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Sevastopol is an important and historical port on the Black Sea. Founded in 1783 as the base of the Black Sea Navy of Russia, it was besieged by the British in the Crimean War. In the 20th century it was the home port of the Soviet Navy's Black Sea Fleet. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the city became part of Ukraine. Both Russian and Ukrainian fleets were based in the city.
The population is still largely ethnically Russian and the population's sympathies still lie largely with Moscow rather than Kiev. City residents have strongly protested the visit of American naval ships and Ukrainian interest in joining the NATO alliance.
After the 2013-2014 unrest in Ukraine, a sudden local referendum was held in Crimea (including Sevastopol) in March 2014 without international observers. The predictable result was that most residents supported separating from Ukraine and joining Russia. The results of the referendum were not recognized by most countries and especially Ukraine. However the Russian parliament and president have agreed that all of Crimea, including Sevastopol, should join the Russian Federation. While this status is not recognized by most of the world, the city is currently a de facto part of Russia, and can only be entered by following [wiki=5feb168ca8fb495dcc89b1208cdeb919#Get_in]Russian visa requirements[/wiki]. It observes Moscow time, the Russian ruble (RUB) is the primary currency used and Russian laws are enforced.
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Due to the continuing Russian-Ukrainian dispute and the recent change of status of the city to being de facto part of Russia, there could be difficulties in access and changes to which transport options are available.
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By plane
The small Sevastopol International Airport had connections with [wiki=a264ca27d5eac0eed606d6e10d1e93c0]Dnipropetrovsk[/wiki], [wiki=c5c12fffd30a23e3468076da2e046b90]Kiev[/wiki] and one international service from [wiki=7e35e74e610188414ad24235dd787c78]Moscow[/wiki]. No regular flights scheduled as of September 2015.
The [wiki=8dbeff9871dc83a2ffa1edb23f38c1aa]Simferopol[/wiki] international airport is much better connected, although currently it only has flights to Russia and weekly service to [wiki=a00c273f0f497484093fa94865cf5ca5]Armenia[/wiki].
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By train
As of 2015 there is no land railway service outside of Crimea due to the ban by Ukrainian authorities. The service is expected to resume in 2018-2019 following the completion of the Kerch Strait Bridge.
There are some regular suburban trains connecting Crimean cities. Those are relatively slow (2h between Sevastopol and Simferopol) and inexpensive (less than $1).
A few train connections to Moscow and St. Petersburg incur ferry and bus transportations and take more than 40 hours.
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By car
Assuming you already entered [wiki=b9a8f4b7edbf02e5ca758e49b15a146b]Crimea[/wiki] by car, it should be relatively easy to make it to Sevastopol. There are major highways coming into the city from the directions of Simferopol and Yalta.
If you still planning to enter Crimea, note that crossing from Ukraine into Crimea might not be allowed by Ukrainian officials. Crossing from Russia using the ferry has extremely long waits (many days) in the summer season, and could be delayed by bad weather, but otherwise is not impossible. Other methods of entry (by plane, or by passenger ferry, then bus) would be better.
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By bus
Bus services to and from all major and many minor cities of Crimea are available. Buses to Russia either use the ferry, or unload the passengers on one side to take the passenger ferry and be picked up by a different bus on the other side.
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The major features of the city are on two streets, ul. Lenina and ul. Bolshaya Morskaya; there is a hill between them, on which is ul. Sovietskaya; there are numerous steps to get up and across the hill. Marshrutki tend to go up one of these streets and down the other; at the south end of ul. Lenina you can turn left to get to the train station and the bus-station.
Getting around Sevastopol, on a day to day basis, is by foot, by mini-bus (marshrutka, topik), and by trolleybus. Given the hilly terrain and circuitous routes created as Sevastopol grew around its bays and shoreline, walking is less likely to be efficient, especially after one leaves the city centre.
Note that English maps and schedules for buses do not appear available (based on internet searching) and that one may need to depend on the word of citizens, operators, and fellow passengers to find the right route and stop. Trolleybuses and marshrutkas are economical, though often crowded, with marshrutkas being faster and slightly more expensive. Some travel sites (e.g., virtualtourist.com) contain comments recommending boats/skiffs that will take tourists to beaches and islands. Note that its much harder to get off boats if you realize you are on the wrong one and it is also difficult to leave a dicey location if the only transport is by boat.
Good road maps of the town (with street names in both Latin and Cyrillic characters) from press kiosks.
