Source: Pinterest

What can I do in Ukraine? What are some of the best things to do in Ukraine?

As someone born in this country, I get this question a lot — especially from friends and acquaintances who haven’t traveled to this region and only saw Ukraine on the recent news. 

Whether you’re a Ukrainian resident or a visiting tourist, there are so many things to do and see in this country of contrasts. From majestic canyons that rival the Grand Canyon to modern and colorful sculptures in Artist’s Alley… from hilarious comedy performances in Odessa to the tragic history of Chernobyl… and from tasting some of the best chocolate in the country to burning calories walking up Potemkin stairs, Ukraine has so much to offer!

Add a sprinkle of delicious food, breathtaking nature, traditional alcohol, and friendly locals — and you have the perfect recipe for the 30+ ultimate things to do in Ukraine. 

Let’s check out the top tourist attractions in Ukraine — I’m sure you’ll find at least a couple of things that interest you! 

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Admire the Golden Domes of the Pechersk Lavra

Chances are, you’re most likely starting your trip to Ukraine in the capital, Kyiv — So let’s start with its most famous attraction! 

No matter where you look, you’re guaranteed to find a guide book with Kyiv’s most famous tourist attraction: the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. 

Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the most beautiful sights in Kiev. If you are going to visit Pechersk Lavra, get ready to walk all day! There are so many interesting and beautiful things on the territory of the Lavra, including galleries, parks, monasteries, and, of course, the famous gold-domed churches.

It is also worth mentioning the underground caves in which the relics of saints are stored. However, if you are planning to visit the caves, don’t forget to dress accordingly. For women, this means wearing a long dress (that goes below the knees) and a head covered with a scarf; for men, I recommend a nice shirt and pants.  

One of the most interesting and authentic experiences you can have at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra is eating a meal in the refectory (a type of dining room in monasteries). Orthodox Christians prepare food in the refectory in the best traditions of Orthodox cuisine.The food there is quite tasty and the prices are budget-friendly. :)

If you don’t like to wait in line, it is recommended to visit the Kiev Pechersk Lavra on weekdays, when there are fewer locals and tourists. This isn’t surprising at all, since everyone wants to walk around the grounds and enjoy the atmosphere and beauty of the Lavra – once you visit, you’ll understand why! 

There are plenty of tours to the Pecherska Lavra – try this Private Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Monastery tour (Viator) OR explore the Lavra (plus go up to the secret roof!) in this Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Tour (GetYourGuide)

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Stroll Down a Cozy Pedestrian Street

If there’s one thing that Ukraine has no shortage of (other than salo and vareniki, but more on that later!), it’s cute pedestrian streets in almost every major city. 

Khreshchatyk in Kyiv, Arbat in Moscow, Champs-Élysées in Paris, La Rambla in Barcelona… Every European city has a street that is its “trademark” for walking around and admiring the sites. 

It’s also the first thing that I recommend any traveler to do when they arrive in a city: It’s the perfect way to get the feeling of a city, see how the locals live, and maybe even find their favorite cafe or restaurant! 

Each of the cities listed below have plenty of local and authentic boutique stores, delicious cafes, live music, weekend performances, markets, and more.

Here are some of my favorites:

Khreschatyk in Kyiv
Kobylianska in Chernivtsi
Stometrivka (100-Meter Street) in Ivano-Frankivsk
Deribasovskaya Street in Odessa

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Transport Yourself to Hogwarts at Chernivtsi National University

Have you ever dreamed of visiting Hogwarts? If so, then you must visit the Chernivtsi National University!  

Chernivtsi University, also known as ChNU to the locals, will leave an unforgettable impression the moment you step through the corridors. Each room in the University is made in a unique style and with architecture from the golden age of Europe, whether it’s the Marble Room, the Blue Room, or even the colorful Church of the Three Saints.

After walking around, don’t forget to visit the botanical garden located at the back of the university! There, you can relax in nature, or simply enjoy the beautiful architecture of the “Ukrainian Hogwarts.” 

By the way… Do you want to know about the famous duel between the professor and the librarian? Or which room will magically make you younger? And… is there really an underground passage under the university?

These — and many other interesting facts — you can learn on the official tour. ;)

To book a tour, you can show up at the university gates and ask the security guard – tours start every hour on weekdays. Learn more here. 

