All about the beaches of Alupka
Alupka is a resort in the shadow of the more famous Yalta, Feodosia, Evpatoria. But if you take a closer look, it stands out among other attractive objects in Crimea. Local beaches are also good, it's time to get to know them better.
general information
In Alupka, the entire coastline is closely pressed to the mountains. Therefore, to get to the beaches you have to go down the slopes. Some of them are so steep that you cannot do without ladders to complement the usual paths. The coast itself can hardly be called a flat space. The relief is very pronounced, the beach areas are covered with pebbles of various fractions.
There are many stones on the seabed. But on the other hand, the water itself is very transparent, which is why underwater hunters and diving fans like to go to Alupka. Contrary to popular belief, all this does not so much interfere with resting on the banks of Alupka with children. Important: you cannot count on beaches equipped in an elite class. However, there is quite a typical infrastructure, and some of its weakness is compensated by gorgeous views.
Nearby are such beauties as Mount Ai-Petri and the Vorontsov Palace, crowned with characteristic battlements. It is quite cheap to have a rest in Alupka, but it is conveniently located. You can easily get to any of the neighboring resorts. The beaches themselves in this area are available at no extra charge.
And this is not enough - everyone is allowed into some leisure zones at the sanatoriums. All that is required is to behave well and pay for the sun loungers. Finding empty seats is much easier than in Yalta. This difference persists even at the peak of the season. The reason for the low occupancy of Alupka is simple: it lacks such luxurious and advanced entertainment as in other Crimean resorts.
Varieties
The beaches of Alupka can be classified into public, wild and private.
Public
An overview of the beaches in a Crimean city like Alupka should start with the children's section. It was placed in a modest lagoon. This miniature bay is completely sheltered from piercing winds and sea waves. The waters in the lagoon are invariably warmer than in the open sea. It is shallow near the coast and even at a fairly large distance from it.
You can go down to the sea on the children's beach of Alupka without any risk. Even the smallest children can easily walk this path. The beach strip is surrounded by rocks along the perimeter. They, separating part of the water from the sea, form a lagoon inhabited by a large amount of flora and fauna. Both crabs and fish live there.
Those sailing out into the open sea water can enjoy the view of Ai-Petri right from it. Climbing inland from the beach, you can visit the shady park. There are ice waterfalls, stone chaos, and places with an excellent view. The problem is that in 2019, a layer of gravel was poured on the children's beach, which has not yet been run in. But calmness is added by a permanent rescue post.
The next section of the coast, which you should definitely get acquainted with, is the so-called Vorontsov baths... They are located on Vorontsovskoe highway about 1.29 km from the central part of Alupka. This city beach is available to visitors at no additional cost. If the road along Vorontsovskoe highway does not suit tourists, they can head along Primorsky lane directly from the city center. The entire coast in this place is covered with medium-sized pebbles.
The total area of the "baths" is not large, they themselves are narrow and short. The beach is separated from the city buildings by a solid concrete wall. Breakwaters pass exactly in the middle of it. Along the edges of them are some gorgeous looking boulders that are good for diving, especially for children. The danger is that there are many large stones at the bottom, and therefore every jump into the water is very risky.
It is much more comfortable and safer to use a public beach such as "Frog"... This is a fairly large area for leisure, so everyone can stay here. The beach got its name because of the exceptional size of the stone. The rock of an atypical shape reaches 10 m in height. Otherwise, it is impossible to say anything special about the beach.
Wild and nudist
This group includes Cote d'Azur beach, more precisely, its western section. There is a cluster of large stones that attracts nudists. The distance to the city center (when looking at the edge of the beach) is just under 300 m. This stretch of coast is occupied by a juniper grove, declared a local nature reserve. The reference point for its search by tourists can serve as the Alupka bus station.
"Cote d'Azur" has 3 sections, the boundaries between which are piers. One sector of the beach is covered with sand, and the other two are covered with medium-sized pebbles.
An example of a wild beach in Alupka is "Three stones". There, on the pebbles, you can relax and enjoy an unforgettable experience. The infrastructure is reduced only to a modest cafe, the rest of the "wild" atmosphere is maintained impeccably.
An example of a wild beach itself is "Dusya"... This strip of the coast is close to the beach of the "Yuzhnoberezhny" sanatorium, therefore it is not difficult to get to it. Among local residents and vacationers, it also has alternative names - "Kuchmovsky" beach or the beach of the monk Berthold Schwartz. Descent from the embankment to this part of the coast is possible by a high concrete staircase. When walking along the coast, hills and rock ledges are discovered.
"Dusya" stretches for a long distance and is covered mainly with stones. Occasionally there are places covered with large pebbles. There are not many people here, but you can easily find shallow bays. At the bottom of such bays, there are round stones that are completely safe.But since the beach is not at all equipped, you will have to stock up on water, umbrellas and food.
Private
Among the beaches belonging to private organizations, the coast near the Yuzhnoberezhny sanatorium deserves attention. Guests of the sanatorium, leaving the main building, can slowly reach the sea in just 10 minutes.
