Miles of natural sand beaches secured Yevpatoria's fate as an escapist resort. Spread along the nothern shore of Kalamita Bay, Yevpatoria is fast becoming a desirable destination - not only for Ukrainian ana Russian seaside holidaymakers, but for European spa junkies who are in the know. Things can get packed in the summer, but out of season there is no better place in the country for an affordable and relaxing spa holiday. Compared with southern coast, this is still very much a quiet town and far less expensive.

Th boardwalk and high-rise hotels should not detract from the town's cultural relics: the Dzhuma-Dzhami Mosque, the Karaim Kenassa and the old imperial Russian resorts. Enjoy the beach! Kalmita Bay is one of the calmer spots on the Black Sea. Most transport goes to Solnyshko Beach. Yevpatoria's old city features the crazy winding streets od a Middle Eastern medina - definitely fun to wander through. The city also has several nice parks and squares. On Yevpatoria's main street of Revolyutsii stands the Dzhuma-Dzhami- a working mosque returned to Crimean Tatar ownership in 1990. The original sructure was built in 16th century and it is here that the Crimean khans were crowned.

The minarets and Sufi-inspired designare amazingly well preserved and it's the symbol of the Yevpatoria today. Not far away is the Tekiye Dervishes Monastery with a similary distinctive spiritual architecture and mysterious past. The old Turkish bathhouse has remained from the days of the sultan and is open to visitors. Yevpatoria also contains one of the last remaining buildings of the Karaims, the non-Talmudic Crimean Jewish nation. The Karaim Kenassa is an assebbly of holy building and arcades built by Karaim in 19th century. For an insight into local history and culture, check out the Museum of Yevpatoria.