Yalta

Crimea South Coast 04-14 img05 Yalta view from the cableway - Yalta seen from the surrounding hills

Yalta (Ялта) is a resort city on the Crimea peninsula in Russia.

Yalta Halal Travel Guide

Yalta is a souvenirsy place, with legacy going back to the 19th century and its use as an exclusive sanatorium and also to communist-era mass tourism. Today mass tourism still sustains the city, which is understandable given its beautiful surroundings and proximity to many of Crimea's major sights.

Summer sees the city inundated with mainly Russian and Ukrainian tourists. However, consider a visit at any time of year: average temperatures are always above freezing (though it can and does occasionally freeze). Spring and autumn see some positively pleasant weather that can reach into high the 20s °C. Winters are not as cold as in the rest of Ukraine. Protected from the North by the mountains and warmed by the Black Sea and there is never a lot of snow in the winter, but beware of the winds as they can be bitingly cold.

Russian is the main language - getting by without a basic grasp will be difficult but not imfeasible. Ukrainian is also spoken. Crimean Tatar, which has a dialect that is very closely related to (Turkish), is spoken by the predominantly Muslim Crimean Tatar people: if you speak Crimean Tatar (and even if you don't!), you will be warmly welcomed by the Crimean Tatars. English is not widely spoken, but try your luck with younger people if you have to speak in English.

People are generally friendly and crime in this city of over 80,000 people is low. Tourists are safe as long as they stay sensible: don't flash your cash, avoid unlit pathways at night (if only to avoid the drunks), and try to judge whether a strangers buying you drinks is being hospitable (most likely) or sinister (less likely, but feasible).

Crimea is not a rich region and many of the services are not up to GCC standards. Be patient and appreciate the good side of Yalta.

Travel as a Muslim to Yalta

Simferopol is Crimea's main transport hub. From Simferopol the world's longest trolleybus route wends a scenic way to Yalta via Alushta for around 3 hours. The quality of the trolley buses varies. While the old Soviet ones may look retro-cool, consider waiting for one of the more modern, less characterful but more comfortable ones. Minibuses are faster but a bit more expensive (€2). A taxi will typically cost €10-20 and it will take just over an hour.

Buses also run to Sevastopol and other cities throughout Crimea and beyond.

How to get around in Yalta

A decent network of affordable shuttle vanes connects the centre of town and the outlying areas. Pay either when you board or when you get off: this can be slightly confusing at times! Taxis are everywhere; some are genuine, and some are just people offering you a ride for a fare. Speaking English means the fare goes up, but it is still very reasonable, so learn to negotiate - if the price is too high walk away as there will always be someone else to bargain with.

Yalta is a city that is spread out over a large area (Greater Yalta). The centre and harbor is a great place to walk around, but just beware of the local drivers as they tend not to give way for pedestrians. Traffic in the city in the summer months is heavy and you can be stuck in a jam if you go by a motor vehicle. Sometimes you may find it is much quicker to walk. The local residents always dress up and walk around the harbor front at night - it's a great way to pass the evening away, or you can watch the people go by enjoying a drink at one of many cafes. The waterfront is well over a mile long - from McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) on the east end to the Hotel Oreanda on the west. Walk the length to choose your beach, which will be somewhat "rocky".

Ferries connect the central ferry port (on Ulitsa Ruzvjelta) to nearby beaches and towns and the Swallow's Nest (famous folly perched on a cliff and now an Italian restaurant). Luxury cruise ships visit Yalta during the summer, on their way around the Black Sea, which is certainly a nice way to travel.

Useful bus numbers

Minibuses to the palaces sometimes, but not always, have "Дворец" (meaning palace) mentioned on their route listings.

• 11 - runs from the main bus station and calls at stops on Ulitsa Kievskaya and at the top of Ulitsa Pushkinskaya before going on to end at the Livadia Palace.
• 32 - runs from the shuttle van stand in central Yalta to Livadia Palace and the Gaspra Sanatorium (next to the Swallow's Nest), Miskhor (next to the lowest station of the Ai-Petri cablecar), and finally the Vorontsov Palace in Alupka.
• Minibus 27 and bus 102 - run a similar route to the 32 but go from Yalta bus station, not the downtown.

In Livadia and the 27, 32 and 102 use a stop on the Sevastopolskoye Shosse primary street, which is uphill from the palace; the number 11 ends up on a smaller road on the same level as the palace.

• 5 and 100 - run between Livadia Palace and Massandra Palace via central Yalta.
• Trolleybus 2, shuttle van 34 and bus 29 - run from the stop on Ulitsa Moscovskaya to Verkniy Massandrovskiy Park, from where it's a long walk uphill to the Massandra Palace - the 34 continues on to the Nikita Botanical Gardens.

What to see in Yalta

Crimea South Coast 04-14 img13 Yalta Armenian Church - The Armenian church.

