Now the Yalta area – the city of Yalta itself, and the surrounding towns, scattered across the slopes of Bear Mountain (Gurzuf) and Cat Mountain (Simeiz) – is once more the heart of the Crimea’s tourist industry.

Visitors flock in their thousands to see the wonders of Yalta: the trolley-bus ride across the mountains from Simferopol to Yalta (at two and a half hours long, it’s the longest trolley-bus route on Earth), the magnificent palaces of the Swallow’s Nest, the Vorontsov mansion and the legendary Bachi Sarai, the luxurious hotels and spa complexes, the golden beaches, the rugged hills and the sweet wines of the Crimea. From 11 April onwards, travellers from Riga will be able to join them on the direct flight to Simferopol and see the warmth and beauty of this historical jewel themselves.

Flights from Riga to Simferopol will depart twice per week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. One-way tickets will start at LVL 59 (EUR 84), including airport taxes.