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Some tips on Ukraine

Quick facts on Ukraine

Climate in Ukraine

Inland Ukraine enjoys a moderate continental climate. The hottest month is July. Average temperature is July is 23C (74F). THe cold month is January. Average temperature in January is -5C (24F). It is usually colder in the East and warmer in the west. Along the coast, Yalta and Odessa enjoy a subtropical climate and are much (especially Yalta and the Southern most part of Crimea) milder in the winter.

Average temperature in Kiev

Tips on Ukrainian customs and traditions:

Even though Ukrainians are tolerant of the faux pas done by foreigners, you may want to know the following few things:

• When you are invited to a Ukrainian family, it would be courteous to bring a small gift or flowers.
• Buying flowers for a Ukrainian lady, please, remember to take an odd number.
• When you enter a Ukrainian home, it would be better to take the shoes off. You will be offered special slippers for guests.
• Ukrainians don’t place empty bottles on the table. When a drink is over, the bottle should be placed under the table. Otherwise, it will be bad luck for money.
• In Ukraine, women don't sit at the corner of a table. That's considered to be bad luck for marriage.
• Don't shake hands across the threashold (door entrance)

Tips on entering Ukraine:

• It is allowed to foreign citizens to bring up to $10 000 in cash or up to $50 000 in travelers' checks into Ukraine without a special license.
• Ukrainian law requires that travelers declare all cash and jewelry, regardless of value, upon entering Ukraine.
• Travellers to Ukraine are allowed to bring 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars; 1 litre of spirits and 2 litres of wine without customs duty.
• You will need to fill in the customs declaration and declare the cash or checks you bring into Ukraine. Ask customs official to stamp it. If you are leaving Ukraine and want to take out more than $1000, you will need to show your declaration proving that you had brought more money into Ukraine.
• It is prohibited to bring items like narcotics, pornography, weapons, and agricultural goods and live animals.

Tips on safety in Ukraine:

Ukraine is a peaceful and safe country for travelers both in large cities (Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporozhie) and small towns. Anyway, you need to take certain precautions to avoid potential problems during your travel to Ukraine.

• Leave the credit cards you are not going to use, expensive jewellery, mobile phones etc. at home
• It would be wise to take a copy of your passport and keep it separately from all the other documents. Check that you always have your passport with you at a safe place, even if you go out to buy a sandwich.
• Use a money belt or concealed pouch for your passport, cash and other valuables.
• In case you lose your passport, contact the Embassy or Consular office of your country at once.
• Do not show large sums of cash when you pay a bill.
• Take care in public transport, pickpockets may steal the documents, money and mobile phones, if they see that a person’s attention is distracted.
• If you drink in a public place, make sure that you are accompanied by a trusted friend.

Tips on health safety in Ukraine:

Many visitors to Ukraine are worried about radiation level in Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. Since Chernobyl accident in 1986 the area surrounding Chernobyl 30 km was affected by radiation. The city of Kiev was not much affected because of wind direction. Today it is quite safe to travel and buy food and drinks all over Ukraine, but it is still advisable to avoid the Chernobyl city due to remaining nuclear remnants at the Chernobyl nuclear power station.
The Ukrainian government monitors effectively fresh foods and meat sold in local markets. Cities like Kiev have paid professional medical care establishments. No immunizations are required for travelers to Ukraine. Here are some tips on health you may need while travelling in Kiev and Ukraine

• Avoid buying food in the streets, it’s better to use markets or supermarkets.
• Drink only bottled water to avoid infection at local tap water and constipation problems.
• Bring your own medications to Ukraine in order now to search them in the farmacies in case of flue or some other health problem
• If you need paid ambulance support in Kiev, you may call:

Medikom, the Ukrainian Private Medical Company, 24 hours phones: 234-0303 or 055
Boris, the Ukrainian Private Medical Company, 24 hours phones: 238-0000
Kiev city ambulance: 03 (no English)

Tips on transport in Ukraine:

• Ukraine has airplane connection between its largest cities most days of the week. We are ready to book and buy tickets for you. Buying tickets yourself, don’t forget to take your passport. You will probably need the assistance of an English speaking person.
• Railway transport is inexpensive and convenient in Ukraine. You will need your passport to buy tickets for the train. Or we can buy railway tickets for you
• You can use a taxi moving around Kiev. Major taxi numbers in Kiev are (044) 238 8 238, (044) 527 0 527.
• Driving in Kiev may be dangerous as many Ukrainians break rules. Many cars do not meet the safety standards common in Europe. Pedestrians should also take care because of cars driving or attempting to park on sidewalks.
• If you live far from Kiev center, it will be quicker to use metro (undeground). It costs 50 copecks (half a hryvnia).

Tips on payment and money in Ukraine:

• It’s necessary to have a certain amount of money with you in cash.
• It is easy to exchange Euros or U.S. dollars into the national Ukrainian currency hryvnya, as licensed exchange booths are widespread, and exchange rates are usually clearly visible.
• Major Ukrainian supermarkets, shops and restaurants accept Visa and MasterCard credit cards, some accept American Express cards.
• Large Ukrainian cities have a lot of ATMs where you can get cash from your credit cards. If you travel to small towns or villages in Ukraine, it would be better to exchange money into Ukrainian cash in advance.

Tips on eating out in Kiev:

• Fast food: Kiev and other large Ukrainian cities have lots of fast food places: McDonalds, Potato House, Mr Snack, Shvydko, Puzata Khata, Zdorovenky buly, Domashnya Kuhnia etc.
• Best Ukrainian restaurants belong to one of the two networks: Kozyrnaya Karta and Mirovaya Karta. They offer a variety of different cuisines: Ukrainian, European, Japanese, Chinese, Georgian, etc. Dinner for two at a Kiev expensive restaurant will cost about $70-200
• Most restaurants don’t include tip in their prices, Ukrainians usually leave 5-10% of the order amount.

Tips on Kiev prices:

• Film for camera - from $2.5
• Phone cards - from $5
• 1 hour in Internet cafe - $1-3
• Fast food lunch $5
• Business lunch $6-10
• Taxi ride in the center $5-10
• T-shirt - from $3
• Bottle of Coca-Cola - $0,7
• Bouquet of flowers - $7-15

Tips on words and phrases you may need in Ukraine:

• Hello - Zdravstvuite
• Hi - Privet
• Thank you - Spasibo
• Please - Pozhaluista
• Sorry - Izvinite
• How much - Skolko
• Yes - Da
• No - Net
• Good bye - Do svidaniya
• Bye - Poka

Kyiv metro map