Believe it or not, for many years the sci-fi sounding terrikony – slag heaps – were the city's main attraction. 'They change their colour depending on season and time of the day', locals still reflect dreamily. The best place to observe those changes is in Lenin Komsomol Park, where chiselled socialist realist sculptures dot the sprawling Liberators of Donbass memorial. But turn around and you will see what completely outshines terrikony these days – the brand new Donbass Arena.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.24 MILES
Yes, the football arena that hosted one of the Euro 2012 finals is the main attraction in the relatively young and industrial Donetsk. It's home to the…
0.76 MILES
The city's backbone is a broad avenue, which runs from the train station to the Old Town. It is lined with monuments dating from the Soviet era. The most…
3.23 MILES
The new and much lauded contemporary art space occupies a former electric insulator factory standing at the foot of a particularly picturesque slag heap…
1.49 MILES
The masses gather to watch Shakhtar’s away matches on a giant screen near the Lenin Statue in the centre of town.
Nearby Eastern Ukraine attractions
0.24 MILES
Yes, the football arena that hosted one of the Euro 2012 finals is the main attraction in the relatively young and industrial Donetsk. It's home to the…
0.76 MILES
The city's backbone is a broad avenue, which runs from the train station to the Old Town. It is lined with monuments dating from the Soviet era. The most…
1.49 MILES
The masses gather to watch Shakhtar’s away matches on a giant screen near the Lenin Statue in the centre of town.
3.23 MILES
The new and much lauded contemporary art space occupies a former electric insulator factory standing at the foot of a particularly picturesque slag heap…