Kryvyi Rih

Ukraine · Europe

About Kryvyi Rih

Kryvyi Rih is a city in central Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Kryvyi Rih Raion and its subordinate Kryvyi Rih urban hromada in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. The city is part of the Kryvyi Rih Metropolitan Region. Its population is estimated at 603,904 (2022 estimate), making it the seventh-most populous city in Ukraine and the second largest by area. Kryvyi Rih is claimed to be the longest city in Europe.

Located at the confluence of the Saksahan and Inhulets rivers, Kryvyi Rih was founded as a military staging post in 1775. Urban-industrial growth followed Belgian, French and British investment in the exploitation of the area's rich iron-ore deposits, generally called Kryvbas, in the 1880s. Kryvyi Rih gained city status in 1919.

Stalin-era industrialisation built Kryvorizhstal in 1934, the largest integrated metallurgical works in the Soviet Union. After World War II, Kryvyi Rih experienced renewed growth through to the 1970s. The economic dislocation associated with the break-up of the Soviet Union contributed to high unemployment and a large-scale exodus from the city in the 1990s. The privatization of Kryvorizhstal in 2005 was followed by increased foreign and private investment which helped finance urban regeneration. Beginning in 2017, there were major labour protests and strikes.

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kryvyi Rih has been the target of frequent Russian missile strikes. It was a focus of the southern Ukraine campaign, but the closest ground advance by Russia stalled some 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the south of the city before it was turned back in March 2022.

Kryvyi Rih travel guide

Understand

According to official website, the city extends for 126 km from north to south. Because of the processing of steel and other products and mining industry, Kryvyi Rih has the highest emission of air pollutants in all of Ukraine. Google maps can help avoid getting lost in the city. People commonly speak English very badly and all signs and tabulations are in Russian and Ukrainian. Translate apps and vocabularies are also very useful.

Getting there

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

By train Because the city is so elongated, there are several railway stations serving different parts. Most, but not all, long-distance trains serve the main railway station.

1 Kryvyi Rih Main railway station (Кривий Ріг-Головний). (updated Aug 2021) 2 Kryvyi Rih-West railway station (Кривий Ріг-Західний). (updated Aug 2021) 3 Rokuvata railway station (Рокувата) (In Pokrovskyy district, northern part of the city). (updated Aug 2021)

By bus

By car H 23 H 11 Т 0418 Т 0419

By boat

Getting around

By public transport Kryvyi Rih has a convenient public transport system:

12 bus routes 55 marshrutka routes 18 tram routes 24 trolleybus routes Single ride tickets in marshrutkas cost 15 грн. Buses, trams and trolleybuses are free. Schedules are available on the website (in Ukrainian). You can also check information about public transport on EasyWay and Google Maps.

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

Bolt (Болт). (updated Sep 2023) Uklon (Уклон). (updated Sep 2023) OnTaxi (ОнТаксі). (updated Sep 2023) Opti (Опті). (updated Sep 2023) Shark (Шарк). (updated Oct 2023)

By foot You can walk to most locations in central Kryvyi Rih and there are plenty of attractive walking routes along the quay sides and in the pedestrianised central streets. The central city (Karl Marx Street) is separated from the 95th Block area, but buses and trolleybuses can help to access it. The main rail station is further away but still accessible by bus.

By bicycle KRC has few bike paths and routes.

By car Driving is probably the best way of seeing the surrounding region. A couple of the routes during peak hours operate a car pool lane for cars with more than one occupant. The centre of KRC follows a one-way city system, which can be frustrating and confusing for those not used to it. However with patience and practice and a lot of circling around the same areas numerous times, it does become easier.

Parking There are no parking garages and no designated or marked car parking bays in the streets. Drivers park wherever they find it convenient.

See

1 Heroiv Park (Парк Героїв), Metalurhiv Ave. Don't miss the chance to see statuary intrigues of the Ukrainian and Soviet past along with a flower clock and Chernobyl memorial. Then there is the fountain and Always Waiting sculpture awaiting you on the other side of the busy boulevard. (updated Oct 2020) 2 Jubilee Park. A big open space with a monument to fallen soldiers and a Russian Orthodox church. (updated Oct 2020) 3 Square 60th Anniversary of Victory. Pedestal with an eternal flame marking mass grave of Soviet soldiers. (updated Oct 2020) 4 Fedor Mershavtsev Park. Park designed in Stalinist Empire style with central fountain and white colonnade, and a boat pavilion from which you can take rides under the Lovers Bridge on the Saksagan River. (updated Oct 2020) 5 Haharina Park (Парк ім. Юрія Гагаріна). Another park by the river, this one with a sundial and a Yuri Gagarin children's park. (updated Oct 2020) 6 White Stones Waterfall. Interesting vantage point from which you can see a cascade and dam on the Inhulets River along with a high railroad bridge. Might be a little tricky trying to figure out how to get here. (updated Oct 2020) 7 Kryvyi Rih Botanical Gardens (Криворізький ботанічний сад НАН України), Marshaka St, 50, ☏ +380 564 435 150. 08ː00-18ː00 daily. A little outside of town but still perhaps what Kryvyi Rih is known for tourist-wise. Roses, chrysanthemums, little birds. (updated Oct 2020)

