Features of a trip to Crimea by car

Traveling by car is one of the options to get to Crimea in order to have a great time there. To have only pleasant impressions of your vacation, you need to take into account the season, roads and other nuances of the trip.

To comfortably travel to Crimea by car, it is necessary to take into account the weather characteristics of the region. The climate on the peninsula is Mediterranean during the summer season. Heat and a lot of thunderstorms should be expected. Most of the roads in Crimea are asphalted, but this applies to the main highways between cities.

Most often, dirt paths are organized to natural monuments, which, in case of heavy rain, can turn into an impassable swamp, so you should check the weather in advance. In summer, the plains are hot and very humid. But the higher you go, the cooler it gets, so a light jacket in the back seat is never superfluous.

In winter, few people plan a trip to the peninsula, and for good reason. Snow can cover mountains and make roads almost impassable. However, such precipitation almost never occurs on the southern coast of Crimea.

The summer months are ideal for a savage vacation. In Crimea, it is warm at night, the sea is clean, beaches away from cities delight with their pristine nature. During the day you can enjoy the sun and warm water, at night - sit by the fire.

Crimea can be reached by car from the Kherson region of Ukraine and the Krasnodar region of Russia along the Crimean bridge, which connects Kerch in Crimea with Taman on the mainland.

Travel time will vary significantly depending on the place of departure and arrival. There may be bad sections along the road, which should be taken into account.They are marked on modern online maps, there are even recommendations on how to get around them without wasting time and gasoline. The M4 Don road is considered the best today. since there are practically no difficulties here due to the high quality of the roadway.

There is a speed limit on the bridge, so to drive on it, accelerating the car to more than 90 km / h, will not work. There are two stripes on each side. Before crossing the bridge, be sure to check the amount of gas in the tank. The total length of the section is 19 kilometers, without ramps and the possibility of refueling. There will be no gas stations before the bridge about 20 kilometers and after it the same.

From Moscow, a road trip to Crimea seems simple if you move along the previously indicated M4 "Don", but you need to remember that some sections of the route are paid. You can get to the peninsula in a day if you leave at seven in the morning. Already at one o'clock in the morning, the car will be at the Kerch Strait.

Distance from the largest cities of the country to Crimea in kilometers:

• Moscow - 1600;
• St. Petersburg - 2,400;
• Krasnodar - 250;
• Rostov-on-Don - 500;
• Yekaterinburg - 3000.

If you move through the territory of Crimea on your own, then along the way you can find many hotels and hotels that offer to stay for rest. You can also spend the night in small motels along the highway, which are found next to gas stations.

The cheapest option would be to rent a room in the private sector. Some motorists prefer to spend the night directly in the car if the route runs through a deserted area, while others take tents and sleeping bags with them. This option also allows you to rest on the road.

The southwestern part of Crimea offers cheap accommodation for tourists traveling by car. There is almost always a place in the tent camps Peschanoe, Beregovoe, Orlovka or Andreevka.

In the lowlands of Crimea, there are many parking lots close to hotels. In this part of the peninsula, you can see caves, waterfalls and active temples. You need to know that the southern coast has a well-developed tourist infrastructure. However, to the west of Alushta you can also find many places for a savage camp. There are enough campings in Simeiz, Ponizovka, Gurzuf and Koreiz. On the eastern bank, they are located between Feodosia and Sudak. Ordzhonikidze village has a very beautiful beach.

If a stop is planned in Kamensk-Shakhtinsk, then you can choose a place to stay at the mini-hotel "Uyut", where the cost per room in the season is 1,700 rubles per day. Slightly more expensive - 2000 rubles, overnight in the guest house "Boomerang" costs.

Novocherkassk also has options for a comfortable stay. For example, you can go to the "Business" motel, where the cost of one night is 1,700 rubles. In the hotel "Atmosphere" apartments will cost from 2500 rubles.

In Rostov-on-Don, the cheapest accommodation is at the Venice Hotel, since there are 1600 rubles for a day. If you manage to get to Timashevsk, you will be able to save even more by staying at the Rai hotel, where the price per room is only 1200 rubles.

