General information about Crimea
PASSPORT AND VISA REGULATIONS
Crimea is part of the Russian Federation. Therefore, you need to apply for a Russian visa to visit Crimea.
Visit our dedicated page “How to get to Crimea” for more information.
ARRIVAL IN CRIMEA
Trolleybus and bus services are operated between Simferopol and Ivan Aïvazovski International Airport on a regular schedule. Trolleybuses et buses depart to and from the airport every 30-45 minutes. The drive between the airport and Simferopol takes about 45 minutes. For departing flights, it is recommended that you take a bus leaving at least 2.5 hours before your scheduled departure. It is possible to arrange a hotel pickup. Taxi services are available to and from the airport. There are also comfortable express buses leaving from the airport to the main cities.
MEANS OF PAYMENT
You can withdraw cash at ATMs or a bank using your bank card. Bank cards are accepted at major hotels, health resorts, as well as the airport, railway, and bus terminal ticket offices, supermarkets, sales outlets of major retail networks, restaurants, and many cafes. However, it is strongly recommended that you have cash on you while staying in Crimea.
Although the situation is improving, due to international sanctions, foreign means of payment might not work in some places. On our website, we try to specify when foreign means of payment work, for a trip with peace of mind.
LANGUAGE
According to the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea, there are three officials languages: Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar. Russian is the most common language. Tourism professionals are speaking more and more English, especially in major destinations.
MEDICAL ATTENTION
Pharmacies are called “Apteka” (Аптека) and are open during normal business hours. Only a few are open at night. Medical Care can be obtained by visiting a private clinic during opening hours.
Medical help: There is a medical center or hospital in all major cities and towns in Crimea. The emergency phone number (24 hours) in Crimea is 112 and the ambulance phone is 103.
Health insurance: Although emergency treatment is provided in any region across Russia without documents and free of charge, including foreign nationals, you must have valid travel health insurance. Be careful, most insurance companies do not cover the Crimea peninsula. We have prepared, together with our partners, special travel and medical insurance for you.
Special vaccinations are not required to enter Crimea.
FLAG
The flag is a triband, striped horizontally in blue–white–red. The colors are symbolic for Crimea: Blue is for the belief in a better future, White recalls the color of the present, the symbol of freedom, community, independence, and equality of all cultures and peoples living on the unified territory of Crimea, Red represents the memory of the tragic and heroic past.
POPULATION
2,340,000. Mean age: 40 years.
CAPITAL CITY
Simferopol. The largest municipalities within the Crimean peninsula are Sevastopol (393,00), Simferopol (332,00), Kerch (147,000), Yevpatoria (106,000), and Yalta (77,000).
GOVERNMENT
The Republic of Crimea on one hand, and the federal city of Sevastopol on the other. They are 84th and 85th Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation.
CURRENCY
The Russian ruble –RUB.
TIME
Crimea is on Moscow Standard Time (MSK) +0300 GM all year round.
USEFUL WEBSITES
- POST OFFICE (ru)
- CRIMEAN RAILWAY (ru)
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
- Emergency number: 112
- Police: 102
- Medical assistance – Ambulance: 103
