Getting there

• by air
• by rail
• visa requirements

The quickest way to the Crimean riviera is by air to Simferopol (airport code SIP). Simferopol is the regional capital and the airport deals with both international and domestic flights (Click here to see Crimea map).

Flights from UK to Simferopol are via Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, or via Frankfurt in Germany (Click here to see Europe map). Flights via Kyiv are 7 days a week all the year round. Flights via Frankfurt are between May and October only.

	Route	Time in the air	Total flying time
Route 1	London, Glasgow, Manchester or Birmingham to Kyiv	3 hrs 30 mins
	Kyiv to Simferopol	2 hours	5 hrs 30 mins
Route 2	London, Glasgow, Manchester or Birmingham to Kyiv	1 hr 30 mins
	Frankfurt to Simferopol	3 hours	4 hrs 30 mins

You can, of course, fly to Kyiv or Frankfurt from a wide range of other cities within and outside Europe. Flying via Kyiv may involve changing from Borispol international airport to Zhulianiy domestic airport, and you will need to allow plenty of time for transfer and re-checking in. In this case, why not break your journey in Kyiv and spend a couple of days in this fascinating city of golden onion spires, birthplace of the russian soul, now the centre of Ukraine's rapidly growing enterprise economy, with facilities and nightlife to match.

It is also possible to fly to Istanbul, and then fly across the Black Sea to Simferopol with Turkish Airlines. This is a longer trip, often with a wait of a few hours in Istanbul for the connecting flight, but worth considering if you want to break your journey and do a bit of sightseeing in the Turkish capital.

It's also possible to travel by rail from Kyiv. Ukrainian trains take their time, in comparison to western europe, so even though the journey is only 760 km it takes about 16 hours and your best bet is to get a sleeper leaving Kyiv at around 5pm, arriving in Simferopol at around 9am the next morning. If you're not in a hurry, the rail journey is an experience in itself. Each carriage has its own steward distributing bedding and serving green tea with a slice of lemon along the way but your fellow passengers are just as likely to open a bottle of vodka!

If you decide to travel by train, make sure you buy the tickets well in advance, especially in summer, when trains are often full.

• A Ist class sleeper ticket will get you a 2-berth compartment and may be air-conditioned in summer.
• 2nd class (coupe) means a 4-berth compartment.

Both 1st and 2nd class compartments should be lockable from the inside.

• 3rd class (platzcart) means open berths in a 54-seater carriage. Very cheap, as long as you don't mind having no privacy.

Rail travel in Ukraine is cheap by western standards - it will only cost you between £15 ($26 US) and £34 ($59 US) to go overnight from Kyiv to Simferopol, depending which class you choose. Domestic air flights are also cheap by western standards. The same journey - 1.5 hours by plane - will cost you around £62 ($108 US)

From Simferopol to Yalta
When you reach the airport or the train station in Simferopol, you may need to transfer to Yalta, Gurzuf, Sevastopol or another destination by road. The longest trolleybus line in the world runs across the mountains to Yalta, and if you're travelling light and have got 2 hours to spare this is a delightful way to arrive. However, the chances are you're tired after your journey and just want to get there quickly. In this case there's a choice between a taxi or a less comfortable ride in one of the minibuses which ply the route.

We can arrange for a taxi to pick you up and deliver you to the door of your apartment or hotel.

Click here for more about Airport transfer

Click here for more about Apartments and hotels

Visa requirements

The Ukrainian government has announced that citizens of the following countries will no longer require a visa to enter Ukraine and Crimea for trips lasting up to 90 days:

Please note that nationals of other countries will still require a visa - see below.

With the exception of people from the countries listed above, each person travelling to Crimea will need a visa. It is advisable to obtain this in advance before you leave . Technically it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival at Kyiv or Simferopol airports, but there can be long delays and your arrival or change of aircraft will be smoother if you already have a visa in your passport.

Crimea is part of Ukraine, and visas are therefore issued by the Ukrainian consulate. The information given below applies to people travelling from the United Kingdom. If you will be travelling from another country, you will need to contact the Ukrainian consulate in that country.

The Ukrainian consulate in London is at

Open for personal callers Monday to Friday: 09.00 to 13.00 hours, last admission 12.30

The Ukrainian consulate in Edinburgh is at

Open for personal callers Monday to Friday: 09.30 to 12.00 hours

You can find the website of the Ukrainian consulate in the United Kingdom at http://www.mfa.gov.ua/uk/en/2322.htm . You can download the visa application form from the website, which also gives full supporting information.

You can apply for your visa by post, or in person at the London or Edinburgh offices. The processing time for visas is generally between 3 days and two weeks, depending on your nationality and whether you apply in person or by post. It is sensible to get your visa before you buy your air tickets.

The visa application form is straightforward. You will need to include with it:

• a valid passport (must not expire less than 1 month after your intended date of departure from Ukraine)
• a letter of invitation if required
• 2 recent passport sized photographs (no need for them to be signed on the back by a third party)
• 2 separate cheques or postal orders covering the handling charge and the visa fee (check the embassy website for current prices)

If you are going to stay in a private rented apartment, or with friends, you will need to give the address on your visa application form. If you book one of our private apartments you can make a provisional booking subject to obtaining your visa and airtickets. We will supply you with the address of the apartment to put on your visa application.

If you are going to stay in a hotel, you will need to make the booking before you apply for your visa, and attach the written confirmation of your hotel booking, which we will send you, to your visa application.

Only one address is necessary for the visa application. If you intend to move around during your stay, this is not a problem. Previously foreign visitors had to register with the local police in each new location. This inconvenience for tourists was abolished by presidential decree in 2001. Once your passport has been stamped at Simferopol airport or other point of entry you can travel freely within Crimea and Ukraine.

Travel insurance
It is sensible to arrange travel insurance which includes cover for medical emergencies, cancellations, theft etc, in the same way as you would if travelling to a western holiday destination.

Please note: while every effort is made to keep the above information up to date, changes may be made without notice and you are advised to check the information given here against that provided by the Ukrainian embassy at http://www.mfa.gov.ua/uk/en/2322.htm and at their offices.

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