Excursions and Sights
Here you can find a list of the most interesting places and sights of Kharkiv and Kharkiv Oblast (Kharkiv suburbs)
with some description. We will gladly organize any excursion for you, just contact us!
Kharkiv Oblast` Excursions
Memorial complex Marshall Konev`s Height
Memorial complex “Marshall Konev`s Height” is in Kharkiv Oblast, about 18 km (11 miles) from the city. It used to be an observation point of The Steppe Front commanders Konev, Managarov and Anisimov during World War II, where they were taking important decisions of Belgorod-Kharkov Operation. This is the exact place where Kharkiv operation (Kharkiv liberation) started in 1943.
Krasnokutskiy Dendropark
Krasnokutskiy Dendropark is rightly considered as one of the best natural reserves in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. It was found on the site of former Petropavlovsk men`s monastery, which existed for almost 100 years before was closed by Catherine`s the Great edict, and the monastery lands were given to Nazar Karazin.
The Institute of Ionosphere
The Institute of Ionosphere is one of the biggest scientific and research centers, where Space and Universe is being researched with the most precise, advanced scientific equipment, that is unique for Eastern Europe. It was built in 1966, in 1971 it had first research results, and in 2001 it was acknowledged as national wealth of Ukraine.
Kharkiv manors excursion
Our city has a lot of places that are widely known in narrow circles, and that`s not only churches or parks – it is also mansions of famous people of the past. Kharkiv manors excursion includes two exclusive manors of Kharkiv nobility that were built before Revolution – Shidlovskiy family manor and Natalyevka manor.
Sharovka Estate
Less than 50 miles away from Kharkiv is a gorgeous manor called Sharovka, which is known as a pearl of palace and park architecture of Eastern Ukraine. The building of Sharovka manor started in XIX century by Pavel Olkhovsky, but in the end of the same century Leopold Koenig bought it. Exactly Koenig built the palace and other buildings in gothic style we can see today.
Svyatogorsk Monastery
On the beautiful shore of Severskiy Donets river, among chalk mountains and dense forest, the ancient monastery is standing in silence. One of the legends of its origin says it was founded by monks from Byzantium in VIII-IX centuries, when Byzantium faced iconoclastic heresy. Archaeologists prove this legend, as many orthodox things that can be dated by VIII-IX centuries were found during the excavations and exploration of the caves of a monastery.
Kharkiv City sights
Seven wonders of Kharkiv
Have you ever heard of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: Pyramids of Giza, Hanging gardens of Babylon, Zeus statue of Olympia, Colossus of Rhodes, Lighthouse of Alexandria, Artemis temple of Ephesus and Mausoleum of Halicarnassus? Kharkiv also has personal group of seven city wonders! It is the most interesting and bright sights of our city: Shevchenko monument, Mirror Stream fountain, Pokrovskiy, Uspenskiy and Blagoveschensky cathedrals, Gosprom and House with a spire.
Svyato-Pokrovskiy monastery
Kharkiv is not only a student’s capital of Ukraine, but also one of its spiritual centers. There are a lot of orthodox saint places, and Svyato-Pokrovskiy men`s monastery in the center of Kharkiv is main upon them. The first note about Pokrovskiy is dated with 1659, when it was simple wooden cathedral, in 1689 it became stone, and since 1726 it becomes men`s monastery with Collegium – first higher education institution of a Left-bank Ukraine.
Uspensky cathedral
The Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral is situated at the central part of the University Hill. It is one of city's wonderful architectural monuments built in 1771-1777 in the style of Russian Baroque.
This is the highest building in Kharkiv rising 89.5 meters tall. The bell tower has a chiming clock, whose melodious signal is heard hourly over the city.
Blagoveschensky cathedral
This temple is a bright example of neo-Byzantine architectural style, with 80 meters belfry. It was built between 1889 and 1901 by the project of one local architect Michael Lovzov. It’s capacity is 4 thousand people.
Patriarch of Constantinople Afanasiy III and several saint bishops are buried inside the Blagoveschensky cathedral.