Most of the sights are some way out of town and will require a bus, boat or taxi to reach. However, within the town you can see:

• Alexander Nevsky Gothic Church - where Krasnova Ulitsa and Morskaya Ulitsa meet Sadova Bulitsya a 1902 Orthodox cathedral in the traditional style.

• Armenian Church - Armyanskaya Tserkov | 3 Zagorodnaya ulitsa GPS: 44.50127, 34.16516 free Built in 1909-1919 based on the thousand year-old Saint Hripsimé Church in Vagharshapat, Armenia. Above the center of town, at the top of some mini-Potemkinesque stairs and the beautifully detailed church is well worth visiting. The elaborate stonework, arches and nooks make this a very nice place to spend a little down time in the shade.

• Chekhov's house - 112 Ulitsa Kirova, Chekhov wrote "The Lady with the Dog" and many of his other short stories here. The house is small and there is a museum nearby dedicated to the writer, well worth a look if you enjoyed his work. Sadly, Chekрov's house is falling into disrepair, due to lack of funds. The good news is a fund has been started to raise a large sum of money to full restore the house in the future.
• Lenin's Statue - proudly guards the eastern end of the waterfront promenade and the perfect East meets West landmark.
• Waterfront promenade and beaches - the promenade (Lenina Naberzhenaya) has shops, cafes and various amusements. The beaches have smooth pebbles, not sand. Some are better than others and for a small entrance fee, you can get access to a nice beach close to the Soviet tourist monster, Hotel Yalta, which is to the east of the downtown. Summers are very hot, 32 °C or hotter, If you buy a drink from the cafe on some of the beaches and they will lend you an umbrella!
• Roosevelt Street ("Улица Рузвельта" /Ulitsa Ruzvjelta/) - not such a tourist draw but a quaint reminder of the city's important role in World War II. Try to find the plaque with Roosevelt's profile in relief and a short dedication in Russian and English.

Livadia Palace Crimea - Livadia Palace, former royal retreat and site of the 1945 Yalta conference.

Beyond walking distance of the centre can be found:

• Nikita Botanical Garden - GPS: - Founded in 1812, one of the world's oldest operating scientific botanical gardens. A lovely place to sit under the cherry blossoms and read Checkov. Take shuttle van 34 from central Yalta.

• Livadia Palace - Grounds free to enter; there is a fee for the palace. This was the last Tsar's vacation residence. It was host to Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt for the Yalta Conference in 1945, in which they reportedly planned the division of Europe at the end of World War II. You can go inside and walk past the hall where the meetings took place, which has been set up to correspond with the historical photos of the meeting. You can also see the imperial family's private chapel, which is beautiful. The palace is about 100 years old, though the gardens on the grounds were planted long before the Palace was built. There is a good view of the Black Sea and Yalta from the palace grounds.
• Massandra Palace - French-inspired chateau outside of town in the hills. It was a summer palace of Alexander III, and was later used by Stalin as a summer retreat. The grounds are very pretty, as is the surrounding bucolic countryside. It is a longish walk uphill from the primary street, so make sure you wear appropriate footwear.
• Massandra Grapes - if you're into fruit cocktail, this place you definitely want to visit. Guided Tours in Yalta by ehalal.io (email for prices) take you through the fruit cocktailry and the cellars, which house one of the largest collections of in the world. When you're done with the tour, you can taste some of the soft drinks they have to offer.
• Swallow's Nest - just visible from central Yalta (look west from the waterfront) and closer to Alupka, this famous folly is a symbol of Yalta.
• Yalta Zoo - Expansive with a varied menagerie that includes all sorts from lions to bears to monkeys. Some of the cages are a bit small, but the animals appear to be well looked after. There is a small and underwhelming aquarium opposite the zoo which is not worth bothering with.

What to do in Yalta

Crimea South Coast 04-14 img10 Gaspra Swallows Nest - The Swallow's Nest, Neo-Gothic folly on the way to Alupka.

Walk The Tsar's Path (Tsarskaya Tropa, Russian: Царская тропа; also called the Solnechnaya Tropa, Russian: Солнечная тропа) that runs for 6 kilometers from the Livadia Palace to the castle-like former coastal home of Prince A. N. Golitsyn, a friend of Alexander I, now the Yasnaya Polyana resort. Minibus 26 will take you back to Yalta. The path keeps a very level course until near the end where it heads uphill to Yasnaya Polyana. However at the point where it starts to go uphill, if you head downhill on the nearby road you will end up at the Swallow's Nest. The start of the path may be hard to find - it is slightly downhill of the palace and the row of buildings next to the chapel.

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.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Yalta

Banks, ATMs and exchange offices are plentiful and exchange rates are pretty good.

All areas of Crimea are famous for their red onions. It is said that they used to be much sweeter than they are now, but they are still a delicacy that are quite expensive elsewhere.