There are a lot of cities on the territory of Crimea, which are impossible to see in one trip, that's why tourists come here for several years in a row.

• Simferopol - the capital, which is famous for a huge number of monuments from different eras.For the most part, this is a transit point on the coast or in the mountains. The city is known for having the longest trolleybus line in the world - 56 km.

• Alupka Are rocky beaches. Here are the dachas of celebrities, there is also the magnificent Vorontsov Palace, where Churchill stayed during the Yalta Conference in 1945.

• Bakhchisarai located in a canyon between Simferopol and Sevastopol. This city has many interesting sights, including the Palace of the Crimean Tatar Khan, a cave city and a monastery built in a cave.

• Balaclava famous for the Crimean War of the 1850s and the former secret Soviet submarine base.

• Feodosia located 100 km east of Simferopol. From the outskirts, it looks like an industrial site, but behind the built factories lies an attractive old town. It is very similar to Odessa in architecture, but only on a smaller scale. You should definitely visit the art gallery here.

• Koktebel located between Feodosia and Sudak. This small town has a large beach area, where a carnival atmosphere always reigns. Many excursions to natural monuments are organized here.

• Sevastopol is a large port. He was awarded the title "Hero City" for his resistance to the Nazis during the Second World War. Numerous monuments to military exploits of the past are located here throughout the territory.

• Yalta - a very beautiful city with many palaces and other monuments. A tourist gem, on the territory of which Soviet buildings and modern high-rise apartments are combined. Yalta was once a top holiday destination for many Russians before they were allowed to travel abroad.

There are numerous small settlements scattered around the cities, where there is also something to see. Speaking specifically about the sights, then when organizing an independent trip, you should pay attention to the following of them.

• Khan's palace. It is located in Bakhchisarai halfway between Simferopol and Sevastopol. The Khan's palace has been the residence of the Tatar rulers of Crimea since 1443. After the Crimean War, all the khans were attributed to the Russian nobles, and the capital of the Crimea was moved to Simferopol. The grounds of the palace include impressive gardens, several old mosques, cemeteries, a harem and, of course, the palace itself. You can take a tour of the palace.

• The cave city of Chufut-Kale. It is located an hour and a half walk up a beautiful canyon from the city of Bakhchisarai. This cave city was built in the 6th century. Getting to your destination is not so easy, as the settlement is located high in the mountains. Archaeologists and historians suggest that several thousand people lived here, who built their homes in a limestone rock. The city was abandoned in the 19th century.

• The Grand Canyon. It is located on the opposite side of the mountain range, below which Yalta stands. The road from Yalta will take about an hour and a half. Upon entering the park, you will have to pay to start your journey down the trail. From there it takes about an hour to walk to the canyon along a small mountain stream. It is quite difficult to get a full view of the area due to the abundant greenery, but the walk will still be remembered for a long time. The trail ends at a small picnic area selling wine and food. There is also a small waterfall and a swimming pool where you can swim.

• Caves. On the territory of Crimea, there are many caves in different regions, most of them are equipped for visiting tourists: Krasnaya, Mramornaya, Emine-Bair-Khosar. There is also a lot to see for cavers.

• Livadia Palace. The former summer palace of Russian tsars and the famous site of the Yalta conference.

• Massandra Palace. A bit similar in architecture to French Chataeu. Stalin once refused to stop here because he did not feel safe inside.

• Gurzuf. One of the best places in Crimea. Small town between Alushta and Partenit. The climate is very similar to the French Riviera. There are magnificent views and clean warm sea.

• Genoese fortress in Sudak. The journey through the fortress should start from the main gate, then it is worth moving east. Inside, it is impossible to immediately appreciate the beauty of the interior. Picturesque ruins and exotic whole buildings are presented here. The breath of time is clearly felt everywhere.

In the vicinity of small villages, there are campgrounds located closer to the sea, but located far from each other. You can use the open area for self-organizing the camp. The advantage of equipped parking lots is that there is water, dry closets and a shower, which cannot be found far from the settlements.

