Ukraine
Many people asked me on a regular basis, is Ukraine worth visiting? The answer is totally!
Ukraine takes its roots from the establishment of the East Slavic state Kyivan Rus. Since then, Ukraine preserved its geographical location, capital and national customs.
It lies at the northwest end of the Black Sea, with Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland to the northwest, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, and Romania to the south west and south, with Moldova in between.
#FUNFACT
Did you know that Ukraine is the largest country by area that is located entirely in Europe. Though Russia and Kazakhstan are larger, they aren’t entirely in Europe. Yes, this is a fact. So, you can probably guess how diverse and different Ukraine might be by region alone (given its size).
Where to go: 9 cities & towns to must visit in the Ukraine
Odesa
Kyiv
Lviv
Chernivtsi
Chernihiv
Uzhhorod
Kamyanets-Podilskyi
Slavske
Poltava
Typical Costs When Travelling
Accommodation – The cost of accommodation will most likely be your highest expense while you are in Ukraine. Hostel dorm beds in Ukraine average between $7-$15 per night. Private rooms in hostels costs around $30 per night. Most hostels offer free linens, free towels, and free WiFi. You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. You can find a room in a 2-star budget hotel starting at $26 a night. Expect to pay at least $15 more in larger cities like Kiev or Lviv. Use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates.
Food – Ukrainian cuisine is tasty, and just as other cuisines in the region uses a lot of fat ingredients, especially in the festive dishes.Food in Ukraine is really cheap. You can get a decent local meal for $5.30. A more mid-scale meal with a soda in a restaurant will cost around $15. A combo meal at a place like McDonald’s will set you back around $4.
Transportation – Train travel in Ukraine is slow but its reliable and cheap. For example, Kiev to Lviv takes 5 hours but only costs $7. You can make the slow trains work in your favor by traveling around the country via overnight trains. Most intra-city metros and buses cost $.80 for single ticket
Suggested daily budget – $30-$35 (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)
Money Saving Tips
1
Be selective when sight seeing
Many sights and activities in Ukraine are completely free to see, and while the other sights are quite affordable, costs do add up. So be selective of what you want to see, do your research and determine which ones are worth it to you.
2
Eat at Puzata Hata
If you are not too much of a foodie you might be just fine eating at Puzata Hata, a buffet style restaurant that sells hearty and tasty dishes for those who are on a budget.
3
Get snacks at the supermarket
Many supermarkets we found in Ukraine had a large extent of snacks, both healthy and unhealthy, that could be bought at the fraction of a price of the food stalls outside. From cakes, breads, fruits to salads that were ready to eat, buying some snacks here will help to keep your costs of food down significantly.
4
Stay in a dorm room
If you are a solo traveler wanting to keep your costs low I would suggest you staying in a hostel. Not only is it a great way to cut costs, it will also be a great way of meeting new people on the road!
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February 8, 2020
