Katsiveli village in Crimea: features and best places to relax

Katsiveli is a picturesque urban-type village at the very edge of the Black Sea, spread out 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.

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

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

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

From the airport, it is faster and more convenient to travel with a transfer through Yalta - many minibuses, buses and even a trolley bus go to it.Finding them is not difficult: immediately after leaving the terminal, you will be first met by taxi drivers, then minibuses with advantageous and quick offers. A little further you will see the box office for the purchase of bus or trolley bus tickets of the corresponding airport-Yalta schedule.

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’s easier to get on a 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 bask in the sea and eat sweet local fruits in June-August. Record holder in terms of comfort - August. This is the peak tourist season, in which the air warms up to 26 degrees, and the water - up to 24. Then there is a minimum of rains and a maximum of sunlight. The beach season lasts 4 months along with September, and planning a trip here with a shift a month earlier or later will not deprive 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 it will be possible to bargain about local housing prices. True, the possibility of one-day excursions in connection with a minimum of tourists is also significantly reduced, because budget trips will take place when a certain number of people are selected. However, we solve 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, going on a trip at this time.

The abundance of private sector options in the midst of the season will meet you right away, it is worth stepping into the territory of the village. Do not underestimate these budget options of "grandmother's dacha", the risk of unpleasant service in conditions of great competition is minimal. In any case, do not be shy 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 for 3-4 people is always lower than other resorts of the southern Crimea, which is caused by the remoteness and low popularity of this area. Here are a success guest houses "Italian Yard", "Katsiveli", Sunrise or "at Raisa". Among hotels and hotels with a status above 3 stars is very popular "Alexandria", "Premiere" and "House of Scientists."

For some political reason known to independent travelers Booking Will not give results for housing search. Now with the help of this service it is impossible to book accommodation in Crimea for the purpose of relaxation. And here’s 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 enticing 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 near Simeiz is called the “Blue Bay”. Above it rises the telescope of the observatory - a great attraction for an unusual resort, though sometimes giving a big shadow to sunbathers. The beach stretches 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, sometimes even decorated with a destroyed concrete embankment and metal. It is difficult to pass on 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 the sea, is landscape. No wonder the greatest artist Arkhip Kuindzhi was looking for inspiration with his students on the Katsiveli bays: “Night in the Crimea” is written in one of them. Lie in the shadow of a telescope near the giant "Cat" - the mountains between the villages, a great memorable 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 range of entertainment in the settlement itself.

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

A hotel complex is located near the turn to Ponizovka, here mussels and oysters are painstakingly grown.

Katsiveli has several restaurants and a large water park "Blue Bay", for which they come here from all neighboring villages. In the water park there are 5 pools, 11 attractions, animators, all available for a great cultural holiday with children. For lovers of outdoor activities, 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 you can get on 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 pre-order. The price of oysters depends on size and can be unpleasantly surprising, which is not surprising, because this creature has been growing for 2 years in an ecologically clean place. It also offers mussels, seafood soup, flounder, raps and other food. But the restaurant “Tortuga” can be called the most designer - the pirate mood is guaranteed, however, and the price tag is a little bankrupt.

Reviews of visitors to the village boil down to the fact that it’s nice to spend only a couple of days in this place to feel its charms - visit a water park, lie on an unusual pebble beach and savor delicious fresh oysters from the heart. With these three options, tourists give top marks. However, the rest of the service of the village itself and the number of classes in it so far leaves much to be desired. As a quiet, beautiful place, with three grocery stores and a minimum of tourists in the corners, a vacation in the village always attracts seekers of solitude in a budget option.

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