Travel Tips
Ukraine: Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe known for its Orthodox churches, Black Sea coastline and forested mountains. Its capital, Kiev, features the gold-domed St. Sophia's Cathedral, with 11th-century mosaics and frescoes. Overlooking the Dnieper River is the Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery complex, a Christian pilgrimage site housing Scythian tomb relics and catacombs containing mummified Orthodox monks. Kiev is the capital city of Ukraine, bisected by the Dnieper River and known for its religious architecture, secular monuments and history museums. The 11th-century Kiev Pechersk Lavra is a monastery and pilgrimage site encompassing several gold-domed churches. It's known for its catacombs lined with the burial chambers of Orthodox monks, and a collection of gold objects from ancient Scythian times.
Trip Planning: The planning stage of your trip can be instrumental in its success and an enjoyable part of the experience itself. You have a world of options...and plenty to consider.
Entry and Exit formalities: Visitors must hold a passport valid for at least six months & beyond at the time of entering the country. Some nationalities can obtain visa on arrival and for nationalities who requires visa please refer to Ukraine consulate website: http://visa.mfa.gov.ua
Transportation: Figuring out how to get around is one of your biggest pre-trip decisions. Get our holiday expert best advice on deciding between your options.
Based on your trip itinerary, our experts will help you choose wisely. You'll also find a wealth of practical travel tips.
Money: Use your money wisely. Know the best time to use cash or card — and how to avoid unnecessary fees either way — as well as tipping etiquette.
Phones and Technology: Phones and other smart devices can be huge time-savers...or expensive distractions. Get our tips for making the best use of technology during your trip, and for calling home with or without your own phone.
Packing Light: On your trip you'll meet two kinds of travelers: those who pack light and those who wish they had.
Sleeping and Eating: Your hotel and restaurant choices can be a matter-of-face chore…or they can provide rich opportunities to connect with locals and their culture.
Health & Hygiene: Take comfort: Doctors, hospitals, launderettes, and bathrooms aren’t that different. Dealing with them can even be part of the fun of travel.
Sightseeing & Activities: Once you're on the ground, the real fun begins…but it pays to have a thoughtful plan. Our experts will help you get oriented to your surroundings, use your sightseeing hours wisely, and find your way off the beaten path.
Things to see & do:
Kiev – The capital of Ukraine, this bustling city is home to nearly three million people. The art and architecture here is stunning. There’s an odd mix of Soviet area communist housing and baroque buildings and cobblestone streets. It’s a beautiful town! For theater lovers, the Kiev Opera House is host to world-class operas and ballets or the Ivan Franko Theater for dramas, comedies, and musicals. There is a unique blend of old and new to absorb throughout the city.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant or Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station is a decommissioned nuclear power station near the city of Pripyat, Ukraine, 14.5 km (9.0 mi) northwest of the city of Chornobyl, 16 km (9.9 mi) from the Belarus–Ukraine border, and about 110 km (68 mi) north of Kiev. Reactor No. 4 was the site of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the power plant is now within a large restricted area known as the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Both the zone and the former power plant are administered by the State Agency of Ukraine of the Exclusion Zone (Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources). All four reactors have been shut down.
Carpathian Mountains – One of the most popular destinations in the country, these mountains are a magical collection of forests, meadows, and quaint villages. There are lakes for swimming and good trails for hiking.
Vorontsov Palace – Located inside a park reserve in Alpuka, this 150 room palace is an amazing piece of history to explore. It was built from 1830-1848 and there is a treasure trove of architectural and artistic discoveries to see.
Tunnel of Love in Klevan – About 7km from the city of Klevan, a private railway has turned their railroad track into a natural tunnel by lining it with trees. The tunnel is at its lushest during the spring and summer when the green leaves form a seemingly impenetrable barrier. It’s also beautiful during the fall as the leaves change color. It’s very beautiful and romantic.
City beaches – If you are looking for a quick sunbathing or water sports fix, heading down to a river island might be the thing for you. In Kiev, the Dnipro River is riddled with islands, and on most of them you can buy food and drinks, enjoy some beach, and even work out. Hydropark is host to an outdoor gym.
Visit the Chernobyl Power Complex – Lying 130 km north of Kiev, this nuclear plant had a critical meltdown in 1986. It was one of the worst nuclear disaster in human history. The radiation is weak enough now that people can take short trips to visit the complex and the abandoned, ghost like town nearby.
Ski at Drahobrat – This snowy resort is 4,300 feet above sea level and boasts perfect skiing and boarding conditions year-round. The place is somewhat remote, lying 18km outside of Yasinya, and it is a site best suited for the experienced winter sports enthusiast.
Sports at Olympic/Respublikansky Stadium – If you are wanting to catch some local sports, this is a popular place for various European matches. The stadium holds up to 100,000 people and can be thrilling when full. The final match of the Euro 2012 football championships was held here.
Chernivsti University – Founded in 1875, this university is the most fascinating piece of architecture in Chernivsti. Constructed from a mass of beautifully-laid, red bricks, and decorated with thousands of colored tiles, it sticks out like a sore thumb. The various wings are striking and seem to be influenced by a pseudo-Byzantine-Hanseatic-Moorish style.
Akadia beach – Many of the beaches in Odessa are crowded and dirty in the summer time, but this hotspot is a great place to check out the ocean while staying out of the sand and water. There are a multitude of bars, clubs, cafes here too.
Dyzha – This is a dual café-art gallery in Lviv, and a local hotspot for youthful, alternative types. This is a great place to grab a coffee, a postcard, and relax for an hour or three. There are often musicians playing here.
Visit Chufut-Kale – This 200m high bluff and cave system is the highlight for many people that travel to Bakhysaray. For centuries, many people took refuge here, leaving behind them, burial chambers and casemates
Dance on the Dnipro Party Boat – If you are feeling really adventurous and a little goofy, this is probably the thing for you. These boat rides are about an hour and a half long, and all about having drinks and dancing to disco-tech, Russian-pop music.
Check out Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum of Arts – Located in Kiev, this museum has an impressive collection of European art. The interior of the museum is decadently coated in frescoes, intricately carved woodwork, priceless antique furniture, and an array of masterful art.
Ploshcha Svobody – The second-largest square in the world and Kharkiv’s most unique sight, this is an awesome place to check out. At the western end stands the first Soviet skyscraper, complete with geometrically-set concrete and glass blocks and bridges.
Spot wildlife at Askania-Nova Reserve – This vast plain is home to a plethora of animal life: buffalo, deer, antelope, horses, zebras, camels, gnus, rare Central Asian Saiga antelopes, and a huge array of birds.
Lutsk Castle – One of many Ukrainian fortresses, this one lies in Lutsk’s old quarter and dates back to the 14th century. It is 13 meter-high and is topped with three tall towers. The structure is in fairly decent shape and there are even archeological remains dating back to the 12th century nearby.
