Simferopol: Location in the Interior of Crimea

• Simferopol lies inland on the Crimean Peninsula.
• The city is the peninsula’s administrative center and transport hub.
• Plains lie to the north, with mountain and coastal regions to the south.
• Yalta, Sevastopol, and Koktebel are other places in Crimea associated with the coast and its landscapes.
• Under international law, Crimea is part of Ukraine; Russia has exercised de facto control since 2014.
• According to the UK Foreign Office, foreign nationals are currently unable to enter or leave Crimea.

The peninsula stretches from the northern interior to mountain and coastal regions in the south. Simferopol lies in the transition zone between these landscapes, while Yalta and Sevastopol are associated with the southern coast and Koktebel with the eastern part. Crimea therefore encompasses a variety of geographical regions; the city and the peninsula are not one and the same.

Regional routes converge in Simferopol, connecting the northern interior with the southern mountain and coastal regions. The Caucasus region lies east of Crimea, across the Kerch Strait; Moscow’s airports serve the mainland metropolis far to the north.

Under international law, Crimea belongs to Ukraine; Russia exercises de facto control over the peninsula. The situation on the ground must therefore be distinguished from its internationally recognized territorial status.

Ukrainian airspace is closed, and entry and exit take place by land. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Crimea and states that foreign nationals are currently unable to enter or leave.

Simferopol lies inland on the peninsula; Feodosia is on the east coast and has historical ties to a port. Airports in Russia include Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo serving the capital, Moscow, as well as Pulkovo near St. Petersburg.

The coastal towns of Yalta and Sevastopol lie south of Simferopol, while Koktebel is on the east coast. Crimea lies between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov; steppes characterize the north, while the Crimean Mountains and a narrow coastal lowland shape the south. Kyiv lies on the Dnipro River; the Perekop Isthmus connects the peninsula to the mainland between Karkinitska Bay and Sivash (Ukraine).

Under Ukrainian regulations, foreign nationals need a passport and special permission from the competent authority among the entry documents required to enter Crimea through designated checkpoints. These legal document requirements are distinct from the actual ban on entering and leaving.

With airspace closed, land is the only way to enter or leave Ukraine. Information about getting there and transportation and travel planning applies to destinations in the country that can be reached. Accommodation is only an option for a place that is actually accessible.

What is Feodosia’s geographical setting?

Feodosia lies on Crimea’s east coast and has historical ties to a port.