Alushta is a the second largest town on Crimea's South Shore between Sevastopol and Feodosiya (after Yalta) and is one of Crimea's major recreation centers. Its proximity to Simferopol — which has a busy train station and airport — make it a hot destination. It's just an hour's drive over Angarskyy Pass on taxi or minibus.

There is a lot to do in Alushta in the summer months — go to one of many beaches, visit cafes, restaurants, discotheques, and museums, try your hand at sailing or windsurfing, rent a bike, or go horseback riding up Demerdzhi Mt. Alushta is surrounded by Crimea's highest mountains, so nature lovers have a lot to see here.

Unfortunately, I haven't spent much time in the city itself, so my pictures don't capture the vacationers' lifestyle at all.