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Ukraine · DESTINATION GUIDE

Cherkasy.
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11 min readSource revision: 2026-09-12English guide · community-sourced
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A planning reference, not a live booking feed. Prices and private contacts have been removed from the reused source. Opening times, services, routes and regulations can change: confirm details before traveling.

Overview

Cherkasy (Ukrainian: Черкаси, also transliterated Cherkassy from Russian: Черкассы) is a city in Central Ukraine. It is the capital of the Cherkasy Oblast (province). The city is the cultural, educational and industrial center. The population is 287,583 (as of 2011).

Understand

It was founded around the 1280s. In the 1360s, the city becoming a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At that time was a fortified town on the south edge (of Grand Duchy of Lithuania), along with Vinnytsia, Bratslav and Kaniv making defensive line from Crimean Tatars. During 15th-16th centuries, Cherkassians took part in military marches against Tatars and Turkish. After the Union of Lublin in 1569 Cherkasy became a part of Poland.

Cherkasy was the center of Cossacks, citizens took part in Khmelnychchyna and Koliyivschyna (cossacks' and peasants' rebellions) in the 18th century. After the Second Partition of Poland the city was incorporated into the Kievan Guberniya of the Imperial Russia. In the second half of the 19th century the city got railroad and its experienced a great economical growth. After the October Revolution in 1917 Cherkasy fell under Soviet rule. The Second World War damaged the city greatly. In the 1960s Cherkasy became the chemical giant of the Ukrainian SSR, after "Azot" (the biggest nitrogen fertilizer producing plant), "Himvolokno" (artificial fiber manufacturing plant), "Himreaktyv" (chemical reagents for military purposes) and many others were built in the city. In 1961 a Kremenchuk hydro power plant was built, forming Kremenchuk Water Reservoir with the longest dyke in Ukraine (15 km) with rail and road on it. The city is a big transport hub. The city is on the high right bank of the Dnipro River, in the middle of the Kremenchuk Reservoir, mostly on lowlands.

Climate

The climate is mild continental, with mild winters and warm (or hot) summers. Winters are usually cold and snowy (January is −5.9 °C), severe frosts (up to −25 °C) can be happen. Summers are dry and warm (the average temperature in July is +19.8 °C), with occasional highs reaching +35 °C (95 °F).

Get in

By plane Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine's airspace is closed to civil aviation.

Railway Station. Services: the issuance of written and complex inquiries; luggage storage; mother and baby room; restrooms; service centre; cafe bar.

Bus station No.1. Long-distance transportation is carried out and also minitaxis. Such as the Auto Service 2005 (Сервис Авто 2005) for Kyiv, Belaia Tserkov, Kaniv, Chigirin; the Auto Express (Авто-Экспресс) for Dnipro, Kyiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Kremenchuk; the Elite-Express (Элит-Экспресс) for Kharkiv.

By car Two major automobile routes go through the city: H16 (Uman-Zolotonosha, national route), and P10 (Kaniv-Kremenchuk, regional route). Kyiv is 200 km north from here.

Get around

By public transport Cherkasy has a convenient public transport system:

Schedules are available on DozoR (in Ukrainian), EasyWay and Google Maps.

By taxi Taxi is the easiest way of getting around the city. Some popular taxi companies include:

By scooter Kick scooter is a funny way to shorten your time while getting around the city.

See

Scherbina House, Wedding Palace. It was the most luxurious mansion of prerevolutionary Cherkasy. In Soviet times it was known as the "Palace of Happiness" because it was city's registry office. The house was built by entrepreneur A. Scherbina in 1892. From 1970 to the present day the building is used as the Wedding Palace (civil registry agency).

Goluboi Palace: Former hotel Slavyanskiy. - Neo-Gothic style (1880s). Cornerhouse, pentagonal, high-crowned sharpened tent. The facade of the building is adorned with numerous decorative details, thin towers with needle-like domes and graceful columns. The house had three balconies, one of which was passed by more than 2.5 meters and was based on thin iron columns. After January 1919 the building was the headquarters of the 'red' rebels. After the revolution and until the mid-1970s, the building housed Hotel Dnipro, and later it was used by several government agencies. The first floor was occupied by a cafe of the Dnepr. Today the building belongs to Ukrsotsbank.

Castle Hill, Hill of Glory. The memorial complex with a monument "Motherland" is located at the top of the former Castle Hill. At this point, ancient Russian fort, remains of Cherkasy fortress and Holy Trinity Church were situated. In 1977 all architectural and archaeological sites were completely destroyed during construction of the monument. From the top of the hill you can see beautiful panorama of the Kremenchuk Reservoir. Made for a memory of the dead people of the city during the Second World War. At the top of the hill, where the buried nearly a thousand soldiers, are terraces laid with granite blocks. Bulk part of the hill ogranyaet memorial granite wall with names of residents who perished in the fighting. On the retaining wall is 5 bronze bas-reliefs that tell of the hard times of war. 1st shows the militia in 1941, the 2nd - the battle with the Nazis. In the center of the bas-relief - a figure of a young soldier who falls in wheat struck the ball. 3rd bas-relief shown bayonet charge of the Soviet soldiers, the 4th - as in strikes like the standard-bearer friend picks up the flag. In the 5th - perpetuated by the representatives of all branches of the Soviet Army.

