Ukraine is a diverse travel destination and offers good opportunities for interesting city trips, cultural trips or relaxing holidays on the Black Sea. According to Countryaah.com, Ukraine is the second largest state in Europe and has been independent since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country is shaped by the Carpathian Mountains, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, as well as wide mountain landscapes, primeval forests and varied cities designed with magnificent buildings from different epochs.
The capital Kiev lies on the Dnieper and is a vibrant city. If you look at the skyline of Kiev, the mother-home-statue is a particularly impressive eye-catcher. You should definitely pay a visit to the imposing Kiev Pechersk Lavra. But also the lively Odessa on the Black Sea coast or the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lviv (Lemberg) are highlights in this diverse country.
Entry requirements
To enter Ukraine, German citizens need a valid passport and proof of health insurance that also covers travel to Ukraine. A visa is not required. Other nationals please inquire at the embassy concerned. Children need their own identification document, entry in their parents’ passport is no longer accepted.
Currency
In Ukraine, payments are made with the hryvnia (UAH).
ATMs are common in Ukraine. To be able to withdraw money, you need a credit card or an EC card with the “Maestro” symbol. International credit cards are common. But you cannot necessarily pay with it in all hotels or in smaller shops. It is therefore advisable to always have enough cash with you.
Time zone
CET + 1 hour
Climate
Due to the size of Ukraine, there are also regional climatic differences. Ukraine has a temperate continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. On the other hand, the Black Sea coast has a more Mediterranean climate. Here the summers are hot and dry and the winters are mild and humid.
Language
The official language in Ukraine is Ukrainian. Most of the Ukrainians also speak Russian. However, tourism workers often speak and understand English. Occasionally German is also understood.
Telephone / Internet
Ukraine’s international dialing code is +380 according to Allcitycodes.com.
Cell phone reception is usually good and most cities have WiFi hotspots. Many hotels offer their guests WiFi – often free of charge.
Electricity & mains voltage
The electric voltage is 220 volts and a frequency of 50 Hz, so that all devices can be used without any problems. Two-pin plugs are used in the Ukraine, so you don’t need an adapter with German devices.
Emergency numbers
Fire Brigade 101
Police 102
Ambulance 103
Arriving by plane
Almost every large city in Ukraine has international flight connections. Kiev has three airports, with Boryspil Airport (KBP) being the largest and most important. This is about 30 km east of the city center. Lviv Airport (LWO) and Odessa Airport (ODS) offer further connections.
The Ukraine International Airlines, KLM, Air Baltic, Lufthansa and Austrian Airline are among the airlines that come to Ukraine.
Arrival by land
If you drive to Ukraine with your own car, a German driver’s license is usually sufficient for a short stay. There may be waiting times of several hours at the border. If you are not the owner of the vehicle yourself, you must have a power of attorney from the vehicle owner for use with you with a certified signature, apostille and translation into the Ukrainian language. In addition, the green insurance card is mandatory for entry.
The following applies to traveling by car …
Petrol prices in Ukraine are relatively cheap by our standards. The fuel names are not necessarily identical to “ours”. It is important to choose the correct octane number, 95 stands for super, 98 for super plus. “Unleaded” means “lead-free”, it is sometimes indicated by the addition of an “E”.
Maximum speed in urban areas: 50 km / h
Maximum
speed highways / national roads: 90 km / h Maximum speed motorway: 110 km / h
Light during the day: all year round
alcohol limit : 0.0
Obligation to carry : first aid kit, fire extinguisher, warning triangle, replacement lamp set
(information without guarantee, please inform yourself about the relevant provisions before departure)
The road conditions in Ukraine are mostly bad compared to the roads in Western Europe. Often the road markings are also missing, so drive particularly carefully. Speed controls are often carried out in Ukraine, so pay close attention to the speed limits. The street signs are usually only shown in Cyrillic script. Nocturnal car journeys overland should be avoided. In general, you should not take hitchhikers with you and keep the car closed while driving. Use guarded parking spaces. In the past, German license plates were stolen more frequently in Ukraine, so these should be firmly attached.
Best travel time
The best time to travel to Ukraine is between May and September. The main travel season is between June and August. Then temperatures of 20 to 30 ° C prevail during the day. The evenings and nights can also get a little cooler.
Temperatures are higher on the Black Sea coast. In this part of the country in particular, the sun can shine intensely, please think of sun protection! The transitional seasons are also ideal for a trip, when vacationers can benefit from very cheap hotel offers or flight and ferry prices. Autumn and spring are usually cooler than here, but this is usually not a problem, especially for tourists and city travelers interested in culture. However, the weather can be changeable, an umbrella, a warm jacket and a rain jacket belong in your luggage.
Health
Health care in Ukraine does not always meet Western European standards. There are pharmacies and doctors in the larger towns. The treatment is always chargeable. There is a compulsory health insurance for vacationers, treatments must be paid for immediately on site. Vacationers who are dependent on medication should stock up on essentials in advance.
In addition, good sun protection as well as mosquito and tick protection belong in the first-aid kit.
Even if there is no compulsory vaccination for entering Ukraine, you should seek advice on recommended vaccinations, including against the tick-borne disease TBE (early summer meningoencephalitis), before traveling.
Holidays and memorial days
In addition to the New Year and Christian holidays with changing dates such as Easter and Pentecost, the following holidays apply:
January 7th – Orthodox Christmas
March 9th – International Women’s Day
01/02. May – Day of International Solidarity of Working People
August 26 – Independence Day
Embassies & Consulates General
German Mission
Wul Bohdana Chmelnytzkoho 25
01901 Kiev
Tel .: +380 44 2811100;
Emergency number: +380 50 3558285
Austrian representation
Ivana Franka 33
01901 Kiev
Tel .: +380 44 2772790; +380 50 3101414
Swiss representation in
Wul. Kozyatynska 12
01015 Kiev
Tel .: +380 44 2816128
Note:
Culturally rich cities like Kiev, Lviv or Odessa are reason enough for a trip to the Ukraine. Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is considered the cradle of Slavic Orthodox Christianity. Lviv, the old Lemberg, attracts with a well-preserved old town, which presents buildings from different eras. And Odessa, the beautiful city on the Black Sea, is famous, among other things, for the Potemkin Stairs with their perspective effect.