is not much to look at there, as well as in the Nameless Tower, which is located somewhat lower), it is more expedient to climb to the more accessible viewing platforms.

The best time to visit the Alchak reserve is in the spring, when everything around is buried in flowers and the air is filled with incredible aromas. It is better to get to the tract on foot, across the path from the embankment, past a 300-year-old oak tree. On this route, there are pistachio trees, cypresses, wild rose, barberry, and at the end of the path there will be a juniper grove, falling into which you lose touch with reality and immerse yourself in a fairy-tale world.

Scenic views change every 50 meters; in one such walk, you can collect photographic material for an entire album. The "damn" bridge will tickle your nerves (its length is only a couple of meters).

The cave monastery of the Great Martyr George is located on the slopes of Mount Sokol in the vicinity of Sudak, near the settlement of Novy Svet. It was built by Byzantine monks in the 8th century AD. Today it is an open-air museum, where you can visit three fully preserved cells.

It is advisable to use the services of a guide or visit the monastery as part of an excursion group. There are also many Orthodox shrines on the territory of the city and in its vicinity: The Church of the Apostle Matthew, the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God, the Church of St. Praskeva, the Church of the Twelve Apostles, the Holy Protection Church, the chapel of the Crimean Archbishop Luke.

Karadag reserve occupies a huge area mountain-volcanic massif Kara-Dag (almost 3 thousand hectares, 2/3 of which is land, the rest is sea area). The flora and fauna of this reserve is very diverse and includes several thousand species, many of which are included in the Red Book. On the territory of the reserve there is a nature museum, a walking and sea trail. The magnificent landscape of the reserve at sunset, in the orange rays of the sun disappearing into the sea, makes a particularly strong impression.

Behind the Genoese fortress originates Golitsyn trail - it leads to Tsarskoe beach in Novy Svet, which is a small bay with azure water and a narrow strip of sandy shore among the rocks. At the very beginning of the path there is Chaliapin's grotto, once the famous opera bass Fyodor Chaliapin performed there.

In terms of time, the journey takes 1.5 hours one way, it is better to go out early in the morning, no later than 8 hours. The journey ends at Tsarskoe beach. The entrance to the sea is shallow. This bay is a great place for diving: it is full of exotic fish. You can also use the sea route to get to this beach.

It is worth noting that there is no infrastructure on the beach, so a long stay causes inconvenience: lack of toilets, changing cabins, cafes, corn and sweets vendors, umbrellas and sun loungers. The best time to visit is early September.

Cypress Alley is considered the local "Broadway" (leads from the city to the central beach). It is littered with numerous cafes with a menu for every taste and various entertainment:

• Ferris wheel;

• rides and karting for children;

• contact zoo;

• water park (there are few slides, there are many visitors, so it is better to come to the opening at 10 am);

• dolphinarium;

• round-the-clock kindergarten for vacationers with hourly pay (it is recommended to use its services only in case of emergency);

• fountain with beautiful night illumination;

• souvenir shops.

At any time of the day, local artists offer to paint portraits and cartoons; in the evenings, street musicians create a unique atmosphere. However, you need to be vigilant at all times and not fall for the tricks of scammers: do not for anything participate in lotteries, auctions and other dubious entertainments that look harmless, but can result in the loss of a large sum.

There are several wineries in the Sudak urban district, but only two were left with production from grapes:

• "New World";

• "Sunny Valley".

All other enterprises, with the annexation to Russia, switched to "powder" wine. The excursions include tasting of the products, so you should not take children with you for ethical reasons, and it is also not recommended to visit wineries in hot weather (alcohol in hot weather has an extremely negative effect on the cardiovascular system).

The famous Sudak Embankment is located between the Genoese Fortress and Cape Alchak. The reconstruction, which began in 2012, transformed the coast: a colorful playground, numerous benches, lanterns and beautiful flower beds appeared. Great place for walking in the evenings.

On a trip to the Sudak resort, you must take a passport, for a minor child you need a birth certificate. An extract from the medical history will be required for spa treatment. If you plan to treat a minor child, you must indicate the dates of the vaccinations and provide a certificate of health in the statement.

The nature in the vicinity of Sudak amazes with its splendor, sunrises and sunsets fascinate and remain in memory for a long time. Fishing enthusiasts should take a special tour to visit all the most fishy places. You can independently go fishing on a spinning rod in Sudak on the pier or from a boat.

Lovers of shopping in Sudak will be bored: the shops are the same as in other Russian cities, prices go up during the high season, the main direction of trade is souvenir products. Restaurants in Sudak treat everyone with a variety of dishes from more than 15 cuisines of the world. Some establishments have vegan, kids and gluten-free menus, and free Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere.

From Sudak you can take a minibus to Koktebel, where you should visit the dolphinarium (where they give interesting performances with dolphins, killer whales, fur seals) and a bird park. The beach in Koktebel consists of large pebbles, on the coast there is a smokescreen from neighboring barbecue and street cafes.Feodosia, with the opening of the Crimean Bridge, became famous for its traffic jams, it is not worth going there during the swimming season, you can waste the whole day.

In 2014, the Crimean peninsula became part of the Russian Federation, the route to trains through Ukraine was cut off, so it is necessary to get to Krasnodar, and from Krasnodar by train to Simferopol. You can also use the "Single ticket" service from Russian Railways, while the route will lie through the Kavkaz-Crimea ferry crossing. You can get to Sudak by plane, but air tickets are twice as expensive as rail. The road lies across the Crimean bridge, which since the end of May turns into one big traffic jam.

The closest railway station and airport to Sudak are in Simferopol, then you will have to go by bus or taxi, or pre-order accommodation with a transfer service (when guests are picked up by the hotel staff in a minibus). Transfer is the fastest way to get to your holiday destination, but more expensive than public transport.

The distance between Simferopol and Sudak is 107 kilometers. The bus station is next to the train station. The first bus leaves at 8:40 am from the train station (6 am from the airport). Before choosing a flight, you should clarify the bus route, it is better if it is direct (without looping through all the surrounding settlements). The most expensive and far from the most comfortable way is a taxi, the cars are often old and shabby, the drivers overspeed. By city transport, it takes about 2.5 hours, transfer and taxi are much faster: about 1.5-2 hours.

Judging by the reviews, Sudak is an excellent place for recreation with a developed infrastructure and many entertainments within walking distance (including excursions). The maximum influx of tourists occurs in July, then you can only walk along the embankment sideways, like during rush hour in the Moscow metro. In the rest of the months: May, June, August and September, the rest in this city is sheer pleasure.

See a video tour of Sudak below.