Kharkiv Oblast · Ukraine
Kharkiv travel guide
Kharkiv is a city in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, home to about 1,421,000 people.
- Best months
- May to September
- Currency
- UAHhryvnia
- Time zone
- Europe/Kyiv
- Language
- Ukrainian
About
About Kharkiv
Kharkiv, also known as Kharkov, is the second-largest city in Ukraine. Located in the northeast of the country, it is the largest city of the historic region of Sloboda Ukraine.
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.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Kharkiv
See
- Church of the Peter and Paul
- Annunciation Cathedral
- Choral Synagogue
- Church of the Nativity of Christ and of the St. Sergius of Radonezh
- Holy Protection of the Virgin monastery
- The Assumption or Dormition Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Most Holy Mother of God
- Dormition or Assumption Cathedral
- Ozeryanska church on Kholodna hill
- Church of the St. Panteleimon
- Church of St. John the Baptist
- Cathedral of Uspeniya Virgin Mary
Do
- Shevchenko City garden
- Nemo delphinarium
- Shevchenko Drama Theatre
- Arabeski Theater
- DADA Theater
- Nova stsena Theater
- Jewish Theatre
- Zhuravlovskyi hydropark Beach
- Karavan Megastore Shopping centre, Entertaining complex
- Pari-Komik Theater
- Venskii Dom Entertaining complex
- Marine Club
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Kharkiv to stay in
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.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Kharkiv
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Kharkiv Hotel | 1.4 km | |
| Kharkiv Palace | 1.6 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Kharkiv
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kharkiv are May to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 60 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Kharkiv
Getting around
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). 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. Single ride tickets in marshrutkas cost 10-20 грн. Metro, trams, trolleybuses and buses are free. Schedules are available on EasyWay and Google Maps.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Kharkiv
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.
Stay safe
Kharkiv is close to the front line and regularly comes under missile, drone, and artillery attacks. The situation can change, so stay alert and follow local advice. Always carry your passport. Police, military, and local guards may check your ID. Men aged 18–60 should carry proof they are foreign citizens, as Ukraine has a military draft. If you hear an air raid siren, go to the nearest shelter or basement. If you cannot reach one, stay behind two solid walls, like in a hallway or bathroom. Many metro stations, hotels, and public buildings have shelters. Ask your accommodation provider where the nearest shelter is. Unmanned drones may make a loud buzzing or moped-like sound.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Kharkiv: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Kharkiv?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Kharkiv are May to September. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C; June is the wettest, with about 60 mm of rain.
What currency is used in Kharkiv?
hryvnia (UAH).
Nearby
Destinations near Kharkiv
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.