All about the 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 of tourist influx occurs in July, but the swimming season opens in early June and ends in early October (in some small bays, the water warms up already in the second half of May).

The history of the city originates in 212, from the moment of the construction of the Sourozh fortification. In the XIV century, on this site, the Genoese fortress was founded, the territory of Sudak on the map of the peninsula was limited by its strong walls. 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 been preserved. In total, 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 means “mountains and water”: on three sides the Sudak Valley is surrounded by mountains, securely 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 guns, and festivals, tournaments and various master classes are constantly held. The coast is a narrow strip with a beach of quartz sand (from 6 to 20 meters wide). The embankment was restored, almost all the shops and cafes were moved to the Cypress Alley. In the city, the construction of guest houses, hotels, entertainment centers and cafes is at an accelerated pace.

The climate in Sudak is mild, Mediterranean, with little rainfall and mostly in winter. The swimming season begins very early, already in early 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 healing 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 arrived and the road is easily tolerated, minimal rainfall, the weather is favorable for people with cardiovascular diseases);
• June it opens the swimming season, but there are still not very many vacationers, the sun begins to bake in the afternoon, this month is good for a beach holiday;
• July - a month of exhausting heat, the maximum influx of tourists, suitable for relaxing in hotels where you can sunbathe and swim on a private beach or in a seawater pool, 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 is reduced, an excellent season for families with children;
• September eliminates the midday heat: you no longer need to hide in the afternoon from the scorching sun and you can sunbathe from morning to evening, it’s cool at night, an ideal month for all kinds of vacations without exception.

October in Sudak is considered the velvet season, swimming is already cold, but walks along the promenade 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 +2, a good time for spa treatment. In April, the Sudak Valley blooms lush, the air is filled with bewitching aromas of flowers and herbs.

Housing in Sudak can be rented at any time of the year, the peak in price increases is in July, the minimum prices for accommodation and meals are set in winter. The city has several resorts, 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, be sure to pay upon arrival at the place.

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

The cheapest way is to rent a room away from the sea, but then you have to go by taxi or public transport daily, although if half the vacation is planned for an excursion, this will not be a big problem.

You can rent a house, for example, in the Sunny Valley: there are few houses, a sandy beach, a pebble sea bottom, 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: Novyi Svet, Veselovskaya, etc.- there are much fewer vacationers, housing is cheaper than in Sudak itself, you can take a taxi to the city center in 20 minutes. If you plan a trip with young children, you should carefully consider the choice of housing:

• specify the availability of children's menus, playgrounds, entertainment for children;
• to ask where the night discos take place, which can interfere with children's sleep, etc.

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

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

In Sudak, there are beaches for every taste, it is difficult to call any 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 crowded with tourists. The sea in the bays becomes warm already in the last days of May, on the Royal Beach it is warm until mid-October.

You can get to the Central Beach through the Cypress Alley or the Air Force sanatorium (free admission). In July, this beach is crowded, the water in the sea becomes muddy due to the influx of vacationers. The semi-wild Meganom Beach and the beach on Krabiy Island famous for its crystal clear water, great for diving throughout the swimming season.

The city also has accessible coastal areas with well-groomed territory: "Millennium" and the beach sanatorium Air Force. In Sudak, there are 2 paid beaches: Mojito (with the most ambitious parties) and at Cape Alchak, as well as three sanatorium beaches: "Horizon", "Falcon" and "Sudak" (admission to them strictly by passes). There is a wild nudist beach in Fox Bay, it is not recommended to visit it with children.

In Sudak, a variety of excursion routes are presented: walking, horseback, sea, bus. It is advisable to take a bus excursion for the whole day (subject to good road tolerance and normal health), with visits to several attractions far from Sudak: waterfalls, caves, mountains and gorges.

One 12-hour vacation trip will be enough to change the scenery and get new experiences.

The territory of the Sudak fortress is vast, there is a museum, in the fresh air you can shoot from archery, take pictures in stylized dresses and knightly armor, climb up to observation decks, admire magnificent views of the sea, as well as the city at the foot of the fortress and take stunning photographs.Every year in July and August in this architectural complex is held jousting tournament "Genoese helmet", which lasts several days, impresses with its scope, colorful performances and medieval color.

