Ukraine tours & travel

Ukraine, like many of its Eastern European counterparts, boasts a temperate climate that delivers hot summers, mild autumns and icy winters. With the warm summer sending locals and tourists to the Crimea and the Black Sea coast, many theatres and attractions close down or become quite crowded. For those seeking to avoid the crowds, spring (or early autumn) can be an excellent time to visit Ukraine, as the weather is normally quite pleasant and the scenery at its most spectacular. 

Winters can be bitterly cold, with temperatures reaching as low as -25C; however, ample snow provides excellent skiing in the Carpathian Mountains.

Centuries old and yet only newly formed as a country (it became independent from Russia in 1991), Ukraine is brought together by tradition but in many ways is still establishing its national identity. Travelling here, you will notice the lasting resilience of the people and preserved culture across both Russian and Ukrainian speakers, from the cities to the mountains. A large gap exists between the working class and the country’s elite, and poverty is widespread. 

Ukrainians are very proud of their heritage, evident in the enduring popularity of events like Sorochinsky Yarmarok (a large folk festival) and local folk music celebrations. Age-old traditions are also highly valued. Painted Easter eggs (pysanky), for instance, are a Ukrainian practice dating back more than one thousand years. 

For years, Ukraine was called ‘the breadbasket of Europe’ because of its dark, rich soil, which allowed the cultivation of a wide range of crops. Cooking traditions stem from a practical desire to warm the belly during cold winters rather than splash out with fancy gastronomy. Dishes are mild but hearty, and tend to centre on grains, potatoes, cabbage, beets, mushrooms, pork and fish. Russian, Polish, Austrian, Jewish and Hungarian influences have also notably shaped Ukrainian cuisine.

Things to try in Ukraine

1. Borscht

Locals will proudly tell you that borscht is not Russian or Polish – it’s Ukrainian. Tonnes of variations exist, but all versions of borscht contain beetroot, which gives this soup its distinct red colour. It can be eaten hot or cold, but is almost always served with a dollop of sour cream. Vegetarians take note: even ‘vegetarian’ versions are usually made with beef stock. 

2. Golubtsi (cabbage rolls)

Take seasoned rice and meat, stew it in a tomato and sour cream sauce, then roll it in cabbage leaves to make this popular snack. 

3. Varenyky (perogis)

These half-moon shaped dumplings can be filled with almost anything and are usually topped with sour cream, fried onions or honey.

4. Salo

Those partial to rich meats can try salo (cured pig fat), a national dish in Ukraine. Historically eaten as a cheaper alternative to meat, many believe regular consumption of salo will lead to a long and healthy life (whether nutritionists agree may be another story). It can be smoked or lightly seasoned with garlic, paprika or black pepper.

5. Chicken Kiev

Does this famous dish actually originate from Ukraine’s capital? Nobody really knows. Some argue it has Russian or French origins. At any rate the tasty dish, made with pounded chicken and stuffed with garlic butter, is often served on the bone in Kyiv (Kiev).

Bordering Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Russia, as well as the Black Sea, Ukraine has always held somewhat of a strategic position in continental Europe. It's divided in half by the Dnieper River, an important trading artery and the site of many dams and hydroelectric stations. 

As the second largest country in Europe, Ukraine boasts an incredible variety of landscapes, many of which change complexion dramatically with the seasons. To the west lie the Carpathian Mountains, which include the country's highest peak, Mt Hoverla (2,061 m). To the south is the Black Sea coast, the port town of Odessa and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. This popular holiday spot is renowned for its Mediterranean climate and unique landscapes that include limestone plateaux and volcanic rock formations.

Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, is located in the north on the banks of the Dnieper River. The country's north is renowned for its dense forests, while the central region consists of mainly open fields and plains.

1. Kiev

Kyiv, or Kiev as it’s become known in English, is Ukraine’s ancient capital, the epicenter of a Slavic culture that once stretched as far as Alaska. The locals are understandably a pretty proud bunch, who are happy to give you directions in a dozen languages when you can’t decipher the Cyrillic street signs on every corner. With a local guide by your side though, you won’t have any trouble finding the enourmous Motherland Monument (Ukraine’s answer to the Statue of Liberty), the golden dome of St Michael’s Cathedral or the beaches of Hidropark Island in the Dnipro River.

