Over 500 vehicles are jammed on the Crimean bridge.
For many Russians, the summer holiday season is an exciting time to visit popular destinations like Crimea and Sochi. However, travelling during this period can come with its own set of challenges, including long journeys, overnight stays, poor roads, and massive traffic jams. To help you navigate these issues, we've gathered expert advice to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable trip.
1. **Travel outside peak times:** To avoid the heavy traffic that characterises routes to southern resorts like Crimea and Sochi, try to start your journey very early in the morning or late at night. Weekend and public holiday congestion periods should be particularly avoided.
2. **Choose less popular days:** Avoid travelling on Fridays, Sundays, or public holidays. Mid-week travel usually has less traffic.
3. **Use alternate routes:** Major highways to Crimea and Sochi tend to get gridlocked. Researching and taking secondary routes or less congested roads can help bypass traffic jams.
4. **Check live traffic updates:** Use GPS navigation apps with real-time traffic information to dynamically reroute and avoid accidents or roadworks that can cause delays.
5. **Prepare for border/checkpoint delays:** Due to current military and security concerns in the region, checkpoints and border crossings around Crimea might slow down traffic significantly. Factor extra time and monitor any official advisories before departure.
6. **Avoid travel during ongoing military activities:** Given the ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine in summer 2025, especially near the southern directions and border areas, it's advisable to stay informed about security situations that might affect travel safety and road access.
7. **Plan rest stops wisely:** Major rest areas can be overcrowded during the peak season, so plan stops at less frequented locations.
8. **Consider alternative transport or splitting the trip:** If possible, consider using train or fly segments to avoid road traffic, or split the drive over multiple days to avoid fatigue and stress.
The M4 "Don" highway is often the fastest and most comfortable option for traveling to Crimea. Motorists can expect to wait around two hours to cross the Crimean Bridge. Traffic on the Crimean Bridge has resumed, as announced in a Telegram channel about the operational situation at the crossing.
[1] Gazeta.Ru explored the nuances of travelling to the sea during the summer holiday season and offered solutions to avoid headaches and the threat of drones.
[3] These strategies align with general travel advice for summer holiday routes and take into account recent regional military developments that could impact road conditions and safety.
- For those planning to travel by car during the summer holiday season, it might be wise to consider alternative transportation such as trains or flights to avoid heavy road traffic.
- In the automotive industry, selecting a vehicle with real-time traffic information systems can significantly reduce travel-related stress, especially during peak holiday periods like summer.
- To maintain a comfortable lifestyle and reduce anxiety while traveling during the summer holiday season, it could be beneficial to make financial arrangements for train or flight tickets in advance.