The Crimean Mountains are a mountain range running parallel to the southeastern coast, about 8-13 kilometers from the sea. In the west, they descend steeply to the Black Sea, and in the east, they slowly turn into a steppe landscape.

The Crimean mountains attract the attention of tourists from all over the world. They consist of three sub-ranks. The main ridge is subdivided into several massifs known as yalas or mountain plateaus. The highest peak of Crimea - Rimsko-Kosh, is located on Babugan Yayla At.

The cost of the trip will depend on how long the trip is and what route is planned. If it is two weeks, during which it will be possible to overcome about 2000 kilometers across the peninsula, then the average gas consumption will be 280 liters, but this figure can vary greatly depending on the type of car and many other factors.

If you move, for example, from Perm to Crimea, then the whole journey can be divided into three parts. It will be possible to reach the peninsula only in three days. The excursion and a more detailed study of the sights will take about two weeks, then a three-day return home.

On average, about 16,000 rubles are spent on gas alone, but you need to take into account the distance, the way back and the constantly changing fuel prices. Along the way, you can make stops at hotels, or you don't have to, if there is an opportunity to give someone the wheel to take turns resting.

The costs will also have to include groceries, mobile communications, the cost of parking near attractions, the cost of living in Crimea and much more. If you don't spend a lot and live in a tent, cook yourself or buy food in inexpensive cafes, you can save a lot. You also need to know that some attractions may require a fee.

The Crimean border from the mainland is accessible for tourists - people are allowed to cross it by car, although the movement of trains from Ukraine has been stopped.

From the Russian side, on the contrary, it is very easy to get to Crimea. The Kerch Bridge simplified the passage of motorists, it was also necessary in order to restore the railway communication between the peninsula and mainland Russia.

If you enter Crimea through Russia, no marks are made in the passport, only a simple control at the traffic police post.

When planning a trip to Simferopol, getting to the city center by your own car is not difficult. To make it easier for tourists to navigate the road, there are signs in large and small cities of Crimea.

The travel season runs from May to September. You can't imagine a better time for excursions. In summer, it is better to book a hotel in advance if you plan to stay there, otherwise all available rooms may be occupied.

In addition, when traveling alone, vacationers basic precautions must be followed... Do not use the services of individuals, as you can easily become a victim of fraud. In no case should your valuables be left unattended in the car if you go for a walk.

Those who like quiet and secluded places are advised to plan their trip in late autumn or spring, when there are not many tourists on the peninsula. In winter, here you can relax in the mountains, enjoy the mud clinics and other health resorts. This is a period of big discounts and impressive savings, however, the weather conditions cannot be ignored. Since it can be quite snowy in the mountains, it is not always possible to get to the object of interest by car.

Experienced travelers give these tips for planning a trip on their own:

• it is necessary to take into account the fact that fuel on the territory of Crimea is 10% more expensive;
• the road surface can be either very good or bad; the most terrible roads according to reviews are in the vicinity of Sevastopol, Bakhchisarai;
• here parking rules are violated everywhere, so you should take this into account when choosing a place;
• most roads between cities are numerous turns, so the health status of passengers must be taken into account;
• it is not always a sign that the road is closed is justified, and in most cases this information is erroneous, since they are designed for the winter period;
• at car washes and garages, you can bargain a bit.

In conclusion, it is worth highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of such a vacation. Benefits:

• if you go by your car, the vacation is much cheaper than if you bought a plane or train ticket;
• the car allows you to save on accommodation, but such a vacation is suitable for those who are used to relaxing and sleeping in the open air;
• significant savings on public transport tickets and excursions, since the latter can be organized independently;
• the tourist has complete freedom of choice and movement.

Despite the large number of advantages, traveling by car also has its disadvantages:

• the vehicle must be in perfect condition, and it is possible that after returning home it will need major repairs;
• Crimean parking is exclusively paid, their cost is 50 rubles per hour;
• on the territory of Crimea, the cost of gasoline is higher than the national average;
• you can easily run into a fine;
• having spent a vacation driving, it is unlikely that you will be able to fully relax.

See below about the peculiarities of a trip to Crimea by car.