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New Year’s Eve in Crimea: welcome to a fairy tale

In winter Crimea is not less popular than in summer. The landscapes are fascinating, the weather is warming, and the prices take care of the family budget. Winter reveals recreation on the peninsula in a new way.  The popular among Russians beach tourism is replaced by sightseeing: you can climb the mountains, go down to the caves, go skiing, see the Ded Moroz Parade and try the best local dishes. 

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Christmas tree

There is a saying: As you celebrate the New Year, you will spend it. Even if someone is not inclined to believe in signs or tokens, many people like to take this folk wisdom for granted.  And they try to make the holiday glaring and unforgettable. And how to do it in the best way? That's right − to go on a trip, and not somewhere, but to the hospitable Crimea, washed by two seas. So, are you with us? Then go ahead, plan your upcoming vacation and refill yourself with the New Year mood! 

Fireworks in Yalta
The car goes on the road in the Crimea
Parade of Santa Clauses in Crimea
Ai-Petri
New Year tree in Sevastopol
Parade of Santa Clauses in Crimea
People on the embankment of Yalta
New Year in Simferopol
Girl at the disco
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Fireworks in Yalta

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

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The car goes on the road in the Crimea

Alisa Ivanova

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Parade of Santa Clauses in Crimea

Photo: Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea

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Ai-Petri

Photo: Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea

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New Year tree in Sevastopol

Photo: Yuri Yuganson

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Parade of Santa Clauses in Crimea

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

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People on the embankment of Yalta

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

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New Year in Simferopol

Photo of the administration of Simferopol

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Girl at the disco

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

How to get to Crimea

Airplanes fly to Crimea, buses travel, and now trains go. In addition, personal transport always comfortably takes you to the Black Sea pearl of Russia. Therefore, there are no problems with getting to the hospitable peninsula. 

"Hot" winter: how the demand for New Year's Crimea is growing >>

Traditionally, the most convenient and fastest way to get to this southern resort is by air. Just a couple of hours in the sky − and you are already swinging from frost and slush to warm rays of the Crimean sun. In the autumn-winter period, Crimea is a destination for the planes of Russian airlines, which arrive from 12 directions connecting Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ryazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and other cities to the peninsula. In addition, closer to the New Year the airlines often launch additional flights to Crimea from other places, thereby expanding the route network. Now the tickets of different classes are still available, but… the closer the holidays − the lesser the number of tickets. Keep that in mind. 

Overnight in Yalta

Crimea can be reached by bus from many regions of our country. To do this, you just buy tickets at the box-office. Such a journey will be longer and less comfortable than by train or plane, but it will have a definite plus: the route also passes across the famous Crimean Bridge, so that you can personally see that "monumental beauty" and make a wish under its snow-white arches. 

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Celebrating the New Year's Eve at a lighthouse and "Wine Christmas": a review of holiday tours in Crimea
New Year

As for a car tour − the words are unnecessary. The car gives you complete freedom of action, and you can build an interesting route for yourself with desired number of stops to see the sights along the way. And you will not depend on the weather odds, other people or cities on the route − you go as you like and with who you like. A real adventure in the company of your nearest and dearest! 

Christmas tree
New Year’s Eve weather in Crimea

In Crimea you cannot be afraid to freeze in winter! Almost every year, the end of December and the beginning of January please us with the relatively warm weather. Almost throughout the peninsula the thermometer is sure to stay at the "above zero" marks, delighting Crimeans and tourists with a completely non-winter temperature of +7…+10°C (45…50°F).  Therefore, for most residents of mainland Russia, the New Year in Crimea will seem more like an autumn! 

View of Yalta

Well, if you choose the South Coast of the peninsula to spend the holiday, it can be even warmer there.  On sunny days in Yalta, Parthenit or Miskhor, the air warms up to +12…+14°C (54…57°F). A slight frost may happen, but, as a rule, only at night or in the mountains.  

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7 million tourists spent their vacations in Crimea since the beginning of the year
Promenade of Yalta

But do not think that there is no real winter in the region! It does happen! For example, in the mountains − on Ai-Petri or Chatyr-Dag − snow cover often appears already in December and lies through all winter. So here you can easily indulge in winter entertainment! Enjoy plenty of snow fun, warm yourself with hot tea, which will be helpfully offered by locals or in local cafés, and be sure to take some memorable pictures with stunning views of the winter peninsula! 

Snow on Ai-Petri

The most amazing thing about all this is that the view below is often not completely winter: the blue sea, green trees, tourists leisurely making a promenade along the sea and… it is warm. Having a walk along the frosty plateau, you go down from the mountain to the South Coast, and there – it is almost spring!

What to do in Crimea on the New Year holiday

On the New Year holidays the peninsula is almost as lively as during the high season. The mild climate and outdoor sightseeing facilities contribute to an active cultural vacation, and from a financial point of view, a trip to Crimea is much more pleasant than a trip abroad. 

Over the year and a half, 8 million automobiles crossed the Crimean Bridge >>

Apart from exploring local attractions (and there are thousands of them), tourists can choose entertainment to their likings. For example, go up to the mountains or go down to a Crimean cave accompanied by an experienced guide, go to an outdoor skating rink or go up to the sky on a cable car, feel the drive while riding a quad bike along the foothills or arrange a romantic evening by the fireplace with a glass of unsurpassed Crimean wine…

Champagne glass
Christmas and New Year paraphernalia
People swim in the sea
Girl with a child at the New Year tree
Парад Дедов Морозов и Снегурочек
Winter in Yalta
Winter in Yalta
Night Yalta
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Champagne glass

Photo: Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea

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Christmas and New Year paraphernalia

Photo: Ministry of Resorts and Tourism of Crimea

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People swim in the sea

Photo of the administration of Yalta

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Girl with a child at the New Year tree

Flickr / spoilt.exile

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Парад Дедов Морозов и Снегурочек

Photo of the administration of Yalta

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Winter in Yalta

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

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Winter in Yalta

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

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Night Yalta

Photo: Andrey Burdeyny

Well, if you want just to have fun and carefree vacation, then you don’t need any special tours − there is holiday everywhere during the winter holidays! Crimeans always celebrate New Year on a large scale. The embankments of popular resorts and the central squares of cities are being transformed and become on a New Year's Eve the centers of mass festivities − here you have a Christmas tree with Ded Moroz (local Santa) and his faithful granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), dancing, music, fireworks, and traditional champagne fountain. In short, the atmosphere of fun. But isn’t this what you want on a New Year’s Eve?

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The absolute majority of tourists are ready to recommend holidays in Crimea to their relatives and friends
Yalta

In winter, most hotels, boarding houses and guest houses work there, and all of them prepare surprises for their "New Year" guests. At the same time, the price range is so vast that everyone can choose their own vacation to taste. So do not hesitate, Crimea is the best choice for your ideal New Year holiday.