Stand on Nakhimov Square and the city arranges itself around you: the admiral on his pedestal, the wide spine of ulitsa Sovietska running inland, and the granite steps of the Count's Landing Stage dropping into the water a short walk away. Sevastopol is a naval port first and a resort second, and its sights reflect that order.
This guide suits travellers interested in the Crimean War, the World War II siege, ancient Greek settlement and the Black Sea itself. It covers the central squares and museums, the archaeological site at Chersonesus, and the memorial landscape around Sapun Gora.
Top things to do in Sevastopol
1. Nakhimov Square
The central city square, with the monument to Admiral Pavel Nakhimov at its middle. Nakhimov commanded at the Sinop battle and led the first defence of Sevastopol, and the square named for him is the natural starting point for a walk through the centre.
Pair it with the Count's Landing Stage, which is close by, and continue along ulitsa Sovietska, the spine of the main section of the city, where you will also find the large statue of Lenin with soldiers, peasants and workers.
2. Count's Landing Stage
The grand sea gates to the city, with granite steps going down to the water. Its image has become an emblem of Sevastopol, and the whole history of the city from its foundation to the present is bound up with this monument.
Boat excursions on the bay leave from here, and most take about 30 minutes. This is a good way to see the harbour and the city from the water before walking it.
3. Chersonesus
The Greek city of Chersonesus Taurica, where Vladimir the Great, the first leader of the Kievan Rus to convert to Christianity, was baptised. On the site are various Byzantine basilicas, including a famous one with marble columns, and the foggy bell, made of melted-down Turkish cannons in the late 1700s, taken to Paris after the Crimean War and returned in 1914. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Signs telling you what is what are few, and visitors tend to swarm over the ancient monuments, so go with patience rather than a checklist. Consider bringing swimming gear, as locals do, because there is a narrow but beautiful beach in the grounds.
4. Chersonesus Cathedral
The Neo-Byzantine cathedral on the site, commemorating the presumed place of St. Vladimir's baptism, which according to legend and historic facts took place in Chersonesus in 988. The idea of immortalising the place of the Baptism of the Holy Prince was first put forward in 1825 by the Black Sea Fleet Chief, vice-admiral Alexey Greig, and excavations at the site followed in 1827.
Visit it as part of the same trip as the Chersonesus site itself, since the two belong together and the cathedral stands within the grounds.
5. Panorama
A museum depicting the siege of Sevastopol from the Russian point of view, presented like a diorama but considerably more impressive. A huge circular canvas of about 2,000 m² serves as the backdrop, with props such as cannons and models of redoubts in the foreground.
The narration is in Russian, but you can hire an audioguide in English or French. Allow enough time to take in the canvas properly rather than treating it as a quick stop.
6. Sapun Gora
A park with war memorials, focused on the battles of the World War II siege of Sevastopol. Within it you can visit the Valley of Death, where the Charge of the Light Brigade occurred.
You can also visit nearby Balaklava on the same outing, the site of another famous battle and an interesting little town, formerly a secret Russian submarine base.
7. St. Vladimir Cathedral
Built in the aftermath of the Crimean War as a memorial to the heroes of the Siege of Sevastopol of 1854–1855, with a dome rising to 32.5 m and a Neo-Byzantine design. The marble-clad interior was decorated by a team of Swiss and Italian artists, and the names of the heroes of the 1850s siege are inscribed on the walls.
The cathedral was the site of the tombs of the Russian Imperial admirals Lazarev, Nakhimov, Kornilov and Istomin, which were destroyed by the Soviets in 1931, and the church sustained further damage in the Second World War. From the top of the Central City Hill where the cathedral stands, you can admire the view of Sevastopol harbour.
8. Monument to the Scuttled Ships
Built in 1905 and erected in the sea on Primorsky Boulevard, in memory of the Russian ships scuttled here to block the entrance into Sevastopol harbour and port. It is a world-famous symbol of the city.
It sits on Primorsky Boulevard, so combine it with a walk along the waterfront rather than making a separate journey.
9. The Black Sea Fleet Museum
The museum reflects the history of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia from the very beginning to the present, covering the city's foundation, the 1850s Crimean War, the 1905 and 1917 Revolutions and World War II. It holds a great number of rarities of big educational value from the 18th to 20th centuries, and there is a small exhibition of Russian and Soviet weapons outside the building.
