Getting To Crimea
Crimea's Transportation Hub is Simferopol.
By Air : Simferopol Airport is Crimea's only airport with flights arriving from other Ukrainian cities and a few international destinations. There are generally 4 flights a day from Kiev to Simferopol. The flight duration is 1.5 hours.
By Train : Simferopol Railway Station is where most people disembark the train to travel to Yalta and Crimea's South Coast. All the trains from Kiev are overnight and have very comfortable sleeper compartments on them.
Depart Kiev - 17.51 : Arrive
Simferopol - 08.45
Connecting trains then go to Sevastopol and Feodosiya.
By Luxury Coach / Bus : Luxury coaches depart from Kiev for Simferopol and Yalta on a daily basis. The journey time is around 11.5 hours to Simferopol and a few hours longer to Yalta.
If you are planning to visit Crimea during the high season we recommend that you book your domestic flights, coach or train tickets in advance (three weeks minimum). At other times of the year, one or two weeks is usually enough.
Ticket Reservations - 'Holidays In Crimea' can book all your Ukrainian Internal Travel Tickets for you in advance, including any airport / railway station / coach station transfers you may require.
Transportation Within Crimea
Crimea, like most of Ukraine, has an efficient transportation network consisting mostly of private minibuses, or marshrutki. These inexpensive buses reach almost all places of interest.
Trolley Bus
The cheapest form of transport, and there are plenty of them within the towns so you're unlikely to have to wait long. In Yalta the flat fare around town is 40 kopikas - about 5p or 8 US cents.
There is also a trolleybus line from Yalta to Simferopol, stopping at towns on the way. This is the longest trolleybus line in the world (about 86km / 54miles) but the fare from end to end is only about 9 hryvnias - that is, just over 50p or $1. The journey takes 2 hours.
Minibus
Minibus (marshrutka) routes operate within and between towns. They're a bit more expensive than the trolleybus but still cheap - and quicker. You can stop one anywhere on its route, and get off at any point - there are comparatively few fixed stops. Within town the fare is between 1 and 3 hryvnias (11p - 34p, or 19 - 56 US cents), depending on the length of the route.
Taxi
Taxis are more expensive than minibuses, but still cheap by western standards. There are plenty of taxi ranks in town. You can also ask our representative to phone a reputable taxi company and arrange for you to be picked up at your apartment or hotel.
Buses
Buses ply the routes between towns, and are also inexpensive. For example, it will cost you 12 hryvnias to go from Yalta to Sevastopol. This is £1.40 or $2.25 for a 50m / 80km journey.
Trains
The main line into Crimea from the north splits at Simferopol , one branch leading via Feodosia to Kerch at the eastern tip of Crimea, where you can look across the straits to Russia, the other to Sevastopol at the western tip, stopping at Bakhchisarai on the way. There is also a branch line to Yevpatoria. There is no railway over the mountains to Yalta and the south coast. Conveniently, there is a ticket office in Yalta, where you can buy rail tickets for journeys from Simferopol.
Car Hire
You can hire cars from some of the large hotels or from recognised international car hire agencies. You will need an international driving licence. The national speed limit is 60 kph (37 mph) in towns, 90 kph (56 mph) on minor roads outside towns and 110kph on highways. Driving while under the influence of alcohol is not permitted and drivers are expected to register zero if tested. Traffic police can issue fines on spot for minor violations - you will be given a ticket for payment at a bank.
If you drive to Ukraine you will need an international driving licence and Green Card, the registration document of your car and a copy of your insurance policy.
Transfers With Us
'Holidays In Crimea' will very happily collect you from Simferopol Airport or Simferopol Railway Station and transfer you to your hotel or apartment. Should you wish to go sightseeing or fancy travelling to another city or tourist attraction on daily excursions during your holiday then we can take you there as well in our own vehicles. Our prices are very competitive
