Mykolaiv, Ukraine

Capital City

Mykolaiv has a population of 501,183, but this industrial port city offers little charm. The climate is a harsh semi-arid steppe, with bitter winters and scorching summers. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city was closed to foreigners for decades. With a history of police corruption and lawlessness, this shipbuilding hub is best suited for those with a stomach for industrial grit and a need to be near the Black Sea.