Sightseeing Tours

Only with Anastasia tours — three sightseeing tours are included with your tour purchase. All of our sightseeing tours are led by an official INTOURIST tour guide with at least 10-years experience. Transportation (by air-conditioned bus) is included.

These tours are the perfect opportunity for you to enjoy an afternoon date with a special woman you met at a social. Our guided tours will show you the highlights of each tour city, and there is always an opportunity to buy souvenirs for friends and family. 

In addition to the three tours included in your package, there is a schedule of additional guided tours taking place every day of your stay.

Our staff can also arrange for discount tickets to the many evening cultural events and performances taking place, such as the ballet, opera, classical symphony, jazz concerts and theatre.

Kharkov

The Uspensky Cathedral 

Dominating the downtown area and dating back to 1771, The Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral is one of city's most interesting architectural monuments. It is built in the Russian Baroque style and was created as a monument to mark the victory of Russian troops over Napoleon.  The Cathedral occupies the central part of the University Hill. Until recently it was the tallest building in Kharkov, standing 90 meters. The inspiring bell tower is topped off with a golden dome, from where a clock chimes hourly recounting the time to the city’s residents.

Pokrovsky Cathedral 

The title of the oldest building in Kharkov belongs to the Pokrovsky (Protection of the Virgin) Cathedral. Its construction dates back over three centuries to 1689. Standing close to Constitution Square it is a fine example of a Ukrainian three-domed church. Its gleaming golden domes are visible for miles around. The exterior of the cathedral typifies design elements taken from Russian architecture clearly demonstrating the close cultural and social ties between Russian and Ukrainian culture. Pokrovsky Cathedral is an important architectural monument of the late 17^th Century.

World War II inflicted severe damage upon the Cathedral, and it was not until the 1990’s that restoration work was started. Now the Cathedral is a working Orthodox temple for the Kharkov Church Eparchy, and is now almost always open for services.

Svobody (Freedom) Square

Freedom Square is the largest square in Ukraine, and the third largest in Europe. The square is so large that in fact during World War II it afforded planes a safe landing. It measures 750 meters by 125 meters, so while not exactly square it still takes that name.

Originally named Dzerzhinsky Square after the infamous leader of the KGB, the square acquired its new name after the Orange Revolution in 1991, where crowds massed to the square to demand independence. It is home to a number of significant Ukrainian cultural and architectural features. Derzhprom, the state Industry building occupies one part of the square, a superb example of Constructivist Architecture. Constructed in 1928 it became the city’s first skyscraper. The Square also houses the impressive Hotel Kharkov as well as the Council of People’s Deputies, but most prominent is an awe inspiring monument to Lenin which stands at one end.

Mirror Stream Fountain

A small fountain, built in 1947 to commemorate the end of the War. It was placed directly opposite the Opera and Ballet Theatre. An oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of the city, it is a quiet place for relaxing, meeting with friends and watching newlyweds taking pictures. There is a small park with benches and a beautiful view from there onto the fountains.

Kharkov War Memorial

A vast, sprawling park occupying nearly 6 hectares (14 acres), the War Memorial is a monument to the fallen soldiers from WWII.

A focal point of remembrance, the Memorial is a solemn reminder of the past and is visited by people from the Kharkov region each year, to celebrate the country’s liberation from the Nazi occupation. The area houses a museum dedicated to the “Great Patriotic War” and a chapel. 

Sexual cultures of the world museum

Not entirely appropriate for minors, the Museum of Sexual Culture is an exploration into the imagery and teachings of sex from different cultures from around the world from ancient history to the present time. The museum houses many exhibition halls which examine sexual education, transmittable diseases and the role of sexual imagery in religious thought. The museum was created and is curated by the employees of the Faculty of Sexology and Medical Psychology of the Kharkov Medical Academy.

Odessa

Odessa Tairov Winery

A mere 10km away from Odessa, you can find the he Ukrainian National Tairov Research Institute of Viticulture and Wine Making.  A wonderful and quite different excursion takes you through the history of the institute and winemaking in Ukraine. A visit to the catacombs is next, followed by a trip through the vineyards themselves.

