14 things you need to know before going to Ukraine
1. Language
Ukrainian and Russian are the official languages of the country. During the Soviet period, Russian was the international language as in all the other former socialist republics.
What’s interesting in Ukraine is the fact people usually speak both languages simultaneously on daily life, on TV and radio, on conversations switching from one language to another all the time.
2. Cyrillic alphabet
Both Ukrainian and Russian languages are written in Cyrillic. The best advice I can give you is to learn it. I had the chance to learn Cyrillic when I was in Serbia and it really made my life easier not in Ukraine, but also while travelling by Russia, Bulgaria and Belarus.
Everything is written in Cyrillic, from buses and trains to the signs on streets, apps that help find metro stations, etc. However, it’s not a hard task to learn. For each letter, there’s one sound. Once you memorize, you can manage!
3. Kiev
The Ukrainian capital, big city style, vibrant; it is the economical and political heart of the country.
Kiev offers a wide range of attractions including museums, art scene, the beautiful landscapes along Dnipro River, cafes and restaurants, historical buildings, churches and streets, parks and a large green area around the city centre.
In addition, chill at Maidan Nezalezhnosti is a must to enjoy Kiev like a local and the sunset from Kiev River Port.
4. Odessa
If you think Ukraine is only snow and winter, you will break this myth as you go towards the Black Sea, especially on the summer. Odessa is a mandatory place to visit for everyone who passes by Ukraine. Beaches, vibrant nightlife, cosmopolitan, rich history, plus it is historically a commercial center.
Arkadia Beach is the most touristically famous, you can also visit within Odessa Otrada Beach, Caleton Beach and Lanzheron Beach. Another tip is to walk through Deribasivska Street during the sunsets, the views are just amazing!
Last, but not least! The 3.000 km of catacombs show the intimacy of Odessa as no other place. Full of stories about smuggling, political facts, crime, legends. Enigma is not enough to describe!
5. Kharkiv
Named as Ukrainian capital in the 1917, replacing Kiev, during the Soviet period, Kharkiv became a hub for education, research and technology. A symbol of that time is the building Derzhprom (State Industry Building), the first skyscraper built during the Soviet Era.
Currently, the city hosts 45 universities with students from all around the world. It is a really international city, although without the buzz and rush pace of big city.
Kharkiv also has one of the tallest Orthodox churches in the world, the St. Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral, built in 1888 with 89,5 meters. Another particularity of the city is the cableways ride for about 20 minutes starting from Gorky Park, where locals go to hang out and for amusement.
6. Dnipro
Named as Dnipropetrovsk until May 2016, now is simply Dnipro. It used to be an industrial and technological hub during the Soviet period, including the aerospace industry.
For those who love aerospace, history and facts about Soviet Union, Dnipro is pretty interesting to visit! Surely you have to visit the Space Museum exhibiting satellites and rockets developed during the Cold War.
Entrepreneruship is remarkably present in the city through a large number of companies and startups. Plus the Jewish community in the city.
7. Lviv
Historically occupied by Austro-Hungarians and Russians, plus the Polish and Jewish influences, Lviv is a very multicultural city despite its small size. Its architecture shows a more Western European influence throughout the occupations.
During the Austrian rule, Lviv became the center of Ukrainian national liberation movement and is considered the national-patriotic center of Ukraine.
8. Transport by train
No doubt train is the most used transport in Ukraine. It is cheap, covers the whole country and reasonably comfortable for long distance trips.
Similarly to the Russian railways system, you can buy tickets with sleeping seats by the options plastkart (third class) and koupe (second classs).
9. Corruption
Corruption is undoubtedly the biggest problem to overcome in Ukraine. For travelers visiting the country, the experience with policemen inventing all kinds of excuses trying to get a bribe is a clear example. Their salaries are around 100 and 120 euros, they make their earnings on bribes.
I have never paid any bribe, but the two occasions I crossed the border by road (one from Romania and one from Belarus) was a game of patience with cops make role playing games pretending not know about visa agreements…
On the politics, no comments… And while travelling in the country, be careful with your belongings to don’t be stolen and eventual crookers looking for foreigners. I have never had any problem, it is just a matter of be careful on who are the people around you and where you put your shoes.
10. Mashrutkas
Mashrutkas are those microbuses largely used to connect the suburban areas to the city center. As you get into a mashrutka, you normally say to the conductor your destination and then he says the price.
Or you just enter into the mashrutka, say to other passenger the amount of individuals and the destination while pass them the money to the conductor — as it happens in Middle Eastern countries.
Probably, you will be the only foreigner inside the mashrutka!
11. Informal taxis
When you don’t find a taxi, it is still common the practice of stop cars along streets and ask the drivers if they are going to the same destination of yours dealing a price for the ride. It is literally an informal taxi!
12. Puzata Khata
Puzata Khata (in Cyrillic Пузата Хата) is one of my favorite places in Ukraine. Why? Because it is possible to find most of the main Ukrainian dishes such as borsch, varenyky, okroshka, kompot, uzvar, etc. It is spread in all the main cities all over the country.
13. Dnipro River
Dnipro River scents in Russia, crosses Belarus and then Ukraine until the Black Sea. It is the 3rd river by length and basin area in Europe, with 981 km out 2.201 km in Ukraine.
Its water is used by 70% of the country’s population and for river traffic. And during the summer time, it can also be “the beach” in the absence of a sea nearby.
14. Vyshyvanka
Vyshyvanka is an embroidered shirt, traditionally considered peasant and serf clothing. Ukrainians usually wear it on holidays as tribute to folk traditions and as symbol of patriotism.
Each region in Ukraine has its own distinguished ornaments and colours for its vyshyvankas.
PS: you can also check more pictures on my Instagram andref.anjos and through the hashtag #feelukraine.