It is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on the last Friday of every month. A couple of doors further down ulitsa Lenina is the Church of the Black Sea Fleet, which is easy to add to the same visit.
10. Monument to Catherine II
The Empress Catherine II of Russia founded Sevastopol in 1783 and visited the city in 1787 accompanied by Joseph II, the Emperor of Austria, and other foreign dignitaries. The monument marks that founding role.
It fits naturally into a walk around the central squares, so see it alongside Nakhimov Square and the Count's Landing Stage.
11. Aquarium-Museum
In the centre of Sevastopol on Nakhimov Avenue, in a classical white building of the Institute of the Biology of the Southern Seas of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It was founded in 1897, and expeditions by the institute's scientists all over the world, including the famous Cousteau crew, continue to supply it with new exhibits.
In the central basin, 2.5 m deep and 9.2 m in diameter, live inhabitants of the Black Sea: spurdog shark, beluga, sturgeons, big skates and sea bears. The twelve wall aquariums, 7 m³ each, hold fish, tortoises, shellfish, seaweeds and corals from all seas and oceans of the world, including rare fauna from the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Black, Mediterranean and Red seas, as well as reptiles and amphibians from different parts of the world.
12. Dolphinarium
The Sevastopol Dolphinarium in Artillery Bay is in the city centre. Performances are held daily, and the dolphins do various tricks; the show of seals is diverse and has many comic numbers, while the dolphin show is based on various combinations of trainers swimming with dolphins.
The Dolphinarium works in summer time only, and in winter it is moved to the main pool in Kazachiya Bay. After the performance, those who wish can take photos with the animals and swim in a small pool with dolphins at extra cost.
13. The Sevastopol Art Museum
One of the richest art collections in the Crimea, on Prospekt Nakhimov. Although it was not organised until 1927, its history could be dated further back, to the first days following the end of the Civil War in Crimea.
It displays about 8,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and items of decorative and applied art of different times and countries. It sits on Prospekt Nakhimov, the same avenue as the theatre and the aquarium, so the three can be strung together.
14. Sevastopol Lunacharsky Theatre
The Sevastopol Academic Russian Dramatic A. Lunacharsky Theatre was founded in 1911. During the October Revolution and the Civil War of 1917–1920, Sevastopol was a refuge for the intellectuals of the ruined Russian empire; in 1920 the revolutionary committee took hold of the city and gave the theatre the name of the people's commissar of education, Anatoly Lunacharsky.
The original building was destroyed during the Second World War, and a group of architects from Moscow headed by V. Pelevin designed a new building in classic style, opened in the fall of 1957 on Primorsky Boulevard. The theatre also stages summer performances at the remains of the ancient 4th-century BC amphitheatre inside the Chersonesus Taurica National Preserve.
15. Monument to Lenin
The monument stands inside Lenin Park, in front of St. Vladimir Cathedral. It is a short stop rather than a destination in itself.
Because it is directly in front of the cathedral, see it in the same visit as St. Vladimir Cathedral and the view over the harbour from the top of the Central City Hill.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at Nakhimov Square, then walk the short distance to the Count's Landing Stage and take a boat excursion on the bay, most of which last about 30 minutes. Continue along ulitsa Sovietska to the Monument to Catherine II.
Afternoon. Head to Chersonesus and its cathedral, giving the site proper time rather than rushing the basilicas and the foggy bell. If the weather is warm, the narrow beach in the grounds is worth the detour.
Evening. Return to the centre for the Monument to the Scuttled Ships on Primorsky Boulevard, then finish at the Sevastopol Lunacharsky Theatre, also on Primorsky Boulevard.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Dolphinarium open?
Performances are held daily, but the Dolphinarium works in summer time only. In winter it is moved to the main pool in Kazachiya Bay.
When is the Black Sea Fleet Museum closed?
It is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on the last Friday of every month.
Is there an English-language option at the Panorama?
The narration is in Russian, but you can hire an audioguide in English or French.
What should I bring to Chersonesus?
Consider bringing swimming gear, as the locals do, because there is a narrow but beautiful beach in the grounds. Signs explaining the monuments are few, so plan to read up beforehand.
Decide which of these you want most, check the days the museums are open, and start shaping your days around the harbour.