Kharkiv

Ukraine City Guides: Kharkiv

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Kharkiv Харків

Ukraine's second-largest city
20 miles from the border with Russia
Freedom Square is the largest public square in Europe
Birthplace of many of Ukraine's intellectuals
Notable nationally for the Kharkiv Tractor Factory and Malyshev Tank Factory
Major transport hub into Russia
Founded in 1653
Largest student population in Ukraine

Kharkiv (or Kharkov as it is known in Russian) is the Ukraine's second-largest city, founded in 1653, and with a population of about one and a half million. Kharkiv is located in the far east of the Ukraine, amid the seemingly boundless steppes of the Sloboda region, and only about 30 km from the nearest border with Russia. Kharkiv therefore serves as a major transport hub for travel between the Ukraine and Russia.

Kharkiv is an overwhelmingly industrial city, home to the Kharkiv Tractor Factory and the Mayshev Tank Factory, which supplied tanks for Russia’s effort in the Second World War. For an industrial city, Kharkiv is one of the Ukraine’s most beautiful, particularly in its breadth and spaciousness. Kharkiv is also a lively city, with the largest student population of anywhere in the country. It has a history of providing the Ukraine with many of its best minds. Kharkiv University dates back to 1805.

Kharkiv, Ukraine

Kharkiv is among the steppes of the Sloboda region, which were settled during the 17th century as a result of the authorities offering free land, attracting many migrants from Russia. Kharkiv is today one of the Ukraine’s most Russianized cities, with about 70% of its population being Russian-speaking.

Kharkiv was the stronghold of Soviet power during the Soviet era, and even served as the capital of the capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1919–1934, until it handed the reins back to Kiev.

Kharkiv was captured and lost twice by the Nazis during World War II. It was battered from both sides to the point that only two streets retain pre-War buildings, in stark contrast to Kiev or Donetsk.

Things to Do In Kharkiv

Kharkiv is a city that lends itself more than almost any other to “aimless" wandering as opposed to scheduled sightseeing. However, the following sights are major features of the city that particularly deserve a look.

However, most of Kharkiv's daytime action revolves around the bookshops, cafes and eateries of Sumskaya, Kharkiv's main thoroughfare and one of the few remaining streets with pre-Second World War architecture. Sumskaya is also home to the city's former KGB headquarters.

Freedom Square

Kharkiv Freedom Square is the sixth largest public square in Europe. Kharkiv Freedom Square has a recently restored statue of Lenin. The massive Derzhprom (or Gosprom) Building is another feature of Kharkiv's Freedom Square. The Derzhprom Building was built in the constructivist style in 1928, and was the the most spacious single structure in the world and the tallest in Europe (to be overtaken by New York in the next decade). It is unique in revealing its symmetry only when viewed directly from the center of Freedom Square.
Google Map to Freedom Square

Shevchenko Gardens

Directly south of Freedom Square is Shevchenko Gardens: 25 hectares of central city greenery named after Taras Shevchenko - the 19th century writer and poet from Kharkiv whose work is considered to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature - rather than the former Chelsea and AC Milan striker who's back playing with Dynamo Kiev these days. Shevchenko Gardens adjoins the Kharkiv Zoo
Google Map to Shevchenko Gardens and Kharkiv Zoo

Kharkiv Railway Station

The new-look Kharkiv Railway Station is an imposing buildling originally built in the late 19th century, then rebuilt at the end of the 1980s. The Kharkiv Railway Station courtyard has a fountain with a nightly light show.
Google Map to Kharkiv Railway Station

Kharkiv Historical Museum

The Kharkov Historical Museum is instantly recognizable by the T-34 tank and the four field guns in front of it used by the Red Army in the Second World War. The Kharkov Historical Museum was established in 1920 and covers four broad periods of Ukraine history: primitive society, feudalism, capitalism and the Soviet period. Closed Mondays.
Google Map to Kharkiv Historical Museum

The N. Lysenko National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, Kharkiv

Kharkov Opera and Ballet Theater company was established in 1925. In 1991 it moved into this post-modernist building on Sumskaya Street. The elaborate Fountain Square in front of it was added in 2007. The Theater has a repertoire of about 50 mainly Russian and Ukrainian ballets and operas.
Google Map to N. Lysenko National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

