When hearing the word “Ukraine”, the first thing that comes to one’s mind is Chornobyl’ and the Crimean peninsula. Unfortunately, in the light of recent events, Ukraine is often associated with Russia and known to many as a part of it. Those who are to explore Ukraine for the first time often wonder: why to go there? Here is the list of best cities in Ukraine every traveler must visit. Have no doubt, it will certainly expand the “fun things to do in Ukraine” list and prove you that Ukraine is so much more than Chornobyl’ and Crimea. In this article, we didn’t just pile up a number of cities off the map, but we’ve categorized them a bit, to show you the diversity of experiences you can have in Ukrainian cities. So let’s explore!

Top 3 Biggest Metropolitan Cities to Visit in Ukraine

Kyiv

On average, a typical Ukrainian hears a question “Is Kyiv a good place to visit?” about five times a month. Just kidding. A week. The point is, it is quite common, and the answer is “It is not just a good, it is a magnificent place to visit”. Read more about 10 awesome things to do in Kyiv .

Being the capital of the second biggest country in Europe, Kyiv has managed to preserve its spirit, history, and the finest Ukrainian traditions. In addition to hosting an abundance of ancient churches, the variety of parks as well as museums, the renowned Bessarabka market where you can sample the food right away, and the world’s deepest subway station (Arsenalna, 105.5 meters below the ground), this majestic city offers a wide variety of restaurants where you can get the proper taste of Ukraine. Also, all Kyiv tourism guides suggest going to the renowned Maidan Nezalezhnosti square - the place every traveler feels obliged to take a photo at.

Photo of Maidan Nezalezhnosti by Vlad Dorogyh

A typical Kyivan starts his day with a cup of freshly brewed espresso, somewhere in the center of the city. Khreschatyk, the main street, never sleeps: it is always filled with crowds of people rushing to work, university, or school.

While in Kyiv, you can witness that the infrastructure is well-developed: near every building, there is a store or two where you can buy cheap food to cook at home. It is important that you don’t miss a chance to use the Kyiv metro, one of the best ways to get acquainted with Ukrainian mentality. Kyiv subway is an integral part of the city which, by the way, is quite moderate in prices.

Photo by Oleksandr Gontar

As a matter of fact, the capital hosts a bunch of festivals, such as Kurazh Bazar held at Platforma Art-Zavod - this monthly event includes the best in town flea market, live music, a lot of exhibitions, and much more to entertain even the most whimsical individuals. All in all, Kyiv will impress you in any possible way.

Odesa

This metropolitan city is most often visited because of the gorgeous seashore. If you ask a local which beach to choose, most of them will advise small out-of-town areas like Lebedivka. Nonetheless, if you prefer active rest with non-stop music, go to Langeron Beach - one of the most famous Odesa beaches. Another option is Ibiza - a perfect place for family holidays. However, Odesa is so much more than just a city for vacation.

 Photo by Sasha set on Unsplash

Street musicians and saxophonists on the recognized Derybasivska street will make sure your stay in Odesa is accompanied by world-known music hits. Interestingly enough, Odesa is jammed with themed cafeterias. For instance, the “Tref” restaurant where you can enjoy your food while watching a movie or the outstanding "Koteinya" where more than ten cats will accompany you during coffee break. The famous Potemkin Stairs serve as the number one place for meetings, it is basically like the Times Square.
Also, we have the article about restaurants of Odessa local cuisine which Active Ukraine recommends.

Another spot that MUST be highlighted is the remarkable Green Theater - this is an open-air amphitheater in the Taras Shevchenko park which serves as a place for concerts and other events. The Green Theater includes food courts, a stage that kind of looks like a Coliseum, many Christmas lights, and live music performances, so yes, Odesa is always awake.

In general, the city is modern like the capital and old-fashioned like Lviv. Overall, Odesa is the never-changing touristic epicenter, always crowded with people: both permanent residents and the guests of the city. Make sure you  read about  10 awesome things to do in Odesa  or outside. Once you visit this city, you will always want to come back.

