Odessa guide | Nikolaev guide

Nikolaev is located in the southern part of Ukraine, between two rivers - the South Bug and the Ingul. It is one of the ten largest cities in Ukraine. The city’s population is more then 500 thousand inhabitants and includes people of different nationalities, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, but also Jewish, Bulgarians, Koreans, Germans and Polish. At present the city takes the ninth place by the quantity of its population in Ukraine.

The city of Nikolaev was founded in 1789 by the Order Of Count Potyomkin of Tavria as a shipbuilding center. It became a major shipbuilding base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Since then Nikolaev has been the center of shipbuilding.

Nikolaev is an important business and industrial center of Ukraine with great economical potential. Machine-building and metal-working occupies the main position in the structure of industry of Nikolaev, shipbuilding and power equipment manufacturing play an outstanding role among these branches. Manufacturing enterprises of the city provide up to 50% of Ukraine’s shipbuilding production, more than 90% of gas turbine manufacturing and 80% of alumina output – aluminium oxide occurring naturally as raw material. There is a number of large shipbuilding plants, which build and supply such kinds of ships as: ship tanks, dry cargo carriers, trawlers, refrigerators, warships. Well developed food industry plays one of the major roles in the Nikolaev’s industry. Butchery based on the agricultural products remaking is presented by Nikolaev meat-packing plant, poultry farm, numerous, sausage shops, bread-baking plants & numerous bakeries.

Well-developed Nikolaev transport network infrastructure includes river & sea ports, railway junction, two airports and motorway in connection with powerful manufacturing basis, scientific and planning organizations, engineering departments establish significant potential for the city’s development.

Nikolaev is acknowledged to be a scientific and education center. The city is reach in history and culture with plenty of attractions: network of catacombs near the ancient Greek city-state Olviya, remarkable parks and reserves, the largest zoo, which is the third in size in the territory of the former USSR. The Natural Reserve of Gola Prystan with its beautiful natural surroundings is also one of the most attractive tourist and recreation center on the Black Sea Cost.

The climate in Nikolaev is moderately continental and comparatively dry, the weather is correspondingly mild and dry with average temperatures in summer of 22 degrees Celsius and in winter of around freezing point.

The Ukraine’s currency is the “hryvna” (UAH), which is rather stable and is tied to the dollar. There are no problems with currency exchange in Nikolaev, special exchange booths can be found all over the city. Nikolaev banks operate with the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and EuroCard.