The Kharkiv Museum of Art

The Kharkiv Museum of Art dates from 1805 and has a huge and comprehensive collection, housing over 20,000 items. Among it is a renowned section of 19th century Russian-style Impressionist art, most of it by Ukrainian artists and a lot of impressive old religious-inspired art, including icons. It also includes works of several West European masters, too, notably Albrecht Durer and François Boucher.
Google Map to Kharkiv Museum of Art

Blagoveschensky (Annunciation) Cathedral

The Blagoveschensky (Annunciation) Cathedral (picured above) dates from 1901 and was the only church allowed to remain open to worshippers during the Soviet era. It is the most capacious of Kharkiv’s churches, has five domes, with a 75 meter high bell tower, and is a blend of the Russian and Byzantine in style. The interior is as breathtaking as the red and white stripes of the exterior are quirky, and features 29 beauiful icons.
Google Map to Blagoveschensky Cathedral

Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral

The 18th century, golden-domed Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral on Universitetskaya Street is a gold-domed church built in the late 18th century in the Russian Baroque style, inspired by St. Clement’s Church in Moscow. The almost 90 meter bell tower was added in 1844. It is now used as a performance space for classical music, including organ recitals.
Google Map to Uspensky Cathedral

Pokrovsky Cathedral

Just across Universitetskaya Street and 5 minutes walk north is the Pokrovsky (Protection of the Virgin) Cathedral of the Svyato-Pokrovsky Monastery. The Pokrovsky Cathedral (you guessed it: golden domed) was built in 1689 - and restored in the early 1990s from WWII damage - making it Kharkiv’s oldest religious building. and part of the Pokrovsky Cathedral still serves a religious purpose.
Google Map to Pokrovsky Cathedral

Nightlife & Entertainment In Kharkiv

The Metropol restaurant is one of the city's prime gourmet establishments, while the Melnitsa restaurant is situated on an island in the River Kharkiv towards the outskirts of the old city. For drinking, Stargorod has become the most popular spot for drinking. Stargorod is a huge micro-brewery with a massive beer garden for soaking up the summer sun. Stargorod is open 24 hours. There is also Irish Pub - which is exactly what the name suggests, on Mirononositskaya str, 46
Google Map to Irish Pub, Kharkiv

Kharkiv's nightlife centres on its love of independent music and some of the most happening venues promote live music and poetry readings. There is also the Opera House, which has shows almost every night.

Local Sports

The Euro 2012 venue Metalist Stadium is the regular home of Ukrainian Premier League side FC Metalist Kharkiv, who reached the round of 32 in this season's Europa League before losing 6-0 to Bayer Leverkusen on aggregate. Kharkiv also has a hockey club and a high-flying female football team, as well as Ukraine's number one rugby union side RC Olymp, which supplies a number of players to the national team.

Tourist Offices

Stelima Tours, Otakara Yarosha 22, organize tours outside Kharkiv.

Getting To Kharkiv

Air

The airport is in the south of the city and offers daily connections to Kiev. However, only Austrian Airlines currently has flights into Kharkiv from Vienna with connections five times a week.

Rail

The speedy Capital Express connects Kharkiv with Kiev twice a day (5 hours) as well as with Poltova and Mirgorod, but there are plenty of comfortable and affordable trains elsewhere across the country, making rail the best travel option by far. What's more, the city's new renovated train station is one of Kharkiv's most opulent buildings.

Bus

If travelling between Euro 2012 venues, footballs fans might consider taking the bus to Donetsk, but rail travel is invariably quicker and more comfortable.

Getting Around Kharkiv

The local metro provides the best way to traverse the city; it offers three colour-coded lines as well as some impressive stations. The city has also retained its trams and trolleybuses, which conveniently connect with most metro stops. Taxis can be flagged down from almost anywhere, but foreigners are advised to agree a fee in advance.

Accommodation in Kharkiv

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Eating

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Weather

Kharkiv has some of Ukraine's coldest weather in winter. The seasonal average temperatures are -6.9 ° C in January and 20.3 ° C in July.

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