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Get into the atmosphere of Old Kyiv by Walking along Andriyivskyy Descent

We’re not done with Kyiv just yet! If you love art, culture, museums, or just cute vintage streets, Andriyivki Spusk (St. Andrew’s Descent) is the place for you. 

St. Andrew’s Descent is one of my absolute favorite streets in Kiev, and for good reason: The street is full of museums, restaurants, street musicians, and souvenir shops. Here, you can chat with the locals and learn a lot of unique things about the city — or visit the One Street Museum to learn more about the street and its famous inhabitants, including Mikhail Bulgakov. Architecture lovers will especially love Andriyivki Spusk, since the old part of Kiev from the 18th and 19th centuries is perfectly preserved here. 

I recommend visiting Andriyivki Spusk on Kiev’s “City Day” (the last Sunday of May every year), because this street will be decorated and have artists selling interesting paintings and other wares.

To book a Private Walking Tour of Andriyivski Descent, click here!

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No Ticket to Japan? No Problem! See the Cherry Blossoms in Uzhgorod

Ever dreamed of seeing sakura blossoms but don’t have enough money for a ticket to Japan?  

Don’t worry and book a ticket to Uzhgorod instead!

If you visit Uzhgorod in the middle of April, you can catch stunning sakura flowers blooming all over the city.  The best place to admire this pink-hued beauty is the aptly-named Sakura Boulevard: this route runs from the bus and railway stations through several streets of Uzhgorod.

The legend of sakura trees in Uzhgorod are almost as mystical as the city itself. In fact, there are two theories as to how the sakura trees found themselves in Uzhgorod.

The first legend is that the sakura trees were gifted by a Japanese diplomat as a present to Franz Josef, who was the Emperor at the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (which included Uzhgorod). The local residents found out about this gift, stole a few of the sakura seeds, and then sold them at the local market as fruit trees. 

The second legend is that sakura trees were introduced in Uzhgorod in the early 1920s by the government to combat a landscaping problem. Uzhgorod’s city center was full of mud and swamps, and sakura trees were one of the only successful plants that could withstand the terrain and unpredictable Zakarpattya climate. 

If you want to see more of the beautiful sakura in Uzhgorod, there are tours that will take you to the most popular locations:

Book this wine tasting and sakura tour in Uzhgorod

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Credit: Darya Tryfanava

Sip Kava at a Lviv Cafe… 

Are you tired of drinking the same boring powdered coffee? Do you want to be a real miner for the day and mine for coffee beans?  Or enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the company of 20+ cats? Maybe even bargain for how much to pay your bill? You can find all of this and more in one of the many cafes in Lviv. 

Locals love their cafes and are extremely proud to have their city known as the capital of coffee in Ukraine. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has the most cafes per square meter!

Here are the most interesting cafes in Lviv:

– Lviv Cat Cafe: The first cat cafe in Lviv, you can sit and enjoy a cup of coffee (or some delicious food) in the company of cats. There are two floors and some of the cutest cats in all of Ukraine! 

– Under the Golden Rose is a cafe serving Jewish food where you can bargain the final price of your bill.

– House of Legends: Where else can you find a car on the roof? House of Legends is one of the most popular cafes in Lviv where a chimney sweeper and his family lives. Don’t be surprised if you see magical things happening while drinking a cup of coffee!  

– Lviv Croissants is a delicious chain of cafes all around Lviv that, like the name says, is famous for their croissants.

– Lviv Coffee Manufacture: If you’re looking for a fun activity to do in Lviv, why not go mining for your coffee? In this cafe, they’ll give you a hard hat and mining equipment, take you “underground,” and let you mine for coffee beans. I hope you strike it rich ;) 

If you want to know more about Lviv’s coffee, there’s a wonderful
Lviv Coffee Tour (through GetYourGuide) 
OR
Coffee Tour (via Viator)

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… Or Try Some Lviv Chocolate

Besides coffee, Lviv’s second-most popular “export” is chocolate. However, Lviv is much more than just going to a store and buying chocolate – here, you can take a masterclass on how to make chocolate, visit a real-life chocolate factory, and buy super discounted chocolate (but only if you’re quick enough!) 

