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Eastern Europe

UkraineTravel guide

Explore Ukraine visa rulesCommon scams in Ukraine

Ukraine is in a state of war. Air raids, missile strikes, bombings and shootings may happen anywhere at any time. Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe with historic cities, rich culture and mountain landscapes.

Why go

  1. Lviv has cobbled streets, historic churches and the Lviv National Art Gallery.

  2. Kyiv is known for Saint-Sophia Cathedral, Pechersk Lavra and lively markets.

  3. The Carpathian Mountains offer forested hills, valleys and snowy peaks.

  4. The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve attracts nature lovers and bird watchers.

Getting there

By air

  • Ukraine's airspace is closed to civilian flights because of the war.

By land

  • Despite the war, direct trains run from Poland, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia and Moldova.
  • International train tickets are available through Ukrainian Railways and several railway companies in neighbouring countries.
  • Direct buses run from countries including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Moldova, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic.

By sea

  • Passenger boat services are suspended because of the war. Ukrainian waters are mined, and the Russian navy has previously blockaded ports.

Customs

  • Know how much cash you are carrying, as customs officers may ask. The source states that cash up to a maximum of US$10,000, €10,000 or the equivalent must be declared when entering or leaving.
  • You cannot bring large amounts of hryvnia into Ukraine unless you declared the money when leaving Ukraine.
  • It is illegal to take items of historical importance out of Ukraine. These include medals, badges, icons and historical paintings.

Getting around

  • City public transport

    Marshrutkas are minibuses that follow set routes. You can generally flag them down and ask the driver to stop near your destination. Pay when you board a marshrutka, except in Odesa, where you pay when you leave. Fares are fixed regardless of distance on marshrutkas, regular buses, trams, trolleybuses and the metro.

  • Train

    Trains are often preferred for long journeys because they are comfortable and can be cheaper than buses. Some routes have stopped running because of the war. Sleeping compartments have two beds in Lux class and four in second class. Third class has six beds with an aisle passing through. Booking ahead is recommended because popular trains sell out. If buying at the station, write your destination and train number on paper, as ticket staff may speak little English. Tickets marked with a small square QR code should be printed before travel. Other electronic tickets may be vouchers that you must exchange at a main railway station in Ukraine. Exchange a voucher preferably an hour before departure, and check the counter's posted break times before joining a queue. Do not buy a voucher that needs exchanging in Ukraine for a journey starting abroad.

  • Intercity bus

    Each city has an intercity bus station, with routes to many places in Ukraine. Prices and service quality vary widely. Timetables and tickets are available through bus.tickets.ua and e-vokzal.com.

  • Car

    Drive on the right. Most road signs use Ukrainian letters, so bring a good road map. Watch carefully for speed signs, which may appear only once or be partly hidden. The source gives limits of 50 km/h in cities, 90 km/h on rural single-carriageway roads and 110–120 km/h on motorways. Road surfaces can be patched or full of potholes. Some roads between villages are dirt tracks. Watch for animals in villages and cyclists travelling in either direction. Cyclists may have no lights or bright clothing. At rural fuel stations, you must pay before filling up and may need cash. Most stations accept credit cards.

What to see and do

  • Historic Lviv

    Explore cobbled streets, medieval monuments, churches and Korniakt Palace.

  • Lviv National Art Gallery

    See a fine collection of art in one of Ukraine's main cultural cities.

  • Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Pechersk Lavra, Kyiv

    These World Heritage sites are known for their golden roofs.

  • Andriyivsky Uzviz, Kyiv

    This steep street has artists, souvenir sellers and a church named after Apostle Andrew.

  • Pyrohovo Museum of Folk Architecture

    Visit a museum devoted to folk architecture.

  • Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, Chernivtsi

    The source highlights this residence as a place to visit.

Food and drink

  • Borshch

    A red beet soup, usually served with sour cream. Western Ukraine also has a green version with greens and boiled eggs.

  • Solianka

    A meat soup.

  • Salo

    Salted pork fat, served as a side dish.

  • Varenyky

    Dumplings with fillings such as berries, vegetables, fruit or mushrooms. Potato and cottage cheese versions can come with fried onion and sour cream sauce.

  • Deruny

    Potato pancakes.

  • Shashlyky

    A traditional dish served at places cooking over wood fires.

Money

Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH), shown as грн or ₴.

