Discover Ukraine: 50 things to explore in Ukraine

1. Varennya

Ukrainian comfiture/jam, usually with whole fruit – it is not what you buy in a supermarket, but what your grandma preserves in summer and serves with tea all year round. Recipes were usually fondly kept in the family and shared with friends and neighbours. Ask for this traditional organic delight when visiting a family.

2. Ice fishing

Traditional winter pastime of many Ukrainian men – don’t be surprised to see frozen rivers and lakes dotted with what may seem flocks of ravens from afar — ice anglers sit in the open for hours and can be seen returning home by the underground wearing thick quilted jackets and trousers and special metal boxes with fishing tackle. Casualties are common every winter and spring, though. Take care.

3. The Pancake Day (Maslyana)

Sunday of the Apokreos, the last Sunday before the Great Lent starts – a weird mix of pagan and Orthodox traditions resulting in open-air revels and wild festivities, with people devouring tons of pancakes and spirits (and often – meat), dancing and burning down a scarecrow symbolizing winter. A few fast afterwards, though… Join these feasts.

4. Odesa courtyards

Patios-like open inner space where many apartments look out on in old city quarters. Motley linen, old bikes and lumber all around, housewives frying potatoes and fish, kids playing and elderly men playing chess or dominoes. Can be also found in other southern cities like Kherson and Mykolaiv. Great place for photos, but respect privacy.

5. Watermelons season

Huge and cheap in the South of Ukraine, where they are grown, can be eaten by tons in August, one at one go, sweet, juicy and warm from the sun. Some like it with fresh & crispy rye bread, or even with herring. Do not miss when travelling south late summer.

6. Farmers’ markets

Avoid ‘glossy’ downtown markets, like Bessarabka (expensive food market in Kyiv city center) and better go to small towns or villages. Try some home-made dairy products (cottage cheese, ‘brynza’, ‘ryazhenka’), sunflower oil (to go as salad dressing, smell it and you’ll die for it!), various pickles (‘soleniya’) and mushrooms. Specialties and taste vary from the region. It is common practice to try (or at least smell) a bit of product you’re buying on the spot.

7. Roadside cafes

With road infrastructure underdeveloped in Ukraine, you can still come across many clumsy & naïve cafes owned by local villagers. Even though their vision of style, service and good food is far away from metropolitan and refined, you can always find some plain, good and really cheap food. Worth exploring!

8. Yaroslava bakery near Radisson in Kyiv

Unlike most of Kyiv downtown venues that mushroomed up within the last decade, this one has existed for ages, selling the same old-fashioned and mouth-watering rolls, buns and pasties. Try ones with cinnamon, poppy, cherries, cottage cheese and explore further! A rare place where ‘ryazhenka’, milk and cacao are also offered. Drop in!

9. Motley balconies

In Ukraine, there are no unified standards for facades, and balconies of the same apartment buildings (except for the most brand-new) vary strongly: of different colours and construction materials, some glassed, they produce a funny and naïve impression – peculiar and ugly at a time. Raise your head when walking!

10. Mukachevo Castle

Located on a border with Hungary in different times it was used as fortress, all-European political prison, residence, museum. There is a 85-m deep water reservoir inside.

11. Mukachevo Vine Festival

Open air, held in January. You go from one winemaker to another tasting their vine and finally get drunk and happy. Performances and food included.

12. Andriyivskyy Descent

The main spot in Kyiv for tourists looking for souvenirs. Ancient buildings/monuments/museums, laid stone bricks and fabulous views attract locals for a walk as well.

13. Hunchback Zaporozhets

Auto made in 1960s with funny design similar to VW Beatle. “Top Gear” fell in love when saw it.

14. Puzata Hata

Chain of self-serve eateries, traditional cuisine, reasonable prices, the loveliest Hata is located on Kontraktova Sq., Kyiv.

15. FC Shakhtar

Football club from Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine, having won the final UEFA Cup in 2009. It hosts opponents at Donbass Arena, UEFA five star rating stadium, almost never loses at home.

16. FC Dynamo

Football club from Kyiv which has won twelve national league titles and two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups. In some last years it is quite instable, though Shevchenko again was playing there.

17. Pochayiv Lavra

The spiritual centre of Orthodox Christians in Western Ukraine. The monastery tops a 60-metre hill and may be seen even 20 km away by someone with perfect sight.

18. 2L beer bottles

Though the most popular are 0,5L bottles, for people (used to drink heavily) looking for the extreme, supermarkets have special proposals.

19. ‘Kyiv Vechirniy’ candy

It is hardly the best chocolate ever, because Swiss chocolate is still there, but Belgium, Italian and French products are obviously worse.

20. Varenyky with cherries

Stuffed dumpling are typical for Ukrainian cuisine and when stuffed with cherries they are especially delisious.

21. Lubart's Castle

The main historic monument in Lutsk.