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to make chocolate, head over to Lviv Handmade Chocolate. You’ll be provided a chocolatier uniform, all the necessary utensils, as well as natural chocolate for material. During the class, you’ll learn the secrets of making delicious chocolate from a master chocolatier, get a complimentary chocolate drink, and in the end, be awarded with your own Chocolate Artist Certificate! Cool, right?

For those who prefer to do something less hands-on, you can also take a factory tour at the same Lviv Handmade Chocolate. The tour lasts 30 minutes, and you’ll learn how the company got started, sample chocolates from around the world, and find out the secrets of chocolate. Tours run from 10am to 5pm at their flagship store at 3 Serbska Str. and the ticket is 67 UAH (less than $3 USD). As a bonus, every guest will get a special souvenir after the tour.

Finally, if you haven’t bought any souvenirs yet, don’t worry! Lviv Handmade Chocolate has a super special sale every weekend: between 2pm to 2:15pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the chocolate in the store is deeply discounted so that you can get more for your grivna. You only have 15 minutes, but if you’re quick enough, you can make them count! 

To get the full taste of delicious Lviv chocolate, you can opt for the following tours:

A 3-Hour Private Walking Chocolate Tour in Lviv
OR
A Lviv Chocolate Tour and Workshop with Tasting

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Laugh Until Your Belly Hurts in Odessa

One of the best things to do in Odessa is, surprisingly, laugh at the locals…

But not just at any locals! Every year on April 1st, Odessa hosts a “festival of laughter” that includes comedy skits, special events, and celebrity guests. The Humorina Laughter Festival begins with a carnival-like procession where locals dressed as clowns and mimes walk down the main street. Here you’ll be able to laugh at some wacky costumes and enjoy the atmosphere. Afterwards, there are plenty of comedy skits, shows, and other events around the city. 

Even though this tradition started back in the 1970s, Odessites (locals of Odessa) were always known for their special style of humor – So if you’re looking for a good mood and plenty of laughs, I can guarantee that you’ll find it in Odessa!

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Credit: Pinterest

Live La Vie en Rose at the Pink Lake

If, for some reason, you can’t get to the Dead Sea in Israel, don’t worry — and get yourself to the Pink Lake in Ukraine instead! 

Lemurian Lake, which locals call the “Ukrainian Dead Sea,” is a pink-hued lake located in the south of Ukraine, some 100 kilometers away from Kherson. 

If you’re wondering where the color comes from, it’s no secret: there are special plants that grow in the salty water. In fact, spas in Austria and Germany use the mud and salt gathered at the lake in their treatments and creams. 

However, you don’t need to visit a fancy spa to take advantage of the healing properties – just take a swim in the lake! Many locals report that it helps heal inflamed joints and other pains. 

Unfortunately there are no buses that will take you to the lake, but you can get there by using Google Maps and driving a rental car.

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Take a Stroll in Shevchenko Park

This started as a joke between my friends and I, but as the famous saying goes — “in every joke there is a little piece of truth.” 

We always joke around and said that any self-respecting city in Ukraine should have a Park Shevchenko. For those that don’t know, almost every city has a “Park Shevchenko” in honor of the famous Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko. 

Next time you’re visiting a city in Ukraine, check out Park Shevchenko. No matter where you are — whether it’s Odessa, Chernivtsi, or Kyiv — you’re bound to find one. ;)

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Fall in Love at the Tunnel of Love

The Tunnel of Love is one of the most romantic and magical places in Ukraine.  The tunnel is located in a small village called Klevan, 24 kilometers from a city in west Ukraine called Rivne.

The best way to get to the tunnel of love is to take a bus (or drive) to Rivne, and take a bus from Rivne to Klevan’. There are also plenty of tours in case you don’t want to navigate the confusing Ukrainian bus system.  

The best time to visit the Tunnel of Love is in the spring or summer, when the trees are in bloom and at their greenest.  If you’re visiting with your partner, don’t forget to make a wish – local legend says that if a couple visits the tunnel, they’ll be granted their wish!

To get to the Tunnel of Love, there are a few tours departing from either Kyiv or Lviv.

