Autonomous Republic of Crimea · Russia
Kerch travel guide
Kerch is a city in Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Russia, home to about 151,000 people.
- Best months
- May, June, August and September
- Nearest airport
- GDZ148 km · Gelendzhik Airport
- Currency
- RUBRussian ruble
- Time zone
- Europe/Moscow
- Language
- Abaza, Adyghe, Aghul
About
About Kerch
Archeological digs in the area reveal it had already been inhabited in 17th–15th centuries BC. The city's history began in the 7th century BC, when Greek colonists from Miletus founded the city-state Panticapaeum on Mount Mithridates, near the mouth of the Melek-Chesme river. Panticapaeum subdued nearby cities and by 480 BC became a capital of the Kingdom of Bosporus. Later, during the rule of Mithradates VI Eupator, Panticapaeum for a short period of time became the capital of the much more powerful and extensive Kingdom of Pontus.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kerch to stay in
There are several hotels in the city. There are summer resorts in the suburbs. In summer season many of the locals offer a house, flat or a room for rent.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Kerch
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kerch are May, June, August and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; June is the wettest, with about 51 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kerch: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Gelendzhik Airport (GDZ), about 148 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
There are long-distance sleeper trains from Moscow (24–28 hours). Also Kerch has regional train connections with Simferopol and Dzhankoy. Though these regional trains are cheap they are also slow. The main airport of Crimea is in Simferopol (220 km west of Kerch).
Getting around
All places near the city center are accessible by foot walk. If you need to get to a distant district or a sea beach on the outskirts then marshutka buses are your best friends. The price is usually written on a paper sheet inside the bus. There are trolleybus lines in Kerch that connect Kerch Central Bus Station (Avtovokzal) with Kerch Train Terminal and Voykov Metal Works factory. There are always a few cabs available at Kerch Central Bus Station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
GDZ · Gelendzhik Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kerch
Eat
There is a wide selection of restaurants, cafe on the high street & around, although not all of them are open until late. You can choose from a wide range of fresh fish. Smoked gobies (bychki vyalenye) is one of the most popular dishes, particularly good with beer. At autumn & winter salted anchovy is available on the market.
Drink
Crimea region is famous for its wines. Local wine stores offer a wide range of original Crimean wines. Most famous local wine brands: Massandra, Inkerman, Magarach, Novy Svet, Koktebel.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kerch: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kerch?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kerch are May, June, August and September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; June is the wettest, with about 51 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Kerch?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Gelendzhik Airport (GDZ), about 148 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Kerch?
Russian ruble (RUB).
Nearby
Destinations near Kerch
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.