Renting a car is a great way to experience Crimea without dealing with the often late and uncomfortable public transportation. Car rental is possible at many places, but the cheapest appears to be at Number 43 Proletarskaya ulitsa at the southern end of the city. At some point before 2014 the price was ₴200 per day (250km included) and a refundable USD200 deposit, it is fairly easy to rent a car and enjoy the southern coast this way. You need to inquire the current price as the prices have risen from that time.
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Sevastopol is a good jumping-off place to see some of the sites from the Crimean War.
* There is an amazing museum called Panorama, which depicts the siege of Sevastopol (from the Russian point of view) with a display a little like a diorama, but much more impressive - there is a huge circular canvas of about 2000 square metres as a backdrop, and then lots of props such as cannons and models of redoubts in the foreground. It's narrated in Russian but you can hire an audio guide in English or French. Admission UAH40 +UAH25 for camera.
* There is a park with war memorials on Sapun Gora nearby, though it focuses on the battles of the World War Two siege of Sevastopol.
* You will also find, at 11 ul Lenina, the Museum of the Black Sea Fleet. It is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed for cleaning on the last Friday of every month; there is a small exhibition of Russian and Soviet weapons outside the building. A couple of doors further down ul. Lenina is the Church of the Black Sea Fleet.
* You can visit the "Valley of Death", where the famous "Charge of the Light Brigade" occurred
* There are many Soviet war memorials - Sevastopol is one of the thirteen Hero Cities of the Great Patriotic War. There is a large statue of Lenin, with soldiers, peasants and workers, on ul. Sovietska which is the spine of the main section of the city. There is a statue of Nakhimov, who defeated the Turkish fleet and masterminded the defence of Sevastopol at the time of the Crimean War, in a square at the head of the main part of the city.
Apart from war theme:
* The Greek city of Chersonessus is located about three kilometres from Sebastopol, near the city centre; admission is UAH40 for Ukrainians plus UAH15 for a camera, and UAH60 for foreigners. There is a good guidebook available from the ticket office for UAH15. This is where Volodymyr, the first leader of the Kievan Rus to convert to Christianity, was baptised; there is a large cathedral at the spot, rebuilt in 1999 after being closed down by the Soviets in the 1920s and blown up by the Nazis in 1944. Also on the site are various Byzantine basilicas, including a famous one with marble columns, and the 'foggy bell', made of melted-down Turkish cannons in the late 1700s, which was taken to Paris after the Crimean War and returned in 1914. Tourists swarm all over the ancient monuments with little respect for their antiquity. Few signs tell you what is what. Still, the atmosphere is nice. Consider bringing your swimming gear - the locals do, because there's a narrow but beautiful beach located in the grounds.
* You can also visit nearby [wiki=6dc09a544311efc65382d0c39990c5df]Balaklava[/wiki], site of another famous battle, and an interesting little town, formerly a Russian submarine port.
* [wiki=acb2bf7374cfeab271b468fc93c156af]Inkerman[/wiki]. A suburb town 5km of Sevastopol where you can find cave monastery of St. Clement and medieval fortress Kalamita.
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Ride the ferry boats crossing the bay. Common routes include those to a number of locations on the North Side (Severnaya) of town, where the best white sand beach and small airfield are. Locals use these north/south ferries to commute to and from work. Price of the ferries is only 2.5UAH (~$US.30) and they travel all over the city and it is a good way to get photos of the various landmarks.
* In the summer, there are numerous tented beer bars on the waterfront. It's great for watching the ships entering the bay.
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There are lots of boutiques on Bolshaya Morskay street if you want fashionable clothes.
As of 2014 very few places accept credit/debit cards and ATMs are rare to find due to western sanctions preventing large Russian banks from operating in the region, while most Ukrainian banks are no longer operating there. You will need to bring enough cash with you (Russian rubles, or USD/EUR which you can exchange in banks).
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The restaurant Rybatsky Stan on the West side of Artillery Bay has excellent fish dishes; it's a bit expensive, perhaps 200UAH per head for a meal without wine.
* Ukrainiski Shinok is an excellent authentic Ukrainian Restaurant on the basement level of the Hotel Sevastopol in the Center.
* Ostrov Sushi (Island of Sushi) is quite the landmark in the center where the ferries dock at Artillery Bay. They are also one of the few wifi spots in the city. Meals usually cost over USD20.
* You should try original and real "Baklava", which is different than the Greek or Turkish versions. European soldiers fighting in the Crimean War coined the term "Baklava" while fighting in Sevastopol and neighboring Balaklav from the local fried bread coated in honey popular in the region. Hence, the name, Baklava, was imported to the West. It's a thin unleavened fried flour bread covered in honey and sold in small stores and on beaches by vendors.