From Lviv: Full-Day Private Lutsk, Tarakaniv Fort, and Tunnel of Love Tour from Lviv //
Lutsk and the Tunnel of Love Day Trip from Lviv

From Kyiv: Full-Day Trip to the Tunnel of Love from Kiev (Viator) //
Round Trip to the Tunnel of Love and Tarakaniv Fort (GetYourGuide)

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Credit: Pinterest

Go down the world’s deepest metro station 

If you’re looking for a different type of tunnel, you can also visit the world’s deepest metro station in Kiev. 

With a depth of 105.5 meters (346 feet), it’ll take you 5 minutes to ride the elevator down to the metro at Arsenalna Station!

Arsenalna station is located on one of the major metro lines and is a quick 15-minute walk to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra – why not take the metro to see one of Kyiv’s most famous tourist attractions? 

To get an in-depth look at Kiev’s metro stations (including Arsenalna!), you can book the Kiev Metro Private Tour (via Viator) or the Kyiv Metro Stations 2-Hour Guided Tour (via GetYourGuide)

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Eat Vareniki

To visit Ukraine and not try vareniki? How could you?! 😱

These delicious “Ukrainian dumplings” can be made with more than 100 different fillings, but the most popular are sweet (cherry, sweet cheese, and even Nutella!) or savory (meat, cabbage, potatoes, etc.) 

Since Vareniki are one of my favorite dishes,I wanted to share some of my favorite places to try them in Kyiv:

Kanapa: A high-end restaurant with delicious black vareniki. Located on Andriyivsky Spusk
Katusha Varenichka: A very cute restaurant in the style of 70’s USSR. There are multiple locations in Kyiv
Pervak: Centrally located and has a huge menu of authentic Ukrainian food. There are more than 10 kinds of vareniki here, including some exotic variants such as salmon and shrimp ;) 

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Source: Pinterest

Explore the Odessa Catacombs

Looking for a few adventurous things to do in Ukraine? Look no further than the Odessa catacombs.

The Odessa catacombs are one of the longest catacomb systems in Ukraine: the length of the catacombs are estimated at about 2,500 kilometers. Just so you can understand how long these catacombs really are: the distance from Odessa to Amsterdam is only 2,300 km!

The Odessa catacombs were once used as a hiding place for criminals, eccentrics, and even partisans during WWII. Nowadays, there is even a subculture of catacomb explorers in Ukraine that walk through and try to map the routes. 

Who knows what you’ll find in the catacombs? There are rumors that there is a solid gold replica of the Titanic hidden down below. Novice winemakers also leave their wine to age, since the catacombs have a unique temperature and atmosphere. Finally, you might even see rifles or other ammunition from World War II, as the catacombs have neatly preserved these “treasures.” 

P.S. Don’t forget to bring a temperature jacket with you – temperatures can reach 15 C and below in the catacombs!

To go on a tour of the Odessa catacombs, you can book the very popular Wild Odessa Catacombs Tour (Viator) // the Private Tour to Odessa Catacombs (Viator) // 2.5-Hour Catacombs Private Tour (GetYourGuide)

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Enjoy Unspoiled Nature in the Carpathian Mountains

After rummaging in the underground world of Odessa’s catacombs, why not climb up to the sky in Ukraine’s Carpathian mountains?

Clean air, breathtaking natural beauty, and cozy old Ukrainian traditions are only a small part of what hides behind this mountain range. If you’re looking for the best places to visit in the Carpathian mountains, here are my personal favorites: 

Yaremche: A picturesque city in the Ivano-Frankivsk oblast.  In addition to beautiful green landscapes, Yaemche also offers traditional Hutsul cuisine, cozy log cabins, and spas. Fans of extreme sports can raft along the river Prut or climb Dovbush rock. There are also plenty of interesting souvenirs in Yaremche that range from handmade things by Hutsul masters to hand-sewn vishivanka shirts, medicinal tea collected from the mountains, and even wool socks.   

Truskavets: The perfect place if you’re looking for a relaxing vacation. There are dozens of spas in this small town that have all kinds of treatments, including massages, cosmetology, salt rooms, and more.  

Vorokhta: A small village in the Ivano-Frankivsk region which is not too far from Yaremche. This place offers unforgettable beauty and fresh air. Also, Vorokhta is the perfect place to start climbing Ukraine’s highest mountain, Hoverla.  For entertainment, join a local and go to the forest to pick blueberries, porcini mushrooms, or raspberries.

