Kharkiv

Kharkiv [1] (Ukrainian: Харків - "Kharkiv", Russian: Харьков - "Kharkov") is a major city in Kharkiv region of Ukraine and is the second largest city in Ukraine with a population over 1,5 million inhabitants. The city is located in the northeast of the country. Get in By plane Kharkiv International Airport [2] (IATA: HRK, ICAO: UKHH), located 12,5 kilometres south-east of city center. The airport is served by a number of airlines: Aerosvit [3] Air Arabia [4] Austrian airlines [5] FlyDubai [6] Pegasus [7] UIA [8] Getting into the city from the airport By bus: Buses 115 and 119 to metro (subway) station "Prospekt Haharina", bus 297 to metro station "Radianska". By minibus (marshrutka): Marshrutkas 255 and 152 to metro station "Akademika Barabashova". By trolleybus Trolleybus 5 to "Zirka" cinema. By train Kharkiv's central railway station, Kharkiv-Passazhyrskyi, is located close to city centre. The metro station "Pivdenny Vokzal" (метро "Пiвденний вокзал") links to the railway station. It has daily trains to all major cities and towns in Ukraine. It is recommended to buy railway tickets in advance at Ukrainian railways' e-Kvytok site [9] (press "english" button at the top of the page). You will need to print booking form from the site and then fetch tickets form any Ukrainian railways' ticket office. Note that the person receiving Internet-ordered travel documents in the ticket office must present an identifying document to the booking-clerk. Get around Kharkov can seem very foreign for western travelers, mostly because of Cyrillic letters. It would be very useful to learn to read the Cyrillic alphabet before coming to Ukraine. Most Kharkovians speak Russian, as Kharkov is situated only 40 km from the Russian border. Though there will be a big possibility that the locals will not understand the Russian which comes from the travelers’ phrasebook. But it is worth trying to practice as there are only a few people who speak and understand English, mostly young Ukrainians. 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 Kharkov. There are three metro lines (red, blue and green). To enter the Metro you need to buy a token from the cash desk, Kassa (Ukrainian: Каса)(since 2010 the tokens are sold by the automats you'll see at the entrance). One token is valid for one trip, no matter how far you go and how long it takes. A token costs 2,00 UAH (it is about 17 eurocents/ 25 cents). You need to put the token into the turnstile to enter and pass it. But make sure that you walk through the correct side of the turnstile otherwise there is the possibility that you will be hit by the metal gate! Once you enter the platform you will notice that there are usually two directions the train goes. See Kharkiv Zoo (Зоопарк), Sums'ka 35 (Metro station Universytet), ☎ +380 57 7054490, [10]. 8:00-20:00. Kharkiv Zoo is one of the biggest and most famous in Ukraine. It’s located in the very centre of the city in Shevchenko Park. This zoo occupies a large area of 22 hectares. Adults - 30UAH, children 5-13 - 10UAH, children younger than 5 - free. (50.002221,36.230099) edit Children's railway (Детская железная дорога), Park Gorkogo (Trams 13 and 22, trolleybuses 2 and 40 to stop Detskaya zheleznaya doroga), [11]. Works from May, 1 till October, 31. Length of the road - 3km.  edit Do Kharkov Opera and Ballet Theatre, 24 Sumskaya St. (metro Universitet), ☎ +380 572 473043, [12].  edit Buy Karavan Megastore, УЛ. ГЕРОЕВ ТРУДА, 7 (metro Geroev Truda), ☎ +38 0 (57) 760 21 63, [13]. 10-22.  edit Eat Adriano (Адриано), Petrovskogo st., 35-А (metro Pushkinskaya), ☎ +380 57 7004892. 11:00-23:00. Not bad pizza chain, the cozy atmosphere is guaranteed, but there are 2 more cafes on prospekt Traktorostroiteley, 59/56 and on Pushkinskaya st. 79/1. Budget.  edit Buhara, г. Харьков, ул. Пушкинская, 32 (metro Architektora Beketova), ☎ (057) 716-20-45. 12-00. $30-100.  edit Fortuna, Kultury str. 6 (actually located on Trinklera str http://maps.yandex.ua/-/CNxZjDP9), ☎ 702-17-72. You will be surprised by the interior (very soviet "Stolovka" style!) But the food is really really great and cheap. Traditional Ukrainian cuisine. You should try soups: borsch, solyanka, okroshka (cold soup), pelmeni, fried eggs with salo.  edit Paris, Petrovskogo st. 30/32, [14]. A great place for people who like desserts, to go on a date or just want to relax in a cozy atmosphere to enjoy fondue. It is amazingly popular; sometimes it is not easy to find a seat there. They have just opened their own theatre where French films or performances takes place every evening.  edit Puzata Khata (Пузата хата), Sums'ka st. 2, ☎ +380 44 3914699, [15]. 8:00-23:00. It is very popular with locals for low prices and quick service. The food here is usually great and cheap, mostly traditional Ukrainian dishes. Being a huge place it is always quite busy. You will be completely full for $6 per person there. (49.993324,36.232384) edit Drink Buy beer from a kiosk and sit and drink in Schevchenko Park. It's what everybody does. Be aware that now if you drink beer in the Park you have the possibility to be fined by local police. Coffee life, Pushkinskaya 43, ☎ +380 67 4835948. 8:00-23:00. Named as the first Starbucks in Kharkiv, this place is open from 8 o'clock in the morning what is quite unusual in Ukraine and offers free WiFi. It is extremely popular with Kharkiv expats, a nice place to visit, have a drink and browse the net.  edit AN-2 restaurant, Plakhanivska str. 8, ☎ 057 732 49 54, [16]. 10.00 - 22.00. 100.  edit Sleep There are plenty of hotels in Kharkov, 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. Aurora Hotel**** (Аврора), Artema Street 10/12, ☎ +380 57 7524040 (reservation@hotel-aurora.com.ua), [17]. is situated in the center of the city and offers 28 modern rooms, free Wi-Fi and a nice-looking restaurant. The transportation options are metro or car.  edit Chichikov Hotel**** (Чичиков), Gogolya Street 6/8, ☎ +380 57 7522300 (info@chichikov-hotel.com.ua), [18]. Just a year older than Aurora hotel and also located in the centre. The rooms correspond to western standards though they are quite small.  edit City Club Hotel**** (Сити Клуб), Gagarina Ave. 145, ☎ +380 57 7301700 (reception@hotel-cityclub.com), [19]. checkin: 14:00; checkout: 12:00. Only 10 minutes from downtown and within a walking distance of the Metalist Stadium.  edit Kharkov Hotel***. Located in downtown right by the University (Университет) metro station. The hotel is quite old so it is best to be sure that you will get a nice room. Prices of the rooms are too high for the look and service you get.  edit Viktoria Hotel****. 10 minutes drive from downtown and offers nicely done, modern, well-equipped hotel rooms, free Wi-Fi and a spa-center. Travel options are train and car.  edit Slavianka* (Rent company), Sumskaya, 13 (metro Sovietskaya), ☎ 0678429675, [20]. checkin: 13; checkout: 12. a lot of apartment from budget to luxurious in the very centre. $35-80.  edit AN-2 Hotel*** ((Отель АН-2)), Plekhaninivska Street 8 (antwohotel@gmail.com), ☎ +380 57 732 49 54, [21]. Perfect location (10-15 min by car to city center, boutiques, night clubs, football stadium "Metallist") good prices, new rooms and stuf  edit Contact Get out Voronezh in Russia. This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!