Donetsk

This large city that was formerly known as Yuzovkawhen when it was a small town and Stalin when under Soviet rule, was founded in 1869 when a Welsh businessman John Hughes paid $24,000 to develop the coal mines and steel plant in the area. With a population of about 1,100,700 people, it has survived the harsh reality of World War II during the Nazi invasion.

Geographically it lies by the Kalmius river and is surrounded by a beautiful landscape of hills and forests. It is rich in history from the times of hardship and deaths but has since recovered to be a city of culture, architecture, sports, and different religions.

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Donetsk has an international airport where visitors can arrive in from various domestic and international destinations. Getting around the city itself can be done with the typical transportation of the trolley buses and railways. Backpackers can even take public transportation when country-hopping to Rostov-on-Dov city, Russia. A wide range of accommodation is available including the Hotel Great Britain (Pictured: Andrew Butko) being one of the oldest buildings in Donetsk.

Currently, it is not much of a tourist destination but for its historical value, one can see how a once war-torn place has recovered into a quaint and clean city. For travellers who are looking for some R&R too, this is a nice place to relax and just watch how life goes by in Donetsk. It is also ideal for individuals touring Europe as it is accessible by air or by train.  By day, visitors can explore a city full of parks, monuments, museums and more. When the sun does down, its time to indulge in the Donetsk nightlife with night clubs, discos, live music venues and more.