Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SLOW PROGRESS
A fun if slow method of getting to Yalta from Simferopol is by trolleybus. Powered
by electricity, those ancient dinosaurs used to be the pride of Soviet Crimea, since
they began plying the world's longest trolleybus route long before clean transport
became an issue in the West. They have no other virtues we can think of. Seats are
cramped and trolleybuses get jam-packed as drivers collect passengers, stopping
every 50m in central Simferopol. Yet looking at the long queues at the Kurortnaya
bus station, you might be really tempted to get a ticket from a booth across the
road and board the trolleybus with no hassle. Trolleybus 52 serves Yalta (15uah, 2½
hours, every 20 minutes from 5.30am to 8pm). Trolleybus 51 only goes to/from
Alushta (9uah, 1½ hours, every 20 minutes). Both buses stop at Luchistoye (6uah,
one hour). Large bags need a separate ticket.
Getting There & Away
AIR
for Moscow or other Russian cities. Turkish Airways has at least three flights a day to
Istanbul. Ukraine International Airlines has at least four flights to Kyiv's Boryspil Inter-
national Airport, while local Air Onix flies to the more convenient Kyiv International
Airport (Zhulyany).
Kiyavia
OFFLINE MAP
272 167;
www.kiyavia.crimea.ua
; bul Lenina
1/7;
9am-6pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat)
sells both international and domestic air tickets.
BUS
There are three main roads originating in Simferopol. One leads to Sevastopol via
Bakhchysaray. Another one crosses the main ridge near Alushta before turning west to-
wards Yalta. The third road heads east to Feodosiya and Kerch, branching off for Sudak.
Buses to pretty much anywhere in Crimea leave from the chaotic
Kurortnaya bus
station
, located on the train station square (look out for McDonald's). There are fre-
quent services to Yevpatoriya (20uah, 1½ hours, every 15 minutes), Sevastopol (30uah,
two hours, every 20 minutes), Yalta (30uah, 1½ hours, every 10 minutes), Sudak (30uah,
2½ hours, hourly), Feodosiya (40uah, three hours, every 20 minutes) and Kerch (70uah,
4½ hours, five daily).
