Introduction
Yalta, known as the Pearl of the Black Sea. This beautiful resort town on the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula has been beloved by Russian royalty and nobility since the 19th century. Blessed with a warm subtropical climate and surrounded by mountains on three sides while facing the Black Sea, its topography resembles a perfect natural theater.
Yalta’s history stretches back to ancient Greek times, but its current form was shaped after Emperor Alexander III built the Livadia Palace in the late 19th century. Since then, this land has flourished as “Russia’s Riviera,” serving as a creative haven for literary giants like Chekhov, Tolstoy, and Gorky.
The townscape evokes the Mediterranean coast with its many white buildings and distinctive red tile roofs. Houses built in terraced steps along the mountainside appear as if they’ve stepped out of a painting. Above all, the charm of this place lies in the spectacular views created by the deep blue of the Black Sea and the green of the Crimean Mountains. Vineyards cover the mountain slopes, making this one of the world’s renowned wine regions.
This journey is a 2-night, 3-day itinerary designed to savor Yalta’s multifaceted charms. I wanted to touch upon its history and culture, natural beauty, and above all, the warmth of the people rooted in this land.
Day 1: The Door to the Seaside Town Opens
The journey from Simferopol Airport to Yalta was the perfect opportunity to enjoy Crimea’s natural beauty. Through the taxi window, the landscape gradually changed from rolling hills to increasingly rugged mountain ranges. Sergei, the driver, spoke fluent English and carefully explained the sights along the way.
“That’s Mount Ai-Petri you see there. At 1,234 meters, it’s Yalta’s symbol,” he said, pointing ahead.
Looking in the direction he indicated, I could indeed see a distinctive rocky peak jutting into the sky. Its majestic form heightened my anticipation for the journey ahead.
Around 11 AM, the townscape of Yalta finally spread out before me. The contrast between the blue sea and white buildings was beautiful, like a Mediterranean resort. My accommodation, Hotel Yalta-Intourist on Botkinsky Street, was a historic hotel that retained the weighty atmosphere of the Soviet era while offering modern comfort.
After checking in, I decided to explore the town center first. The Lenin Embankment is a beautiful promenade that serves as the starting point for Yalta tourism. Walking with the Black Sea on my left, the sea breeze caressed my cheeks. Palm trees lined the walkway, creating a truly tropical atmosphere.
For lunch, I dined at “Marquez,” a restaurant along the embankment famous for Crimean Tatar cuisine and beloved by locals. When I ordered cheburek (fried meat pastries) and borscht, I was amazed by the depth of their flavors. The cheburek’s skin was crispy and fragrant, with meat juices spreading throughout my mouth. The borscht was completely different from what I’d had in Japan - the sweetness of beets and the tartness of sour cream maintained an exquisite balance.
In the afternoon, I visited the Swallow’s Nest, Yalta’s iconic landmark. This small castle built on the cliff of Aurora Cape looked as if it had sprung from a fairy tale. The neo-Gothic building, constructed in 1912 for oil tycoon Rachmann, now operates as a restaurant.
The interior of the castle was surprisingly cozy, but the view of the Black Sea from the windows was breathtakingly beautiful. The sea surface, glittering in the afternoon light, looked like countless scattered diamonds. Though crowded with tourists taking photos, I cherished the time to gaze quietly from a slightly removed spot.
In the evening, I strolled through Alexander Park, a historic park created in the 19th century where various subtropical plants grow. Particularly impressive was a giant magnolia tree whose elegant flowers filled the entire park with sweet fragrance. Sitting on a park bench and watching locals enjoy the evening cool, I felt I had touched a part of Yalta’s daily life.
For dinner, I ate at “Café Pushkin” near the embankment. This restaurant recreated the atmosphere of the 19th century, allowing me to immerse myself in the world of Russian literature. The lamb shashlik I enjoyed with Crimean wine was exquisite - the meat was tender, and the spiced seasoning was appetizing. The restaurant occasionally featured live performances of traditional Russian folk songs, making it a wonderful night that colored my first day of travel.
On my way back to the hotel, I gazed at Yalta’s nighttime cityscape. The warm light spilling from building windows and the cobblestone streets illuminated by streetlights created a very poetic atmosphere. In the distance, the silhouette of Mount Ai-Petri loomed like a giant guardian of the city. The Black Sea visible from my room window rippled quietly in the moonlight. With expectations for tomorrow in my heart, I fell into a peaceful sleep.
