Unknown to Ukraine? Certainly. However, his situation, at the crossroads of European, Slavic and Asian worlds, gives it many tourist attractions. Huge agricultural plains, wooded mountains of the Carpathians, southern beaches, Kiev, the capital thousands of years old, and Odessa, the mystical port on the Black Sea… Why go to Ukraine? To discover an original destination off the beaten track!
Kiev, the capital of shopping
Independent since 1991 and the break-up of the USSR, Ukraine has suffered a lot economically during the 90s. The 2000s brought a new lease of life thanks to the exports of ores (iron, uranium) whose Ukrainian soil is rich and to agricultural production: Ukraine is nicknamed the "breadbasket of Europe ”. Its capital, Kiev, logically bears the traces of the transition to a market economy. There reigns an atmosphere of emancipation, growth, where lovers of shopping, luxury stores and purchases of all kinds will not be disappointed.
Kiev
Religious monuments in Ukraine
Why go to Ukraine and more specifically to Kiev? Because the capital also has a very long history and is one of the essential cities of Slavic culture. Witness its many religious buildings topped with golden domes such as the Kiev Caves Lavra, an Orthodox troglodyte monastery listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. Another unmissable place, the Maydan Nezalejnosti square (Independence Square), the Mecca of the Orange Revolution of 2004.
Church in Kiev
Odessa, the port of Ukraine
After Kiev, the other flagship destination is of course its port, Odessa. Founded by Catherine II in 1794, the town was initially run by a Frenchman, Armand de Richelieu (a descendant of the Duke of the same name) who printed it.n very French style and streets at right angles like in New Orleans. A stroll in the historic district allows you to feel this atmosphere. Also worth seeing are the majestic Potemkin Stairs.
Odessa is also a hotspot for nightlife and many tourists flock to go out in the many bars and nightclubs of this Ukrainian city.
Stopover in Crimea
To continue this visit, visitors have several options: go to Lviv, in the west of Ukraine, in the Carpathians, a mountainous region which has a natural park in particular, or in the Crimea. This peninsula, located in the south of the country, is a kind of Slavic Côte d'Azur. Sebastopol or Balaklava attract their lots of vacationers every summer.
Still in Crimea is the city of Yalta, where Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchil met in 1945 to sign the eponymous agreements and decide, among other things, about the future of Germany.
Castle on the Crimea
Discover Ukrainian specialties
Kiev, with its many restaurants, is also the perfect place to discover Ukrainian cuisine, strongly influenced by Slavic culture, but not only ... Thus we find borsch, a vegetable soup usually garnished with bacon, country-inspired dishes such as galoubtsi (a cabbage roll stuffed with meat) or schachliki, meat kebabs ( pork or chicken) of oriental types. To accompany all this, tradition obliges: vodka!
Varied accommodation in Ukraine
For accommodation in Ukraine, there are good quality hotels in major cities such as Kiev, Odessa or Lviv. Accommodation is a bit more expensive there than elsewhere in Ukraine but it is quite possible to find a room without breaking the bank in Ukraine by looking for example at the last minute on the internet. In the Carpathians or in the Crimea, staying with locals is a practical solution. Youth hostels are also growing in Ukraine although they are still confined to large cities or seaside resorts.
Pratical information
- Saint-Martin Tourist Office : Ukraine-tourism, the site of the Ukrainian tourist office
- Passport and visa : European Union citizens do not need a visa to enter Ukraine. However, a valid passport is compulsory.
- Money and change : the Ukrainian currency is the hryvnia (Hr or UAH).
- Getting to Ukraine : most international flights land in Kiev.
- Getting around Ukraine : Ukraine is a vast country, crossed by a good railroad network. The train is therefore the most reliable, fast and convenient way to visit Ukraine.