Kharkiv circus
Kharkiv Circus today is not only a place where anyone can get a charge of positive emotion, but one of the best Ukrainian circuses, and it`s artists often go all over Ukraine and abroad with their shows. First stone circus in Kharkiv was built in 1906, and then second circus was built five years later – in 1911. Building two stationary circuses almost at once made Kharkiv on of the centers of circus art not only in Russian empire, but also in Europe, and for more than 150 years history Kharkiv Circus keeps its traditions.
Drobitskiy Yar
A place for the Drobitskiy Yar Holocaust memorial was not chosen by chance – exactly here from the middle of December 1941 to the beginning of February 1942 were executed about 15000 Jewish Kharkiv inhabitants. Drobitskiy Yar, on a par with Babiy Yar in Kiev, is a picture of Nazis’ “new order” on the occupied territories.
In 1955 a small obelisk was set there, and only in 1990 a decision about building a Memorial complex was taken. In December 2002 complex was partly built, and now everyone can come and feel the atmosphere of Nazi “new order”…
Feldman ecopark
Feldman Ecopark is a large-scale and unique charity project for Ukraine ICF "Alexander Feldman Foundation". The main mission of the project is creating a socially active environment, where an adult and a child would feel that all life on Earth is one big family, where there is no place for aggression, and there is only love, friendship and mutual support. Today Ecopark is an area for a family holiday with entertainment and the zoo. All visitors have the opportunity not only for watching the animals, but for close communication with some of them in the area of the contact zoo.
Fine Arts museum
Fine Arts museum of Kharkov starts its history in far 1805, and it is not just tribute to fashion – many public figures, historians and painters made a strong contribution in museum development.
In 25 rooms there is always an exhibition of more than 250 paintings, and after visiting Fine Arts museum you will get the brightest impressions and maybe even open something new for yourself from Bryullov, Aivazovsky, Shishkin, Surikov and many others.
Gosprom
Gosprom, or Dom Gosudarstvennoy Promyshlennosti (House of State Industry) is a symbol of Constructivism and the first skyscraper in USSR. In spite of its grandiosity, Gosprom was built only in 3 years, and in 1928 the building was commissioned. Gosprom was the main building of Ukrainian SSR, as till 1934 Kharkiv was the capital of Ukraine. Nowadays Gosprom is a huge office building, and also many administrative offices are still there.
History museum
Kharkiv city cherishes its history in the walls of Kharkiv History museum. The square around the building is one of the favorite places for taking photos, as there are tanks and artillery guns that can be touched or photographed. Nowadays museum has four exhibitions: Primitive society period, Feudalism period, Capitalism period and Soviet time period. If you like history and want to know more about Kharkiv and its suburbs through ages – welcome to History museum!
Holocaust museum
After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine started developing memories about Holocaust, and in December 1996, thanks to efforts of many people, the only one Ukrainian museum of Holocaust was opened in Kharkiv. Museum includes not only museum building, but also Science and Education center “Ami” that holds different events, like meetings with authors of Holocaust books, watching Holocaust movies, exhibitions, etc.
House with a spire
In the Old Centre of Kharkiv there is a building named “House with a spire”, that is built in “Stalin empire” style and is known as one of business cards of our city and is included into “7 wonder of Kharkiv” list. In 1954 building in “Stalin empire” style was complete. This style includes some styles, that per se can`t be combined – Napoleon empire style, Baroque, Art Deco and Late classicism – in a mix of monumentality, luxury and sublimity. House with a spire is a great monument of architecture of Stalin`s age, that emphasizes and complements Constitution square ensemble.
KNATOB
Kharkiv by right can be called a capital of Ukrainian theater life. One of the most outstanding theaters of Kharkiv is Kharkiv National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet – KNATOB – one of the oldest theaters in Ukraine, which brought together many traditions of Ukrainian, Russian and world ballet and opera under its roof.
Nowadays KNATOB hospitably opens its doors for its visitors. Theater`s repertoire changes all the time, saving best traditions of Kharkiv theatre school. Kharkiv inhabitants can be proud, as their city has great theatre – KNATOB!
"Maestro" arts gallery
The world of pictorial arts, theatre of rainbow paints – it`s “Maestro”, arts gallery of Kharkov. First time gallery opened its doors for people in 1997, and since that day there was only the most actual, fresh and “live” works of painters and other artists. “Maestro” doesn`t show only paintings – you can find exhibitions of photos, aero graphics, arts of decoration and even music evenings sometimes. Modern gallery is not just an exhibition of paintings, it`s Arts center in all arts` manifestations, and “Maestro” arts gallery is a good example of that.
