City Guide DNEPROPETROVSK

Welcome to Dnepropetrovsk!

Dnipropetrovsk - simply Dnepr, as it is called by local inhabitants is a dynamic and lively city. It is the largest center of Prydniprovye (Historical region of Dnipropetrovsk, part of Zaporozhye and Kirovograd regions, look). The city is surprising green along the wide and slow-moving Dnieper river (Dnepr in Russian, Dnipro in Ukrainian). The city has remarkable embankments, long boulevards and spacious parks.

It is also the centre of high-technology industries, education, machine-building, metallurgy and trade. The city is not only famous for its commercial industry, but also its green hills and deep history. 

Climate and weather

The city is very warm in summer (average daily temperature in July is +25-35 C) and cold in the winter (aver. day temp. is -3-4 C). Best time for visiting is in the late spring - the late April, May (nice nature and fresh air), first part of June, and early in autumn: September and October (beauty of town's yellow parks). Period of rains is normal in the middle of autumn. Other times are mainly dry with a few showers or storms in the summer time.

Rest and holidays

Globy Central Park, Shevchenka Park, Embankments, river beaches and islands are the favorite places of most of the townspeople. During the summer there are a great number of cafes along the wide Dnieper River (1 km. width approx.), on main streets, and in the parks.
The City Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian and Ukrainian Drama theatres, some Youth theatres, and Circus are waiting for you all year round. 

History of the city Museums and exhibition

Some museums and exhibition halls are always open for you.The largest and most popular is the Historical Museum named for Dmitry Yavornitsky. The Museum of Art has quite a good collection of pictures representing different styles and epoch.

Theatres

The City Opera and Ballet Theatre, Russian and Ukrainian Drama theatres, some Youth theatres, and Circus are waiting for you all year round.

Points of interest

The central streets of the city were renamed during the Soviet time in honor of the outstanding revolutionaries. (And it is interesting, the largest of them is in honor of German figures.) So the central street of the city has the name of Karl Marx. It is a very beautiful, wide and long parkway, which stretches east to west through the central part of the city. It was founded in the XVIII century and parts of its buildings are the actual decoration of the city. In the nucleus of the city is Zhovtneva square, on which is the majestic Cathedral that was founded by order of Katherine II (Russian empress) in 1787.

On the square, there are some remarkable buildings: the Museum of History, Diorama "Battle for the Dnieper River (Second World War)", and also the beautiful park in which you can rest in the hot summer. Walking down the hill to the Dnieper River, you will arrive in the large Taras Shevchenko Park (which is on the right bank of the river) and on Monastyrskiy Island. This island is one of the most interesting places in the city. In the IX century, the Byzantian monks based a monastery here. It was destroyed by Mongol-Tatars in the XIII century.  The compact "old town" does not exist in Dnipropetrovsk anymore. Many historic buildings and churches were destroyed in the Second World War and in Stalin's communist times in the 1930s. (You can see pictures of the old city of the 19th century Yekaterinoslav)

However all of Central Avenue, some street-blocks on the main hill (the Nagornaya part) between Pushkina Prospekt and Embankment, and sections near Globy and Shevchenka parks have been untouched for 150 years. An evening walk through those parts of the city is very pleasurable...

The Dnieper River is a wonderful creation of nature that keeps the climate mild and the air fresh. You can see it from many points in Dnepropetrovsk. From any hill (there are 7 in the city) you will find a beautiful view of the river, islands, parks, outskirts, river banks and hills.
There was no need to build huge skyscrapers in the city in Soviet times. Powerful industries preferred to construct offices close to their main factories away from the centre of town. In the last ten years of independence the price of land in Ukraine has grown considerably. All the new office buildings are being built in the same architectural style as the old buildings....

Shopping and souvenirs

The Karl Marx Prospekt is the main trade artery of the city. There are plenty of shops and cafes of different sizes and for different income levels. The abundance of trade points can be observed also in several streets and squares contiguous to the Karl Marx Prospekt in the area around the Central Department Store (TSUM) - the biggest market place in the city.  To buy souvenirs, the best site is Exhibition on the boulevard across from TSUM. Large supermarkets are located far from the central part of the city; mostly in residential areas.

Services for corporative and individual group:

  • Registration of the invitation for the Ukrainian entrance tourist visa 
  • Hotels accommodation 
  • Comfortable apartments rent
  • Catering services
  • Transfer airport (railway station) – hotel; hotel – airport 
  • Intercity drive 
  • Meeting service (car+interpreter) 
  • City tour (any theme); guide service only 
  • Green, ecological tours. Accommodation in the farmer or village house. All inclusive. 
  • Business tours. The business partners search 
  • Interests, leisure (theatre, museum, exhibition, religion, sports, fishing, hunting, shopping) 
  • Interpreter services 
  • Dnieper-river boating on a comfortable yacht 
  • Air (railway) tickets
  • Courier service

EXCURSIONS IN DNIPROPETROVSK AND REGION      

1.Orientation city tour   

Duration - 3 hours

Itinerary: Karl Marks Avenue, Cathedral Square, Transfiguration Cathedral, Shevchenko and Globy parks, Potyomkin's 18-th century Palace, Monastery Island, Embankment, Glory monument.

2.Aerospace museum

Duration - 1,5 hours

Dniepropetrovsk is the center of Ukrainian aerospace industry. The Yuzhniy Mashine-building Plant and Design Office Yuzhnoe Corporation is the biggest center in Europe that produces the space technology. The Aerospace museum is a unique and only one museum of space technology in Ukraine. It was created on the base of National Youth Aerospace center.
The Aerospace museum introduces a wide exposition of original space stations, satellites, military rockets and etc. which explain about the history of aerospace industry in Ukraine. Space technology engineers and experts lead the excursion.

The photo- and videoshooting is possible.

Since the museum is training and scientific-research center it is necessary to make reservation in advance. 

3.Petrikivka folk handicrafts center

Duration - 4-6 hours

There is a large village 40 km far from Dnepropetrovsk which is called Pertrikivka. Petrikivka village is famous of its folk painting far away from Ukrainian borders. There is a unique original painting school which had been created during the many centuries and does not have any analogue neither in Ukraine nor others counties.

Pertrikivka's painting includes such kind of painting as: wood painting, ceramics painting, and wall painting.
The painting of Pertrikivka's artists is exhibited in Art museums more than 40 counties all over the world and took rewards at International exhibitions.

Excursion to Petrikivka folk handicrafts center includes visiting to picture gallery where the best work of art are represented and visiting to artists' workshops where you will be able to see artists during the work. It is possible to purchase the souvenirs just from the artists. Each excursion takes 45 minutes.

In summer time for extra charge it is possible to order Ukrainian picnic in picturesque place on the riverbank. Also it is possible to order dinner of Ukrainian courses at a cafe which is situated near Petrikivka folk handicrafts center.

4. Zaporozhye Cossack's history museum

Duration - 6 hours.

Hortitsa Island (in Zaporozhye City that is not far from Dniepropetrovsk) is the biggest island in Ukraine (10 miles in length). All landscape zones of Ukraine such as: steppes, mixed forests, orchards, hills, high rocks are represented at Hortitsa Island. Some species of flora and fauna are in Red Book.

The whole island is a National historic culture park.  There are some historic relics on the island such as: sites of primitive society, the World War II fortification buildings rest . In 16-18 centuries there was a unique social union - Zaporozhskaya Sich that does not have any analogues in the world history. As a matter of fact Zaporozhskaya Sich was a little independent state that had own highly skilled army, fleet, the social and economic structure, own culture, own original education (almost all inhabitants could read and write). Zaporozhskaya Sich was existing during 200 years defending south state borders from numerous conquerors such as Turks, Tatars and etc.

Zaporozhye Cossack's history museum which is situated on Hortitsa Island is only one museum in Ukraine expositions of which are dedicated to Zaporozhye Cossacks namely.

The expositions represent the real Cossack's household goods, their weapons, equipment, clothes, books, art canvass and diorama of battle between Cossacks and Tatars.

In 1999 the Cossack's militarian Chaika boat was found on the Dniepr River bottom not far from Hortitsa Island. At the present time the boat is under reconstruction after which it will occupy it's palace in Zaporozhye Cossack's history museum.

Options:

Walk excursion along the Hortitsa Island - 2 hours. Zaporozhskie Cossacki riding show - 1 hour + treating with traditional kasha (porridge). Food, drinks and souvenirs are for extra charge.  From May till October there are some performances take place. Performances depend to the Dniepr River cruises and have fixed date (usually 7-10 performances per month).  Excursion to the Zaporozhye hydroelectric power station DnieproHES (first Soviet hydroelectric power station, 1932).

5. Green Tour

Duration - from 2 days

Residing in the country village house with a full board.

Acquaintance to a life of the Ukrainian peasant, participation in country and household works, rest on a nature.