Vodka is very affordable and plentiful - you will be amazed at the many varieties available. Take a trip down to the souvenir shops located on the far side of the harbor, for numerous trinkets and other interesting reminders of Yalta. If you speak English that the prices tend to go up!

Honey In this region you can buy almost everywhere fresh honey from apiaries. The best prices are during the summer time.

Halal Restaurants in Yalta

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. Best though to only eat hot food, for safety's sake.

Try shopping in the many markets for local produce. There are great bargains to be had on Meat and vegetables. You might have to overlook some of the health standards, but as long as you wash and cook the food well - you should not have a problem.

• Dietstolovaya - Lenina/Krasnova 15/1 GPS: on the right as you head up Krasnova Ulitsa from the waterfront. Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00A genuine Soviet time capsule canteen untouched since the Brezhnev era. The food is affordable and hearty. Head to the back rooms for some of the cheapest sea views in Yalta. A delight for anyone interested in Soviet vernacular history and good quality food.

• There's a nice cafe just over the little bridge at the seaport You need to enter a building and go to the highest floor to reach it. It's not something most people dare, but if you do it you're rewarded with a great view of the town, and nice cocktails.

To get the best Vodka, take a visit to one or two of the supermarkets outside the downtown and you will find a great selection at prices you will not believe.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Yalta

Yalta - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Yalta, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Yalta. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Yalta and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Yalta. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Yalta. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inYalta: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Yalta.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Yalta: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Yalta, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Yalta.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Yalta, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Yalta, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Yalta and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Yalta, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Yalta, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Yalta without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Yalta is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Yalta.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Yalta is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Yalta, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Yalta Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Yalta

eHalal Group Yalta is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Yalta. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Yalta.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Yalta ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Yalta. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Yalta, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Summer sees the city inundated with tourists and there is are lots of apartments and hotels available. Apartments come in all shapes and sizes but do not expect GCC standards most of the time. However, do not judge an apartment by its outside: many decent places are housed in pretty shabby looking buildings.

Prices vary and are dependent upon the apartment's proximity to the sea and how much the owner think you can afford to pay! Try to avoiding "foreigner pricing" by speaking Russian, by not dressing flashily or showing wealth, and by negotiating in rubles rather than dollars or euros. Better places with all the mod cons may go for $50-200 per day.

Apartments further away from the centre might also have their water turned off at night - this is common in Ukraine, be warned! You might also suffer power cuts, but this all adds to the local flavour. Also, keep your apartment clear of garbage in summer, otherwise you will attract giant cockroaches!

There is a hostel of the conventional type for those who are uncomfortable negotiating (and it can be tricky) but remember with a bit of effort you could get a whole private apartment for not very much more that the price of a single dorm bed!

• Sobaka Hostel - 29A Chernova St. GPS: 5 min walk from White Dacha Anton Chekhov's House-museum ☎ +7 978 779 41 97 Checkin - 13:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Dorm beds from €14, superior Muslim friendly rooms from €20 Modern 3-floor cottage with all the amenities, 2 dorm rooms, and 3 comfortable privates. Shared WC and shower on each floor. Wi-Fi. Fully equipped kitchen for self-catering. English speaking staff.

Telecommunications in Yalta

Internet

A free wifi network covers the central area and waterfront. Places with wifi abound but wifi combined with sea view, decent Coffee, power outlets and toilets is surprisingly hard to find. One option is:

• Geneva Club-Cafe - 33 Ulitsa Naberezhnaya GPS: On the waterfront promenade near the big boat-shaped restaurant ☎ +7 918 343-00-33 | Opening Hours: Daily 10:00-01:00 Standard modern Russian-style coffee house (i.e. gaudy decor, smokey, loud music but othewise comfortable).

There's also a few internet cafes. Try Internet Cafe Stalker at 14 Ulitsa Kievskaya.

Postal Services in Yalta

The main post office is next to the Lenin statue at the eastern end of the waterfront promenade.

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Yalta

There are several interesting places within the Greater Yalta area. Many are listed in the Yalta#See|See section. Also nearby are:

• Alupka - (about 30 min from Yalta) home to the Vorontsovsky Palace, a fanciful mixture of Middle-Age and Moorish architecture. Also one of the longest cable vehicle rides in Europe up Ai-Petri (St Peter's peak) and the views are great.
• Gurzuf - small seaside town with a Tatar flavour.

Going beyond the Greater Yalta area may take you to:

• Alushta - the next major coastal city east of Yalta. It's on the Yalta - Simferopol trolleybus route.
• Balaklava - (about 1½ hours from Yalta) beautiful harbor town overlooked by a Genoese fortress towers and a former closed city due to its submarine base.
• Bakhchisaray - the scenic journey through the mountains and canyons makes this route an appealing alternative to the coastal road.
• Sevastopol - busy bustling city of over a half a million people. Home to the Russian navy's Black Sea fleet.
• Simferopol - gateway to Crimea. Good shopping and plenty of places to eat.

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