Memorial complex of glory
Kharkiv had difficult times during World War II as Kharkiv been captured by Nazis and released by Soviets some times, and many people died in those fights… In 1977 Memorial complex of glory was opened in Kharkov – as a monument complex to immortalize great deed of Soviet soldiers, city inhabitants and partisans, who died because of Nazi`s punishment and tortures during city occupation. There are words on the granite – “Heroes never die. They gain immortality and stay in our memory and deeds forever. Descendants owe them their lives”. So give a hug to the heroes of that terrible war…
Museum of Slobozhanschyna
Ethnic tunes are very popular in Europe lately, and they are popular in Ukraine. Like many corners of Ukraine, Slobozhanschyna has a lot of traditions and rich culture, zipped through the ages. Since 1991 museum of Slobozhanschyna was open in Kharkov. Museum collection relate to different periods of region`s history and show people`s mode of life and traditions – housewares, utensils and other things of folk art. Also there are many pieces of craft, like pottery, wood carving, beadwork, and others. Museum exposition will help you to understand Ukrainian mentality, way of thinking, interests and way of life.
Museum of Space
The starriest sky is in Kharkiv Planetarium and its Museum of Space!
Kharkiv Planetarium is a special astronomy center, where you can see the show of the Sun, stars and planets, and in addition to that, if you love astronomy, you can visit Planetarium`s Museum of Space. If you can`t fulfill your dream and go to space yet, you can visit Museum of Space and at least touch your dream today!
Pushkin theatre
Pushkin theatre is one of the most popular theaters among Kharkiv inhabitants. It was built in 1933 in the capital of Ukrainian SSR to popularize theater art and perfected to the level of famous theaters of Saint-Petersburg, Moscow and Kiev. In addition to theater, it included publishing office and theater studio. Building was renewed a couple of years ago, and now it is one of the most beautiful buildings of Kharkiv city with its columns and statues, illuminated in the evening. Its repertoire is always actual, as it is aimed on eternal topics: friendship and enmity, love and hate, valor and fear and so on…
Shevchenko theatre
Shevchenko academic theatre is one of the oldest theaters of Ukraine, founded in 1922 in Kiev, and then moved to Kharkiv in 1926, as Kharkiv was the capital of Ukrainian SSR. Shevchenko theater always attracted creative people, talented actors and scandalous directors. Novelty of creative presentation of the events that took place some hundred years ago always was theater`s zest, and stays till today, as traditions of Ukrainian theatre art are being saved and multiplied here through ages.
World sexual cultures museum
First museum of sexual cultures of the world on the territory of former USSR countries was opened in Ukraine and exactly in Kharkov in 1999. It has 12 rooms, where you can find everything about sex: each of the halls is devoted to special topic, from animal sex and sexually transmitted diseases to “how they make it” in different corners of the world and sex of the future. Main mission of the museum is to show how primitive instincts transform to Love. But we won`t tell you all the secrets – just come and see everything with your own eyes…
Kharkiv National University
Kharkiv National University history started in 1804, when Vasiliy Karazin asked Alexander I, the emperor of Russian Empire, to found a university in Kharkiv and gathered more than 400000 silver rubles for that. The opening ceremony was held on January 29, 1805. The University made an important contribution to the Ukrainian national renaissance of the XIX-XXth centuries. It gave a powerful impetus to the emergence of Kharkiv as a major scientific and cultural center and an academic hub of Ukraine. Today the University justly rates among the best Ukrainian classical universities and is known in the world.
Kharkiv zoo
The “birth” of Kharkiv zoo is closely related with university foundation by Vasiliy Karazin in 1805. In 1825 special botanic cabinet appeared in the University, and in 1896 first public structure with animals appeared – it was an Aquarium. In 1920-s zoo territory grows to 2.15*106 square feet and it was rebuilt. During World War II zoo was damaged, so most of the animals ran away or died from hunger. Nowadays Kharkiv Zoo is one of the biggest zoos of Ukraine and all the Eastern Europe with many unique animals, and it will gladly open its gate for you.