Do

1 Multiplex Victory Plaza (Union), Lermontova St, 37. 09:00-23:00. Movie theater, bumper cars, games, pizza. 120 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Multiplex Union, ТРЦ Union, Geroiv ATO St. Skiing, Ice Rock cafe, bowling and cinema. 3 Olimp Kino, 24 Meleshkina St. 120 грн. (updated Sep 2023)

Buy

1 Sun Gallery (Aushan, Solnechny), 1, 40 Let Pobedty square (Metrotraam Miska Likarnia, trolleybus or free bus). 09:00-23:00. Aushan, Sushi, Cafe, Bar, Big Burger, Souvenirs, Sportmaster, Comfy, NewYorker, Punma, Zara, Camel Active, Chester, Colins 2 Liberti (Торгівельний центр Ліберті), Karla Marksa Ave, 35Б, ☏ +380 97 912 9348. Shopping mall. 3 Victory Plaza, 24 Lermontov St. 4 Plaza, Haharina Ave, 4. Good city view from the 6th floor. 5 Tsentralʹnyy Rynok, Lebedjeva-Kumacha St, 1, ☏ +380 564 902 794. Open air market. Good place to buy Jesus trinkets and sundries. (updated Oct 2020)

Eat

Budget 1 McDonald's (95s Block (Kvartal)), пл. Горького Кривий Ріг Дніпропетровська область Украина. 120 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 2 McDonald's, 37 Lermontov St. 120 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 3 NY Street Pizza, 54 Karla Marksa St. 200-400 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 4 NY Street Pizza, 24 Meleshkina St. 200-400 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 5 Silpo, 30 Dimitrova street (Metro (Budynok Rad), trolleybus, bus, taxi). Retail market with own cheap dishes: salads, meat, bread, donuts. Also, probably, the best place to go shopping. 6 Celentano Pizza, 30 Gagarina St. 200 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 7 Celentano Pizza, Metalurhiv Ave, 22Б. 200 грн. (updated Sep 2023)

Mid-range 1 Dzheronimo (Джеронімо), Pushkina St, 1А, ☏ +380 98 892 3489. 600-800 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 8 Puri Chveni, Myru Ave, 17А, ☏ +380 67 122 7373. 800 грн. (updated Sep 2023)

Splurge 9 Fransua, Karla Marksa Ave, 19, ☏ +380 67 136 7075. Nice selection of sandwiches and croissants. 400-1,200 грн. (updated Sep 2023)

Drink & nightlife

2 Adams, Geroiv ATO St, 49, ☏ +380 564 748 041. Good cozy Gothic beer bar. 3 Rulka (Пивной ресторан "Рулька"), Metalurhiv Ave, 24, ☏ +380 67 926 6208. Some satisfying grub and drinks here. They will even blowtorch your steak for you at your table. 600 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 1 MADiSAN Rock Club, Metalurhiv Ave, 12, ☏ +380 97 481 4554. Rock club with noisy parties, live music and fun people.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range 1 Druzhba (Avtovokzal), 50086, Украина, Днепропетровская обл., г. Кривой Рог, ул. Телевизионная, 12, [email protected]. 3* From 600 грн. (updated Sep 2023) 2 Saksahan, 11 Dyshynskoho Street (Car or taxi), ☏ +380 67 560-18-83, [email protected]. 4** From 1,600 грн. (updated Sep 2023) Optima Collection Aurora Kryvyi Rih (Optima Collection Аврора Кривий Ріг), 40 Metallurgiv Avenue, ☏ +380 675225858, +380 678288211, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From 1,035 грн. (updated Sep 2023) Optima Deluxe Kryvyi Rih (Optima Делюкс Кривий Ріг), 21B Kropyvnytskoho Street, ☏ +380 564430248, +380 985077444, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From 850 грн. (updated Sep 2023) Raziotel Kryvyi Rih (Raziotel Кривий Ріг), 8 Magistralna Street, ☏ +380 564048008, +380 564048011, +380 675565903, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. From 388 грн. (updated Sep 2023)

Splurge

Go next

Dnipro, modern financial and entertaining centre.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.