Drogobart is the highest mountain resort in Ukraine that is located at an altitude of 1400-1700 meters above sea level. The resort has excellent views and 8 different ski runs.  

 

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Credit: Kateryna Burlutska

While You’re there, Why Not Ski in Bukovel? 

It is time to shred some slopes at Bukovel, the most popular ski resort in Ukraine.

Located about 230 km (4 hour drive) from Lviv, Bukovel is the perfect place to spend a winter vacation in Ukraine. There are plenty of hotels and cottages that you can rent for parties of any size – no matter if you’re going as a couple or as a family. In the town of Bukovel and Polyanytsya there are also many delicious cafes and restaurants to warm up after a successful day of skiing, snowboarding, or just playing around in the snow.

Speaking of which: there are 63 ski runs for guests of all skill levels. There are 13 easy runs (blue), 36 medium runs (red), and 7 expert runs (black). These 60+ runs are scattered across five mountains that make up Bukovel: Dovha, Bukovel, Bulchinekha, Babiy Pohar, and Chorna Kleva.

Don’t know how to ski? No problem – there’s even a Bukovel Ski School to learn from the pros. :) 

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Soak up the sun at a beach in Odessa

Ahhh, summertime. Make your summer a memorable one by taking a trip to Odessa. 

The legendary Odessa beaches will welcome you with open arms – just be sure to come earlier so that you can take the best spots on the beach. If money is no object, you can also pay a little extra and reserve a VIP cabana. 

Here are some of the best Odessa beaches (as advised by locals):

Arcadia: The best-known beach of Odessa, and for good reason. It’s centrally located, has plenty of things to do, and all of the amenities (like beach chairs and umbrellas). There are also a handful of nightclubs and lounges around. 

Beach Golden Shore: If you prefer something less crowded than Arcadia, this is another great option. It’s very clean, the water is perfect, and there are delicious restaurants nearby. 

Chkalovsky: Perfect for those who love unspoiled nature. Tip: Go to the top for an amazing view!

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Learn the Tragic History of Chernobyl

Everyone has heard about the tragedy at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (Chernobyl nuclear power plant), but not everyone dares to visit the “Exclusion Zone”. even after 33 years, although the excursions have been held since the mid-90s and it is completely safe

Tours usually take a full day (around 8 hours) and include a tour guide, transportation, and lunch (made outside of Chernobyl, don’t worry ;)). 

Tours take place on a planned route where a safe amount of radiation— in fact, travelers can rent a Geiger counter (радиометр) and check the radiation levels themselves.

The tour route usually starts at the village of Zalissya, then goes to the checkpoint and through the city of Pripyat. You’ll see abandoned houses, hotels, schools, hospitals, and more. 

There are plenty of tours to Chernobyl for any type of tourist — you can find more than 100+ tours on Viator and GetYourGuide

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Credit: Flickr

Stare at Giant Eggs in Kolomyya

Hmmm… huge colorful painted eggs?  Where else can you find such interesting things other than Ukraine? 

Ukrainians love decorating eggs for Easter. In fact, they love it so much that a separate museum was opened specifically to showcase Easter eggs from different regions of Ukraine. If you want to delve deeper into the traditions of the Ukrainian people, be sure to visit the Pysanka Museum. 

If you want to explore Western Ukraine, there’s an excellent tour that is tailored to visit the historical Hutsul regions (which includes Kolomyya and the Pysanka Museum!) – You can book it here :)

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Credit: Yuriy Kleymenov

Feel Like Royalty at Kamianets-Podilskyi

What do castles, hot air balloons, and bungee jumping off a bridge have in common? Nothing, unless you’re in Kamianets-Podilskyi!

This small but magical city is home to a historical castle, a cobblestoned old town, and cozy churches. There’s even a yearly balloon festival, where dozens of colorful balloons soar into the sky during sunset.  

The history of Kamianets-Podilskyi dates all the way back to the 14th century, when the castle was originally built. In fact, there’s even a local saying: Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle was first created by God, and then by man.

You can make a day trip to Kamianets-Podilskyi from Chernivtsi (about 2 hours by bus) or from Lviv (about 5 hours by bus).

To get the full experience, you can also book a Private Kamianets-Podilsky City Tour – click here! 

