Most people use the local mini buses, very cheap and lots of them. Some you pay for when you get on board and some when you get off, which is slightly confusing at times! Taxis are everywhere; some are genuine, and some are just people offering you a ride for a fare. Speaking English means the fare goes up, but it is still very reasonable, so learn to haggle - if the price is too high walk away as there will always be someone else to barter with.
Yalta is a city that is spread out over a large area Greater Yalta. The centre and harbor is a great place to walk around, but just beware of the local drivers as they tend not to give way for pedestrians. Traffic in the city in the summer months is heavy and you can be stuck in a jam if you go by a motor vehicle. Sometimes you may find it is much quicker to walk. The locals always dress up and walk around the harbor front at night - it's a great way to pass the evening away, or you can watch the people go by by enjoying a drink at one of many cafes. The waterfront is well over a mile long - from McDonald's on the East end to the Hotel Oreanda on the West. Walk the length to choose your beach, which will be somewhat "rocky".
You can also use the ferries to visit better beaches or Swallows Nest famous folly perched on a cliff and now an Italian restaurant. Luxury cruise ships visit Yalta during the summer, on their way around the Black Sea, which is certainly a nice way to travel.
