Ukraine
Europe · Kyiv · UA
Ukraine is the large country of the eastern European plain, a land of the golden wheat fields, the Orthodox cathedrals, the deep rivers and a culture of the extraordinary literary and musical richness between the worlds of the east and the west. The capital of the Kyiv, with its golden-domed monasteries on the river bluffs, holds the deep history of the Slavic peoples, while the city of the Lviv, the handsome western capital of the old Austro-Hungarian province, spreads its coffee houses, its churches and its squares of the European tradition. From the dramatic fortresses of the Podolia and the canyon of the river to the beaches of the Black Sea and the Carpathian mountains of the west, the landscape of the country spreads wide and varied. The modern story of the nation has been written in sacrifice and resistance, and the culture, the pride and the brave hospitality of its people remain the enduring treasure.
Overview
Ukraine is a country in Europe. Its capital is Kyiv and the international dialling code is +380. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Ukrainian. Local currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH). We also list 1 city in Ukraine: Kyiv.
The Old Town of the Lviv and the Cafes of the Squares
The city of the Lviv, the beautiful western capital of the country, preserves one of the most complete historic centres of the eastern Europe, and its cobbled old town, its market square with its town hall and its fountains, and its layered churches, from the Latin and the Orthodox to the Armenian and the baroque, crown the whole. The coffee houses of the city, with their long tradition of the literary and the artistic life of the cafe, are the great institution of the Lviv, and the chocolate shops, the courtyards and the many museums and galleries of the old quarter give the city its European soul. The squares fill with the concerts and the festivals of the year, and the views from the town hall tower over the jumble of the roofs, the spires and the green of the surrounding hills are the classic reward of the visit.
The Monastery of the Caves and the Kyiv of the Hills
The capital of the country, the great city of the Kyiv, holds the mother city of the Slavic east along the steep wooded bluffs of the river of the Dnipro, and its monasteries, above all the lavra of the caves with its golden domes and its underground catacombs, are among the holiest places of the Orthodox world. The cathedral of the Saint Sophia, the great eleventh-century church with its mosaics and its frescoes, is the emblem of the city, and the golden domes of the monasteries, the museums and the streets of the old quarters cascade down the hills toward the river. The great river itself, the waterway of the country, gleams through the centre of the city, and the enormous parks and the viewpoints of the bluffs, with the sunsets over the Dnipro, give the capital its legendary beauty. It is a city of enormous spirit and resilience.
The Fortress of the Kamianets and the Canyons of the Rivers
The old city of the Kamianets-Podilskyi, set on its island in the deep canyon of the river of the Smotrych, is one of the most dramatically situated towns of Europe, and its enormous fortress, the old stronghold of the plain with its towers, its bridges and its castle walls, crowns the rocky centre of the meander. The old town within the loop of the river, with its street plan of the medieval age, its churches of the many faiths and its restored houses, is best explored on foot, and the views from the bridges over the canyon, with the fortress on its rock, are the classic images of the western Ukraine. The region around the city, the plains and the rivers of the Podolia, holds the caves, the waterfalls and the other castles of the area, and the whole district is one of the great road-trip destinations of the country.
The Beaches of the South and the Odessa of the Stairs
The south of the country, along the Black Sea, holds the beaches and the ports of the nation, and the great city of the Odessa, the cosmopolitan port founded by the empress of the Russian empire, is the stylish, sun-loving capital of the coast. The famous stair ladder of the city, the grand stone staircase of the Potemkin steps that descends from the old quarter to the harbour, is the emblem of the city, and the boulevards, the theatres and the courtyards of the centre preserve the joking, artistic, odessa of the imagination. The beaches of the city and the coast to either side, with the resort towns and the long golden sand of the south, hold the summer life of the region, and the cuisine of the sea, the restaurants of the harbour and the famous humour of the city complete the picture.
The Carpathians of the West and the Hutsul Traditions
The mountains of the south-west of the country, the Ukrainian Carpathians, hold the highest peaks and the wildest valleys of the land, and their forests, their high meadows and their wooden villages preserve the traditional life of the mountains and the Hutsul people of the region. The town of the Yaremche and the ski resorts of the Bukovel anchor the visitor life of the range, and the walking trails, the viewpoints and the waterfalls of the national parks, along with the winter skiing of the slopes, fill the active year. The crafts of the region, the decorated eggs, the textiles, the carved wood and the folk music of the mountains, continue in the villages and the markets, and the local dishes, the cornmeal, the sheep cheese and the mushroom soups of the forest, warm the winter tables. It is the green, folkloric, deeply traditional corner of the country.
Compare hotels, cover your trip and stay connected.
- Capital
- Kyiv
- Currency
- Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
- Languages
- Ukrainian
- Calling code
- +380
- Internet TLD
- ua
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Ukraine.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Ukraine?
Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine, and the country sits in Europe.
What currency is used in Ukraine?
You pay with Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) in Ukraine. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Ukraine?
The languages we list for Ukraine are Ukrainian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Ukraine?
The dialling code for Ukraine is +380 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Ukraine do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Ukraine: Kyiv (capital).