Nikolaevka in the Crimea: a characteristic of the resort, attractions, travel and accommodation

When people talk about vacation in the Crimea, the resorts of the southern coast of the peninsula come first: Yalta, Alushta, Sudak and others. However, a huge advantage of the Crimea is that it is surrounded by the sea from almost all sides, and although the subtropical climate is only in the south, sometimes there is no sense in chasing it. The sea and a little to the north will be the same warm, but the influx of tourists will turn out not so desperate, which means you can count on less “biting” prices.

Considering that the size of the peninsula is not so large, you can quickly and effortlessly get to any interesting places on a tour, therefore, less popular cities and towns should be considered as the main residence. Nikolaevka can be considered one of the most undervalued coastal villages.

Perhaps, Nikolaevka is a typical resort village, to which insane investors' money has not yet reached, capable of turning it into a first-class resort, but tourists who prefer to rest at reasonable prices have already arrived. It’s impossible to say that there is no infrastructure here at all - it exists, and continues to evolve, it just happened that attention to Nikolayevka was increasingly turning in recent years.

This is not surprising - after the Simferopol airport became insanely busy, and for the first time the Russians became interested in the Crimean direction, many “old” resorts were clogged up and raised prices. Nikolaevka, by that time, was not popular, but had the opportunity to receive an additional number of tourists, and she is also closer to Simferopol than many other resorts.

Today it is a small urban-type village with a population of less than 3 thousand people, which has good prospects. It attracts sand and pebble beaches and gentle sea, because in recent years, young people have been increasingly drawn here. There is every reason to believe that the matter will not be limited to the already existing amusement park - soon there will be a lot of other infrastructure here that will turn Nikolayevka into a real resort. It makes sense to go here now, until the prices soared to the level of Yalta.

Almost the only thing in which Nikolaevka is great is losing to the rest of the popular resorts of the peninsula and will not be able to catch up with them in any way - this is history. Most modern cities on the southern coast of the Crimea have ancient roots, but Nikolaevka did not touch it in any way - it was founded already after the Crimean War, in 1858. However, even one-and-a-half-century monuments of architecture did not remain here, after all, retired sailors who initially lived in ordinary dugouts founded the village.

In spite of the fact that the settlement was rapidly growing, for too long it remained just a village, and received the status of an urban-type settlement only in 1988.

Most likely, if you come here, it means that you are not so interested in additional excursions, and you just want to lie on the beach. The peculiarity of Nikolaevka is that all the beaches in its vicinity are composed of a mixture of sand and pebbles of various fractions, but this does not mean that they are all the same. They differ both in quality and in appearance: some of them are narrow, with an abundance of stones, and supported by high cliffs, others are relatively wide.

If you are looking for the most popular beach, go to the one that is called Central - it is in great demand, since there is a lot of space here, and admission is free. Another thing is that the lack of admission fees has a somewhat negative impact on the infrastructure - the beach is not too well-groomed, although typical beach rides are located here.

There is a beach that is located at the recreation center "Skiff" - here the arrangement is much better, for example, there are comfortable descents to the water, there are equipped locker rooms and a functioning shower. Of course, there are absolutely wild beaches - there is no infrastructure there a priori, but there is no steady stream of people either. If you are looking for just such a holiday, go to the northern part of Nikolaevka - it is quiet and often deserted, but this is where the beaches are narrow, and you need to go down to them along steep cliffs.

At the bottom, sometimes there are large underwater boulders, because of which you can stumble, but in general it consists of the same mixture of pebbles with sand.

In good weather, the water off the coast of Nikolaevka looks very clean and transparent, but in fact, in the structure of the bottom, clayey rocks form a significant part. Because of this, with the presence of waves even of an average size, the sea already seems much more dirty, and not everyone wants to climb into it.

