Walk Through Layers of Ancient Crimea at Scythian Neapolis
On the outskirts of present-day Simferopol, the ruins of Scythian Neapolis rise from the earth—a settlement that thrived from the end of the 3rd century BC until the mid-3rd century AD. This was the center of power for the Crimean Scythian tribes, a fortified city with strong defensive walls and public buildings ordered in Greek architectural style, home to a mixed Scythian-Greek population. Walking among these archaeological remains, you stand where Skilurus and Palacus once ruled a kingdom stretching between the lower Dnieper and Crimea. The site speaks clearly of its violent end: destroyed by the Goths in the 3rd century AD, its stones now scattered as evidence of a civilization that commanded the peninsula for centuries.
Lenin Square and the Central Market: Where the City Gathers
Lenin Square is where Simferopol's everyday life unfolds. Skateboarders cut through the plaza in the evenings, live concerts animate the space, and locals gather here for New Year celebrations and political events. It is not a square that broadcasts monuments or grand claims—instead it shows you how the city actually works, what matters to people who live here.
From Lenin Square, drift toward the Central Market (Centralny Rynok), where the range of goods—fresh produce, clothing, hardware—reflects the city's practical character. This is the best place to shop and to find skidkas (Ukrainian for "discount"), where you can move through stalls and encounter what locals themselves buy and sell each day.
The Train Station and Routes Beyond
The Train Station is a building worth seeing for its own architectural grace, and it serves a practical purpose: it is the city's major transportation hub and the logical starting point for excursions beyond Simferopol. If you choose to explore Crimean caves, you depart from here. Take a minibus from the railway station to the end stop Perevalnoe—a three-hour journey that deposits you near two major cave systems. Walk 3 km to the Red Cave, or take a taxi 11 km up a nearby mountain to the Marble Cave, discovered in 1987. A full tour of the Marble Cave takes 80 minutes and is worth the time and cost.
Parks, Animals, and Ancient Oak Trees
Kid's Park, located at 57 Kirova Avenue, is a place to relax with family, complete with a small amusement park and Ferris wheel, cotton candy stands, and refreshments. The real draw, however, is the giant oak called "Hercules Tauris"—600 to 750 years old, with a trunk circumference of about 6 meters and a crown diameter of 30 meters. Smaller oaks nearby range from 300 to 500 years old, their massive limbs a reminder of centuries of growth on the peninsula.
Within the same park grounds, the Zoo (Zoopark) houses more than 300 animal species: camels, deer, bears, wolves, jaguars, leopards, monkeys, and bison. Though it does not meet Western standards, it provides genuine entertainment for both children and adults. You can purchase cups of grain at the entrance to feed the animals. The Aquarium, also on the park premises, contains about 10 species of turtles, 3 to 4 species of snakes, amphibians, fish, and a few crocodiles.
Museum of Arts and Seasonal Activities
The Museum of Arts, at 35 Dolgorukovskaya Street, holds two permanent exhibitions: one of local art including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and photographs from the museum of Aachen; the other rotating monthly exhibitions on different subjects. It opens Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
Simferopol's climate shapes what you can do seasonally. In summer, when temperatures can exceed 45°C, a stroll through the park becomes essential—horse riding, boating, and feeding ducks offer respite. In winter, when temperatures can drop to -25°C in late January and February, skiing at Ai Petri provides a dramatic escape from the city center, while a skating rink operates within town.
The city offers enough to occupy a visitor who looks beyond the surface. Start with Scythian Neapolis to understand what stood here before modern Simferopol, then move through Lenin Square and the Central Market to feel how the city functions today. The ancient oaks at Kid's Park and the caves beyond the city limits reward the effort to venture outward.