A large East European country with fascinating historical cities, lovely beach resorts, captivating mountain landscapes and friendly Slavonic culture, Ukraine represents the rising power of the affordable East European travel destinations, yet the full potential of this second-largest country in Europe has not yet been realized by the western travel world.
Apart from Kiev, the World Heritage -listed historical city of Lviv is also well worth a visit. Odessa (Odesa) sure has had its share of the enjoyable Ukrainian beaches, not the mention its share of the famous Black sea sun. It is a city of historically and culturally fascinating sites, and of great entertaining facilities which keep you busy until the early morning hours. Another
Ukrainian seaside resort with sunny climate and good facilities for beach life, Yalta in the Crimean Peninsula has developed into one of the most promising beach resorts in Eastern Europe. It is also a place where you can admire culturally and historically important sights and enjoy the beauty of the beautiful nature of the Crimean Peninsula. Antother destination in Crimea, Sevastopol is a naval city with interesting war memorials.
Outside the cities, the Ukrainian landscape consists of fertile plains (steppes), large rivers, and Carpathian Mountains in the west. Offering a totally different experience then Ukrainian cities, the Ukrainian Carpathians are a popular mountain region with resorts suitable for active outdoor activities such as trekking, mountain biking, climbing and skiing. Not to mention the fascinating mountain scenery offered by these wooded mountains rising up to the roof of Ukraine, Hoverla Peak at 2,061 meters above sea level. If you dare, you can also find tours to the infamous Chernobyl nuclear disaster area in Ukraine.
Historical cities and popular beaches: Attractions of Ukraine
The most famous city in Ukraine is its fascinating capital, Kiev (Kyiv). One of the oldest cities of Europe, Kiev hosts historical treasures dating back to 5th century. The historical buildings of this vibrant city form a charming atmosphere in which the long history of the Russian era comes alive, blending with modern influences. Visit Kiev's famous cave monastery, admire masterpieces of Slavonic art, get touched by the collections of the Chernobyl Museum, capture the scenic beauty of St Sophia Cathedral, or simply enjoy shopping or nightlife in the streets of the Ukrainian capital.Apart from Kiev, the World Heritage -listed historical city of Lviv is also well worth a visit. Odessa (Odesa) sure has had its share of the enjoyable Ukrainian beaches, not the mention its share of the famous Black sea sun. It is a city of historically and culturally fascinating sites, and of great entertaining facilities which keep you busy until the early morning hours. Another
Ukrainian seaside resort with sunny climate and good facilities for beach life, Yalta in the Crimean Peninsula has developed into one of the most promising beach resorts in Eastern Europe. It is also a place where you can admire culturally and historically important sights and enjoy the beauty of the beautiful nature of the Crimean Peninsula. Antother destination in Crimea, Sevastopol is a naval city with interesting war memorials.
Outside the cities, the Ukrainian landscape consists of fertile plains (steppes), large rivers, and Carpathian Mountains in the west. Offering a totally different experience then Ukrainian cities, the Ukrainian Carpathians are a popular mountain region with resorts suitable for active outdoor activities such as trekking, mountain biking, climbing and skiing. Not to mention the fascinating mountain scenery offered by these wooded mountains rising up to the roof of Ukraine, Hoverla Peak at 2,061 meters above sea level. If you dare, you can also find tours to the infamous Chernobyl nuclear disaster area in Ukraine.
Practical information for staying in Ukraine
Weather in Ukraine is changeable, as the country mainly has a continental climate with cool winters and warm summers. Summers from May to September are pleasant and also the most popular time for traveling to Ukraine. Weather in the Crimea coast is often warmer than elsewhere in Ukraine. During the winter months from November to March near zero Celsius temperatures are regularly met in Ukraine.
Photo: Pixie bebe, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
How to get there. Located in Eastern Europe along the Black Sea, and hosting international airports in several of its cities, Ukraine is an easily reachable destination. It has a dense road network, with most traffic going through the capital city Kiev. Although most of the main roads in Ukraine are in OK condition, others are more or less under construction. Therefore, especially if you are driving along secondary or minor roads, problems or at least bumpy conditions can be expected. Adding the challenge of driving in Ukraine, traffic is quite chaotic, and most road signs are in Ukrainian, which means written with Cyrillic alphabet. Most of the Ukrainian tourist information is also given in Ukrainian and Russian. English is much less understood, and spoken mainly by the younger generation.
Tourism in Ukraine. Once a popular tourism destination for Soviet citizens, touristic infrastructure of Ukraine is now well on its way to develop to meet international standards, with quality services widely available in big cities like Kiev, but with much to do before the same can be said of rural areas, which however welcome visitors with the friendly attitude of the local people. Although relatively poor, Ukraine is a quite safe destination where normal safety procedures are in most cases enough to guarantee you a safe and enjoyable holiday.
