Kherson is a major sea harbour town in Southern Ukraine. It sits in the river delta of the Dniepr river, where it mounts into the Black Sea.

Understand

About 350,000 people live in Kherson, many of whom work in the extensive ship-building industry and harbour activities.

Get in

Potyomkin Monument

The city is well reachable by train, with connections to Dnipropetrovsk, Simferopol, Charkiw and Moscow. It's served by Kherson International Airport, but other useful airports in the region are Odessa Airport, Kisinev Airport (best reached via Palanca), and of course Kiev airport. From Odessa, there are direct minibuses and (far more expensive) taxis to Kherson.

See

Suvorov Street

• St. Catherine's Cathedral. Built in the 1780's, this was one of the first churches to be established after the Russians gained control over so-called New Russia, following the Russo-Turkish war. The domed church is made of sandstone and was constructed by General Ivan Gannibal, supposedly after a design by architect Ivan Starov. It is the final resting place of Grigory Potemkin, or Prince Potemkin, a military leader who played a major role in that Russo-Turkish War. Parts of his remains were previously kept in a monastery in present-day Romania, however, and are now lost. 

Sleep

• Dilligence Hotel, 39, Gogolya / 17, Gyrskogo. This hotel is one of the best options in the city centre, with 18 well-appointed, air-conditioned rooms. The English speaking staff is friendly and the restaurant is worth a visit too. Singles from €40. 
• Hotel Muscat, Sovetskaya Street 10, ☏ +380 552-424731. A nice boutique hotel with helpful staff and fairly good free wireless internet in all rooms. Some rooms are rather modern in decoration, while others are more classic in style. The rates depend on the type of room you want. From €55 for a simple twin room..