This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Simferopol. To help you make friends with Simferopol before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Simferopol is a nice city with some interesting sights (the Theater and the Crimean Parliament building), but its location makes it great! It is less than seventy kilometers from Bakhchisaray, Alushta, Alupka, Yalta, Sevastopol, Balaclava, Eupatoria, and Sudak and is a great base for a tour to these cities, especially if you manage to book a cheap hostel in Simferopol (many of the other cities do not have hostels).
Hostels in Simferopol are located near the train station, which is just ten minutes on foot to the center. Most hostels in Simferopol operate only in the summer. There are not many sights in the city itself as most sights are in the center. Nightlife in Simferopol is quite good, as there are many clubs and bars (though most of them only in the summer) and prices are moderate. Everything is written in Russian, so basic understanding of Cyrillic is very, very essential. There is an airport with a few lines, which are also quite expensive. You practically do not need public transportation because your Simferopol hostel, the train station, and the center are within fifteen minutes on foot.
Simferopol does not have a beach -- the closest beach is about forty kilometers away. The city has good, cheap restaurants where you can try local food. You can travel extremely cheaply on the elektrichka (an electrical, multiple-unit passenger train) to the closest cities; Simferopol has superb connections with all these cities, as well as major Ukrainian cities, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.
Written by local enthusiast for Simferopol hostels
George Traveller
