Yalta (Crimea Russia-Ukraine)

Yalta is a major Black Sea port and resort city located on Crimea Peninsula's southern coast, and with population around 80,000. Previously part of Ukraine, since 2014 Yalta is part of the Russian Federation (Republic of Crimea). The other major Russian Crimea ports are Sevastopol, Feodosia, Kerch, Yevpatoria.

The city was built on the site of an ancient Greek colony, located on a deepwater bay facing south towards Black Sea and surrounded by Ai-Petri Mountain (with cable car traveling to Mt Ai-Petri). Climate is warm, humid, subtropical.

The term "Greater Yalta" is used to designate a metro area spanning from Foros (west) to Gurzuf (east) and including Yalta plus adjacent towns. The city is surrounded by vineyards, orchards and scenic mountains. Yalta was the favorite holiday residence for the Russian Tsar Nicholay II (1868-1918) and his family. The city is best known for the historic Yalta Conference (held here in 1945, February 4-11) between Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill.

Yalta's transportation includes Europe's longest trolleybus line (nearly 90 km / 56 mi) going from Simferopol's train station to Yalta. The vacation season is in July-August. Most tourists are from former USSR countries. In 2013, the Port (locode UAYAL) handled over 200 cruise ship calls.

Running along the bay, Naberezhnaya Str is a scenic waterfront promenade - and city's most popular place for strolling and gatherings the whole year-round. To east and west of Naberezhnaya are located several great beaches. The city has several theaters, numerous restaurants and bar clubs, several outdoor markets. Yuzhnoberezhnoe Str is a highway forming ring road around the city, and is very close (2 km) to the seaport at Yalta Bay.

Yalta's most popular tourist attractions include Foros Church, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Armenian Church,, Roman Catholic Church, cable car (to Darsan hill), Hotel Taurica (USSR's first hotel with elevators), Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Bukhara Emir Palace, Zoo, Aquarium, Polyana Skazok Museum, Yalta Hotel Complex, Roffe Bath monument, palaces (Livadia, Massandra, Alupka), Massandra Winery, Tsar's Path (hiking trail).

Yalta cruise terminal