The Crimean resorts are well-promoted as subtropical - northerners go here en masse to observe palm trees and bask in the rays of the southern sun. However, the described conditions apply only to the South Coast of Crimea, which is protected from the north winds by the chain of the Crimean Mountains, but this does not apply to Nikolayevka. Of course, this is still south, and the summer is very hot here - even more so than in the neighboring subtropics, but here the end of spring and the beginning of autumn can no longer be called a holiday season.

Surrounded by land by the bare Crimean steppe, Nikolaevka is open to the influx of hot air masses throughout the summer. The air temperature in the second half of the summer exceeds 25-27 degrees, and it is the average daily value that is meant, that is, during the day there will consistently be above 30 degrees. Slightly reasoning the heat can only be a light breeze from the Black Sea, because rains this land is not spoiled - however, for a beach holiday it is rather a plus than a minus.

In summer, the water warms up to about 22-24 degrees. The coastal areas of the sea are rather shallow, which not only helps to rest with children, but also allows the sea to heat up faster. Throughout the summer, water, as holiday-makers like to say, is “fresh milk,” however, there is no longer something similar to the typical Crimean velvet season.

If you are still not very afraid of cold water and are ready to come to the sea at the very beginning or end of the season in order to save some money, please note that It is better to visit Nikolaevka in the early autumn, and not in the late spring.

After the summer, the warmth lingers here for a while, the village and its surroundings “cool down”, and this can be used, but even in May and part of June you can get to relatively cold weather. As for late autumn, winter, and most of the spring, there is little point in going to Nikolaevka for the sea’s sake - it turns out that this resort is too northern for such a vacation.

Because of its short history, Nikolaevka is devoid of special attractions, and the fact that it is located at some distance from the Crimean Mountains only aggravates the situation - after all, there are no real Crimean scenic landscapes here.

Perhaps the main attraction where you can go, since you are here, is Aquarium "Black Sea". Contrary to his name, he is able to show some underwater inhabitants that are not found in the waters of the Black Sea - for example, the same piranhas. The facility is located in the basement, and you shouldn’t expect the level of the best aquariums from the village aquarium, but you shouldn’t even despise this place in advance - the tanks with fish here are up to the ceiling, and the species diversity is not bad.

Since Nikolaevka, like many other places in the Crimea, is inextricably linked with the sailors, and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is considered to be the intercessor, the main religious monument of the village is the temple of the same name.

For such a small village that does not have a long resort history, the mere fact of having an amusement park is already a great achievement. Naturally, one should not expect any unique and outstanding attractions here, but since there is absolutely nothing to compete with this amusement park, all of Nikolaevka’s guests come here without fail — especially those who come with children.

As in many other coastal settlements, Nikolaevka has its own embankment. Such places traditionally attract the attention of vacationers, because here within walking distance of the beaches, you can admire the sea, in addition, it is here that the main cafes and restaurants for vacationers are located.

Whatever one may say, it turns out that for adults within Nikolaevka, the most interesting “sights” will be the beaches and the sea. If you still want something more, have to get out of the village. The simplest option is to go to inspect the nearest surroundings. Especially for such purposes you can rent a bike, mini-quad or a horse, boats are also available for lovers of boat trips. A little away from the village, local instructors will teach you all kinds of surfing.

Nevertheless, even these “bonuses” will not allow for an effective and fun holiday in Nikolayevka for too long — sooner or later they will simply get bored. Then the traditional approach of the majority of tourists vacationing in the Crimea in small settlements comes to the rescue - field trips. From the fact that it is located relatively close, you should pay attention to the Scythian settlement, which is about an hour to reach, and quite famous waterfall "Weeping Rock".

A good option can also be a trip to one of the neighboring major cities, where there may be sights, and resort infrastructure, far exceeding the Nikolaev one. For example, 69 kilometers from Nikolaevka to Sevastopol, they can be overcome in a maximum of an hour and a half. Evpatoria is even closer - it is only 53 kilometers away, which is quite possible to drive even in a little more than an hour.

