Difference between revisions of "Uzhhorod"

Latest revision as of 20:07, 11 April 2012

Uzhhorod (Ukrainian, Russian: Ужгород, Hungarian: Ungvár, German: Ushhorod) is a city in Western Ukraine, the administrative center of Zakarpatska Oblast (Transcarpthian Region). Its population is 120,000 people.

[edit] Understand

Uzhhorod, or Uzhgorod as transliterated till the end of 20th century, is the administrative center of the youngest region in Ukraine - Transcarpathia, which was annexed to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1945. Until that it was part of Czechoslovakia and before 1919 it was Hungarian. The population of Uzhhorod is multiethnic. The majority of the natives are Ukrainian, but there are a lot of Russins (immigrated here after World War II), Hungarians, Slovaks, Germans, Jews and Gypsies. A foreigner has to be very patient with the natives, because some of them will be glad to help you, but some might like to make your life tougher. Anyway, Uzhhorod is a very interesting place to visit because the cultures cross here.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

Uzhhorod has a very small airport (IATA code - UDJ). There are flights only to or from Kiev, Simferopol and Moscow. There are plans to close the airport in a few years.

[edit] By train

Uzhgorod has one bidirectional line, which heads north towards Lviv, and south towards Chop [1]. There are no direct lines to Slovakia. The hub of railway transportation in Transcarpathia (and thus Uzhgorod) is Chop; it has dual-gauge rails for trains coming from Slovakia and Hungary, a line going towards southern Transcarpathia, and the main line going towards Stryi/Lviv that connects one with the rest of Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, and Belarus.

To/From Slovakia: there is a single border crossing train running two to three times a day between Čierna nad Tisou to Chop. Additionally, It is possible to get a train directly between Chop and Bratislava and Vienna for around 20 euros.

To/From Hungary: there are trains running between Záhony (Hungarian Border Crossing) and further westward to Nyiregyháza and Budapest. Note that connections to Budapest tend to be higher priced; if one wishes to get to Vienna or Prague, it's definitely cheaper to go through Slovakia.

To/From Moldova: a direct route does not exist in Transcarpathia; one must take a train directly to Chernivtsi, and from Chernitvsti there is a daily train going to Moldova.

To/From Romania: there are railway border crossings from Solotivno and one other place.

Note that there are direct routes to Odessa, Kiev, Moscow, Simferopol, and Harkiv directly from Uzhgorod. For larger connections to Central Europe and elsewhere in Russia/Ukraine/Belarus, refer to Chop.

In general: it's best to consult Ukraine's railway web page, which is a relational database and allows anyone to examine the schedule of both a route AND a station simply by clicking on it. The web site for Uzhgorod station can be found here [2].

Uzhhorod's downtown is very nice with shops, restaurants, and even a small hotel. You will need to get on a taxi or marshrutka to get to downtown.

[edit] By car

The newly renovated M06 highway connects Kiev with Budapest and runs through Uzhhorod. Driving from the direction of Budapest (Chop) you need to go straight after Rizivka through Mynay. If you Drive from the direction of Kiev (Mukachevo), you need to turn right after Rozivka. The road from Rizivka-Mynay will take you as far as Zakarpattia Hotel (the city's largest hotel) and then Petofi Square in downtown.

If travelling by rental car from Hungary or Slovakia, make sure to check the rental agreement to see if you will be allowed to enter Ukraine. Many car rental agencies will not allow their cars to be taken there. If this is the case then you will likely be turned away at the border.

[edit] By bus

There are daily buses from Nyíregyháza in Hungary; from Košice, and Michalovce in Slovakia; from Kraków in Poland; and domestically from Kiev and Lviv. There are also buses six times a week (i.e., every day except Mondays) from Prague, the capital of Czech Republic.

[edit] Get around

Taxi in Uzhhorod is very cheap and is arguably the easiest way to get around town. A typical fare rarely exceeds 20 UAH. Taxi drivers tend to charge foreigners more, so be assertive and agree on the price beforehand.

Locals use marshrutkas (small buses) to get around. Those cost around 2 UAH per ride, can be crowded and uncomfortable but do their job in getting you there.

[edit][add listing] See

• The Uzhhorod Castle (built in 9th century)
• The Greek-Catholic Cathedral (circa 1646)
• The Transcarpathian Architecture and Lifestyle Museum (in front of the castle)
• The Transcarpathian Bokshai Museum of Art (in the old City Hall)
• Old Downtown
• Nevitsky Castle (5 miles from the city)
• Goranska Rotonda (the oldest building in the city)

[edit][add listing] Do

• Taste bogrács, the region's staple dish
• Soak in chany, the Transcarpathian mineral water baths
• Explore the city's wine cellars
• Reach out to Mukachevo and its Palanok castle

• 

  The Greek-Catholic Cathedral

• 

  Transcarpathian Philharmony

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  Uzhhorod Central Rail Terminal

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  The Regional Administration Building

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  Downtown

• 

  Roman-Catholic Cathedral

• 

  The Castle

• 

  Korso - the main street

[edit][add listing] Buy

[edit][add listing] Eat

Hospodar

Family Cafe with home made delicious food. Vegeterian friendly. Bograch, vareniki, vegetable salad and many many more, not only Ukranian food. Voloshina street, 38

There is Irish Pub with nice pizza situated next to Hospodar. Voloshina, 36

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Reikartz Carpaty, 257, Shevchenko Street, Zhdeniyevo, Volovetskiy District, ☎ 00 38 (03136) 25-776, [3]. It offers air-conditioned accommodation rooms, all of which have a cable television, an Internet access, a balcony/deck, and a mini-bar. Some of its amenities are recreation room with billiards, swimming pool, and a playground for kids. Best rates on official website start at EUR 32.  edit

• Reikartz Polyana, 25, Jovtneva Street, Polyana, Svalyavskiy District, Zakarpatskaya Region, 89313, Ukraine, ☎ 00 38 (03133) 35-404, [4]. Reikartz Polyana Hotel lies in the heart of Polyana, a balneoclimatic resort in Ukraine's Zakarpatskaya Region, which is also known as Zakarpats'ka Oblast or Zakarpattia. It offers 48 accommodation rooms, all of which have air-conditioning, cable TV, a phone, and mini-bar. Some of its amenities are sauna and swimming pool, high-speed Internet access, and restaurant, bar, and café. While staying here you can visit some tourist spots like Uzhhorod Castle, Sriberna Zemlia Museum, and Sredne Vodyane. Best rates on official website start at EUR 34.  edit
• Five Flags Hostel, 19, Voloshyna St., #3, Uzhhorod (City center), ☎ +38 0312 61-39-28 (fiveflagshostel@gmail.com), [5]. checkin: 11:00; checkout: 11:00. Five Flags is a friendly hostel offering cheap accommodation in the very center of Uzhhorod. The hostel is located within minutes of walking distance from the city's main attractions - the Uzhhorod castle, the Transcarpathian Philarmony, the breathtaking cathedrals and cozy cafes. It offers an 8-bed dorm and a private room with a double bed. The hostel boasts a sparkling clean bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen and a common room complete with cozy sofas and an Internet-connected computer. (48.62289937644062,22.30026662349701) edit

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out