Ukraine Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 00:50 (capital)
Currency: Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Capital: Kyiv
Calling code: +380
Drive on the: right

Overview

Kyiv's golden domes, Lviv's old town, the Carpathians and the Black Sea coast. The US and Canada advise against all travel to Ukraine; the UK against all or all but essential travel.

The US and Canada advise against all travel to Ukraine, and the UK advises against all travel to most of the country and against all but essential travel to the rest. Because of the war, missile and drone attacks take place across the country, the airspace is closed and consular help is very limited. Read the official advice before making any plans.

Ukraine is a large, mostly flat country in Eastern Europe with a rich history and culture. Kyiv, the capital, has the golden domes of Saint Sophia's Cathedral and the Pechersk Lavra, both World Heritage sites. Lviv, in the west, has a UNESCO-listed old town of cobbled streets and churches, and Chernivtsi and Kamianets-Podilskyi keep fine old architecture and a fortress. The Carpathian Mountains offer forested hills, valleys and hiking, and Odesa is a harbour city on the Black Sea.

Visitors arrive overland, for example by train from neighbouring countries. The currency is the hryvnia (UAH), and Ukrainian is the official language.

Kyiv: The capital: Saint Sophia's Cathedral, the Pechersk Lavra and Andriyivsky Uzviz.
Lviv: A UNESCO-listed old town with medieval monuments and churches.
The Carpathians: Forested hills, valleys and snowy peaks, with Hoverla, 2,061 m.
Kamianets-Podilskyi: An ancient city-fortress.
Chernivtsi: The capital of Bukovina, with Habsburg architecture.

Places to visit

City
Mountain
Historic site

Cities

Kyiv: The capital and largest city, with Orthodox and Baroque architecture. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Lviv: A cultural centre in the west with a UNESCO-listed old town. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to this region.
Chernivtsi: Capital of Bukovina, with fine Habsburg architecture. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to this region.
Kamianets-Podilskyi: An ancient city-fortress. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Chernihiv: An ancient city of Kyivan Rus' with medieval architecture. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Uman: A city in central Ukraine known for Sofiyivka Park. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Odesa: A harbour city on the Black Sea with a mix of cultures. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Dnipro: Known for its long promenade on the Dnipro River. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Kharkiv: The second largest city, heavily damaged in the war. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.

Beyond the cities

Carpathians (mountain): Forested mountains for hiking, cycling and winter sports. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to this region.
Chernobyl (site): Site of the 1986 nuclear disaster. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.

Regions

Western Ukraine: Central European architecture, food and churches, with Lviv and the Carpathians. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel here, and against all travel within 50 km of the Belarus border.
Central Ukraine: The political and cultural centre, around Kyiv. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.
Southern Ukraine: The Black Sea coast, with Odesa. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region, including Crimea.
Eastern Ukraine: Industrial regions and big cities. The FCDO advises against all travel to this region.

Things to do

See

Lviv old town Lviv: Cobbled streets, medieval monuments, the Korniakt Palace and the National Art Gallery.
Saint Sophia's Cathedral and Pechersk Lavra Kyiv: Golden-domed World Heritage sites.
Residence of the Metropolitans Chernivtsi: The former residence of the Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans.

Do

Hoverla Carpathians: The 2,061 m summit of the Chornohora range.

Eat

Borshch and varenyky: Beetroot soup with sour cream, and dumplings filled with potato, cheese or berries.

Drink

Horilka: The local vodka, often with pepper; buy it only in supermarkets or liquor shops.

Shop

Andriyivsky Uzviz Kyiv: A steep street of artists and souvenir sellers.

Climate and best time to visit

Kyiv
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max °C	-1	1	7	15	21	25	27	26	20	13	5	1
Min °C	-6	-5	-1	6	11	15	17	16	11	5	0	-4
Rain mm	28	38	41	39	65	68	77	54	52	51	45	47

Kyiv has a continental climate. Winter highs hover around freezing, with January nights near −5 °C, while July highs reach about 27 °C; rain is spread through the year, with most in summer. The FCDO warns that winter temperatures can drop below −20 °C and that attacks on the energy network cause power cuts, which can also affect heating and water.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
8 March 2026 · International Women's Day
12 April 2026 · Easter Sunday
1 May 2026 · International Workers' Day
8 May 2026 · Victory day over Nazism in World War II
31 May 2026 · Pentecost
28 June 2026 · Constitution Day
15 July 2026 · Statehood Day
24 August 2026 · Independence Day
1 October 2026 · Defender of Ukraine Day
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day

Getting there and around

International driving permit	Required

Getting there

Ukraine's airspace is closed. Trains still run from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Moldova, booked through Ukrainian Railways (UZ) or the neighbouring railways. The borders with Belarus and Russia are closed, and entering through a crossing not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities is illegal and can lead to arrest, a fine and a travel ban.

Getting around

Trains are slow but punctual and cheap, and usually preferred to buses for long journeys. In cities, marshrutka minibuses follow fixed routes at a flat fare. Expect document checks, curfews and transport restrictions, and follow air raid alerts and train evacuation instructions.

To drive you need an International Driving Permit with your licence (the 1968 version for UK licences), a green card proving insurance and the original vehicle papers, also for a rental car. There is zero tolerance for alcohol at the wheel, and after an accident you must wait for the police (102).