2. Chernobyl

A moving day-trip from Kiev, tours to Chernobyl run daily. It may not seem like the most chipper way to spend a holiday, but it’s a worthwhile stop for anyone looking to understand better the disaster that happened here in 1986. We’ll take you into the Exclusion Zone, a two-hour drive through the Ukrainian countryside, to have a look at the power plant’s main reactor, as well as the evacuated town of Pripyat, an eerily overgrown village that once housed up to 50,000 workers. These tours are perfectly safe; you can even hire your own Geiger counter to check out the radiation levels.

3. Odessa

Beaches? In Ukraine? Yep, you’d better believe it. Odessa is a little like Eastern Europe’s answer to St Tropez or Rio: a decadent, seaside, neoclassical paradise bookended by the shores of the Black Sea and a geometric grid of shady tree-lined streets. Catherine the Great founded the city in the late 18th century and invited immigrants from all over Europe to settle here. Today it’s both Ukraine’s biggest commercial port and its sun-soaked style capital. A pop of glitz and colour in a country better known for dour mountainscapes and a sleepy rural steppe.

4. Lviv

Lviv is maybe the only place in Ukraine where the Soviets couldn’t stamp their mark. Wandering cobbled streets and trendy piazzas, sipping espresso in boutique cafes, you feel like you’re day-tripping in Prague or holidaying in Krakow. There’s no sign of Stalinist concrete, and Ukrainian (not Russian) is definitely the majority language. Lviv’s secret got out during the Euro 2012 soccer championships, and a successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics sealed the deal. One day people will mention this gorgeous city in the same breath as Cesky Krumlov…until then, it’s all yours.

5. Carpathian Mountains

The Capathians rise on the southwest corner of Ukraine like crinkles on an otherwise flat map. They’re the home of the Hutsuls, a friendly ethnic group (with an excellent sense of style), and the epicenter of the country’s rural folk culture. It’s a place where horse-drawn carts plod along potholed roads and babushkas shoo chickens from their porches. For adventure seekers, The Carpathians provide something else too: a photogenic mix of green valleys, snaking rivers, little villages tucked into the trees and more trails, ski fields, rock faces and white water than anywhere else in Ukraine.

Fashionable types in Kyiv frequent Lesnoy Flea Market (one of the largest flea markets in Europe) for its selection of vintage clothing. Andriyivsky Uzviz (also called Andrew’s Descent) is another popular shopping destination in Kyiv. Vendors selling traditional items such as pysanky (decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs) and sorochka (traditional embroidered shirts) can be found on this steep, cobbled street. Khreshchatyk Street becomes pedestrian-only on Sundays and fills with artists and vendors selling their wares.

Other notable shopping destinations include the souvenir market on Deribasovskaya Street in Odessa, which is one of the best places in the city to find a bargain, and the Vernisazh Souvenir Market in Lviv, a well-known spot for traditional crafts.

Humorina Festival

In Odessa, a simple practical joke is not enough to commemorate April Fools Day. Instead, the Ukrainian ‘capital of humour’ hosts a full day of amusing festivities including frivolous contests, theatrical performances and a colourful parade where anything goes, as long as it brings a smile to people’s faces.

Sorochinsky Fair

Traditional Ukrainian culture is put on full display at this famous, colourful country fair. More than one million people attend each August to shop for traditional handicrafts, learn the secrets to cooking the best borsch, feast on traditional foods and dance to lively folk performances. 

Lutsk Salo Festival

Ukrainians love their salo (cured pig fat). It’s a source of national pride and the subject of many Ukrainian songs and poems. Each October, Lutsk celebrates this fatty treat by eating copious amounts of it (while drinking copious amounts of wine) and by attempting to break salo-related records, such as the world’s biggest salo sandwich.

City Day

Many cities and towns in Ukraine get their own day (or days) to celebrate with food, music, parades, performances and sometimes fireworks. ‘Lviv Day’ is held in early May, ‘Kamyanets-Podilsky Days’ are mid-May and ‘Kyiv Day’ occurs at the end of the month.
 

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure: