One of the oldest cities in Crimea, with a rich history dating back to ancient times.
Eupatoria was supposed to be the final destination of our trip to Crimea, but that never happened. The photos you see are not from Eupatoria itself, but from a beach about 40 kilometers northwest of the city, so this is not too much of a stretch—especially since the beaches of western Crimea are similarly sandy.
Why didn’t we decide to stay in Eupatoria? Well, in Google photos the town looked charming, just right for a family vacation with small children. But once we got there, that pleasant impression vanished. It wasn’t even the worst part that the accommodation we were shown looked like something between a Sudanese outhouse and a washing machine box. In that case, we could have politely declined and looked for something else within the same city. What really tipped the balance was the unbelievable number of used syringe needles scattered all over the sidewalks and streets of Eupatoria.
At the time, Eupatoria resembled a kind of post-Soviet Woodstock, so we decided to change our destination to towns in the mountains in the eastern part of the peninsula: Foros, Alupka, Alushta, or Yalta, with an overnight stop in Saky. All the more so since I had been there several times in the 1990s and knew what to expect.
But let’s return to the photos to show that the western part of the Crimean peninsula is not the best choice for swimming or diving enthusiasts. Around Yalta and Foros the beaches are rocky, with numerous granite rocks and small islands. Thanks to this geology, the sea water is very clear, giving underwater visibility similar to that of a mountain stream.
The cliffs you see in the photos, however, are made of ordinary sand, bound together with a yellowish powdery substance. This makes the water as far as about 100 meters from the shore so murky and yellow that you can’t even see your feet when standing knee-deep.
In conclusion: perhaps Eupatoria has changed since then, or perhaps not. Maybe I will never have the chance to find out, given the political situation on the peninsula. But if I were ever again to decide on a vacation in Crimea—or suggest one to someone else—I would recommend towns east of Sevastopol.
And certainly not Eupatoria.
Eupatoria has numerous beaches as well as parks and gardens, making it a popular tourist destination. On the beaches, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as water sports, sunbathing, or seaside walks.
One of the city’s greatest landmarks is the Eni-Kale Fortress, built in the 13th century by the Mongols and later expanded by the Turks. The fortress offers beautiful views of the city and the Black Sea.
In the city, one can also visit the Muslim Juma-Jami Mosque and the Catholic Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
Chersonesos
An ancient city located on the southern coast of Crimea, near today’s city of Sevastopol.
Yalta
A city best known for the historic international conferences that took place there in 1945 during World War II.