Kharkiv

Being the second largest Ukrainian city, Kharkiv is a great guide to Ukrainian history. The pompous streets and the spacious squares suggest a sense of Soviet presence. For this reason, many people characterize Kharkiv as the “Soviet minimalism”. The Freedom Square fascinates with its majesty. If you type in Google “Cities to see in Ukraine”, one of the most clickable links will undoubtedly include Horky Central Park, the place of attractions and amusement. Its devil’s wheel, one of the biggest wheels in the world, captures your eye as soon as you enter the park area. It’s high and draws your attention so you won’t get lost in the park even if it’s your first time there.

With the estimated population of over one million residents, Kharkiv is quite family-friendly. Moreover, the city is home to a number of prestigious universities (including V. N. Karazin Kharkiv University), so it’s also a huge educational center. To sum up,  Kharkiv may seem a bit dull, but it is the must-visit city when it comes to history lovers.

]

Photo by Taras Zaluzhny on Unsplash

Top 3 European-looking Cities with Great Architecture

Okay, so now as we’ve figured out where to go if you want to feel the spirit of urbanization, it’s time for something a bit more interesting. Because Ukraine is the biggest all-European country, it is rich with marvelous cities that will make you feel like you’re in France, Italy, or even Great Britain. Here comes the list of Top European-looking Cities.

Lviv

It is often said that while Kyiv is the heart of Ukraine, Lviv is its soul, - and for good reason. Having been under the law of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth for quite a long time, the largest city in Western Ukraine has succeeded in preserving the finest European traditions. It is, of course, packed with churches and cathedrals that transfer your mind to the old times when kings and queens ruled the city.

Like any other Ukrainian city, it has its own meeting place, - the Market Square. The roads of the old town (the central area) are all paved in stone, giving the residents and the guests of the city the feeling of historical flashback. Along these cozy streets, there are also beautifully colored buildings lined up in rows, reminding of some tiny German village.

Photo of the Market Square by John-Mark Smith

When in Lviv, don’t miss the chance to get a full panorama of the city from the observation deck at the City Hall.  As you can see, Lviv is all about the coziness of the old-fashioned life and the charm of European architecture. Wherever you go in Lviv, don’t forget to have a sip of the legendary Lviv coffee, - you will not be disappointed, we promise. Read more about 30 top things to do in Lviv.

Chernivtsi

Have you always wanted to go to Hogwarts ever since you’ve seen the Harry Potter movies? I hope yes because you will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do so when you arrive at the door of Chernivtsi National University. Being the most beautiful one in Ukraine, this university is also the UNESCO-listed world heritage, so Chernivtsi University truly is a wonder.

Photo of Chernivtsi University by farflungistan

You should keep in mind that Chernivtsi is the city of squares: all streets lead to a square, one plaza leads to another, - basically, the process is never-ending. Olha Kobylyanska street is the most popular one in town and can be compared to Khreshchatyk in Kyiv. It looks very much European due to a bunch of cafeterias and small restaurants welcoming the guests. A bright example is Lviv Chocolate Factory  - a confectionery and a vintage store at the same time. At last, every town has its Town Hall, and when you decide to buy a ticket to Chernivtsi, include the City Hall on your must-see list - you don’t want to miss that.

Lutsk

This small city is only two hours away from Poland and happens to be the crossing point for many tourists coming to Ukraine. It is incredibly cozy to inhabit due to its wide streets. The center of Lutsk looks quite modern while the old town is antique and historically rich. You can get anywhere in the city within 30 minutes at most.

The main pride of Lutsk is its castle, also known as the Lubart’s castle. It attracts tourists from all over the globe, symbolizing the city itself. Just like other Ukrainian cities, Lutsk has its own Khreshchatyk -  Lesi Ukrainki street. It shelters all street musicians in town as well as a plenty of cafeterias, such as popular in Ukraine “Aroma Kava” and “Fransua” franchises.

