ABOUT KHERSON
This promising city was established 240 years ago but the history of this region spans more than 2,000 years.
Modern Kherson is a charming city on the banks of the Dnipro river. Old neighbourhoods are buried in the greenery of the trees, and the new districts being on their place. The Dnipro river, like a precious necklace, is framed by the southern gates of Ukraine.
The culture and the history of Kherson, is unique and multifaceted. The city itself harbors many attractions for tourists. There are many cozy corners, ancient buildings, temples and parks. Streets, alleys and quiet courtyards of Kherson are the most eloquent guides for tourists to enjoy the architecture of the city.
HISTORY
The territory of the modern Kherson has been inhabited since ancient times. Found burials and material assets from different parts of the city are the evidence of human presence in the copper and bronze era (III – II millennium BC). In the IV–III centuries BC on the modern Kherson territory the Scythians were on the move and on the turn of our era there were Sarmatians. Later in the period of Kyiv Rus (IX – XII centuries), along the Dnieper, past the future city, there was the way «from the Varangians to the Greeks» which the Slavs used for trading purposes. There was a
Slavonic settlement on the Big Potemkin Island.
In 1737, the Russian fortification of Oleksandr Shants appeared on the site of the current Kherson built during the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. The city Kherson was founded by the decree of Catherine II of June 18, 1778.
The city was created to protect the southern borders of the country. In order to strengthen them it was decided to build a port at the Dnieper mouth with a shipyard, a commercial pier and a fortress.
Also, Kherson was given the role of the main trading city. In the mid-1990s there had already been about 2,000 houses and 10,000 inhabitants. The best buildings were in a Greek suburb. One of them was the house of the local government, now located in Suvorova st. 1, were O. Suvorov had been living in the period 1792-1794. He was a commander of Kherson corps in Kinburn and Kherson regions. The main street of the city is now named in the name of the famous commander.
Nowadays, the «old city» occupies most of the modern center of Kherson.
WEATHER/BEST TIME TO VISIT
High Season (Jul–Aug)
• Expect stifling heat and humidity as well as heavy thunderstorms.
• City is almost empty as people head for the coast and their country cottages.
Shoulder (Apr–Jun & Sep–Nov)
• Travel now to dodge the extreme temperatures of summer or winter.
• Spring can be chilly, but it’s a pleasant time to be in blossoming Kherson.
• Visit Kherson in autumn and avoid heat and enjoy a rich harvest of fruits and vegetables. Staying in green tourism farmsteads is especially nice this period.
Low Season (Dec–Feb)
• Expect temperatures well below zero, heavy snowfalls and hard frosts.
• Book accommodation and transport ahead for New Year and early January.
It is a good time to relax and enjoy holidays in one of green tourism manor houses in the countryside.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
GETTING AROUND
- As most of Ukrainian cities Kherson is navigable by trolleybuses, and buses. Urban public-transport systems are usually overworked and overcrowded. There’s no room for being shy or squeamish — learn to assert yourself quickly.
- Travelling by taxi anywhere in the ex-USSR can be a decidedly unpleasant experience for foreigners, but we can surely recommend you trustworthy localcompany called 7:40 or Elit-Taxi (see the ads below).
- To order by phone you need to speak some Ukrainian-Russian and know exact pickup and destination addresses. You also need a Ukrainian SIM card on your phone, so they can call you back. You will receive a text message with arrival time and car registration once you have placed your order.
- Uber is not available in Kherson.
- If possible, have your hostel or hotel call a cab for you – they generally use trustworthy companies with set fares.
- Avoid taxis that tout for business outside airports and stations as these operators are very likely to rip you off.
- Never travel in a cab that already has passengers in it.
- Seatbelts are optional extras in taxis. Child seats are unheard of.
The main attraction of Kherson is the historical town center with the buildings of the XIX century, as well as the
John Howard memorial 
