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Chernivtsi is the administrative center of Chernivtsi Oblast (province) in western Ukraine. The city lies in the historic Northern Bukovina region of Ukraine and is situated on the Prut river, a tributary of the Danube. As of the 2001 Ukrainian Census, the city's population is 240,600.

Together with the city of Lviv, Chernivtsi is considered to be a cultural centre of western Ukraine. Many famous Ukrainians were born or lived in the city, including poets Ivan Franko and Paul Celan, Andrey Gavrilesko, the first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, and former Speaker of the Parliament Arseniy Yatsenyuk. Additionally, many other well known historical figures were born in the city, such as the Vienna Secession artist Oskar Laske. Chernivtsi is also considered as one of Ukraine's greatest cultural and educational centres in history. As a cultural and architectural center, Chernivtsi was dubbed as Little Vienna, Jerusalem upon the Prut and the European Alexandria.

Chernivtsi is currently twinned with seven other cities around the world. Chernivtsi is also a major point of railway and highway crossings in the region, and houses an international airport.

Chernivtsi continues to hold a prominent position among other Ukrainian and Eastern European cities. The city's ancient beginnings and significant history add to its charm and attraction for those interested in the Bukovynian Region.

Archeological evidence discovered in the area surrounding Chernivtsi indicates that a local population existed in that area since the neolithic era. Later settlements included those of the Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, the Corded Ware culture; artifacts from the Bronze and Iron ages were also found in the city. Remains of the early Slavic tribes in the area date back to the 2nd–5th centuries, with the artifacts of Chroatian and Tiverian peoples from the 9th–11th centuries also being present.

A fortified settlement located on the left shore of Prut dates back to the time of the Principality of Halych and is thought to have been built by Grand Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl, who ruled from 1153-1187. Legendary accounts refer to this fortress-city as Chern’, or Black city, and it is said to owe its name to the black color of the city walls, built from dark oak layered with local black-colored soil. This stronghold was unfortunately destroyed during the Mongol invasion of Rus by the Burundai in 1259. However, the remaining ramparts of the fortress were still used for the defense purposes; in the 17th century they were augmented with several bastions, one of which is still extant. Following the destruction of the fortress, later settlements in the area centered to the right of the Prut River, at a more strategically advantageous, elevated location.

Beginning in 1359, for more than 400 years, the city and its surroundings became part of the Principality of Moldavia. It was mentioned as "Çernovi" in Ottoman resources.

In 1775, the city became a part of the Duchy of Bukovina, a crownland of the Austrian Empire, and received the Magdeburg rights soon thereafter.

The city began to flourish in 1778 when Knight Karl von Enzenberg was appointed the chief of the Military Administration of Chernivtsi. He invited many merchants, craftsmen and business people to help develop trade and other businesses. Saint Peter's Fairs (July 1-15) had given a new vibrant impulse to the market development from 1786.

During the 19th and early 20th century, Chernivtsi became a center of the Romanian, and also Ukrainian national movement. Chernivtsi was also the site of the first Yiddish language conference in 1908; this was coordinated by Nathan Birnbaum.

When Austria-Hungary dissolved in 1918, the city and its surrounding area became a part of the Kingdom of Romania. In 1940, the Red Army occupied the area, which subsequently became a part of the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union.

Romanian and Nazi troops took the city and occupied much of southern Ukraine in 1941 as part of the Axis attack on the Soviet Union during World War II. In 1944, when Axis forces were driven out by the Red Army, the city rejoined the Ukrainian SSR.

Since 1991, Chernitvtsi has been a part of independent Ukraine. In May 1999, Romania opened a consulate general in the city. Contemporary Chernivtsi is an important regional center, which is situated on the picturesque banks of Prut River and occupies an area of about 150 square kilometres (58 sq mi).