* The popular Pizza Celentano located in the city centre serves cheap and delicious pizzas, fruit salad, pancakes and drinks. There is a vast range of toppings to be chosen for the pizzas and pancakes. If you're lucky the staff will speak some English.
*Adorable restaurant dedicated to Ostap Bender, the cult character of a Soviet conman from the books of Ilf and Petrov. The food is tasty and as a bonus you can take a picture in one of the "12 Chairs"
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This is a major naval port, there are lots of places selling beer and other drinks scattered around the city.
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Clubs
Sevastopol has a few clubs, and most of them only work during the summer.
* Хорошо (Good), пляж "Парк Победы" (the beach named "Victory Park"). An open air club, which plays a mix of music genres. Obviously works only during the summer, and near the end of the tourism season (around September) it's usually empty. Entrance fee is around UAH50.
* Night club “Black Orange” ( Cherniy Apelsin), Qualitatively new facility in the club area of the city. Great sound, European cuisine “24 hours” Two halls: “Cocktail Disco” and “Lounge Cafe”Shows, booking parties, children’s and adult parties. Address: Alexander Marinesco 21.
* Club Premier, is considered one of the most respected nightclubs Sevastopol! “Premier”, Capacity of 200 seats, with a total area of 400 m2, with a capacity of up to 500 people.Navigation: The club is located in a building Gidrofiza, on the second floor. Entrance side of the building, up the stairs to the red carpet. At the entrance meets security and facecontol. There is also a dressing room.Interior: The club is an area of artistic innovation. The original interior of the club, combining various directions and styles of design art, high-quality music - all this creates a pleasant atmosphere for relaxation. Address: Capitanskya Street 2
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Located near Kamishovaya Bay and it offers rooms equipped with balcony/deck, private toilet, bath and a telephone. They also have a café, which serves Ukrainian and Russian cuisine; a conference room that can can accommodate up to 80 guests; and two banquet halls that can accommodate 30 and 70 persons, respectively.
* Great accommodation in a small Backpacker/Traveller hostel with quiet courtyard and garden on one of the main city streets opposite the Post Office and next to the Cathedral. English-speaking staff with great local knowledge on premises 24/7. Free WiFi~Linens~Coffee&Tea. 24hr Hot water. Safe & Secure. Top rated Sevastopol hostel on Hostelworld every year. Open only during the summer season (June1-October). [http://www.hostelinsevastopol.com].
* Quite central and most staff speaks English (also Russian, Ukrainian and French). Visa invitation service for ones that need visa. 2 mins walk to Nachimov and lazarev square, where most of the clubs and bars are. 1 min. walk is the nearest police station and a hospital. 1 min. walk to the biggest Sevastopol souvenir market + supermarket. 5 mins. walk to Panorama and Black see fleet museum. They help you out in buying train and bus tickets.
* The rooms are quite standard.
* Only about 100m from the Hotel Ukraine on a quite street, it's a nicer and newer hotel, but lacks an elevator, which is useful if lugging heavy bags up four floors.
* Luxury type Sevastopol Apartments, Centrally located, next to the sea, nightclubs, restaurants, bars. Travel Services and Help.
* Studio, 1-2-3 bedroom apartments, situated in the center of Sevastopol and Balaklava also at beach areas etc. Travel services, excursions, transfers, diving, help in English, Russian, Ukrainian, German and Dutch language. Dutch/Ukrainian managed.
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Ostrov Sushi in the middle of Artillery Bay has wireless. The Greenwich Coffee House at #15 Admiral Oktyabraskaya (c. 300m West of Bolshaya Morskaya) also has Wi-Fi in a Starbuck's-like atmosphere.
The main post office in the center of Bolshaya Morskaya has a large Internet café. The Hotel Crimea (Gostinica Krim) has an Internet café that is open 24 hours a day.
None of these locations have English-speaking staff.
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One of the nicer beaches is located approximately 30 minutes from the city in the village of Lyubimovka. It is a sandy beach with hundreds of tourists in the summer. Another nice beach is Uchkuyevka. You can get there by taking the ferry (parom in Russian) from the city centre to Severnaya and then a short ride by marshrutka. The beaches are relatively crowded but frequented mainly by locals {and Russians who feel like locals too :)
The city of Balaklava is approximately 45 minutes away and popular for its underground submarine port that is now a tourist site.
[wiki=add9efd4b490c9d4098db3462042a50d]de:Sewastopol[/wiki]
[[WikiPedia:Sevastopol]]
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