Yalta is a resort town on a Southern coast of Crimean peninsula, situated between Alushta and Sevastopol in about 100 km. from International airport in Simferopol. Yalta - is a "Southern capital of Ukraine", the most important tourist destination in Crimea. Population is about 80,000 inhabitants.
Learn some Russian before you visit, even simple phrases will be very useful. Make sure you visit Ai-Petri (St Peter) the peak that overlooks Yalta. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain (one of the longest cable car rides in Europe). The views are great.
Steep mountain peaks serve as a lovely backdrop for Yalta the jewel of the Crimean peninsula. There is no surprise that the writer Anton Chekhov chose to live in this seaside resort it seems to be a combination of Carmel California the French Riviera and Greece. Yalta (pop. 80 000) has exemplary resorts museums and beaches.
Armenian Church was built in 1909-1919 as a reflection of S. Hripsime Church built over a thousand years ago in Armenia. Above the center of town, at the top of a mini-Potemkin stairwell, the beautifully detailed church is well worth visiting. There are many carvings, arches and nooks, making this a very nice place to spend a little down time.
Explore the region around Yalta - it is steeped in history and there are many interesting places to visit within an hour's mini bus ride from the city. There are no airport or train station in Yalta. One can get Yalta by bus (public transport) or taxi. See here a travel information about public transport in Crimea which describes how to find a bus station from International airport or railway terminal in Simferopol and also info about bus stations in Simferopol, Yalta and Sevastopol.
There are several very nice little cafes at the main market (Ovoshnoi Rynok). They are not expensive, and are cleaner and serve fresher food than many in other areas. They have quite a good selection of food and it is well prepared. Food hygiene is rarely an issue in Crimea as they are a meticulously clean people. As long as you use commons sense you should have no issues.
I. C.
