What to do around Kharkiv / Kharkov

Dear travellers,

I am going in June with my girlfriend 7 days to Kharkiv. On the 2nd and the 6th day we go to the European Football, but between those matches we have time for some interesting tours or nature trips. We would like to get some good recommendations.

I have already looked on this forum and I have bought the Lonely Planet from Ukraine, but it seems like there is really less to do. But i am sure there are some nice things to see or do when you are close to a city of 1 million people.

Btw, does anyone know some good places to go for sunbathing?

Thanks for your help.

Hans

Yes, you're right, there is really less to do but there are anyway some nice palces:

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Файл:IMG_2428_zerk.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption_Cathedral,_Kharkiv
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation_Cathedral,_Kharkiv
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Kharkov_Synagogue2.JPG/800px-Kharkov_Synagogue2.JPG - the second largest synagogue in Europe.

Also, there is a nice place 125 km far from Kharkiv - Sviatohirsk Lavra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sviatohirsk_Lavra).

Check out also one of our posts - http://blog.activeukraine.com/top-10-things-to-do-in-kharkiv/

Enjoy Ukraine!
Oksana @ActiveUkraine

the best place for sunbathing in ukraine is crimea. sun, the sea and mountains. if you are interested in beautiful nature you need to go to crimea or carpathian mountains. there are some foolball matches in lviv, that is near to the carpathian mountains.

Dear All,

Thanks for your help!
Especially the blog from ActiveUkraine was really interesting to read!

Does any know if there is a places close to Kharkiv such as the nuclear missile museum south of Kiev or the submarine base in Balaklava?

@ ShimonZadarman
Thanks for your tip about Sunbathing. How long does it take to get from Kharkiv to Crimea?
I have got only 3 full days between the first 2 matches of The Netherlands

How long does it take to get from Kharkiv to Crimea?

About 10 hours by night train to Simferopol and then about 2 hours by bus to Yalta or Sevastopol.

Well, as Kharkiv dweller I can just say that Statue of Thermometer is not available right now :) hope they will set it up till the beginning of the Euro :)

I can't agree going to Crimea having 3 days for everything is a good idea. You'll spend 1.5 day in the road (to Crimea and back) and quite a lot of time looking for suitable appartment (it's summer and everyone is there). As a result you won't have enough time to enjoy this marvelous corner of the world. Apart from that - you should visit Crimea occasionally (I would recommend the late Aug, early Sep time). Maybe to the time you decide to go there their infamous "local"service" (beware) would finally become famous.

As for the sunbathing - there's a bunch of places around the city (HydroPark and other public beaches or some enhanced facilities with pools on the Alekseevskiy beach) and nearby (Bezlyudovka) which you could visit.

BTW, you didn't mention any of your interests - it would be much easier to recommend knowing your preferences for vacation.

2woodenhead
Yes, if Hanszel chose to visit the nuclear missile museum he can spend the rest of his 3 days on local beaches, may be that is a good idea, because this museum is for one day excursion only. i really don't know anything about local places near Kharkiv (you can tell about it better), but one thing is sure there isn't the sea :-))) and in fact "late Aug, early Sep" is usually more crowded than June, because in early September is starting the "velvet" season on the South Coast of Crimea. 3 days journey to Crimea, one night in Sevastopol and one night in Yalta and then tour of route M18 Yalta-Simferopol, which is one of the most scenic routes of Crimea it's enough to see the charm of Crimea to go back there again :-) At present time Funny Dolphin Hostel is the only hostel in Sevastopol and Sobaka Hostel is the only hostel in Yalta. If Hanszel book accommodation ahead it won't any problem with place to stay.

Dear Travellers,

thanks for all your help.

Last days I have done some more desk research and Crimea is in my opinion a bit too far for a 3 daytrip. The reason is that I will go on saturday to the football game between The Netherlands - Denmark. The game will finish around midnight, so its probably too late to take the night train. The next Wednesday I have to be back in Kharkiv to see the clash between The Netherlands - Germany.

Maybe I will try to do some camping around Kharkiv and try to find some nice hiking trails.

Kind Regards Hans

Well, don't miss a chance to go back to Ukraine to visit Crimea eventually. Trust me - it's worth it.
And have a good time staying in and around Kharkiv.
BTW, here are some hints for the city guests if you like - http://football.kharkov.ua/2012/5/8/euro-2012-kharkiv-crash-course-part-1-arrival

Actually, there are lots of things to do in Kharkiv =)
The city has been a capital of Ukraine during USSR and it has been economic, political, historical, industrial and education center and nowadays it is one of the largest cities. And such cities always have plenty of things to do =) Check this book Travel Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Donetsk. - you will find a lot of useful information what to do in Kharkiv, what to see, where to eat. You will find a lot about prices, useful tips and links. To my opinion this guide is one of the best written so far about Ukraine..