"]

Photo of Lubart's Castle by Denys Myakota

What is more, this street is not far from the Central Mall. In addition, the recently refurbished entertainment center “Promin” allows seeing the newest movies, playing bowling or having a quick lunch while at work. After all, the abundance of well-refurbished schools and parks, along with a plenty of supermarkets make Lutsk incredibly comfortable and very European, too.

Top 3 Small Towns in Ukraine You Can Walk Around in One Day

Only have one day to explore a new city? Not sure if it’s actually possible? Don’t doubt yourself! Here is the list of top small towns in Ukraine you can walk around in just one day.

Kolomyia

Kolomyia may not be on the “biggest cities in Ukraine” list but it’s definitely the town where everyone comes for inspiration. It is a unique place to rest and escape the urbanization. Moreover, Kolomyia is one of the best places to go if you want to explore typical Ukrainian traditions and buy authentic souvenirs. It holds the only in Ukraine Pysanka Museum (for those of you who don’t know, pysanka is an eggshell painted with solid colors or patterns during Easter - a famous Ukrainian tradition).

Kolomyia Pysanka (Easter Egg) Musem

The City Hall of Kolomyia is very similar to that of Lviv. It is located on the central plaza and looks pretty much like a Big Ben. Kolomyia has several cozy parks and monuments: there is even a monument in honor of the victims of the Chornobyl’ tragedy. Overall, Kolomyia reminds of a small town somewhere in Central Europe: people are friendly, the streets are narrow, coziness is overwhelming.

Bila Tserkva

Bila Tserkva is the biggest city in the Kyiv region. In fact, you can easily go on a one-day trip from Kyiv and get to Bila Tserkva within two hours at most. The legend claims that the name  (literally translated as “the white church”) was derived from a big white church built on a hill that symbolized the whole town.

Dendropark “Oleksandriya” is the city’s sight and pride: it is crowded with countless pavilions, bridges, and fountains with romantic names. Mainly, the park is the symbol of Ukrainian garden culture.

Photo of Park Oleksandryia by Sergii Gulenok

Bila Tserkva is not really a metropolis, it is rather a peaceful place to visit after you’ve seen the rest of Ukraine. You can spend the entire day just walking throughout the streets and drinking coffee or simply staying at the above-mentioned “Oleksandriya” park, taking photos and feeding the swans. Even though Bila Tserkva is a one-day visiting place, it’s on our must-go list.

Kamyanets-Podilsky

This is a historically rich city which attracts millions of tourists every year. Of course, the greatest pride of Kamyanets is its fortress - it has several towers, dungeons, and monuments. For example, the “Table of Agreement” - a concrete circle with seven stones around it which symbolizes the peoples involved in the creation of the city history.

You can enter the fortress only through a comparatively wide bridge where couples leave the locks of love. Clearly, Kamyanets-Podilsky is a nice place to visit if you’re on a honeymoon. What is more, the fortress hosts a quite popular music event known as “Respublica Fest” where you can listen to your favorite rock hits, create a painting and take literally a TON of photos.

Photo of Kamyanets-Podilsky fortress by _Charitie

Another must-see site is the City Hall located on the central square (the Polish market square) - also one of the oldest in Ukraine. In front of the City Hall stands “A pillar of shame” where people used to be executed. But if you’re not fond of that type of entertainment, be sure to visit the Museum of Money (second floor of the City Hall). On the very same square, you can find a memorial to the tourist - it’s like Maidan Nezalezhnosti, you will notice many people taking photos with, on, under, and around it.

Also,  Kamyanets-Podilsky is on the list of the most romantic places in Ukraine.

At last, if you’re in Kamyanets, hurry to visit the souvenir market where you can buy the tiniest little treasures to take home and present to your friends so that they too will want to explore this romantic city. To make your life easier, we will suggest you a list of authentic souvenirs from Ukraine which will always bring you warm memories about our country.

Looks like we’ve covered the main cities in Ukraine you should see. Now all you have to do left is buy tickets and book hotels. Don’t hesitate to go visit even the smallest communities Ukraine has to present, they are the best way to explore the lives of ordinary Ukrainians. Whatever you do, do it with passion. Wherever you go, come back to Ukraine.