Koktebel is a small urban-type settlement on the picturesque Black Sea coast, surrounded by amazingly beautiful panoramas of the Karadag mountain massif, Planernaya Mountain and steppe mountains covered with vineyards. Magnificent nature, incredible atmosphere and attractions of Koktebel made it a favorite place of rest for many people who are not indifferent to beauty, who love interesting, active rest.
It is called «the land of blue hills», «the country of blue peaks», the cultural center of Crimea, the place where you can meet most of all people drawn to the natural nature — nudists, hippies and other bright personalities. This is one of the most famous Ukrainian resorts, because vacation in Koktebel is always unforgettable and leaves all guests a lot of pleasant impressions.
Kimmeria — the ancestor settlement of Koktebel, often acts as its middle name even today. This fabulously beautiful place was favored by people back in ancient times, although traces of such ancient times can not be found here today. Life was quiet and unnoticed here in the Middle Ages, and Koktebel became famous after Crimea was annexed to the Russian Empire.
Koktebel was formed from Bulgarian, Russian, Greek farmsteads Barakol, Kordon and Armutluk, as well as a dacha settlement near the bay and the village of Koktebel. Active development of the village began in the XIX century, when it gradually became a popular vacation destination for intellectuals — writers, poets, artists and other representatives of creative thought. The land near the coast, sold by local landowner E.A. Yunge, turned into paradise country plots, and when one of them was purchased by artist and poet M. Voloshin, built on it a house of amazing architecture, Koktebel thanks to the loud names of the poet’s guests became considered the cultural center of Crimea.
Why rest in Koktebel so attracted Marina Tsvetaeva, Alexei Tolstoy, Nikolai Gumilev and many other famous people? Why did this small village so liked M. Voloshin that he decided to stay in it to live? The answers to these questions can be seen in the beauty of the local nature, pleasant mild climate, amazing atmosphere of closeness to nature, its purity and virginity. The main attractions of Koktebel — its natural treasures, scattered here and there on low hills, as if shrouded in a bluish haze, over the smooth calm waters, and even felt in the air, attract both more than 100 years ago and today, both representatives of creative intelligentsia and ordinary people.
To the west of Koktebel the ancient volcano Karadag, the contemplation of which takes the breath away from artists and connoisseurs of the beauty of nature. The slopes of Karadag are covered with dense forests of rare and beautiful species of trees — blunt-pollinated pistachio, tall juniper, purple skumpia and many others. The nature of Karadag is invaluable — it is the richest flora and fauna, in which there are endangered species of animals and plants. For its preservation in 1979 the Karadag Nature Reserve was established here, where thousands of tourists who want to admire the amazing scenery come every year.
The sights such as Chameleon Cape, changing its color at sunrise and sunset, picturesque Silent Bay, towering over the sea Golden Gate. The nature of local places is characterized by bright, unusual beauty, which is long remembered by everyone who has been here at least once.
Today, Koktebel offers recreation for every taste. Here you can bask under the rays of the sun on the beach or in a modern water park, walk along the picturesque mountain slopes, ride on any kind of water transport, recover in spas, as well as visit such attractions of Koktebel as a dolphinarium, vintage wines and brandies factory, dom-museum of M.A. Voloshin, Museum of gliding, Museum of Nature Karadag. And summer vacation in Koktebel is also a great opportunity to visit such famous festivals as «Jazz-Koktebel» and «Velvet Tango».
For all those wishing to escape from the bustle of the city, enjoy the beautiful sea and admire the pristine nature of Koktebel will really be one of the best vacation destinations.