Money and payments
Cards and cash
You can use your credit/debit cards (mostly MasterCard & Visa) or cash traveler's cheques easily.
Tipping
Tipping at restaurants has been gaining "popularity" in Ukraine.
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Europe · Eastern EuropeOutline guideCountry in Eastern Europe
Photo: Juan Antonio Segal, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ukraine (Ukrainian: Україна, Ukraïna) is a country in Eastern Europe, the largest country entirely within Europe, with a very rich culture and history. Ukraine has a range of great attractions to offer. The country's main draws include some great and quintessentially Slavic cities, impressive cultural heritage, and, of course, top-class natural areas.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Ukraine.
Cards and cash
You can use your credit/debit cards (mostly MasterCard & Visa) or cash traveler's cheques easily.
Tipping
Tipping at restaurants has been gaining "popularity" in Ukraine.
Ukrainian
As a consequence of the political development and the war, the status of Russian has changed dramatically since 2013.g. Kiev → Kyiv).
4G mobile access is steadily developing and is available now in all major cities.
Mobile networks
As a rule, avoid drinking tap water.
As a rule, avoid drinking tap water. The major reason for this is that water in many regions is disinfected using chlorine, so taste is horrible. Whenever possible buy bottled water, which is widely available,
Covered in the guide
Although Ukraine has a close historical and cultural relationship with Russia, Ukrainians are not Russians; they're a separate ethnic group and would be deeply offended if you say otherwise.g.
Covered in the guide
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
the capital and most populous city of Ukraine, with nearly 3 million residents. It has world-famous Orthodox and Baroque architecture, as well as beautiful, leafy hills.
one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine and a Ukrainian language hotspot. It used to be a part of Poland until 1939.
ancient city of Kyivan Rus', one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, has lots of medieval architecture.
the capital of Bukovina offers a Balkan atmosphere mixed with fine classical Habsburg architecture.
the highlight is the mile long promenade on the Dnipro River.
ancient city-fortress
The former capital of Ukraine and Ukraine's second largest city. Sadly, much of the city has been completely destroyed by the Russian military.
a beautiful harbour city on the Black Sea with a mixture of different cultures.
The Carpathian Mountains are mountains in Central Europe stretching from the Czech Republic to Romania, with many constituent ranges. There is no generally-agreed regional subdivision of the Carpathians - it depends whether your focus is national / provincial boundaries, geology / geography, habitats, or historic land use.
tour the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster
Orthodox churches
Places in Ukraine on the World Heritage List.
Danube Delta
Listed 1991
Struve Geodetic Arc
Listed 2005
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe
Listed 2007
Wooden tserkvas of Carpathian region in Poland and Ukraine
Listed 2013
Old Town of Lviv
Listed 1998
Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans
Listed 2011
historical city centre of Odesa
Listed 2023
Church of the Saviour at Berestove
Listed 1990
Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and Related Monastic Buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra
Listed 1990
Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora
Listed 2013
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The political, economic, and cultural centre of Ukraine, centred around the capital city of Kyiv.
For centuries under the control of non-Russian European countries, such as Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Turkey; accordingly you'll find Central European architecture, cuisine, language and religion here. The ancestral homeland of much of the Ukrainian diaspora and the region with the strongest sense of Ukrainian identity.
Includes the heavily industrialised and Russified coal-mining region of Donbas, home to big Soviet cities and much of the country's ethnic Russian population.
The popular Ukrainian Black Sea coast, best known for the magnificent city of Odesa.
Public transport and paid services in Ukraine.
By train
Trains are operated by state-owned Ukrainian Railways.
By bus
Intercity bus timetables can be found and tickets bought from bus.tickets.ua, and e-vokzal.com
By marshrutka
In addition, there are many marshrutka aka buses. These run on fixed routes. You can board one at the start of the route or at fixed stops.
By taxi
Taxi is probably the most safe way to get around a city. Locals will tell you to call in advance. Trying to hail a cab won't be productive at best and get you in deep trouble at worst.
By car
It is possible to get around in Ukraine by car, but:
By plane
Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine's airspace has been closed to civil aviation.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Ukraine.
Finding apps for Ukraine…
Other ways to travel:MapsBy thumb
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Kyiv
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | -3° | -1° | 6° | 14° | 21° | 25° | 27° | 27° | 21° | 13° | 5° | -1° |
| Avg. low | -9° | -8° | -3° | 4° | 10° | 14° | 17° | 15° | 10° | 4° | -1° | -6° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 43 | 42 | 42 | 41 | 67 | 73 | 64 | 50 | 48 | 50 | 45 | 50 |
| Humidity | 94% | 92% | 84% | 73% | 71% | 69% | 66% | 61% | 67% | 78% | 89% | 94% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$30
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$90
Per person, per day
Luxury
$240
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $15 | $50 | $140 |
| Food and drink | $5 | $15 | $40 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $40 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 4 of 4Do not travel
Do not travelto Ukraine for any reason due to the Russia-Ukraine war. U.S. embassy operations The Embassy is open and operating in Kyiv; however, Embassy personnel are subject to movement, curfew, and activity restrictions, which may cause delays in provision of consular assistance to U.S. citizens outside of Kyiv. U.S. citizens seeking assistance, including routine services, should email KyivACS@state.gov. Review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas. U.S. government employee travel restrictions U.S. government employees need special authorization to travel outside of Kyiv due to safety risks. Due to safety risks, the State Department does not authorize family members to join U.S. government employees in Ukraine. U.S. citizens in Ukraine are advised to take the same precautions. Armed conflict The Russia-Ukraine war continues, and non-frontline regions are also subject to Russian indiscriminate missile and drone attacks. The security situation can change quickly, and travelers should be prepared to depart immediately with little to no warning. Travelers should react to air alerts and seek appropriate shelter. Closed airspace restricts travel options, and non-frontline regions are subject to martial law restrictions, such as a nationwide curfew. U.S. government employees are subject to movement, curfew, and activity restrictions that may be more limited than Ukrainian government restrictions under martial law. All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for…
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel Crimea FCDO advises against all travel to Crimea. Border with Belarus FCDO advises against all travel to within 50km of the border with Belarus in the following regions: Volyn Rivne Zhytomyr This is due to the ongoing presence of Russian and Belarusian military and security personnel on the Belarusian side of the border. All other regions of Ukraine FCDO advises against all travel to all other regions of Ukraine (with the exception of some Western regions; see below). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the following regions in western Ukraine: All parts: Zakarpattia Ivano-Frankivsk Ternopil Chernivtsi Lviv Parts further than 50km from the border with Belarus: (see Border with Belarus above) Volyn Rivne Zhytomyr Russian invasion of Ukraine Russia continues to invade Ukraine. Russian missile and drone attacks take place frequently across the country. Attacks have killed and injured civilians and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential, energy, industrial, rail and other related facilities. Russian military activity has intensified over the past year. Civilian casualties between January and August 2026 exceeded the total recorded in 2025. There is an ongoing risk of harm to British nationals from Russian attacks across Ukraine, including from missiles and drones that…
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Ukraine.
Nature & adventureThe national parks in Ukraine feature the many pristine landscapes that Ukraine has to offer. National parks constitute about 11,116 km2 (4,292 sq mi) of Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe Wooden tserkvas of the Carpathian region in Poland and Ukraine is a world heritage site made up of 16 wooden churches in these countries.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe Holocaust was a campaign of deportation, forced labour and mass murder during World War II, carried out by Germany's Nazi regime and several other Axis states.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, with a length of 2,850 km (1,770 mi). It begins in the Black Forest in Germany and flows east to the Black Sea, forming the Danube Delta on its western coast.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesStruve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
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