Kharkiv

Kharkiv (Ukrainian: Харків, also transliterated Kharkov from Russian: Харьков) is a major city in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine and is the second largest city in Ukraine with a population of over 1.5 million inhabitants. The city is in the northeast of the Ukraine. The site of the city is a hilly plain — more than half of the area of the city is about 100m above sea level. It sits at the confluence of three rivers: the Lopan, the Udy and the Kharkiv. The city has 9 administrative districts.

Understand
In 1654 Kharkiv was founded on a hill between the Lopan and Kharkiv Rivers. Ten years later Kharkiv became a separate province. In 1689 the construction of the Holy Shroud Cathedral was finished, this is the oldest stone building that preserved in the city. The Holy Shroud Monastery was founded 30 years later. In 1765 became the centre of the Province of Sloboda Ukraine. In the 1780s the city development plan was conceived by architect P. Yaroslavky. In 1791 the first city theatre was opened. The Kharkiv Emperor's University starting operation 1800s. In 1816 the first magazines in Ukraine were published, the Kharkivsky Democrit, a magazine of satire and humor. In 1869 the first train arrived in Kharkiv, and in July regular traffic started along the Kursk-Kharkiv-Azov Railway. The first water system of the city was laid. The Kharkiv Technological Institute was opened for engineers for industry, mining and construction. At the end of the 1880s the first city state telephone station started. The first electric tram since 1906 worked. In 1917 Soviet power was proclaimed & Kharkiv was the first capital of Ukraine until 1934). In 1924 regular flights on the routes Kharkiv – Kyiv and Kharkiv – Odesa were launched. In 1927 built the Metallist Stadium, which became the main sporting arena of the city. In the 1930s the construction of the flagships of Soviet industry, including Tractor Plant, Turbine Plant, and Lathe Contraction Plant was finished.

Talk
Although Ukrainian is the official language, most locals in Kharkiv speak Russian as their first language. Only a few people who speak and understand English, mostly among the young.

Climate
Moderate continental weather. In winter, it is very changeable. The coldest months are January and February sometimes can so low as −15 or even −25°С, but the average is about −6°С in these months. The warmest and rainiest months are July and August. An average temperature of July is +20°С.

By train

 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.
 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.
 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.
 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.
 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.
 * Alongside electric commuter trains, rail buses have been introduced.

By Metro


The Metro is the fastest and easiest way of getting around. Every day it carries nearly 1 million people; it is the most convenient public transport in Kharkiv. There are three metro lines (red, blue and green).

By tram
The Kharkiv tram network is one of the few left in Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The number 12 tram line is very useful if you wish to visit the far northeastern part of the city.

Tickets
Single ride tickets in marshrutkas cost 10-20 грн. Metro, trams, trolleybuses and buses are free.

Schedules
Schedules are available on EasyWay and Google Maps.

By taxi
Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:



Religious buildings




Further afield




Do

 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.
 * Watch football at FC Shaktar Donetsk, who play in the Premier League, the top tier of Ukrainian football. Traditionally based in Donetsk, since 2017 their home ground has been Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv, capacity 40,000. It's two km southeast of city centre, metro Sportyvna.

Holidays and festivals

 * New Year's Eve (31 December–1 January). Locals go out to dancing in Svobody Square, fire squibs and launch fire works. Christmas Trees are installed in many neighbourhoods of the city, but the one in Svobody Square is certainly the most beautiful and impressive.
 * Shrovetide or Carnival (it is an ancient Slavic holiday of seeing the winter off). This holiday usually occurs in late February to early March. This is the time for openair merrymaking in the Gorky Park, Shevchenko Gardens and in Svobody Square.
 * End of March, Kharkiv held the Za Jazz Fest what is a jazz festival on a variety of locations. At that time showing performances of world-famous musicians and young rising stars from many countries.
 * May 1, the International Workers’ Day. Locals spend these spring days out of town, having picnics with family and friends.
 * Victory Day, May 9, an openair exhibition of the WW II military equipment takes place. A solemn procession of veterans marches down Sumska Street to the Memorial of Glory in Lissopark (Woodland Park).
 * In mid July, there is the Pechenizke Pole (The Pecheneg Field) Ethnic Festival on the bank of Pecheneg Lake.
 * In Kharkiv City birthday on August 23 are especially festive and jolly. On this day, sports competitions and concerts are in Svobody Square, Konstytutsii Square and in the city gardens and parks.
 * The Independence Day is on August 24. This is the day for ceremonial laying of flowers to the Monuments of Independence of Ukraine, and finished with amazingly beautiful fireworks over Svobody Square.
 * In September take a big sci-fi festival, called Zirkovy mist (Star Bridge) macing here fans of this genre from many countries of the world.
 * The Kharkiv Assemblies International Music Festival organised in September. Peoples can enjoy musical masterpieces of the past.
 * Several weeks before the New Year is one of the most favorite holiday is the Christmas. The city is decorated with festive street lights, and the major Christmas Tree of the city is put on Svobody Square.

Drink
Buy beer from a kiosk and sit and drink in Schevchenko Park. It's what everybody does. If you drink beer in the park you may be fined by local police.



Sleep
There are plenty of hotels in Kharkiv, but the quality of them is very often far from what westerners expect. Most of hotels are not in the online reservation systems which makes it difficult to find them.



Go next

 * Dnipro
 * Donetsk
 * Kyiv
 * Poltava