  • Cash is widely accepted.
  • Use banks or currency exchange booths rather than people offering exchanges on the street. Check the displayed buying and selling rates carefully.
  • Russian 200-ruble notes cannot be exchanged or handled by banks and exchange offices in Ukraine. The source says these notes may be confiscated.

Tipping: About 6–10% is normal in restaurants. Rounding up the bill is also fine.

Typical costs

  • The source lists mid-range accommodation outside Kyiv at €25–45.
  • The source gives about €35 for a suite with a bedroom and sitting room in Ivano-Frankivsk.
  • The source lists local wine at €2–35 for a 0.75-litre bottle.
  • The source gives an average Ukrainian beer price of €0.50.

Language

  • Ukrainian is the official language.
  • Russian is widely understood, but language choice is sensitive because of the war. Many people increasingly prefer Ukrainian.
  • English is more likely to be spoken by younger people and tourism workers, especially in Kyiv and Lviv.
  • Officials, station staff and drivers may speak only Ukrainian or Russian. Basic Ukrainian or help from a bilingual person can be useful.
  • Crimean Tatar is spoken in some southern areas and communities in other cities.
  • Romanian, Polish and Hungarian are spoken by minority communities in parts of western Ukraine.
Voda bez hazu
Water without gas.

Staying safe

  • Ukraine is at war. Air raids, missile strikes, bombings and shootings may occur anywhere at any time.
  • Men with Ukrainian citizenship aged 18–59 who are eligible for military mobilisation are not allowed to leave the country.
  • Guard your bags and belongings, especially in crowded Kyiv metro stations, where pickpocketing is common.
  • Avoid showing wealth or drawing attention to yourself as a foreign visitor.
7 common scams in Ukraine, and how to avoid them

Local customs

Do

  • Use Ukrainian forms of place names, such as Kyiv. Russian forms may be taken as support for the invasion.
  • Recognise Ukrainians as a separate people with their own identity.
  • Allow time for people to become comfortable with you. Brief answers at first do not necessarily mean a lack of interest.
  • Be aware that men may traditionally pay restaurant bills, open doors or help women carry things.

Don't

  • Do not call Ukrainians Russians.
  • Do not describe Ukrainian as a dialect of Russian.
  • Do not call the country “the Ukraine”; the source says Ukrainians find this disrespectful.

Laws to know

  • By law, transactions must be in hryvnia. Euros or US dollars may be accepted in tourist areas or informal transactions.

Staying healthy

  • Buy groceries from supermarkets or large food shops where possible. Check expiry dates when buying from small shops.
  • Do not buy meat or dairy products from street sellers. The source distinguishes proper markets from sellers standing near them.
  • Choose bottled kvas because the cleanliness of serving barrels may be unknown.
  • Buy horilka and konjak only from supermarkets or liquor stores. Fake spirits can cause fatal poisoning or blindness.

Phone and internet

  • Local SIM cards are widely available, cheap and sometimes free.
  • They are easy to top up with credit for calls and texts.
  • The source recommends a local SIM for longer stays, emergencies and cheaper local calls.

Where to stay

  • Hotel standards vary, especially outside the biggest cities. Cheaper hotels may offer older facilities and service.
  • Hostels are increasingly common in larger cities. Dormitories may be shared with working people and families as well as travellers.
  • Some hotels offer both renovated and unrenovated rooms. The source says unrenovated rooms can cost more than 50% less.
  • Five-star hotels are available in Kyiv and other cities.

Outdoor adventures in Ukraine

Ukraine has mountain hikes and cycling in the Carpathians, river kayaking, bird watching in the Danube Delta and river beaches in Kyiv. Ukraine is at war: air raids, missile strikes, bombings and shootings can occur anywhere at any time.

  • Hoverla summit

    HikeChornohora range, Carpathian Mountains

    Hike to the summit of Hoverla in the Chornohora range.

  • Carpathian hikes around Rakhiv

    HikeCarpathian Mountainsnear Rakhiv

    Explore the mountain hiking areas around Rakhiv.

  • Dniester River kayaking

    KayakingDniester River

    Kayak down the Dniester River.

  • Danube Delta bird watching and boating

    WildlifeDanube Delta Biosphere Reservenear Vylkovo

    Base yourself in Vylkovo and go boating and bird watching during the day.

