KHARKIV

city population: 1.521 mln
distance to Kyiv: 487 km
regional area: 31,400 km²
regional population: 3.02 mln
region's urban population: 78.8%

This heavily Russified city is just 40 kilometers from the Russian border, located at the confluence of the Kharkiv, Lopan, and Uda Rivers. Founded in 1659 as a cossak outpost, it was one of the largest Ukraine's commercial centers in the late 17th century. It was the capital of Soviet Ukraine from 1919 to 1934. The Ukrainian cultural renaissance commenced here in the years 1920-1930. The first wave of repression of the Ukrainian intelligentsia began in Kharkiv.

Among the places to see would be Pokrovskiy and Uspenskiy cathedrals, built in the 17th-18th centuries. Today the city is known for its heavy machine-building, chemical and pharmaceutical plants.

Restaurants:
Myr
27-a Lenina prosp.
tel. (0572) 30-55-60
Natsional
21 Lenina prosp.
tel. (0572) 30-87-55
Stare misto
12 Kvitky-Osnov'yanenka vul.
tel. (0572) 12-80-95

Central bus station:
22 Haharina prosp.
tel. (0572) 21-65-04

Railway station:
1 Pryvokzalna pl.
tel. (0572) 24-22-53

Airport:
tel. (0572) 51-64-08
ticket booking: (0572) 21-84-41

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0572) 27-46-36

DNIPROPETROVSK

city population: 1.122 mln
distance to Kyiv: 479 km
regional area: 31,900 km²
regional population: 3.8 mln
region's urban population: 83.6%

The largest industrial city in the country is located on the Dnipro River. Dnipropetrovsk boasts extensive Soviet-era machine-building, metallurgical (especially, iron and steel), chemical and oil-refining complexes. At the same time, the expanses of black earth outside the city represent some of the richest farm land in the country accounting for 6 percent of national agricultural production (wheat trade). Dnipropetrovsk is a big railway junction and is the site of several institutes of higher education and many cultural institutions.

The city was founded by Prince H. Potyomkin in 1776 and named Katerynoslav in honor of Empress Catherine II. It was renamed into Novorosiysk by Pavel I (1796-1802) later on. The intensive development of the city began in the 1870s when a railroad line was built linking the town with the Kryvy Rih and Donets Basin.

Restaurants:
Yager
40 Yantarna vul.
tel. (0562) 34-21-51
Dnipropetrovsk
33 Lenina Naberezhna
tel. (0562) 41-69-46
McDonald's
128 Haharina prosp.
tel. (0562) 37-57-85

Central Bus station:
10 Kurchatova vul.
tel. (0562) 42-31-79
information service: (0562) 008
ticket booking: (056) 778-40-90

Railway station:
1 Petrovskoho pl.
information service: (0562) 009;
(0562) 42-28-70
ticket booking: (0562) 33-62-53

Airport:
Dnipropetrovsk-42 airport
tel. (0562) 39-52-54
ticket booking: (0562) 34-11-34

River port:
tel. (0562) 42-26-69

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0562) 002

DONETSK

city population: 1.065 mln
distance to Kyiv: 729 km
regional area: 26,500 km²
regional population: 5.06 mln
region's urban population: 90.2%

This southeastern city is the historical capital of Donbass, Ukraine's famous coal mining and industrial region. Founded in 1869 as Yuzivka after the Englishman D. Yuz, it rapidly developed, after a number of factories and mining complexes were built to exploit the local coal supply.

Most of city's population is Russian, and it traces its origin to the workforce brought in to develop the mines and factories during the tsarist and Soviet periods. In 1924-1961 the city's name was Stalino. Modern Donetsk remains one of the largest metallurgical centers of Ukraine.

Restaurants:
Alexander Hall
32-a Stadionna vul.
tel. (062) 332-24-67
Shynok
127 Artema vul.
tel. (0622) 92-02-82
McDonald's
1-a Komunariv pl.
tel. (062) 334-24-92

Central bus station:
Pivdenna bus station
Zahyblyh Komunariv pl.
tel. (0622) 66-41-23

Railway station:
Pryvokzalna pl.
tel. (0622) 51-22-53
information service: (0622) 005,
tel. (0622) 93-40-59
ticket booking: (0622) 055

Airport:
information service:
tel. (0622) 55-80-13; (0622) 006
ticket booking: (062) 381-0481

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0622) 058, (0622) 53-01-60
tel. (0622) 59-99-11

ODESA

city population: 1.027 mln
distance to Kyiv: 480 km
regional area: 33,300 km²
regional population: 2.55 mln
region's urban population: 65.8%

Odesa is not only Ukraine's most important port - in many ways it has more local character than any other city in the country. Founded in 1794 by Catherine the Great, Odesa became wealthy in the 19th and early 20th centuries on the grain trade, shipping, and smuggling. To this day Odesans are renowned for their sharp wit and canny trading abilities which were shaped due to the culture mix.