Unfortunately, all other large (except Simferopol) and interesting cities located on the southern coast are located at a much greater distance. For example, it is 98 kilometers to Alushta, 135 kilometers to Yalta, and 146 kilometers to Sudak. Of course, you can go to them, but then you need to expect that the road there and back will take at least four hours.

Truly chic restaurants in Nikolaevka have not yet appeared - institutions of this type will not be in demand here, however, this does not mean that there is no place to eat here.In the summer season, a significant part of the locals are closely involved in catering, opening numerous cafes. Any cuisine can be found here, but the local peculiarity is that many local catering establishments pay great attention to Ukrainian cuisine, which can be a wonder for guests from afar.

The main share of catering establishments is located along the embankment, and then choose to your taste - we will only single out a few establishments that are in significant customer demand and collect mostly positive reviews.

• Cafe "Three friends". This institution is located in the very center of the village, and it will be interesting mainly to those guests who are used to eat various but familiar food. For a small village like Nikolayevka, the presence of European and Eastern cuisine in one cafe, including dishes on the grill and already familiar sushi is a very serious approach.

• Restaurant "Kolomiya". Who wants this color, you should definitely look here. The institution is named after a relatively small town in the Carpathian region and from the inside is decorated in the style of an old Ukrainian hut with all the attributes, including embroidered bench hammers and clay utensils. Naturally, Ukrainian cuisine is represented in a wide range of dishes, but only the menu is not limited to them - for example, Russian cuisine also exists.

• Cafe "Riviera". This place is designed not so much for those people who are looking for outstanding service, but for hungry visitors who would like to eat tasty and satisfying food without spending a lot of crazy money. The emphasis in the work of this institution is on a constant flow of visitors, because the dishes are prepared quickly and in large volumes, and you can have a great dinner for only a few hundred rubles.

• Dining room cooperative "Skiff". Despite the biased attitude of many vacationers to the institutions, called canteens, this place is organized quite qualitatively. If you look at the reviews, then this place is praised for the fact that local dishes are strikingly reminiscent of home cooking - perhaps there are no overseas dishes here, but you literally feel like a child, as if you came to grandmother again.

• Dining room "Hatinka". Another catering establishment, focusing on the Ukrainian flavor. By the way, this particular dining room is considered to be the largest in the village, and this is due to not only the favorable center position or the impressive size of the dining room, but also the wide range of dishes on offer.

The largest city closest to Nikolayevka on the map is the Crimean capital Simferopol, and this, of course, has an extremely good effect on the tourist development of the village. The distance between the two points is only 42 kilometers, and in this sense, the seaside village is indeed, if not the nearest, then one of the closest resorts on the coast.

The importance of Simferopol as a transit point is due to the fact that it is not only the capital of the republic, but also remains the only air gate of the peninsula. It is here that is the final destination for most buses, following both from the continent and from different parts of the peninsula itself.

As for the airport, during the peak season it serves about 70 destinations, and although they connect Simferopol only with Russian cities, they have a state program that allows low-income citizens to fly at a discount. In many ways, it is these passengers who rush to the relatively inexpensive Nikolayevka.

Bus service is regular - despite the small size of the village, in the summer, buses run here at intervals from half an hour to two hours throughout the day. In addition, local authorities understand the principle of the direct connection of Nikolaevka not only with Simferopol, but also with its airport, because there are also buses departing directly from the terminal, and not from the traditional Kurortnaya bus station.

Travel time is no more than an hour, but the cost is better to specify on the spot - Approximately the trip will cost 120 rubles.

In addition, many Russians after the opening of the Crimean Bridge prefer to come to the Crimea on their own car - especially for residents of the adjacent Krasnodar Territory. Here it should be noted that Nikolaevka in this regard is not very conveniently located - it is much more removed from the Crimean Bridge than the bulk of the Crimean resorts. The distance from Kerch, located at the exit from it, to Nikolaevka is 253 kilometers, this trip takes approximately 4.5-5 hours.

