Krim

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Krim
<map lat='44.9' lng='34.1' zoom='9' view='0' />
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Information
Country:
Flag of Russia
 Russia
State: Crimea
Major roads: A290, R260
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Crimean Peninsula (Russian: Крымский полуостров) is a peninsula located between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and de facto became part of Russia in 2014. According to most countries of the world, it is considered an occupied territory of Ukraine, and has important entry features for travelers with different passports.

Hitchhiking in

From Russia

  • Simferopol Airport stopped operating flights in 2022. The nearest functioning airport is in Sochi.
  • Trains to Crimea (via the Kerch Bridge) are organized by companies other than Russian Railways (RZhD), exempting RZhD from international sanctions. These can be easily found via Yandex search. There are no train services from Ukraine.
  • Crimean sea ports cannot accept foreign vessels as they are located on “occupied territory.” The ferry between Kerch and Port Kavkaz is not operational since the bridge opened. The only regular sea transport is now the "Kometa" between Sevastopol and Yalta in summer.
  • On May 16, 2018, the Crimean Bridge was opened for car traffic. On the "Tavrida" highway, at both approaches to the bridge, there are police checkpoints and selective inspections of vehicles and passengers.
  • In 2023, a new overland route for civilian transport from Russia to Dzhankoy opened, passing through the so-called "new territories." Whether to use this route is up to you.

From Ukraine

After entering Crimea from Russia since 2014, it is not allowed to go to mainland Ukraine – this is considered illegal entry, and you can be fined, deported, etc. The only option for citizens of Russia and all other countries (except for Ukraine itself) is to enter Crimea from Russia and leave back to Russia again (i.e., by plane or ferry).

Since December 2014, Ukraine has cancelled all trains and scheduled buses from its territory to Crimea (flights were cancelled since spring 2014). Border crossing is possible on foot or by private vehicle. On both sides, local illegal buses and taxis can take you to the Russian and Ukrainian customs, but you must cross the actual checkpoint and neutral strip on foot.

Adult Ukrainian citizens can travel from mainland Ukraine to Crimea freely, only a passport is needed. However, since June 2015, Ukrainian border guards only allow minors to cross with a Ukrainian international passport or a child’s travel document; birth certificates are not sufficient.

Since June 2015, Ukrainian authorities have banned foreign citizens (except Ukrainians) from crossing from mainland Ukraine to Crimea. The only exception is for those who obtain a special permit from Ukrainian authorities, which is not issued (!) to tourists or visitors except for close relatives. Such a permit is valid for single or multiple entries for up to 1 year.

Importantly, under Ukrainian law, illegal entry into Crimea (i.e., arriving from Russia, not from mainland Ukraine) can be punishable by up to 8 years in prison—but in practice, such cases are usually initiated against politicians, not tourists.

Crossing the Kherson region border with Crimea is only allowed with a restricted amount of food and currency; bringing alcohol, fruit, or cigarettes is strictly prohibited.

More details and references to legislation can be found in the article Ukraine/Entry Rules#Difficulties visiting Crimea.

Roads

Roads in Crimea are of "varying quality." The best-maintained is the South Coast Highway M-18. The road to Kerch is somewhat worse. Roads in steppe Crimea are in poor condition. However, regular bus service exists on all roads, connecting nearby cities as well as to Simferopol. Schedules, routes, and bus stations can be checked at the KrymAvtoTrans website.

Hitchhiking is possible on all paved roads in Crimea, and many unpaved ones. On the coast, many drivers seek to make enough for the year in 3-4 months by giving rides, so it’s best to clarify in advance that you do not intend to pay. Another difficulty of the South Coast Highway is the lack of clear spots and the predominance of local traffic; between Yalta and Alushta, you might change 10 cars to cover a short distance, having trouble finding good hitching spots, and spend hours on the road—while trolleybuses pass every 15 minutes.

In steppe Crimea, however, there are no problems with positions, and it is easy to catch a ride to Simferopol from any junction. So, if you need to get quickly from Alushta to Sevastopol, or from Alushta to Sudak, it is tactically better to go through Simferopol, even though it is a longer distance.

The road from Alushta to Sudak is narrow and unpopular among local drivers; even during the day you can get stuck there for several hours. Note that towns on the coast do not have bypasses, so hitchhikers will need to walk out of town (often uphill and in the heat) or try city hitchhiking directly in the resorts.

The "Tavrida" highway R260 quickly takes you from Taman to Sevastopol, bypassing the cities. It skirts Simferopol on a brand-new northern bypass. Hitchhiking on the highway itself is difficult due to high speeds and narrow shoulders with barriers. It is necessary to flag down cars at acceleration lanes as they enter the highway.

Crimean Bridge

  • The only transport crossing over the Kerch Strait, connecting the Kerch and Taman peninsulas via Tuzla Island and Tuzla Spit.
  • Consists of two parallel bridges—one road (part of A290 (Kerch – Novorossiysk)), and one rail (the Bagerovo – Vyshestebliyevskaya line).
  • With a total length of 19 km, it is the longest bridge ever built by Russia, often called the longest in Europe.
  • Construction began after the internationally unrecognized annexation of Crimea by Russia and the deterioration of Russia–Ukraine relations, necessitating a land link to Crimea independent of Ukraine. The road bridge opened in 2018, the rail bridge in 2019-2020.
  • The bridge is used by Russia to supply its military group during the war in Ukraine. Security is tight on all sides; do not try to stop or take photos on the bridge, or interfere in any way.
  • At both ends of the bridge there are strict police checkpoints; Russian authorities may conduct selective checks on documents and vehicles. During periods of tension, passage may be restricted or blocked, and all people and cars can be searched thoroughly. In summer, massive queues stretching for tens of kilometers have occurred.
  • The current situation on the Crimean Bridge is best checked via Telegram:

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