Kiev / Kyiv
Kiev is one of the biggest cities in Europe. It is a bustling capital of independent Ukraine, its administrative, economic, scientific, cultural and educational center. This scenic city with population of over 3 million people is located on the shores of the Dnepr River.
Kiev is a city of invaluable historical and cultural monuments, a city of great events and outstanding people. Everyone will find there something especially interesting for himself.
The art and architecture of Kiev are considered world treasures. Many famous artists, poets and writers estimated the unique beauty of this city. The most renowned landmarks include: Cathedral of St. Sophia with outstanding mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century; Kievo-Percherskaya Lavra featuring several monasteries and cathedrals; Golden Gate of Kiev, which date back to 1037; Ukrainian Baroque Church of St. Andrew; the magnificent 19th-century Cathedral of St. Vladimir; and many other attractions. Kiev is often referred to as “the mother of all cities” by Russians and Ukrainians. It is one of the oldest towns in Europe. In the historical center of Kiev you can feel the spirit of the past everywhere.
Kiev is distinguished for its rich cultural life. Theater lovers will find many theatres offering various theatrical programs. Most performances are held in Ukrainian or Russian. The recently renovated Kiev Opera House presents very good opera as well as a broad repertoire of ballets. Ivan Franko Theater is a center of Ukrainian drama, comedy, and musicals. A lot of various exhibitions are carried out in the city’s numerous museums and art galleries.
Kiev is also a scientific and educational center of independent Ukraine. Various universities and science academies including famous Kiev-Mogilyanskaya Academy, which is one of the first scientific establishments in Eastern Europe, are located there.
Being the largest city of Ukraine, Kiev is a leading industrial and commercial center of the country. Kiev’s major industries include: food processing (especially processing of beet sugar), metallurgy, manufacture of machinery, machine tools, rolling stock, chemicals, building materials, and textiles. The development of Ukrainian economy gave impulse to business activity of the city. There are a lot of new office centers, banks, trade exhibition centers and other commercial enterprises appearing in the city nowadays.
Kharkov / Kharkiv
Kharkiv (Ukrainian), or Kharkov (Russian), also is the second largest city in Ukraine (after Kyiv, of course). 3/4 century ago it lost its status of the capital of Ukraine (Soviet Ukraine), but it is educational capital of Ukraine.
The population of Kharkov is 1.5 millions people. Kharkiv has a richcultural, scientific, educational, transport and industrial life. City hosts hundreds of industrial companies. Even during the crisis the city is developing. New hotels are being built.
Transport system of Kharkov is one of the best in Ukraine. During preparation to Euro 2012, city government repaired many roads and changed some of marshrutka on central streets to make the traffic less heavy. Kharkiv metro is 35 km long and has 28 stations. There were new fast trains laucnhed to connect major cities of Ukraine (Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv).
Kharkov Airport has been renovated and new connections are being launched almost every half a year.
The most popular landmark of Kharkiv is the Freedom Square (Ploshcha Svobody), the third largest city square in Europe, and it takes the 7th place when speaking about the world.
Odessa
The City of Odessa is often referred to as “The Pearl of the Black Sea“. Odessa is a beautiful city on the Black Sea coast that holds a special place in the hearts of Russians and Ukrainians. A visit to Odessa is sure to be unlike a visit to any other city. In contrast to other cities of the former Soviet Union, Odessa is rich in Western European culture. Odessa is known throughout the world for its art and culture and has, what is considered to be, the second most beautiful and important opera house in the world.
The population of Odessa is about 1.1 million. It is a cosmopolitan city with 150,000 tourists each year from all over the world. In the summer, they relax along the sandy shores of Odessa beaches and experience this eternally young city. The beaches allow tourists to feel like they are in the Mediterranean. All of the coast of Odessa is lined with popular beaches. In the summer they are filled with beautiful girls, music, and visitors sampling tasty food. One of the most popular beaches is Arcadia Beach, which is located about 10 minutes from downtown.