But getting lost on the route is unlikely to work out for you - first, you follow the signs, which all the main cities of Crimea are written on, until you get to Feodosia, after which you begin to focus on Simferopol. It is necessary to leave the capital of Crimea in the direction of Sevastopol, and there right after the city there will be a turn to the right. On the last leg of the journey, from Simferopol to Nikolayevka, there will be no major cities anymore, the village itself is the end of the road, and although it is mostly direct, it’s better to navigate the tracker or to specify the route from local residents.

Despite the fact that “big” tourism in Nikolayevka was just beginning to develop, local residents had already managed to catch a new trend, and therefore problems with the settlement should not arise here. Here there is already housing of all types: you can rent guest houses in the private sector, live in a boarding house or at a recreation center with full board, choose an expensive hotel on the seafront with a swimming pool or a romantic boathouse.

At the same time, a significant part of the choice falls on the private sector - the most inexpensive segment, where it is quite possible to accommodate just a few hundred rubles per person per night. The demand from visitors to this resort is often appropriate - they are looking for affordable housing that would be matched by the conveniences of Nikolayevka, and would not be expensive.

In principle, a budget traveler should understand that with minimal expenses, convenience will be appropriate - for example, rooms can be designed for a large number of people, and you either travel with a significant company, or pay for empty beds, or live with strangers on a hostel basis. . The same toilet and shower for each room in the cheapest options is not provided - according to the popular in this business formulation, it is located "on the floor". However, it is not always so modest.

For example, Some guesthouses, clearly classified as budget, can provide rooms of different classes and levels of comfort. A certain popularity gained mini-hotel "33 pleasures" located just five minutes walk from the beach - you can literally live in a half thousand rubles in a room with the above conditions, or you can become generous and rent a room for about a thousand rubles - then the conditions will be completely different.With this budget planning, it turns out that your room has its own shower and toilet, and the best rooms are also equipped with air conditioning, allowing you to comfortably survive the hot steppe summer.

Since we chose this institution as an example of budget holidays, we need to discuss nutrition issues - there is both a kitchen for self-catering and chefs who can do your meals during the holidays for a fee.

To show rest at a slightly different level, let's look at the middle price segment - another will come off as an example. guest house with the name "Fortune". If you got exactly here, get ready for a huge range of prices for rooms - you can invest in a thousand rubles, or maybe 3 thousand. The difference is that the rooms here are fundamentally different - you can live not just in the room, but in full-fledged apartments.

Differences in approach and organization are striking - for a fee, you can agree not only on three meals a day, but also on a transfer from Simferopol. Even a transfer here you can choose - for 1,5 thousand rubles you will bring a relatively modest car, and for 2 thousand you can order something a little more interesting.

An interesting solution to the middle price segment is two-star hotel "Anchor", which as an apartment offers its guests boathouses. For people who do not have an impressive experience of rest in the Crimea, the very concept of "boathouse" may seem unfamiliar - under it hides a kind of garage for a boat located in the immediate vicinity of the water.

On the peninsula, such buildings are massively converted into housing, and the Anchor offers them a decent level of comfort - for example, in your bungalow there will be air conditioning and satellite TV, you can visit the toilet and shower with hot water. Food can be cooked on your own in the spacious kitchen, barbecue grills are provided, and there are rest rooms upstairs.

Real high-class hotels in Nikolayevka are just emerging, but even the level of comfort (and prices) described above is not the limit for this village. Relatively expensive vacation is possible here now, and a good example of such can be three star hotel "Orange". Holidays here in high season can cost 4,000 rubles per day with all the conveniences traditional for this type of accommodation.

A completely separate category of housing on the resort are motels and boarding houses - then your vacation will be useful not only for the discharge of the brain, but also for the general improvement of the body. The specificity of this stay is that you are constantly improving: you are fed only healthy food, create all possibilities for playing sports in the fresh sea air, and the staff of the institution includes professional doctors and massage therapists, thanks to which you can attend basic procedures without leaving the territory .

On the rest in Nikolaevka, see the following video.