The Nikitsky Botanical Gardens are set on terraced slopes above the sea about 7 km east of Yalta, and are among the oldest and most comprehensive botanical gardens in the former Soviet Union. Founded in 1812, they have spent two centuries accumulating plants from across the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and the Americas, and the result is a remarkably rich garden in a spectacular setting.
The lower terrace has the formal rose garden and ornamental plantings; the upper sections are denser and more naturalistic, with ancient olive trees, cork oaks, a cypress alley, and extraordinary views over the Black Sea through the foliage. The gardens have a good restaurant and cafe for a long afternoon visit. Allow at least two hours; serious plant enthusiasts could easily spend a full day. The spring season (April–May) and rose festival (June) are the best times to visit.