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Credit: Booking

Relax and Recharge at a Sanatorium

Sanatoriums are a nostalgic remnant from the USSR, where everyone’s parents and grandparents went to relax and recuperate. Thankfully, some sanatoriums are still here today, so you can experience the retro glamour of the past. 

Sanatoriums were originally commissioned in the 1920s when Lenin wanted the Soviet people to work hard and play hard. These half spa, half hospital “resorts” were at their peak in the 1960s and gave locals the chance to recharge their batteries. 

On first arriving at a sanatorium, the guest would first consult with a resident doctor, who would then prescribe a series of treatments, such as massage procedures, pools, saunas, aromatherapy, oxygen therapy, and more.

Although the USSR no longer exists, there are still some cities in Ukraine that have retained their sanatorium status. Here are some of the best: 

Truskavets where the water is famous for cleaning kidneys. The hotel above is Higina Spa (highly recommended – it’s one of my favorites!) 

Morshin where treatments specialize in anti-inflammation, stomach problems, and diabetes.

Odessa: Why not combine your vacation with a little healing? There are still plenty of sanatoriums, including world-class resorts, in Odessa.

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Credit: Pinterest

…Or a Banya

If visiting a sanatorium is too far away, don’t worry and make your own “resort” — by visiting a banya!

Banyas are traditional steam rooms where people come to relax their mind, body, and muscles. It’s a perfect place to catch up with friends or destress by yourself. 

Each city is sure to have at least one banya place, or a banya built within a spa. Some even offer extra services like massages, facials, or even being beaten with a bunch of dried eucalyptus branches (it’s very relaxing, I promise!) 

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Feel the Creativity at Landscape Alley in Kiev 

Do you love colorful murals, fun statues, and creativity? Then you must visit the Landscape Alley in Kyiv.

What started as a small project to beautify the city in 2009 has turned into one of the most popular tourist attractions in Kyiv. Artists and architects from all over Ukraine contribute to this street with works such as a Little Prince statue, colorful mosaic benches, and an Alice in Wonderland-inspired children’s playground. Perhaps the most popular landmark at Landscape Alley is the 30-meter (92 ft) long “smiling cat.” 

Don’t forget to take a photo in its mouth — and don’t worry, it doesn’t bite! I already checked. ;) 

If you want to learn more about Landscape Alley (and check out some cool street art!), book this 3-Hour Kiev Street Art Private Tour

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Eat Borsch…

You might wonder, what is the most Ukrainian dish?  Borsch, of course! :) 

For centuries, Borsch has been considered the number one dish in Ukraine and in Ukrainian families. In fact, every Ukrainian mother teaches her daughter to cook borscht according to their traditional family recipe.

If you want to try real Ukrainian borsch, you can find it in almost any Ukrainian restaurant.

If you want to try cooking your own authentic Ukrainian borsch, you can book this borsch cooking class in Kyiv OR Lviv

There are also plenty of food tours — like this gourmet Ukrainian cuisine tour in Kyiv OR this foodie and hidden gem restaurant tour in Lviv

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Credit: chuttersnap

… and wash it down with Gorilka

Gorilka (pronounced ho-reel-ka) might sound like a funny name, but it’s actually one of the most popular drinks on the shelves of Ukrainians! 

Gorilka is a traditional Ukrainian alcoholic drink that is distilled from wheat, and less commonly, potatoes or honey. You can find gorilka in most stores or restaurants — or ask your local friends, they might even have a few bottles of homemade gorilka in their pantry. It might burn your throat at first, but at least you’ll get a taste of the true Ukrainian spirit. ;) 

If you want to try gorilka with a professional, there are also many pub crawls and brewery tours around Ukraine.

Here are some where you can become a professional gorilka connoisseur: Boozy Adventure in Kyiv Drinking Tour // Odessa Pub Walk

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Work off all those calories on the Potemkin stairs…

Who needs a stairmaster when you have the Potemkin Stairs? *badum tss* 

When you travel to Odessa, make it a point to visit the Potemkin Stairs as one of the first places on your list. The stairs are one of the best-known symbols of Odessa and are considered a formal entrance to the city. At the top, you’ll be gifted with a beautiful view of Odessa’s waterfront and welcomed with opened arms. 