  • Dnipro islands and bays kayaking

    KayakingDnipro River, Kyivnear Kyiv

    Easy 1–2 hours April–September

    Rent a kayak in Kyiv to explore between the river islands and in the bays.

    • Cost: About 300 UAH ($7) per hour
    • Choose good weather and low wind.
    • Apply plenty of sunscreen; there is no shade on the open water.

  • Dnipro stand-up paddleboarding

    More to doDnipro River, Kyivnear Kyiv

    Easy 1–2 hours April–September

    Rent a stand-up paddleboard, also called a SUP board, at one of several rental places in Kyiv.

    • Cost: About 300 UAH ($7) per hour
    • Choose good weather and low wind.
    • Apply plenty of sunscreen; there is no shade on the open water.

  • Hydropark river beaches

    BeacheDnipro River, Kyivnear Kyiv

    Summer

    Take metro line M1 to Hidropark station to reach the island.

  • Carpathian Mountains cycling

    CyclingCarpathian Mountains

    Explore the Carpathian Mountains by bike.

  • Carpathian Mountains winter sports

    More to doCarpathian Mountains

    Winter

    Visit the Carpathian Mountains for winter sports; no specific resort or route is named.

  • Bear Sanctuary Domazhyr

    WildlifeRoztochya Biosphere Reserve, Yavoriv Districtnear Lviv

    Visit the sanctuary at 1 Vedmezhy Krai Street in Zhornyska for a guided tour.

  • Znesinnya Landscape Park hiking

    HikeLvivnear Lviv

    Head to the park on Novoznesenska Street, about 1.5 km northeast of central Lviv.

  • Znesinnya Landscape Park cycling

    CyclingLvivnear Lviv

    Go cycling in the park on Novoznesenska Street, about 1.5 km northeast of central Lviv.

  • Znesinnya Landscape Park skiing

    SkiingLvivnear Lviv

    Head to Znesinnya Landscape Park on Novoznesenska Street for skiing.

Airports, metros and trains in Ukraine

Metro and subway

  • DniproDnipro Metro6 stations7.8 kmsince 1995
  • KharkivKharkiv Metro27 stations38.7 kmsince 1975
  • KyivKyiv Metro49 stations67.7 kmsince 1960

Trains

Rail network
19,787 km
Electrified
9,319 km

People and safety in Ukraine

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.

  • Christian84%
  • No religion15%
  • Muslim1%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal

  • Same-sex couples can form civil unions, but not marry.
  • Legal gender change is not recognised.
  • Some laws protect against discrimination.

Women travellers

Ranked #116 of 181 countries for women's safety, inclusion and justice.

51% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night where they live.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 80 of 198 countries can visit Ukraine easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required80
  • eVisa40
  • Visa required76
  • Admission restricted1
  • Admission refused1

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Europe43 of 45 countries
  • Americas16 of 35 countries
  • Asia19 of 50 countries
  • Oceania2 of 14 countries
  • Africa0 of 54 countries

Questions

Is Ukraine safe to visit?

Ukraine is at war. Air raids, missile strikes, bombings and shootings may happen anywhere at any time.

Can I fly or take a passenger boat to Ukraine?

Civilian flights and passenger boat services are suspended because of the war. Trains and buses still operate from several neighbouring countries.

Can I buy a train ticket at a station?

Yes, although booking ahead is recommended because popular trains sell out. Write your destination and train number on paper, as ticket staff may speak little English.

What money should I use?

Ukraine uses the hryvnia, shown as UAH, грн or ₴. Cash is widely accepted, and transactions must legally be in hryvnia.

Will people speak English?

English is more likely among younger people and tourism workers in cities such as Kyiv and Lviv. Officials and transport staff may speak only Ukrainian or Russian.

What food could I try?

The source highlights borshch beet soup, varenyky dumplings, deruny potato pancakes and salo, which is salted pork fat.

How much should I tip in a restaurant?

About 6–10% is normal. Rounding up the bill is also fine.

Can I find a room without booking online?

People at railway stations may offer rooms, often at lower prices, but these arrangements are usually not legal. View the room and check that it has hot water before agreeing.

Can I buy a local SIM card?

Yes, local SIM cards are widely available, cheap and easy to top up. They can help with emergencies and cheaper local calls.

Can I take old paintings or medals home?

It is illegal to take items of historical importance out of Ukraine. The source includes historical paintings, medals, badges and icons.

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