Katsiveli village in Crimea: features and best places to stay

Katsiveli is a picturesque urban-type settlement at the very edge of the Black Sea, stretching at an altitude of almost 70 m above sea level, not far from the village of Simeiz on the southern coast of Crimea. Originally conceived as a settlement near the scientific center of the astrophysical observatory, now it attracts tourists with enviable constancy. And there is something.

To replace the Taurus, this place in different eras was inhabited by the Goths, Huns, and then the Byzantines. Actually, the very name of the place is literally translated from Greek as "taken prisoner." In the 30s of the last century, a hydrophysical station was built here, later equipped with an astrophysical laboratory and a powerful radio telescope, under which tourists are currently sunbathing.

From any vantage point of the sea, you can see the outline of the first European oceanographic platform for hydrophysical research, located once at a depth of 35 meters. Relatively inexpensive for tourists, with a developed infrastructure, with a population of just over 500 permanent residents and pleasing landscapes, this village is worthy of attention as an option for a summer vacation.

According to the map, Katsiveli is located along the main highway "Sevastopol-Feodosia", 100 km from Simferopol, which means that you can get here from Simferopol and Sevastopol directions by bus routes. Taxis from the airport will be glad to offer you at a price tag appropriate for the resorts.

From the airport, the fastest and most convenient way is to go with a change through Yalta - there are many minibuses, buses and even a trolleybus that go to it.It will not be difficult to find them: right after leaving the terminal you will be met first by taxi drivers, then by minibusters with advantageous and fast offers. A little further you will see a ticket office for buying tickets for a bus or trolleybus of the corresponding timetable "airport-Yalta".

In Yalta, at the main station, you will have to find a shuttle bus or "minibus" to Simeiz and drive another 40 minutes, and from there another 10 minutes to the very place of arrival. If you're lucky, the bus goes along the highway near Katsiveli. Ideally, it is easier to get on the Yalta-Katsiveli minibus, only it goes directly to the village. You can get from Sevastopol to Katsiveli by regular buses "Sevastopol-Miskhor" and "Sevastopol-Yalta".

According to the general rule for the resorts of the southern coast of Crimea, it is recommended to come here to warm up by the sea and eat sweet local fruits in June-August. The record holder for the level of comfort is August. This is the peak tourist season, during which the air warms up to 26 degrees, and the water - up to 24. Then there is a minimum of rain and a maximum of sunshine. The beach season lasts 4 months together with September, and planning a trip here with a shift one month earlier or later will not deprive you of a pleasant stay.

In September, the sea will be colder, the possibility of Crimean showers is greater, but the flow of tourists is pleasantly lower, and you can bargain with locals about housing prices. True, the possibility of one-day excursions is also noticeably reduced due to the minimum number of tourists, because budget trips will take place when a certain number of applicants are recruited. However, we are solving this issue with the help of neighboring settlements.

As for the end of May, the sea temperature here, according to statistics, tends to 17 degrees - there is something to think about when going on a trip at this time.

The abundance of options for the private sector at the height of the season will meet you immediately, it is worth setting foot on the territory of the village. Do not underestimate these budget options for "grandmother's dacha", the risk of unpleasant service in a highly competitive environment is minimal. In any case, do not hesitate to ask for photos and clarifying details. A lone traveler will be helped by a bed in the same private sector.

In general, the cost of a cottage to accommodate 3-4 people is always lower than other resorts in southern Crimea, which is due to the remoteness and low popularity of this area. Enjoyed here guest houses "Italian yard", "Katsiveli", Sunrise or "near Raisa"... Among hotels and hotels with a status above 3 stars, it is very popular Alexandria, Premiere and House of Scientists' Creativity.

Known to solo travelers for some political reason Booking will not return results for housing searches. Now with the help of this service it is impossible to book accommodation in Crimea for the purpose of recreation. And here is the second popular option - Airbnb offers one option for renting a whole house for 8 people at a very affordable cost.

The coastal strip with alluring views stretches here for 2 km. According to the description of the village, there is almost no embankment here. There are several symbolic beaches, and the most popular one near Simeiz is called "Blue Bay". The telescope of the observatory rises above it - a great attraction for an unusual resort, although sometimes it gives a big shadow on sunbathers. The beach stretches out in a narrow strip and is sometimes cluttered with concrete reinforcement.

In the western part of the settlement and to the neighboring Ponizovka, other beaches stretch - less colorful and therefore more empty, in places even decorated with a destroyed concrete embankment and metal. It is difficult to pass through them - the territory belongs to either the destroyed boarding houses, or the FSB. But as they say in the discussions, nobody is particularly stopped here.

The main attraction of Katsiveli, in addition to clean air and sea, is landscape. It is not for nothing that the greatest artist Arkhip Kuindzhi was looking for inspiration with his students on the Katsiveli bays: "Night in Crimea" was written in one of them. Lying in the shadow of a telescope near the giant "Cat" - the mountains between the villages, is a great visual pleasure. Another thing is how quickly this beach vacation can get bored if you are not an artist, because there is no particularly large spectrum of entertainment in the settlement itself.

There is no walking tourist area. The village itself can be walked in 3-4 hours. Cafes and eateries are available. By the way, there are excursions to Mount Cat. Getting there and climbing there on your own will not pose any problems, even for families with children - the hiking trails are elementary and enjoyable. Travel time on foot will be no more than 40 minutes one way along the highway. One of the symbols of the place is considered the first in Russia oyster farm.

Near the turn to Ponizovka there is a hotel complex where mussels and oysters are painstakingly cultivated.

Katsiveli has several restaurants and a large water park "Blue Bay", for the sake of which people come here from all neighboring villages. The water park has 5 swimming pools, 11 attractions, animators, everything is available for a great cultural holiday with children. For lovers of outdoor recreation, in addition to the already mentioned excursion to the "Cat" and special climbing courses on it, there are water activities. From the same Simeiz and back to the main beach can be reached by catamarans, boats or kayaks. You can rent a yacht or boat from the central beach.

The most popular restaurant here is Yakhont (12 Vitkevich St.) at the aforementioned oyster farm. You can get here by appointment and by pre-order. The price of oysters depends on the size and can be an unpleasant surprise, which is not surprising, because this creature has been growing for 2 years in an ecologically clean place. Also here you will be offered mussels, seafood soup, flounder, rapanas and other food. But the most designer restaurant can be called "Tortuga" - a pirate mood is guaranteed, however, and the price tag is somewhat ruinous.

Feedback from visitors to the village boils down to the fact that it is not bad to spend just a couple of days in this place to feel its charms - visit the water park, lie on an unusual pebble beach and savor delicious fresh oysters from the bottom of your heart. Tourists give the highest points to these three options. However, the rest of the service of the village itself and the number of classes in it still leaves much to be desired. As the place is quiet, beautiful, with three grocery stores and a minimum of tourists in the corners, rest in the village always attracts seekers of solitude in a budget option.

All about the village of Katsiveli in the Crimea, see the next video.