To learn more about the history of the Potemkin Stairs (and many other attractions in Odessa!), check out this Odessa: Sightseeing Tour with Transportation (GetYourGuide) OR Odessa Private City Tour (Viator)

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Source: Pinterest

… and then learn how to cook your favorite foods

Vareniki, borsch, draniki… You didn’t think we were done with food, did you? 

Although you may have departed Ukraine, there’s still a way to take Ukrainian food home with you: by learning how to cook it yourself! There are cooking classes offered every week in most major cities, from Kyiv to Lviv, Odessa, Kherson, and more. These classes are taught by a local and are available in both private and group classes.

What can you learn to cook in one of these classes? While each “teacher” is different, some dishes might include banosh, borsch, vareniki, kotleti (meatballs), and potato dishes. 

If you’re looking for a cooking class in Ukraine, here are a few of my favorites– Ukrainian Cuisine Cooking Class: Borsch and Varenyky (Kyiv) OR Traditional Ukrainian Food Class (Lviv)

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Credit: Wikipedia

Get Active at Aktove Canyon

Located between Dnipro and Odessa, somewhere in a little village in Mykolaiv Oblast, Aktove Canyon is one of Ukraine’s most breathtaking landscapes. 

Aktovsky Canyon (also known as Devil’s Canyon) is a stunning formation of boulders, peaks, and deep valleys made out of granite and cut across by the Mertvovid River. The canyon is over 50 meters (165 ft) deep and is spread across 250 hectares (618 acres).

Aktovsky Canyon is also one of the best hidden gems of Ukraine, since not even many locals know about it (including me!). If you want to see the beautiful colors of nature, explore rugged hills, or just want an extreme adventure in Ukraine, then this is the place for you. 

The closest “big city” is Mykolaiv – from there, it’s a 2 hour (115 km) drive to Aktove and then a short 1 kilometer walk to the canyon. You can also do water sports, such as kayaking on the river, or just enjoy the canyon with a picnic along the shore. 

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Credit: Pinterest

See Luxury and Opulence at the Ex-President’s House 

Located 15 kilometers from Kyiv, Mezhyhirya is one of the most luxurious mansions in the country. The reason why? It was the residence of former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych from 2002 until 2014, when he was kicked out of office. 

The residence is is luxurious — there’s a gold toilet and a gold-plated loaf of bread! –that its second name is the Museum of Corruption. In fact, the area is so huge that you can rent a golf cart to get around. 

If you want to see the Mezhyhirya Residence for yourself, there are dozens of tours (click here!) that will take you there 

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Get Lost on Arkhivna Street

It’s easy to get lost on Arkhivna – that’s because this street has over a dozen different names! 

If you’re a film fanatic and can read Cyrillic, you can crack the puzzle fairly quickly: all of the street signs plastered on the wall have names like Charlie Chaplin, Federico Fellini and Ingmar Bergman, who are all famous film directors. 

This tradition dates back to the early 2000s, when the organizers of the KinoLev Independent Film Festival started the tradition of “renaming” the street after the filmmaker that it honored that year. Every year, a new street plate is installed onto the wall — who will it be this year? 

If you want to learn more about Odessa’s cinematic history, check out this Odessa and Cinematography Walking tour

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See the Glamour of the Golden Age at Odessa’s Palaces

 Did you know that the Odessa region is famous for the largest and most beautiful palaces of Ukraine?

The most popular of them Vorontsov Palace, a gorgeous building that used to hold many important meetings and was the residence of many members of the Russian royal family. It’s open to the public and is one of the best tourist attractions in Odessa. 

Other interesting Odessa palaces include The House of Scientists (which used to be Tolstoy’s residence!), Shah’s Palace, and Odessa Art Museum (which was a palace originally built for a Polish diplomat).

To get an in-depth look at these palaces and learn more about their history, you can hire a private guide that will take you to Odessa’s best palaces:

I recommend this Private Walking Tour of the Palaces of Odessa (via Viator)

OR 

This  Private Walking Tour through Odessa Palaces (via GetYourGuide)

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That’s it for our little “trip” to Ukraine! Did you find any activities/places/attractions that you liked? Have you visited Ukraine before? Let me know in the comments below!

If you’re looking for more things to do in Ukraine, I have a whole page – click here to learn more :) 

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