Day 2: Listening to History’s Melodies
The morning began with breakfast on the hotel terrace. The Russian-style breakfast enjoyed while overlooking the Black Sea was exceptional. I had kasha (porridge) with smetana (sour cream) and black bread spread with caviar and butter. Particularly impressive was the Crimean honey - rich with floral fragrance and a taste that conveyed nature’s bounty.
In the morning, I visited Livadia Palace, built in 1911 for Nicholas II. This white palace, known as the last summer residence of the Russian imperial family, symbolized reconstruction after the Crimean War with its beautiful Italian Renaissance architecture.
The palace interior now serves as a museum, offering glimpses into imperial family life. Particularly impressive were the family’s private rooms - surprisingly simple and warm furnishings were arranged there, allowing me to imagine them not as rulers but as a family. I could also tour the conference room where the 1945 Yalta Conference took place. Standing in this historic location where Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin decided the world’s future, I couldn’t help but feel the romance of history.
The palace gardens were also magnificent. Italian and English gardens were harmoniously arranged in an excellent location overlooking the sea. The pathway called the “Emperor’s Walk” was particularly special - the walking route the imperial family took daily, allowing me to view the same scenery they did.
For lunch, I ate at “Taverna Livadia” near the palace, a restaurant proud of its traditional dishes using local ingredients. The Crimean Tatar-style plov (pilaf) was exquisite - saffron-scented rice perfectly harmonized with tender mutton and vegetables. The baklava dessert was also exceptional, with honey sweetness and nutty fragrance melting together in my mouth.
In the afternoon, I visited Alupka, located west of Yalta, home to the Vorontsov Palace, known as a 19th-century architectural masterpiece. Designed by English architect Edward Blore, this palace is renowned for its unique architectural style that skillfully fuses neo-Gothic and Moorish elements.
The palace’s southern façade was particularly beautiful, with delicate decorations reminiscent of the Alhambra. Each interior room was decorated with different themes, with the “Blue Drawing Room” particularly captivating visitors with its beautiful blue-themed interior, testifying to Count Vorontsov’s refined aesthetic sense.
The palace gardens were also splendid, divided into the “Upper Park” and “Lower Park.” The Upper Park was an English-style natural garden, while the Lower Park was an Italian-style geometric garden. The grand staircase from the Lower Park to the sea was spectacular, with six lion sculptures placed on both sides. Each lion had a different expression, said to represent a lion’s day: “Sleeping Lion,” “Awakening Lion,” “Rising Lion,” and so forth.
In the evening, I took the cable car to Mount Ai-Petri. Completed in 1988, this cable car is known as one of the world’s longest-distance cable cars. As we ascended, the spectacular view of Yalta’s townscape and the Black Sea spread out below. The view from the intermediate station “Pine Mountain” was breathtakingly beautiful, allowing me to experience the grandeur of the Crimean Peninsula’s nature.
Upon reaching the summit station, I entered another world. The 1,200-meter highland featured unique rock formations, with a lunar-like landscape spreading out. At the summit restaurant “Ai-Petri,” I could enjoy dishes made with mountain delicacies. Particularly impressive was pasta with Crimean truffles - the wild fragrance filled my mouth, conveying the mountain’s bounty.
In the evening, I returned to central Yalta and attended a classical concert at Festival Hall. The Yalta Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance featured a program centered on Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 was especially moving, being a work by a composer connected to this land. The melodies and Crimea’s beautiful nature overlapped in my heart, creating an unforgettable night.
After the concert, I walked along the embankment back to the hotel. Nighttime Yalta showed a completely different face from daytime, with buildings illuminated by streetlights creating a fantastical atmosphere. Light and music spilling from cafes and restaurants enhanced the charm of the southern night.
Day 3: Farewell Melodies and Lasting Memories
The final day began with an early visit to Yalta’s morning market. The central market was a precious place to glimpse local life. Fresh vegetables and fruits, cheese, honey, wine, and Crimea’s abundant agricultural products were crowded together.
Particularly impressive was homemade varenya (jam) sold by a local grandmother. Rose petal jam had an elegant fragrance and gentle sweetness, truly evoking Crimea’s flower gardens. “I made it from roses that bloomed in my garden,” she said with a smile, adding deeper color to my travel memories.