Puppet Theatre. Cherkasy Regional Academic Puppet Theater is in a building that is an architectural monument of the 19th century. The building is decorated with mosaics with the heroes of fairy tales.

School of Music. The building of Cherkasy Music School of S. Gulak-Artemovsky was built in 1903 as a men’s gymnasium. The author of the project was great Kyiv architect of Polish origin V. Gorodetsky. In the second half of the 20th century, after the construction of a modern extension, the building became the home of a music school.

The former gymnasium building, Taras Shevchenko Regional Research Library. In 1891 the City Council decided to erect a school building on the estate merchant Sokolova, and behind an existing two-storey mansion, on a steep descent to the Dnieper. The project involved the construction of a two-story building, which was supposed to equip 13 classrooms, offices for teachers and inspectors, as well as a spacious hall for various meetings. The building materials were delivered from different locations in southern Russia. - His strong, clear, classical form, it seemed, themselves set up the learning process. Now, the gymnasium is a building for Taras Shevchenko Regional Research Library. In 1931 the school was reorganized in the middle. In 1933 was completed the third floor. The third floor housed another 7 classrooms, offices of chemistry and physics. The Nazis placed in the building of a military hospital.

Hyperboloid water tower. Hyperboloid water tower

Monument dumplings. The first monument in Ukraine dumplings installed in 2006. The sculpture represents a Cossack Mamaia, who eats dumplings. Behind him, placed a huge crescent-shaped dumpling. The statue of the classical Ukrainian dishes, with the height of the monument is 2.5 m, made of ceramics, this dumpling weighs about 70 kg.

Bohdan Khmelnytskyi Monument. Made in 1995 to the 400th birthday of the Hetman. A bronze sculpture, mounted on a pedestal of stylized processed granite blocks. On both sides of the pedestal - the stele of granite blocks, which is mounted eight boards with inscriptions: the Battle of Zhollty Vody, the Battle of Korsun, Victory at Pilyavtsami, the triumphal entry into Kyiv, Victory at Zbarazh and Zborov, Battle of Berestechko, Taking the Krakow and Warsaw. On both sides of the pedestal made of granite blocks, set two bronze sculptures that symbolize the victory of the Cossacks, led by B. Khmelnitsky on land and at sea. They serve as a basis podium decorated with floral ornaments. Among the sea - Cossack gull with a sail. Another composition includes Cossack gun with kernels a barrel of gunpowder, arms & banners.

White Lotus Buddhist temple. The only Buddhist temple in Eastern Europe, which was built in the 1990s. It is the prototype of the famous Buddhist temple in Laos. At the entrance to the cell are two figures of ancient warriors, brought to Cherkasy from Tibet. In the temple, give tours, but you must negotiate directly on the site.

St. Michael's Cathedral. Built in Byzantine style

Local History Museum. The museum exposition is available in 30 halls. There is a collection of artifacts from the history, nature, culture, and ethnography of Cherkasy Oblast. Cherkasy Oblast museum is housed in a modern building, built in 1985 Thirty halls of the museum offer sections about nature of the region, archeology, ethnography, history of the region in the 14th – early 20th century, modern history from 1917 to the present. In total there are about 12 thousand exhibits.

"Kobzar" Museum of Taras Shevchenko – Tsybulsky House. the only museum in the world about one book. Located in Tsybulsky House, was built in 1852 and rebuilt in the early 20th century, was known as the home of Tsybulsky. At that time it contained an office and loan banks. The mansion belonged Tsybulsky brothers - this family was the first guild merchants in the city.

Cherkasy Art Museum. – big museum where different exhibitions are held throughout the year. There are two divisions: arts crafts and fine arts. In addition four halls of the third floor rooms are constantly used for periodic exhibitions. In the museum you can see the folk art medium Podniprovya, iconography 18-19th centuries, and portrait painting of 18-19th centuries. A significant part is contemporary works, drawings, sculptures.

Literary Memorial Museum of Vasyl Symonenka. Dedicated to the life and work of the Ukrainian poet Vasily Symonenko in the editorial office of the newspaper "Cherkasy region", where he worked in Cherkasy. In the editorial office of the former newspaper "Cherkasy Truth" (now the "Cherkasy region"), worked Vasyl Symonenko. Exposure positioned exactly in this office and tells about the life and work of poet and journalist. Contains photographs, documents, letters he received and wrote contributors, working in the department of letters. The display also the poet's personal belongings, manuscripts of his works, notepad with working notes, application for membership of the Union of Writers of Ukraine. Here collected memories of the poet, his friends and associates.