Has well-deserved fame and beach "Black Bugor". It occupies an attractive cove on the grounds of the former Raduga sanatorium. Important: the alternative name of the beach is "Cape Verde", you should not think that these are different places.
On the "Black Bug" along the surf line there is a sandy edge. The beach was created as a result of natural processes. Therefore, when the sea is rough, the width of the land decreases. There is also a rock, which is also called "Black Hill". From its top you can observe the whole of Alupka, observing the territory up to Cape Ai-Todor inclusive.
It is pleasant to drive up to the "Black Hill" by cars, as the entrances were taken care of in advance.
Another private site is at the Bobrov sanatorium. It occupies the most western part of Alupka. Despite the positioning of the sanatorium as a family institution, children most often come here to rest. The beach has both developed and exceptionally wild fragments, covered with rocks and individual stones.
When the bathing season comes, pavilions with drinks and simple products appear on the "Black Bug". It is not difficult to rent catamarans. People are constantly walking around, calling to take advantage of the water attractions. Free Wi-Fi is available to visitors to nearby cafes.
You cannot drive directly to Black Bugor by car; it will have to be left on a nearby city street and then walked down the graceful catwalks.
Every year those who come to Alupka try to use the wild parts of Bobrov beach. It's quiet and secluded there. The equipped space is divided into breakwaters. There are no special amenities here - the administration has prepared only:
- sun loungers (rented for 100 rubles);
- a gentle slope from the embankment, covered with concrete and equipped with strong railings;
- steel stairs.
The embankment itself will provide tourists with other amenities. There are toilets, dressing rooms, and kiosks with fast food, souvenirs and soft drinks.
The next private beach belongs to the budget hotel "Bereg". But those wishing to get the maximum improvement should choose the "Spanish Village".
The beaches near the boathouses are not very attractive. It is very difficult to spend time without a sun lounger, because the hard heated asphalt is very uncomfortable. Therefore, you need to be interested in reviews about the properties of each site. Some of them are covered with soft coverings, equipped with umbrellas, sun loungers. In some places, stairs descend into the sea directly from the beaches near the boathouses.
The advantage of this choice is the ability to park your car nearby. But near the boathouses, there is no infrastructure, even dressing rooms and toilets. There are no attractions here, you can only enjoy the exceptionally clean sea. The quality of concrete is not good everywhere, and buildings of various kinds, abandoned seaside objects spoil the view.
The beach near the boathouses is also bad because the seabed there is covered with stones. Some of them have sharp edges, and areas with dense accumulations of algae are everywhere. It is very easy to slip on such lumps. It is not permissible to enter the water without beach safety shoes. The general conclusion is this: you can stop at the boathouses, but only as a last resort.
Much better equipped is the beach belonging to the "Mountain Sun" sanatorium. Recreation areas have been properly prepared here. Small pebbles prevail, on which you can lie under the awnings. Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent. Until recently, anyone could walk here, but the situation can change at any moment.
The best beaches
In addition to general descriptions, it is useful to pay attention to the best parts of the sea coast in Alupka. And among them the main city beach invariably appears. Its undoubted advantage is that you don't have to look for such a site on the map too much. It is located near the Alupkinskoye highway in the eastern part of the city. Despite its small area, this beach is in great demand.
A lot of people also rush to the territory called "Frog". Even individual photographs of this beach during the season allow you to estimate the number of tourists. Most of the tourists here are adults.
Since the sea is dominated by boulders, not sand, the water is quite clean, which pleases amateur divers.
"Cape Verde" is good already because during its creation the territory was leveled by 100%. It is impossible to find flatter places on the coast in Alupka. The coast is covered mainly with sand, diluted with a little small pebbles. Cape Verde is recommended for family leisure. You can, without a doubt, allow children to swim in the sea.
"Cote d'Azur" is included in the list of the best because of the unusually clean and high quality water. You can see the bottom without any difficulty. In some places, there are stones in the water that attract sea animals. Despite the proximity of a number of hotel complexes, there are not many people here. Therefore, Cote d'Azur is recommended for those who want to enjoy calm and balanced leisure time in a well-equipped place.
Reviews
In addition to general descriptions, you should also familiarize yourself with the assessments that former vacationers give to the beaches of Alupka. Accustomed to the spacious, stretching for many kilometers, the shores of advanced resorts here it is difficult to avoid disappointment at first. They immediately notice that even the best beaches in Alupka are very small and not very well equipped by world standards. However, the quality of the water outweighs this disadvantage, unless the tourists are patient and don't leave right away.
What is important, Yalta residents (and they know a lot about coastal holidays) often travel to Alupka.
Another important piece of evidence in favor of this resort is that for several centuries it has been preferred by many influential people and political leaders... There are statements from the inhabitants of Odessa that the sea in their city is much worse. As for the accusations of “boredom”, Alupka, you just need to know its features and not raise high expectations. Beach leisure here will delight those who appreciate the sea, wildlife and romance. But connoisseurs of combining visits to the sea with club entertainment should choose other resorts.
See below for an overview of the beaches of Alupka.