About Sevastopol
Sevastopol, which is the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and has a privileged administrative status, entered into the Russian sovereignty on 21 March 2014 along with Crimea. As a result of the referendum held after the political crisis in the region, Crimea and Sevastopol officially joined the Russian territory. Situated on the Crimean Peninsula of the shores of the Black Sea, Sevastopol is the most important port city of the region. Sevastopol Port is one of the few harbors where shipbuilding and military/commercial activities coexist.
The metallurgy, food, and timber industries are other industries in the city. The city, which was called as Akyar in the Ottoman period, had witnessed the fiercest conflicts of the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856. There is a Turkish Cemetery in the city in memory of the martyrs in the battle. The city is an important tourist destination with its Balaklava Bay, coastal restaurants, sights, and entertainment areas. The submarine caverns opposite the gulf are one of the secret headquarters of the Cold War era. These caverns were used as a weapons warehouse and a shelter for giant submarines. The caves continue to exist today as the Cold War Museum. Sevastopol, which had been home to Russian and Ukranian navies for many years, was used as a military base until 1997, when the foreigners were not allowed to enter the city.
The city, where the tourism sector has begun to develop in recent years, has very practical beaches in terms of sea tourism. Sevastopol tries to change the character of the military base, especially with tourism investments. The Crimean War Panorama Museum, Alexander III Mosque, Ancient City of Hersones, Cembalo Castle and Georgievsky Monastery are important tourist attractions in Sevastopol, which is home to numerous museums and outdoor museums. Sevastopol, which has a warm and mild climate, receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. Sevastopol Belbek International Airport is 9 kilometers east of the city center.
Transportation to Sevastopol City Center from Airport
Sevastopol Intl. Airport
Because of being an important harbor city located on the coast of Black Sea, Sevastopol is a highly developed city in terms of water transportation. Passenger transportation is provided by ferries and boats, but an important part of this transportation is military transportation. In Sevastopol, trolleybus, buses and minibuses are the fundamentals of public transportation. In general, almost all of these public transportation alternatives consist of old model vehicles. While minibuses interconnect the short distances, it is possible to reach rural regions with buses.
The bus ticket fares are quite affordable and you make the payment to the driver. The minibuses also called Marshrutka are cheaper than buses but the amount you will pay changes according to the distance.
Trolleybus is another public transportation vehicle that gives a magic touch to the city. It is commonly used and also affordable. You can visit every corner of Sevastopol by preferring trolleybus. If your goal is only a touristic travel, you can also travel around the city by just walking because all of the buildings to be visited are close to each other. In the city center there are also places you can rent bicycles. In nice weathers, you can discover the city center very easily by bicycle.
Taxis are one of the widely-used transportation vehicles in Sevastopol as they are in every city. Not all taxis are equipped with taximeters. For this reason, you may have to bargain for the fare. A little higher amounts can be offered to foreigners. It is best to discuss the fare beforehand and make the payment at the end of the ride. Fares are not too high. At certain point the Black Sea is kind of dividing Sevastopol into two parts and reaches out into the city. In order to avoid loss of time that will occur because of passing around this bay, ferry schedules are arranged between piers built on the two coasts.
Trains are also important vehicles for Sevastopol. The big train station is one of the most magnificent buildings of Sevastopol. The railway system provides more intercity transportation services than urban transportation. By train you can go to Kiev, Kerch, Feodosia or Odessa. The travel lasts more than 10 hours, but it is a memorable experience thanks to the wonderful scenery it offers. Moreover, the ticket fares are low-cost in comparison with the European standards. Since Sevastopol and Yalta are very close to each other, many visitors add Yalta to the list of places to visit. If you have enough time during your travel and want to visit Yalta, you can take a trolleybus or bus. The trolleybus fare is $2 and this route is considered as the longest trolleybus route in the world with a length of 56 kilometers.
The bus fare is 4 dollars. Taxis can also help you if you have limited time and want a quick ride. You will pay approximately 45 dollars from Sevastopol to Yalta. If you want, you can rent a car and make your travel more comfortable.
Although renting a car is not very common and necessary in Sevastopol, you can see the signs of many car rental companies in the city center. Renting a car can be an easy and comfortable alternative, especially if you plan to make short visits to other nearby cities. In Sevastopol, you have to drive on the right lane and have an international driver's license in order to be able to drive. Although Sevastopol has its own international airport having an international flight certificate, it has suspended its flights due to ongoing political problems in the country. Currently, Kiev, Odessa and Simferopol International Airports are being used as an alternative to the Sevastopol Airport, which will be opened again for civil flights in the near future. Transportation from Kiev and Odessa to Sevastopol is provided by trains and buses. The travel lasts about 10 hours. You can also get to Sevastopol from Simferopol by bus or train. Simferopol is about 2.5 hours away from the city. However, when you travel with car, the ride can take up to 1.5 hours. Therefore, car rental is a very attractive alternative to those who prefer Simferopol International Airport.
You can easily get to the city center from Sevastopol Belbek International Airport by renting a car at the airport. Taxis are also another alternative for a comfortable transportation. If you prefer public transportation, you can get on a bus.
Trolleybus
When you go out of the airport, you can see the trolleybus station. Trolleybus route 9 takes passengers to the railway station located in Sevastopol city center.
Taxi
You can see the taxis waiting in front of the arrival terminal of the airport. Taxi fare is well-priced. However, higher fares can be in question for foreigners. That's why you have to determine the fare beforehand. Most of the drivers speak English.
Minibus and Bus
Minibuses and buses are waiting for the passengers in front of the arrival terminal. Minibus routes 49, 50, 98, 113 and 115 are all passing through the city center. If you want to get to know the city's public transportation system closely and feel yourself like one of the citizen of the city, you can choose a different way of transportation. You can get to the Nahimova Square from the airport by getting on the bus route 52. From this square, you can get to the Pivnichna located on the opposite shore by using ferries. You can get to the Sevastopol city center by taking bus routes 36 or 42 from Pivnichna. This route gives you the opportunity to see many points of the city. However, you should remember that the travel lasts about 1 hour.
Car Rental
At Sevastopol Belbek International Airport, you can rent a car appropriate for your budget and have a comfortable transportation vehicle. You can rent your car online before your flight. To get to the city center from the airport you should use the highway H06. The travel lasts about 40 minutes.