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Borshch: Red beetroot soup with sour cream; the west also has a green version.
Varenyky: Dumplings filled with potato and cottage cheese, berries or mushrooms.
Deruny: Potato pancakes.
Salo: Salted pork fat.

Drinks

Horilka: Local vodka, often with pepper, honey or birch.
Kvas: A drink made from rye or wheat.
Ukrainian beer: Good quality and cheap.

Tipping	About 6–10% in restaurants, or just round up.

Buy spirits only in supermarkets or liquor shops: fakes containing methyl alcohol cause deaths every year. Drinking alcohol and smoking in public places, including public transport, stops and parks, are illegal. Ask for voda bez hazu if you want still water.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	UK: valid for the length of your stay. Canada: at least 6 months beyond the date you leave

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
United Kingdom	Visa free	90 days	90 days in any 180-day period, confirmed until 30 January 2027.
Canada	Visa free	90 days	90 days within a 180-day period.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

Official entry requirements

At the border you fill in an immigration card, may have your fingerprints taken and may have to show enough money, accommodation or a return ticket. Overstaying brings a fine, and you may not be allowed back for 90 days. Antiques and items of historical interest need permission to take out. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check the official link.

Money and payments

Currency	Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
Cards	Common

The currency is the hryvnia (₴, UAH). By law, transactions are in hryvnia. You must declare cash of €10,000 or more, or the equivalent in other currencies, when you enter or leave Ukraine. Supermarkets take Visa and Mastercard, and ATMs are found in all but the smallest villages; use one inside a bank. Canada reports withdrawal limits at banks and ATMs since the invasion. Exchange booths in every town change euros and US dollars. Cash is widely used. Because of the war, ATMs may run out of cash, and ATMs and card terminals may not work during power cuts, so carry enough hryvnia. Use only official exchange booths and keep the receipt: you need it to change money back when you leave.

Health

Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies: ask a doctor, for people at higher risk, Tick-borne encephalitis, for extensive outdoor exposure to ticks
Malaria	None
Tap water	Not safe

Some medicines are hard to find because of the war, and pharmacies may close without notice: bring a stock of what you need. State hospitals are generally poor and private clinics better; without comprehensive insurance you are likely to be taken to a state hospital. Regular travel insurance does not cover war injuries. Avoid tap water and buy bottled water. Ambulance: 103.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 4: Do Not Travel (2026-10-20)
Canada: Avoid all travel (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: Advises against all travel to parts of the country; Advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country (2026-10-20)

The FCDO advises against all travel to Crimea and eastern Ukraine, to within 50 km of the Belarus border in Volyn, Rivne and Zhytomyr, and to every region except Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Volyn, Rivne and Zhytomyr, where it advises against all but essential travel. Martial law is in place. Install an air alert app, know where the nearest shelter is and go there at once when an alert sounds. Obey curfews, stay away from military and infrastructure sites, and do not wear camouflage clothing. The display of Soviet and Nazi symbols is illegal.

Customs and etiquette

Use the Ukrainian forms of place names, such as Kyiv, and say Ukraine, not "the Ukraine". Ukrainian is a language of its own, not a dialect. People can seem reserved at first and open up slowly. Same-sex relationships are legal, but attitudes to homosexuality range from conservative to hostile.

Carry your passport at all times; the police can ask to see it. Do not photograph or film military sites, government buildings, air defences, drones, missiles or damaged military equipment, and make sure none appear in what you post online, even in the background: this can lead to arrest and jail. Drug penalties are severe.

Language

Official languages	Ukrainian
English	Limited

Hello	Добрий день (Dobryi den) DOH-brihy dehn
Please	Будь ласка (Bud laska) bood' LAHS-kah
Thank you	Дякую (Diakuiu) DYAH-koo-yoo
Yes / No	Так / Ні (Tak / Ni) tahk / nee
Goodbye	До побачення (Do pobachennia) do poh-BAH-cheh-nyah
Do you speak English?	Ви говорите англійською? vih hoh-voh-RIH-teh an-HEE-skoh-yoo

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Kyiv
Population	38,980,376 (2025)
Area	579,400 km²
Time zone	Europe/Simferopol (UTC+3), Europe/Kyiv (UTC+2)
Calling code	+380
Driving side	right

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	The main mobile operators are Kyivstar, Vodafone and Lifecell. The FCDO advises conserving your phone's battery because of power cuts.
Wi-Fi	Public Wi-Fi hotspots are common in cities.

Emergency numbers

Emergency	112 (mobile phones only)
Police	102
Ambulance	103
Fire	101

Frequently asked questions

Can I travel to Ukraine?

The US and Canada advise against all travel. The UK advises against all travel to most regions and against all but essential travel to some western regions.

Can I fly to Ukraine?

No. The airspace is closed; travellers arrive by train or road from neighbouring countries.

Do I need a visa?

Not for up to 90 days in 180 with a UK or Canadian passport. Check the official link.

Does travel insurance cover me?

Travelling against official advice can invalidate it, and regular policies do not cover war injuries.

What should I do during an air alert?

Go to the nearest shelter immediately and follow local instructions; air alert apps announce the alarms.

Suggest an update

Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.

Ukraine