Of course, no trip to a vineyard is complete without sampling the goods, and this trip is no exception. The combination of the rich earth, southern sun and the Liman’s clear water produces outstanding vintages for which Ukraine is famous.

Potemkin Step & Duke’s Monument

This is a monument of the Duke De Richelieu. Boulevard built this beautiful city, where the monument is located in one of the most popular places in the city. People come there just to browse around. If anyone ever feels lonely you can just go to this monument and it is guaranteed that you will meet couple of your friends, but even if you won't you will make new friends within matter of minute

Catacombs

Odessa stands on three layers of sandstone catacombs, which form the longest - about 1000 km - man-made labyrinth in Europe. They appeared as a result of quarrying out the building material for the buildings in the 19th century. In different times the catacombs were used by smugglers, robbers, revolutionaries and guerillas

Temples of Odessa

The Greeks, the French, the Polish, the Italians, the Jews, the Russians, the Germans, the Ukrainians, the Turks and others - all these people have lived in Odessa and in the nearby area since the very beginning of the history of this city. Naturally, all of them needed to practice their respective religion. So nowadays there are Russian Orthodox, Catholic, Greek, and Armenian churches, as well as a mosque and two synagogues. There exist also a Convent and a Monastery with a theological school.  

 

  

Dnerpropetrovsk

City tour

Take in 300 years of history in the space of a few hours with a tour around Dnepropetrovsk. It is a city with an absolutely fascinating history, both ancient and modern which can be explored at your leisure. Having survived the Russian Empire, a Nazi occupation and Soviet control, the city is a remarkable mix of new and old, enjoying both a cultural and industrial heritage.

It’s possible to explore the city and take in the sights via the grand Karl Marx Prospect, which runs directly across town from East to West. Alternatively you can head to the shore, where 40 km of sand is waiting for you. The city is home to some of the most fantastic gardens in Europe, with many considered as monuments to gardening of the 18^th Century. During the summer months Dnepropetrovsk warms up to a credible 27 degrees centigrade which is a perfect temperature to find a small coffee house and enjoy the city scenes.

When fully refreshed, it’s worth visiting the majestic Spaso-Preobrazhensky (Holy Transfiguration) Cathedral, founded in 1787 by Catherine the Great. You can find it in Zhovotna Square, in the historical old town. Nearby you can also find the History Museum, renowned for the large panoramic scene of the “Battle for Dnepr”.

It’s impossible to leave the city without visiting its most famous jewel, Monastery Island. It was originally occupied by Byzantine monks in the 9^th century and, according to legend, a place of rest for pilgrims including Christ’s disciple Andrey Pervoyanny, Prince Vladimir the Great and Princess Olga. The actual monastery is now long gone after it was destroyed during the Tatar invasion in 1240.

Also worth seeing is Shevchenko Park, where lovers strolling along the paths or cuddling on one of the many benches are common sights. There is also an observation platform providing gorgeous views over the river.  Potemkin Palace offers a feast for lovers of architecture and should be part of any visit to this wonderful city. A flavor of modern Dnepropetrovsk can be found through a stroll along the spectacular embankment which was renovated in 2005, and visitors can enjoy a meal at one of the numerous restaurants in the area.

Dnepropetrovsk Museum of History

Founded in 1849 by Katerinoslav Governor A.J. Fabre and College Director Grahov, it is one of the country’s largest and most famous museums, housing spectacular specimens of dinosaur bones and hundreds of unique and fascinating treasures in each nook, cranny and niche. With exhibits from ancient Greece, Egypt and Russia, there is something to excite everybody’s interest. The museum is a wonderful tribute to tradition, and also preserves the recent cultural heritage of the city including the moving  “Pyramid of the Lost Ones”, an enormous pyramid of photos lit by candles, dedicated to the millions who perished during the Soviet Regime. The museum is a genuine national symbol and worth visiting during your time in the city.

Churches of Dnepropetrovsk

Preobrazhensky Cathedral

This is the oldest and most revered Cathedral in Dnepropetrovsk, its construction took more than 50 years. Whilst the foundation stone was laid in 1787, work soon stalled with the delays a result of the Russo-Turkish war. Work on the Cathedral began again to the design of Ivan Starov, the famous St Petersburg architect, and under the watchful eye of Catherine the Great. Again the work was stalled, only to be continued and completed in 1835 during the reign of Nicholas I of Russia, the grandson Catherine the Great. From 1975-1988, the Cathedral remarkably served as a museum of both religion and atheism.

Church on the Komsomol Island

Komsomol Island is perhaps the most attractive and romantic destination within Dnepropetrovsk. The island has many legends associated with it, due mainly to the monastery that existed here many years ago. Now, tucked away in one corner of the island is the Church of St Nichols which was constructed in 1990. The snow white church has a golden dome, visible from some distance and is now a local landmark and a symbol of the city.

  

Donetsk

City tour

Pushkin Boulevard

Pushkin Boulevard is one of the main streets in Donetsk sitting between Artyoma and Universitetskaya streets and running across Shevchenko Boulevard, Teatralniy Prospect, Gurova Street, Komsomolskaya Prospect and Sadoviy Prospect.

It’s a great place to take a stroll, there are plenty of cafés and restaurants along the route for you to stop by and take a break. You’ll also come across Mertsalov’s Palm, a 3 meter high steel palm tree which won the Grand Prix Award at the Paris International Industrial Exhibition in 1900.

Iron Figures Park

An amazing park populated with wrought iron sculptures and figures. It was created in 2001 by Viktor Burduk with the assistance of the City Council. The first sculpture was a bouquet of iron roses, and since then a further 93 sculptures have been added, creating a unique environment which is also the location for the annual Roses of Donetsk festival, with the rose being the symbol of Donetsk.

Botanical Garden

Donetsk houses one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe, covering 203 hectares or just over 500 acres. Belonging to the National Academy of Science, it is a lush, green treasure on the outskirts of the city. With over 9,000 species of plants of local, tropical and subtropical varieties, there is plenty to see and explore.

Train Museum

For Railway Buffs a visit to the Donetsk Train Museum is essential, where you can take a look at the history of locomotion in Ukraine. Containing 25 rare old train cars and engines, with one of the highlights being General Voroshilov's interior-car dating back to 1898. Also of note is the “Cuckoo”, more formally known as "B 2062", this steam engine dates back to 1929 and is the only one if its kind still in the CIS.

There are more than 2000 exhibits on display with everything from original timetables, signal boxes, cars and carriages, tools, equipment and various other documents and artifacts. With many of the larger items being expertly restored, the museum offers a rich glimpse into the recent past when steam engines dominated.

State Art Museum

Rightly considered one of the cultural beacons of the city, and in fact the region, the Donetsk State Art Museum holds more than 11,000 items. With paintings, sculptures, and drawings from Russian, Greek, Italian and Ukrainian artists, as well as from around the world and from different periods and in different styles, it is one of the most significant and important collections of art in Ukraine

Donbas Arena stadium

Since 2009, the Donbas Arena has served as the central stadium and mecca for sport in the Donetsk region. The complex was designed by ArupSport, who also created a stadium for Manchester City in England, and the Beijing National Stadium. The Donbas Arena will play host to a number of group games in the Euro 2012 group and quarter final stages.

The ground is home to Shakhtar Donetsk's football team.

Svyatogorye

The city of Svyatogorye is a small, picturesque city just North of Donetsk, with a population of about 5,000. Considered as a very spiritual town, virtually each building has some kind of historical, cultural, religious or architectural significance.

On the chalk hills of Svyatogorye you will find an ancient monastery dating back to the 16^th Century, surrounded by dense forest. Also located in the town is one of the recognized masterpieces of Ukrainian folk architecture, Nickolaevskaya church, underneath which are 1000 meters of twisting labyrinths worming their way through the chalk rock.

Svyatogorye has been a cherished destination for those seeking clarity and purity for hundreds of years, with a visit promising a treat for both the body and soul.