From Chekov to Stalin, Russian intelligentsia have been holidaying down in Yalta since anyone can remember. They used to come for the airs thick with the aromas of pine sap and salt, to rejuvenate in sanatoriums, and unwind in their grand dachas. These days, crowds from Moscow still head in, only increasing in size since the Russian takeover of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

The city of Yalta cascades down a series of soft hills covered with woodlands and grassy meadows. It meets the Black Sea in a flurry of crane-topped ports and lively promenades, which come alive during summer evenings with hawkers and dancers and strolling lovers. In the blocks behind the shore is where your Yalta tour guide can reveal the old home of Chekov, the 1900s Armenian Church, and the honorific statue to Vladimir Lenin.

Stretching along the Crimea coast around Yalta is the riviera region that really made the place famous. It's peppered with opulent palaces and old residences, with some architectural creations such as the decorative Swallow's Nest epitomizing the popularity of the area. Above it, high peaks topped with limestone boulders and woodlands are ripe for exploration or you can just ride the gondola to the lookouts on Gora Ay Petri.