Alushta is attractive for tourists even at the beginning of winter. The eye is delighted by green lawns and numerous evergreen trees and shrubs, the sun is reflected in the azure sea waves. The weather is ideal for those who do not tolerate the stuffiness and heat. The lack of a beach holiday compensates for the opportunity to visit the sights that are so rich in the Crimean peninsula.
Alushta in December appears in an unusual format. It is a quiet, calm city, free from crowds of tourists. Some travelers specially come to the resort during the off-season. Rest is inexpensive, no one bothers to take leisurely walks along the embankment, inhaling a healing cocktail of a mixture of mountain and sea air with phytoncides of coniferous trees.
Weather
It's chilly in the resort in December. At the beginning of the month, daytime temperatures are at + 6- + 9˚С, at night the thermometer drops to +4 - + 6˚С. In the second half of December it gets significantly colder - up to + 4-6˚. Nighttime temperatures fluctuate around +2 - + 4˚С, slight frosts are possible. In winter, the city has high humidity, rain can be accompanied by sleet, which immediately melts.
The sea cools down rapidly in winter, in December the water temperature does not exceed +9 - 11˚С. On average, 8 sunny days are observed per month, when the weather is quite comfortable, there are heavy rainfalls for 5 days. More than half of December the sky is partly cloudy, the sun that has peeped out is suddenly covered by clouds.
Is it cold in December
The weather in the first winter month at the resort is variable. On clear days the sun is noticeably hot, you can walk in light clothes. During bad weather, the combination of a piercing wind from the sea and high humidity creates a feeling of chilliness. So that the weather does not spoil your vacation, you need to choose a wardrobe that is best suited for the trip.
You will need a warm windproof jacket with a hood, a hat, a woolen sweater and gloves. In case of warm weather, you should put a windbreaker in your suitcase. Particular attention should be paid to shoes. These should be insulated sneakers or boots with flat waterproof soles.
What to watch
In the center of the city there is the Alison tower - the remains of a Byzantine fortress, built in the 6th century, on this place, later, the city of Alushta grew up. Nearby is the Yukhari-Jali Mosque (Upper St., 9), the first floor is visited by men, the second - by women.
In the village The cliff is the palace of Princess Gagarina, made with Italian tiles and windows made of Venetian glass. A cypress park is laid out around the palace. Nature lovers can independently get to the Soter Valley with rocky sculptures in the form of mushrooms, up to 5 m high, with a “hat” diameter of up to 2 m.
By minibus you can get to the foothills of Chatyr-dag to take a walk along the picturesque mountainous area. In the area with. Radiant there are the ruins of the Fauna fortress, built in 1423. In inclement weather, you can take a one-day spa ticket at one of the many hotels and devote time to swimming in the indoor pool and bathing procedures.
Vacation with children
Traveling with the whole family, you will find enough places in Alushta where you can go with children. Oceanarium (Gorky St.) - in 4 halls there are huge aquariums with marine and freshwater inhabitants. Here you can see more than 250 species of fish, sea turtles, crabs, crocodiles. Exotic animals live in the "Jungle World" exposition in conditions close to the tropics.
"Animal Park" is located nearby - the Alushta contact zoo, divided into geographical zones: "Africa and Madagascar", "Australia", "South America". Visit the Park of Miniatures (Gorky str., 7) - an open-air museum of architectural attractions of the Crimean peninsula, the exhibits are made on a scale of 1:25.
The museum is especially beautiful at dusk, when the individual lighting of the building models is turned on. In the Dolphinarium "Aquarelle", located on the embankment of the city, you can watch performances with dolphins and fur seals, swim and take pictures with the artists.
Tours
Local guides offer many routes to suit all tastes. It should be noted that the prices for excursions in December are record low. On a comfortable bus, you can visit the Swallow's Nest, the famous palaces of Crimea: Livadia, Massandra and the Vorontsov Palace. Architectural monuments are surrounded by picturesque parks, which are pleasant to stroll through at any time of the year.
Families with children will be interested in a trip to the Glade of Fairy Tales, where there are more than 300 skillfully made characters of Russian fairy tales and a petting zoo. An excursion to the Taigan Safari Park will be remembered for a long time. In the foothills of the Crimea, about 50 African lions live in natural conditions.
For nature lovers, there are trips to Mount Demerzhi with a tour of the highest waterfall in Crimea, Dzhur-Dzhur, the Valley of Ghosts, the Marble and Ban-Bash-Koba caves. An excursion to Bakhchisaray with a tour of the Khan's Palace, the Assumption Cathedral and the ancient city of Chufut-Kale is invariably in demand.
New Year
Celebrating a holiday on the seashore is tempting for many vacationers. Thousands of tourists flock at the end of December to the southern coast of Crimea, where nature itself creates a festive atmosphere. Most hotels organize a banquet and a festive program with Santa Claus and Snegurochka.
On the main square of Alushta, a huge Christmas tree is installed, decorated with garlands and children's crafts. Free concerts, theater performances, holiday contests and programs are held here.
On New Year's Eve, the embankment is crowded. Bright illumination and the sound of music from the coastal cafes to the lapping of the sea surf create a romantic atmosphere.
Festively-minded people in demi-season clothes thrown over their evening dresses admire the fireworks, congratulate each other on the holiday. Fans of alternative recreation celebrate the New Year at a ski resort located 12 km from Alushta. The slopes there are quite gentle, but equipment rental is inexpensive. Tourists spend New Year's Eve under the stars, enjoying the mountain air.
The cost of travel
The city can be reached in several ways. A ticket for the Moscow-Simferopol plane costs 2,204 rubles, the flight time is 2-2.5 hours. Railway tickets in the compartment of the branded train "Tavria" will cost 3,493 rubles, the journey will take 1 day 9 hours. A comfortable bus runs from Moscow to Alushta, the ticket price is 2,200 rubles, the travel time is 28-31 hours.
A hotel room in December can be booked at the lowest possible price. Hotel 3 * costs from 1800 rubles, 4 * - 3 200 rubles. In guest houses, you can take a room for 900-1000 rubles.
The budget for a trip for two for 5 nights is approximately 25-30 thousand rubles. taking into account the cost of meals and excursions.
Tour operators make very interesting offers: tours with low prices, including flights, transfer to the hotel, accommodation and insurance. Tour for 5 nights in a 3 * hotel costs from 16 798 rubles. By purchasing a tour, you are relieved of the hassle of booking accommodation and buying tickets, there is no need to plan a trip itinerary. In most cases, this is cost effective.
Reviews of tourists
Vacationers who visited the resort at the beginning of winter agree that Alushta in December is interesting for fans of sightseeing trips and for those who, without heat and human hustle and bustle, prefer a calm health holiday. For young people at this time of year, it is boring here, there is practically no active evening life.
At the end of December, the situation changes, the number of tourists in the city increases significantly, cafes and restaurants on the waterfront open, the city revives, preparing for the New Year.Tourists note that prices at the resort at the beginning of winter are very attractive. You can easily find cheap accommodation for every taste, the cost of excursions and meals is much lower than in summer.
Conclusion
December is the time to see the ancient city of Alushta from an unexpected side. You can have a great rest at the resort without causing significant damage to your budget. Travelers spend their time to their liking. Some seek to broaden their horizons by devoting time to sightseeing architectural sights. The outskirts of Alushta are replete with amazing natural monuments, attracting hikers.
Others come at the beginning of winter just to take a break from the hustle and bustle of big cities and improve their health. Vacationers spend hours strolling along the seafront promenade, enjoying the salty air and magnificent mountain landscapes.