All day worth visiting is the Genoese fortress., 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 it is very problematic to go down, so it is better to use trodden trails. The highest point of the complex is Watch tower the climb is very difficult, it takes a lot of time and effort (there’s especially nothing to look at, as well as in the Nameless Tower which is located somewhat lower), it is more expedient to climb to more accessible viewing platforms.

It is best to visit the Alchak Reserve 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, through the path from the promenade, past the 300-year-old oak. On this route there are pistachio trees, cypresses, rose hips, barberries, and at the end of the path there will be a juniper grove, falling into which you lose touch with reality and plunge into the fairy world.

Picturesque views change every 50 meters, for one such walk you can collect photo material for an entire album. The Devil's 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 New World. It was built by the Byzantine monks in the VIII 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. On the territory of the city and in its vicinity there are also many Orthodox shrines: The Church of the Apostle Matvey, the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin, 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 water). The flora and fauna of this reserve is very diverse and includes several thousand species, many are listed in the Red Book. On the territory of the reserve there is a nature museum, a walking and sea trail. Particularly impressive is the magnificent landscape of the reserve at sunset, in the orange rays of the sun disappearing into the sea.

Behind the Genoese fortress originates Golitsyn trail - it leads to the Royal Beach in the New World, 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 is the Chaliapin Grotto, once the famous opera bass Fedor Chaliapin performed there.

In time, the journey takes 1.5 hours one way, it is better to leave in the early morning, no later than 8 hours. The journey ends on the Royal Beach. The entrance to the sea is gentle. This bay is a great place for diving: full of exotic fish. To get to this beach, you can also use the sea.

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 dealers, 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 strewn with numerous cafes with menus for every taste and various entertainments:

• Ferris wheel;

• children's rides and go-karts;

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

There are several wineries in the Sudak city district, but only two left grape production:

• "New World";

• "Sunny Valley".

All other enterprises with accession to Russia switched to “powdered” wine. Excursions include tasting products, so you should not take children with you for ethical reasons, and it is also not recommended to visit wineries in the heat (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, begun in 2012, transformed the coast: a colorful playground, numerous shops, lanterns and beautiful flower beds appeared. Great place to stroll in the evenings.

On a trip to the Sudak resort, you need to take a passport, for a minor child you need a birth certificate. For spa treatment you will need an extract from the medical history. If treatment of a minor child is planned, the statement must indicate the date of vaccination and provide a certificate of health status.

The nature in the vicinity of Sudak is striking in its splendor, sunrises and sunsets mesmerize and remain in memory for a long time. Fishing lovers should take a special tour to visit all the most fishing places. On your own spinning in Sudak you can go fishing on the pier or from a boat.

Fans of shopping in Sudak will be bored: shops are the same as in other Russian cities, in the high season prices are creeping up, 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 a vegan, children’s and gluten-free menu, 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 views with dolphins, killer whales, seals) and a bird park. The beach in Koktebel consists of large pebbles, on the coast a smoke screen from neighboring barbecue and street cafes.Feodosia with the opening of the Crimean bridge became famous for its traffic jams, you should not go there in the swimming season, you can lose all day in vain.

In 2014, the Crimean peninsula became part of the Russian Federation, the train route through Ukraine was cut off, so you need to get to Krasnodar, and from Krasnodar by train to Simferopol. You can also use the service "Single ticket" from Russian Railways, while the path will lie through the ferry crossing the Caucasus-Crimea. You can get to Sudak by plane, but tickets are two times more expensive than train tickets. The road lies through the Crimean bridge, which since the end of May has been turning into one big traffic jam.

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

The distance between Simferopol and Sudak is 107 kilometers. The bus station is located next to the train station. The first bus leaves for the flight at 8.40 from the railway station (at 6 in the morning from the airport). Before choosing a flight, you should clarify the route of the bus, it is better if it is direct (without looping in all the surrounding villages). The most expensive and far from the most comfortable way is a taxi, cars are often old and dilapidated, drivers exceed speed. It takes about 2.5 hours by public transport, transfer and taxi are much faster: about 1.5-2 hours.

Judging by the reviews, Sudak is a great place to relax with a developed infrastructure and plenty of entertainment within walking distance (including excursions). The maximum influx of tourists occurs in July, then along the promenade you can only go sideways, as at rush hour in the Moscow metro. In the remaining months: May, June, August and September, rest in this city is a pleasure.

See a video tour of Sudak below.