Walking in Odessa you can see its history from classical Italian influences to Soviet era apartment complexes. On Deribasovskaya Street – the central street – there is a variety of restaurants, theatres, concerts and a promenade of people. The port of Odessa has ships from all over the world arriving daily
Odessa has 1185 streets, 62001 buildings, 24 hotels, 34 educational institutions, 88 health care centers, 20 museums. Public transportation in Odessa city includes 21 tram routes, 15 trolley bus routes, 47 bus routes and 35 minibus routes.
Odessa is the 3rd largest city in Ukraine, the most important city for trade and the 2nd most popular city for tourism in Ukraine.It is the largest city along the entire Black Sea. Many years ago, Odessa was once, after Moscow and St. Petersburg, the 3rd leading trading city in old Russia. Odessa is the most important port of Ukraine. With its beautiful harbor on the Black Sea, Odessa has become Ukraine’s southern window to Europe and an important cultural center.
In addition to the importance of the seaport, the city’s industries include ship building, oil refining, chemicals, metal working and food processing. Odessa is also the home of a Ukrainian naval base and many fishing fleets.
Odessa is situated on terraced hills overlooking a small harbor. The weather is mild and dry with average temperatures in January of 29 F and 73 F in July. Odessa averages only 35 cm (14 in) of precipitation annually. Odessa has many therapeutic resorts. Modern Odessa is a city rebuilding itself, and its downtown is slowly being revitalized.
Odessa looks more like a city located on the Mediterranean, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian architectural styles. Odessa has always had a spirit of freedom, probably endowed by its ability to accept many different peoples. The city is constantly hosting exhibits, symposia, and conferences. It is the site of consulates and trade missions of many countries and many cultural exchange societies are active in the city.
The city has more local character than any other city in Ukraine. People of Odessa are very famous for their sharp wit and canny trading abilities. The tourists are attracted by Odessa’s scenic boulevards, the 200 steps of Potyomkin’s stairs, the maritime railway, beautiful sandy beaches along the Black Sea, shops, restaurants, numerous new structures, and the unusual classic architecture of old Odessa. The design of Potyomkin’s stairs creates somewhat of an optical illusion making the steps seem bigger than their actual size. The upper flights are 44.22 feet (13.4 meters) wide while the lower flights are 71.28 feet (21.6 meters). The stairs’ name was taken from the battleship Potyomkin and was to be memorialized in the famous film of that name by the Russian producer Sergei Eizenstein.
Dnepr / Dnipro
The city of Dnipro (former Dnipropetrovsk) or Dnepr (Russian) is situated on the Dnieper River (Dnepr or Dnipro) in East-Central Ukraine , and has a population of 1 million (third city in the country by population).
Large and beautiful, it is the main city of East-Central Ukraine.
Dnipro is a dynamic and lively city.
The city is surprising green along the wide and slow-moving Dnieper river (Dnepr in Russian, Dnipro in Ukrainian) and has remarkable embankments, long boulevards and spacious parks.
It is also the major centre of high-technology industries, education, machine-building, metallurgy and trade. The city is not only famous for its commercial industry, but also its green hills and deep history.
The old fortress settlement has existed since the middle of the 16th century. The new town was founded in 1776 by the Russian Prince, Potemkin by order of Catherine II, Empress of the Russian Empire and was called Yekaterinoslav (Ekaterinoslav) from 1776 to 1926. During 1918 the town’s name was Sicheslav (The Glory for Sich’/Fortress of Cossacks).
Dnipro (Dnipropetrovsk) has been the major center of the steel industry from the beginning of the 20th century until the present. It has also dominated in the machinebuilding and aero-spacebuilding industry since the 1950s.
Ukraine has a lot of other wonderful cities.
Every city of Ukraine has something special.
Feel free to contact our staff if you don’t know what city you want to choose.