Kharkov - one of the Ukrainian region centres, rightfully carrying the title of a Ukrainian megalopolis - is a giant of the national industry, a big educational and cultural centre, and the biggest transport node of the Country of Ukraine. The town is situated in the north-eastern part of Ukraine, on the border of two landscape belts - forest-steppe and steppe, near the junction of the Lopan and the Udy rivers, that flow into the Seversky Donets. The territory of the town is a slightly rolling plane, grooved with river beds, clefts and valleys. The town sits on five hills and five vales. Its height above the sea level is between 90 and 192 m. Most of the town territory is 105 to 192 m. above the sea level. Kharkov is situated a long way away from oceans, however the sea air is often brought here with westerly and south westerly winds, which makes its climate temperate continental, with prolonged but not severe winter, which have characteristic frequent thaws. The summer is warm, sometimes hot.

There are 49 cultural centres and institutions, among them 5 museums, a town art gallery, six major theatres. .