Within a short period of time the city, with its beautiful harbor on the Black Sea, has become Ukraine's southern window to Europe and an important cultural center. The city is constantly hosting exhibits, symposia, and conferences. It is the site of consulates and trade missions of many countries; many cultural exchange societies are active in the city. Every year, approximately 100,000 tourists visit Odesa attracted by its boulevards and Prymorsky Stairs, the marine railway and beautiful beaches, numerous new structures, and the unusual architecture of old Odesa.

Restaurants:
Bologna
6-a Velykyiy Fontain Station
tel. (0482) 68-44-70
Ukraina
12 Katerynenska vul.
tel. (0482) 22-74-79
Irish Pub Mick O'Nelle
13 Derybasivska vul.
tel. (0482) 26-84-37

Central bus station:
58 Kolontayivskoyi vul.
tel. (048) 732-56-93
information service: (0482) 004

Railway station:
2 Pryvokzalna pl.
tel. (0482) 27-42-42
information service: (0482) 005
ticket booking: (0482) 083

Odesa State International Airport:
information service: (0482) 39-33-12

Marine port:
6 Prymorska vul.
tel. (0482) 22-32-11

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0482) 088, (048) 731-03-10

ZAPORIZHZHYA

city population: 0.863 mln
distance to Kyiv: 568 km
regional area: 27,200 km²
regional population: 2.04 mln
region's urban population: 76.5%

Founded in 1770 on the site of the famous Cossak camp, Zaporizhzhya has a special place in Ukrainian national folklore. For nearly two centuries Zaporizhzhya Sich used to be the only example of people's democracy in Medieval Europe.

Today, the city is a heavy industrial zone. Its rapid development started after the Dnipro hydroelectric station was put into operation in early 1930s. The biggest nuclear power plant in Europe is located in Zaporizhzhya region. A huge motor-car manufacturer is located in the city as well.

The most interesting sights are ancient settlements dating from 4000-2000 B.C., as well as cossaks' fortresses of 15th-18th centuries.

Restaurants:
Pizzeria "Retro"
98 Kosmichna vul.
tel. (0612) 96-01-36
Zeleniy papuha
49 Sorokarichya
Radyanskoyi Ukrayiny vul.
tel. (0612) 33-71-56
O'Brien's Irish Pub
169 Lenina prosp.
tel. (0612) 32-56-04

Central bus station:
22 Lenina prosp.
tel. (0612) 64-26-57

Railway station:
2 Pryvokzalna vul.
tel. (0612) 69-12-53
ticket booking: (0612) 005
information service: (0612) 33-25-55

Airport:
information service:
tel. (0612) 64-25-65

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0612) 058

LVIV

city population: 0.794 mln
distance to Kyiv: 544 km
regional area: 21,800 km²
regional population: 2.74 mln
region's urban population: 60.8%

Lviv is Ukraine's most western city both historically and culturally, having spent most of its nearly nine centuries of existence first as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and later as an important city in independent Poland. The city was founded in the 13th century at the European Divide - a trade route crossroads 600 km from the Baltic and Black Seas.

Lviv is an outstanding architectural reserve. In the 17th century, wealthy merchants invited architects and artists from all over Europe to turn Lviv into a real pearl of Europe. In November 1998 Lviv City was officially included in the UNESCO list of World Architectural Monuments.

The city is also an important transportation and industrial center. Manufacturing includes electronic equipment, motor vehicles, agricultural machinery, and chemicals.

Restaurants:
Vysokiy Zamok
Vysokiy Zamok park
tel. (0322) 72-25-22
George
1 Mitskevycha pl.
tel. (0322) 72-67-52
Muza
17 S. Krushelnytskoyi vul.
tel. (0322) 39-83-42

Main Post Office:
1 Slovatskoho vul.
tel. (0322) 97-03-28

Central bus station:
189 Stryiska vul.
tel. (0322) 63-25-31

Railway station:
1 Dvirtseva pl.
tel. (0322) 35-43-01
information service: (0322) 005,
tel.:(0322) 35-25-79
ticket booking: (0322) 39-00-51

Airport:
information service:
tel. (0322) 69-21-12
ticket booking: (0322) 69 -20-48

Taxi reservation:
tel. (0322) 004, 083
tel. (0322) 36-34-34