Kharkiv's signature sight is Freedom Square, one of the largest city squares in Europe, ringed by extraordinary Constructivist and Stalinist architecture. The Annunciation Cathedral provides gilded counterpoint to the Soviet grandeur, and the Kharkiv Art Museum holds a collection that ranges from Ukrainian icons to 20th-century avant-garde work. The city's universities give it an intellectual energy distinctive from Kyiv, and exploring the academic quarter around Karazin University reveals some of the finest Neoclassical buildings in Ukraine.
Note: Kharkiv has been severely affected by the conflict in Ukraine that began in 2022. Verify current safety conditions before planning any visit.