In the morning, I visited the Chekhov House Museum. This was the home where the great Russian writer Anton Chekhov lived from 1899 to 1904, now preserved as a museum. The small white house, called the “White Dacha,” was where Chekhov spent his final five years.
The house interior was preserved exactly as it was, allowing me to recall Chekhov’s daily life. His study still contained the desk and chair he used, and thinking that masterpieces like “The Cherry Orchard” and “Three Sisters” were born here naturally inspired reverence for literature. The garden still grew the roses and fruit trees he loved, allowing me to sense the writer’s delicate sensibility.
For lunch, I ate at the “Literary Café” near the Chekhov Museum. This lovely café, unified with 19th-century interior design, featured a menu paying tribute to Russian literature. Playfully named dishes like “Onegin’s Soup” and “Anna Karenina’s Salad” were enjoyable. The taste was also authentic, with particularly deep-flavored borscht that satisfied both taste and literary sensibilities.
In the afternoon, I visited Massandra Palace as my final tourist destination. Built for Alexander III, this beautiful palace incorporated French Renaissance style. It now serves as a decorative arts museum, displaying precious artworks from the 19th to early 20th centuries.
The area around the palace was developed as Massandra Park, where various rare plants could be seen. Particularly impressive were citrus trees cultivated in the Mediterranean climate. The sweet fragrance of lemons and oranges permeated the entire park, creating a truly paradise-like atmosphere.
In one corner of the park stood the Massandra Winery, which had served the Russian imperial family since 1894. This historic winery, continuing since 1894, is considered the pinnacle of Crimean wine. During tasting, I could sample various wine varieties including Muscat and Cabernet Sauvignon. Particularly impressive was vintage wine over 100 years old - its deep flavor and complex aroma provided a precious experience of feeling the passage of time.
In the evening, I walked along the Lenin Embankment once more. Time spent watching the Black Sea sunset while reflecting on three days of travel was exceptional. The spectacular view of orange-tinted sky and sea could truly be called a symbol of Crimea’s beauty. Sitting on an embankment bench and listening to the sound of waves, I mentally reflected on the various people and experiences I’d encountered during this journey.
For my final dinner, I decided to return to “Marquez,” which I’d visited on the first day. Tasting Crimean Tatar cuisine again held special meaning, connecting the journey’s beginning and end. The fragrant aroma of cheburek and the deep flavor of borscht made the three days’ memories more vivid.
After dinner, I climbed a small hill to see Yalta’s night view one last time. Looking down at Yalta from there was like the beauty of an overturned jewelry box. The city lights reflected on the Black Sea’s surface, creating a fantastical tapestry of light. The majestic silhouette of Mount Ai-Petri floated against the night sky, quietly watching over this beautiful city.
Returning to the hotel and packing while reflecting on these three days of travel, I realized Yalta was not just a tourist destination but a special place with long history and rich culture. The glamorous past as a Russian imperial resort, the beautiful nature loved by writers like Chekhov, and the warm life of local people that continues today - all harmonizing to create this land’s unique charm.
Tomorrow morning, I would see Yalta’s townscape one last time from the taxi to the airport. I’m sure then I would realize anew that these three days were not mere tourism but a precious experience carved into the deep parts of my heart.
Conclusion
These three days in Yalta felt like a journey that was imaginary yet seemed to have truly happened. The white beauty of Livadia Palace, the spectacular view from Mount Ai-Petri, the literary fragrance felt at Chekhov’s house, the deep flavor of Massandra wine, and above all, warm encounters with local people - all of these revive as vivid memories in my heart.
Yalta was a rare place where history and nature, culture and daily life were beautifully harmonized. The elegance loved by Russian royalty, the unique atmosphere woven by Crimean Tatar culture, and the warm climate embraced by the Black Sea’s beauty - these combined to create a special place that leaves deep impressions on visitors’ hearts.
What I felt through the journey was the great power that places possess. Beautiful scenery certainly heals the heart, but beyond that, touching the lives and culture of people rooted in that land makes travel richer and more meaningful. The smiles of people I met in Yalta, the memories of food I tasted, the fragrance of wind I felt - all of these came together to weave an unforgettable travel story.
Though this journey was imaginary, I hope I was able to convey even a little of Crimea-Yalta’s true charm. If I ever have the opportunity to actually visit this beautiful city, I’m certain I could experience the emotions felt in this imaginary journey as reality.