22. Lviv’s coffeehouse

It is not just a cafe, it is an original soul of the city.

23. Aerial ropeslide Mishor — Ai-Petry

Built in the mountains of Crimea, it is 3.5 km long and holds the European record as almost 2 km part of it has no supporting construction. Look around — it is one of the most picturous views.

24. Chernivtsi University Main Building

Eggs were added to build its walls firm.

25. Sorochynsky Fair

It is not just a trade feast, but also a theatrical performance.

26. Bazaar in Crimea

You can find there everything — from the Crimean blue onion to the herbal bags.

27. Seafront in Crimea

Marine air, Crimean wine, Crimean Tatar cuisine or just shashlyk. KaZantip is a must for youth.

28. Kryivka

Probably not the best restaurant in Lviv, but definitely the most famous one. Original dishes and unique atmosphere.

29. Salt mine

Underground sanatorium is open to everyone in Soledar which is in Donetsk region.

30. Kosiv ceramic

Famous for its painting. It uses a wide range of geometric and floral motifs. All the paintings are narrative and reflect the wildlife, the philosophy and the worldview of Hutsuls in the Carpathian Mountains.

31. Narcissus valley

Wild daffodils grow at Carpathian protected area — unique natural object at 1100-2060 meters high. These flowers are preserved only there and not elsewhere in Europe.

32. Zarvanytsia

Place of pilgrimage of Christians from all over the world. It is famous for its miraculous healings. Thousands of pilgrims come here to pray near the miraculous icon of Virgin Mary of Zarvanytsia.

33. Art Arsenal

The largest (50 000 sq.m.) and most inspiring art space in Ukraine — Mystetskyi Arsenal — is located in Old Pechersk Fortress.

34. Kolyba

Hutsuls’ inn is a traditional building in the Carpathians, where people could eat, talk and enjoy their time. Around the fire in the center of the kolyba the traditional dish Banush with cheese from sheep milk were cooked.

35. The Museum of Pysanka in Colomyia

It was built in a shape of a huge egg. There the products with unique paintings are collected, that are typical for the different regions of Ukraine.

36. The film 'Earth' of Oleksandr Dovzhenko

It is the Ukrainian Soviet feature film. In 1958 on the World's Festival in Brussels the film was accounted to be among the 12 best films of all time.

37. Pyrohiv

Open-air museum of Folk Life and Architecture. It has the collection of national monuments from all regions of Ukraine: churches, houses and mills of Ukrainian villages.

38. The Great Lavra Belfry

The highest bell tower of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and one of the tallest buildings in Kyiv. It is about 96.5 meters high and is visible from afar, at 25-30 kilometers from the city.

39. Lastochkine Hnizdo

Castle rebuilt in the 20-th century. In 1912 a Gothic castle rose over on the 40-meter cliff and became a kind of emblem of the Crimea South Coast.

40. Lviv Homemade Chocolate

Chain of coffeehouses that produce not only chocolate but also feelings.

41. The centre of Europe

The point stands near Rakhiv village, in the Western Ukraine (Transcarpathian region), on the right bank of Tysa river. ‘Constant, exact and everlasting place’ is graven on the sign dated 1887.

42. Borscht festival

A modern tasting contest for amateurs and professionals of culinary art. The contest, which is devoted to Ukraine’s national dish – borscht – travels within the regions of Ukraine.

43. Khortytsia island

The biggest island on the Dnipro river, homeland of Ukrainian warriors — Cossacks. The island covers an area of over 3.000 ha being a unique nature and historical complex. The rural landscape of the island features the Zaporizhian Cossack Museum and a Cossack horse show.

44. Kyiv chestnuts

Legendary trees which bloom in middle may – the best time to visit Kyiv city.

45. Kyiv cake

A visit card of Ukraine’s capital, having over 50 years of history.

46. Odessa film studio

One of the oldest in former Soviet Union, being established in 1919 and giving life for over 1000 films.

47. Arsenalna metro station

One of the deepest subway station in the world is opened in 1960 and goes 105 meters under the ground.

48. National expo center

Tremendous plot of Stalin-style architecture in Kyiv, almost 290 hectares in total, almost 50 hectares built-up area. Opened in late 1950s as the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy (VDNH acronym in Ukrainian), it staggers with gigantism and looks pretty time-worn and inopportune. A good place for a stroll.

49. Peyzazhna alley

A quiet lane overlooking a spot of wilderness in Kyiv downtown near Andriyivsky descent, in sharp contrast to bustling streets and squares some 50 meters away. Ravines that used to be settled by potters since the 10th century A.C. or earlier are left pretty untouched. Walk or jog around and breathe deeply.

50. Village roads

With few highways in Ukraine, you sometimes have to travel by twisting village roads, maneuvering between cows, horses and geese. Speed down and gaze at 'babushkas' (old ladies) wearing headscarves and sitting against bright-coloured board fences. Acrid violet colour is often among favourites.