Crimean parks: where to walk, relax and recreate

Most of the famous Crimean parks, laid out in the 19th century by famous gardeners of that time, adorn the South Coast. However, the beautiful landscape attractions of this kind are also in other regions of the peninsula. We will tell you more about them. 

Alupka Park 

Alupka Park surrounds the Vorontsov Palace, that is why it is also called the Vorontsov Park. It was created by the main gardener of the South Coast Karl Kebach in 1824-1851. The talented German botanist turned almost 40 hectares of land into a masterpiece of landscape art. Today, about 200 species of plants and bushes, including exotic ones, grow here. There are Swan, Trout and Mirror Lakes, as well as many fountains and glades. And there are also the famous piles of stones − Big and Small Chaos − they are very popular with tourists. 

Nikitsky Botanical Garden 

Nikitsky Botanical Garden appeared on the South Coast in 1812. For more than two centuries, it has grown, acquired and preserved unique plants that are no longer encountered anywhere. This object of landscape gardening art gained fame thanks to the arboretum, located on an area of about 40 hectares. Here you can see roses, daylilies, cannas, a 1000-year-old olive, a tulip tree, and much more. There is also an amusement park, a green labyrinth and a cactus greenhouse. 

Livadia Park 

Another landscape masterpiece of the 19th century is the park, laid out around the Livadia Palace.  It was created by E. Delinger, the famous gardener of the time. The territory is almost 48 hectares, about 400 species of trees and shrubs grow here. Among them there are wisteria, sequoia, cedars, pines and much more. There are several fountains, pavilions and gazebos in the park where you can take a walk and take memorable photos. 

Haraks Park

The park was laid out in the second half of the 19th century around the famous Haraks (Charax) Palace. It is located on Cape Ay-Todor (St. Theodoros) at an altitude of 40-60 meters above sea level and has an area of 17.5 hectares. More than 200 species of bush and trees grow there, some of them reach the age of 1000 years. 

The picturesque Utyos (cliff) − Karasan Park is on the Black Sea coast, between Cape Plaka and Parthenit. This is a natural landmark and a magnificent example of landscape gardening art of the 19th century end.  Today Utyos and Karasan are combined in one natural landscape complex with a total area of 23 hectares. During a walk along it you can see and visit two architectural monuments: the palace of Princess Gagarina and the Rayevsky estate. 

Massandra Park

This incredibly beautiful landscape area is the green "decoration" of the Emperor Alexander III Palace. The park covers an area of almost 42 hectares. More than 250 species of various plants grow there, including cedar, oak, bamboo, pistachio, magnolia, bristlecone fir, insignis pine, bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and others. There are alleys in the park with flower beds and sculptures in the antique style.  

Miskhor Park

Miskhor Park is one of the most beautiful and oldest in Crimea, it was laid at the end of the 18th century. It occupies an area of 20 hectares in the village of Miskhor. About 100 species of plants grow there, including exotic ones: pistachio (turpentine tree), bamboo, oleander, palm trees, Arizona cypress and others. In the park there is a bronze Mermaid, a light and music fountain and the fountain "Arzy maiden and Ali Baba the robber". And there is an amazing mosaic, which delights locals and tourists with its colorful patterns.  

Miskhor ParkForos Park  

It occupies almost 70 hectares of Foros (Phoros) village in Greater Yalta. By the types and number of plants, shrubs and trees it could compete with the botanical garden, while in terms of beauty it is not inferior to many famous parks of the South Coast. The central part of the park – "Paradise" – is especially popular. The main "hit" of the park is a number of small ponds, interconnected by small waterfalls. 

KFU Botanical Garden 

The Botanical Garden of the Crimean Federal University is one of the largest parks in Simferopol. Its area is about 42 hectares. In the botanical garden there are: beautiful rose garden, iridary and syringaria, ornamental and rare plants, centuries-old oaks, a bicentennial London plane tree and much more attractions. This is a great place for relaxing, walking, photo sessions. 

Paradise Park 

The Pearl of Parthenit is the fabulously beautiful Paradise Park. It occupies 25 hectares on the steep slopes of the Kuchuk-Lambat (small lighthouse) Bay amphitheater, on the territory of the Aivazovskoyeh Resort.  The park stands up to its heavenly name. Babbling streams, fountains, pools, lakes, gazeboes, sculptures, statues and much more attractions wait for the visitors. But the main thing there is the delightfully crisp air, with scent of flowers, olives and coniferous needles. Just to have a walk here is a real pleasure, do not deprive yourself of it!