Things to See & Do in Donetsk

[Casper&Diana 0]

I've been to UA a bunch of times and Donetsk twice. In three weeks I go back for the interview and, fingers crossed, won't leave again unless my fiancée and son leave with me! That said, I'll have the better part of two weeks in Donetsk. From you more seasoned travelers (Gary, I think Alla is from Donetsk?) what do you recommend to pass the time in the area?

So far we have done the planetarium (cool), multiple trips to "Donetsk Center" (a 3 or 4 story shopping mall with theater and arcade on the top floor), and walked endless kilometers. (Including once after dinner when Diana asked if I wanted to go for a walk to settle dinner. When we got back to Diana's apartment I google-earthed the route and realized we had walked more than 10 km! Hey, I'm hungry again.)

Outside of Donetsk we have visited the sister and BIL in Krammatorsk and spent a lovely couple days at the monastery in Svetagorsk. (A must-do). Shaktar has not been playing when I've been there but I would love to go to a game. Diana is a football er, soccer, nut.

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've been to UA a bunch of times and Donetsk twice. In three weeks I go back for the interview and, fingers crossed, won't leave again unless my fiancée and son leave with me! That said, I'll have the better part of two weeks in Donetsk. From you more seasoned travelers (Gary, I think Alla is from Donetsk?) what do you recommend to pass the time in the area?

So far we have done the planetarium (cool), multiple trips to "Donetsk Center" (a 3 or 4 story shopping mall with theater and arcade on the top floor), and walked endless kilometers. (Including once after dinner when Diana asked if I wanted to go for a walk to settle dinner. When we got back to Diana's apartment I google-earthed the route and realized we had walked more than 10 km! Hey, I'm hungry again.)

Outside of Donetsk we have visited the sister and BIL in Krammatorsk and spent a lovely couple days at the monastery in Svetagorsk. (A must-do). Shaktar has not been playing when I've been there but I would love to go to a game. Diana is a football er, soccer, nut.

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

Yes, we have a flat in Donetsk. Alla was there until Sunday, then she went to Kiev and now she went to Moscow today. She will be back in Donetsk next week sometime.

We sometimes go to the theatre, we go for lots of walks in the downtown area or along the river. Our flat is between the central square and the river, about 2 blocks either way. Donetsk is not a tourist town, it is a support system for a very heavily industrial area. Outside of downtown, Donetsk is pretty grim. They do have a new soccer stadium under construction and the old one is not bad either. Check if there are any games going on. Donetsk has a good soccer team, so I am told, I know nothing of it, I am not a soccer fan at all, but many of our friends there are nuts about the city's team.

Yes, the Monastary is very nice and Kharkov is a day trip if you want and Kharkov is one of Ukraine's really beautiful cities. You can also go to the beach at Mariupol which is not so far away.

Unfortunately our visits to Donetsk tend to be "housekeeping" business. I am usually fixing something or replacing something in our flat or my MILs place across the street or just doing normal business running around town. My MIL says she has a "list" for me for when I visit this summer and Alla says we (we?) are replacing the bathroom vanity in our flat. In the evening we go for walks in the very nice parks and central square, or to the theatre. For "fun" we go to Odessa or Kiev or Kharkov. Dniepropetrovsk is also not so far away but doesn't offer much more than Donetsk in my opinion.

How long will you be there? Alla is returning here on June 15th, flying out of Donetsk, so she will return to Donetsk for several days before she returns here.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've been to UA a bunch of times and Donetsk twice. In three weeks I go back for the interview and, fingers crossed, won't leave again unless my fiancée and son leave with me! That said, I'll have the better part of two weeks in Donetsk. From you more seasoned travelers (Gary, I think Alla is from Donetsk?) what do you recommend to pass the time in the area?

So far we have done the planetarium (cool), multiple trips to "Donetsk Center" (a 3 or 4 story shopping mall with theater and arcade on the top floor), and walked endless kilometers. (Including once after dinner when Diana asked if I wanted to go for a walk to settle dinner. When we got back to Diana's apartment I google-earthed the route and realized we had walked more than 10 km! Hey, I'm hungry again.)

Outside of Donetsk we have visited the sister and BIL in Krammatorsk and spent a lovely couple days at the monastery in Svetagorsk. (A must-do). Shaktar has not been playing when I've been there but I would love to go to a game. Diana is a football er, soccer, nut.

Any other suggestions or recommendations?

Our flat is at 50 Letiya SSR, I can call my my MIL and she can let you in and you can replace the vanity in the bathroom. Alla is also making noises about replacing the washing machine, it is on the 5th floor, no elevator since about 1956.

Edited June 3, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Casper&Diana 0]

Our flat is at 50 Letiya SSR, I can call my my MIL and she can let you in and you can replace the vanity in the bathroom. Alla is also making noises about replacing the washing machine, it is on the 5th floor, no elevator since about 1956.

Gee, uh, thanks. You know if I wasn't going to be busy with washing my socks I'd be happy to help your MIL. Next time for sure!

[Casper&Diana 0]

Yes, we have a flat in Donetsk. Alla was there until Sunday, then she went to Kiev and now she went to Moscow today. She will be back in Donetsk next week sometime.

We sometimes go to the theatre, we go for lots of walks in the downtown area or along the river. Our flat is between the central square and the river, about 2 blocks either way. Donetsk is not a tourist town, it is a support system for a very heavily industrial area. Outside of downtown, Donetsk is pretty grim. They do have a new soccer stadium under construction and the old one is not bad either. Check if there are any games going on. Donetsk has a good soccer team, so I am told, I know nothing of it, I am not a soccer fan at all, but many of our friends there are nuts about the city's team.

Yes, the Monastary is very nice and Kharkov is a day trip if you want and Kharkov is one of Ukraine's really beautiful cities. You can also go to the beach at Mariupol which is not so far away.

Unfortunately our visits to Donetsk tend to be "housekeeping" business. I am usually fixing something or replacing something in our flat or my MILs place across the street or just doing normal business running around town. My MIL says she has a "list" for me for when I visit this summer and Alla says we (we?) are replacing the bathroom vanity in our flat. In the evening we go for walks in the very nice parks and central square, or to the theatre. For "fun" we go to Odessa or Kiev or Kharkov. Dniepropetrovsk is also not so far away but doesn't offer much more than Donetsk in my opinion.

How long will you be there? Alla is returning here on June 15th, flying out of Donetsk, so she will return to Donetsk for several days before she returns here.

Ah, just gonna miss Alla. I get into DOK on the 19th. Too bad, it would have been fun. Kharkov and Mariupol sound like fun. Might have to do that. Thanks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gee, uh, thanks. You know if I wasn't going to be busy with washing my socks I'd be happy to help your MIL. Next time for sure!

You sound just like all my American friends.

I think you need to experience carrying a washing machine up five floors, it is so much better a way to "experience" Ukraine than going to sights! Go native!

Seriously, no kidding, we ought to send every 18 year old in America to do a 2 year internship in construction in Ukraine, they will never complain about anything again. Ever.