Museum of Ukrainian towel. - established in the early 1990s in Cherkasy National University, now contains over 500 embroidered towels late 19-early 20th centuries, primarily from the Dnieper region.

Chyhyryn. There are some interesting ruins like the Trinity Monastery, built near Chyhyryn in 1627, was later destroyed. The town hall and - Khmelnytsky's palace (rebuilt 2000s), did not survive either and today there are only remnants of the fortifications, archaeological museum, SS. Peter-Paul Church (rebuilt 2000s).

Shevchenko national reserve, Taras hill, Kaniv. Taras hill Probably on the mountain in the XI century was based Kanevsky cave monastery. Kanev Nature Reserve (Канівський природний заповідник) 2027 ha. Founded in 1968, established and formed with its beautiful and varied landscapes on the right side of the gracious Dnieper River. Also here is the Kaniv's hydro-electric power plant located on the Kaniv Reservoir. Museum of folk and decorative art. St.George (Assumption of the Virgin) cathedral. 1147. 1805.Historical Museum. - Natural History Museum.

Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi. Main sights: A Landscape Park complex belonging to the former palace of the noble Lopukhinykh-Demydovykh family, considered one of the best natural park complexes in the style of Romanticism in Ukraine. The park was constructed in 1782 by the request of the noble Stanisław Poniatowski, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a writer and artist. In the middle of the 19th century, the park was decorated with many sculptures. In addition, small pedestrian bridges were added. Total area of the park is 97 hectares. The palace of the noble Lopukhinykh-Demydovykh family. The Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi historical-cultural preserve. Museum dedicated to the history of the Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi Battle. -Transfiguration Church

River Girskyi Tikych canyon. Explore the canyon near to Buky town

Zolotonosha. Krasnogorskyi Pokrovskyi Monastery, Preobrazhenska Church. Designed by Ivan Hryhorovych-Barskyi in the Ukrainian Baroque style, built in 1767-1771. Sviato-Uspenskyi Cathedral, 1909.

Do

Tsentralnyi Stadion. A multi-purpose stadium. It is used mostly for football matches, and is the home of FC Cherkaskyi Dnipro in the Ukrainian Second League. The stadium holds 10,321 people.

Ukraine. A very old building, was the first cinema in Cherkasy

Park Peremohy (Victory Park). with a zoo

Cherkasy Forest. Here, the sanatorium Ukraine is situated, along with three-star hotel Ukraine and Kosmos-Bowling club.

Dnipro River beaches. The coastline of the city is as long as 15 kilometres and is usually represented with sand beaches.

Sport-entertainment centers "Selena" and "Bochka" which can usually be found on the bank of the Dnipro River.

Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Academic Drama Theatre former Musical-Drama Theatre. Established in 1933 and from that time its creative life closely connected with land of Shevchenko. In 1954, the theatre was reorganized in Regional Drama Theatre named for Taras Shevchenko.

Druzhba Narodiv (Friendship of Nations) Culture Palace. A big cultural center & concert hall where all major concerts are held.

Events Kryzhtal – A sculpture festival (held in winter, sculptures are made of ice). Drevlyandia – A sculpture festival (held in summer, sculptures are made of wood, then placed in parks around the city). Zhyvyi Kamin – A sculpture festival (held in autumn, sculptures are made of stone) with the "Cherkasy's Singing Nights" are held in the open-air theater in the park. Tarasova Gora – Am international bike festival, since 2003. Which gathers bikers from Ukraine, Russia, and other European countries. This is the biggest festival of this kind held in Ukraine.

Buy

Epicentr Hypermarket. National network of construction-business hypermarkets

Grand Market Shopping centre. A 1-ha shopping center. All groups of goods, a necessary in everyday life of man: produkty nutrition, tekstylnыe yzdelyya, apparel, sports goods on, footwear and accessories, Children's supermarket, utensils, household appliances, cosmetics and Perfume, Jewelry, media-Production, Press, showroom, furniture, souvenirs, flowers for home, all for a bathroom etc. Offices of the bank, an exchange of currencies and ATMs, pharmacy, cafe. Supermarket on the first floor of the shopping center, 1,200 m² and 13 terminals.

Central market. Fresh fruit and meat

Market on Kazbet. Delikat, Sarm, Donini shops

Drink

Kalyan-bar "1000 i 1 nich". Cafe and bar, Wi-Fi.

Sleep

Lada-Service Hotel. Also there is a restaurant.

Orange (former Apelsyn) Hotel. Also there is a restaurant, Wi-Fi, a sauna.

Beloe Ozero (White Lake) Hotel. Maybe closed?

Hotel and restaurant complex Aragvi. All room with minibar, Wi-Fi, air con and sat TV

Learn

Bogdan Khmelnitsky National University.

LAKHOU PLANNING FRAMEWORK

Make Cherkasy your own.

Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.

  1. Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
  2. Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
  3. Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
  4. Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
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Source transparency

This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.

Original revision 5349760 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-12. This is not a date of field verification.

For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.

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