Do I need a visa to visit Crimea?
Probably not! Nationals of all EU countries, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, the Vatican, Monaco, San Marino, Iceland, Norway, USA, Canada and Japan do not need a visa to visit Crimea (for trips lasting less than 90 days). If you are not a national of these countries, you will still need to apply for a visa - click here for further information
How do I get there? Click here for full info on Getting there
How easy is it to travel around Crimea?
Once your passport has been stamped on arrival at the airport or the border you can travel freely within Crimea or Ukraine as a whole. Transport in Crimea is cheap by western standards. Click here for more information on Getting about.
Where can I stay?
Click here for general information on hotels and apartments.
Click here for information about our self-catering holiday apartments in Yalta, Gurzuf, Balaklava and Sevastopol.
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- What about the language?
Many people speak some English or German, but not as many as in the Mediterranean resorts where they've had more practice! An excellent interpreter/ guide will be available as an option during your stay if you book accommodation in Yalta through us.
Click here for more information on language and our interpreter.
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Is Crimea safe for western tourists?
The crime rate is low compared to the west. For up to the minute government advice on visiting Crimea please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at www.fco.gov.uk . Click on travel, then on country advice and then select Ukraine. Crimea is an autonomous republic within the country of Ukraine, and the advice on Ukraine also applies to Crimea.
It is sensible to arrange travel insurance which includes cover against theft, in the same way as you would if travelling to a western holiday destination.
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What money should I take?
As it is part of Ukraine, Crimea uses the Ukrainian hryvnia, which works on the decimal system: I hryvnia = 100 kopiykas.
- It is best to take cash in US dollars or Euros, and exchange it there. There is no shortage of banks and exchange kiosks in the larger towns. There are also plenty of cashpoints where you can withdraw cash using Switch, Cirrus or Visa cards. Cashpoints pay out in hryvnias, but some also pay out dollars. If you want to withdraw western currency, you can use a Visa card for a counter payment in a bank. Some also accept travellers cheques.You will need your passport for identification.
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Click on the button to check current exchange rates for UA Hryvnia and other currencies using the xe.com converter
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Will I need any injections before I go?
Generally, no, but you are advised to check the Department of Health website -www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAdviceForTravellers/fs/en
- If in doubt, ask your doctor.
What if I need medical attention while I'm there?
- Coverage by hospital, medical and emergency services in Crimea is generally good. It is sensible to arrange travel insurance which includes the cost of medical care, in the same way as you would if travelling to a western holiday destination.
Other useful facts
| Public holidays in Crimea |
1 January
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New Year's Day
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7 January
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Orthodox Christmas
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8 March
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International Womens' Day
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27 April
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Orthodox Easter
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1 & 2 May
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Labour days
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9 May
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Victory Day
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15 June
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Holy Trinity
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28 June
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Constitution Day
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24 August
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Independence Day
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Time
2 hours ahead of GMT. Clocks go forward 1 hour in the last week in March and back in the last week in October
Electricity
220v standard voltage. Sockets are 2-pin so English travellers should take an adaptor.
Water
Mains water is used for washing only. Buy bottled spring water for drinking.
Weights and measures
Metric. Shoe and clothing sizes use the european system.
Communication
There are plenty of public telephones in the larger towns. You can buy phone-cards in post offices and at some news kiosks. Alternatively you can pre-pay an international call from a booth at a post office (any unused time is refunded after the call has been made). If staying in a hotel you can usually phone from your room but this is much more expensive than using a public telephone. The larger towns have internet cafes where you can pick up and send e-mail. Most western mobile phones will automatically tune to the local Ukrainian network, but calls will be expensive because they go via your home network. You can send and receive text messages, which are a lot cheaper.
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