The Martial law, terrorist acts, cataclysms of any kind or negative news, of course, cause tension in the information field and the fear of tourists to associate their journey with visits to such destinations. In recent years, the military conflict in the eastern territories has been constantly occurring in Ukraine. The ministries of foreign relations in a number of countries beware their citizens of visiting Ukraine. However, a tourist who is considering a visit to Ukraine should be aware that Martial law is a result of long negotiations and demands of deputies. It has been implemented only for 30 days and in certain areas, i.e. in the regions along the Russian border, adjacent to Transdnistria, controlled by Russia, and in the shore regions of Black and Azov Seas.

“The introduction of the martial law will not have a significant impact on inbound tourism in Ukraine”,- said the adviser to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the President of the National Tourism Organization.

In the winter, the basic tourist destinations are in Western Ukraine - Bukovel, Transcarpathians, Lviv (the current year was the most touristic with 2,7 millions of foreign visitors) and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, there is no military tension in this part of the country.

Additional information can be found here.

Believe us - everything will be fine!

In general terms, Ukraine is a politically safe country. It is governed by the law and has a legitimate political leader. The territories that are currently unsafe – Luhansk and Donetsk – are closed off. Thus, there is nothing to worry about while traveling to Lviv, Kyiv, or any other major western city. In such cities, there are usual migration checkpoints in the airports or on the state borders for those who travel by car.

The territories where the protests were held several years ago are now closely monitored by the police. While passing The Independence Square, Verkovna Rada, and the Ukrainian National Bank, you will see the guards. There are still demonstrations happening from time to time in the capital. However, those events are nothing else than gatherings of like-minded and concerned citizens. They are also extremely easy to avoid.

Like any in other European country, there are petty burglars on the streets of Ukraine. This is nothing to be especially alarmed about. All you have to do to avoid being robbed is keep your wallet safe. Probably the most popular type of street crime in Ukraine is asking for money on the street. We recommend being cautious when giving money “for good cause” unless you truly know who you are giving your money to.

Let’s decide whether it is safe to travel to a country like Ukraine alone. Upon conducting some internet search, you may be tempted into thinking that it’s not. However, we would like to reassure you that travelling alone is one of the best ways to explore Ukraine. Don’t be afraid to ask young Ukrainians if they speak some English – while older people are not fluent, the younger generation is more likely to understand you :)

You probably already know whether you need a visa for Ukraine or not. You may always double-check it here.

We are also an open and helpful nation. Research shows that Ukraine is a highly collectivist nation. For example, compared to the USA which is 91% individualistic in nature, Ukraine scores only 25%. It means that Ukrainians are more likely to be compassionate and help others in the moment of need than Americans.

The Ukrainian police have become more reliable over the recent years. Make sure you know what the Ukrainian police look like:

In addition, the civil society has flourished. Not only the police are guarding the citizens and visitors now but also civilian initiatives. You may see groups of people walking streets or riding bikes in uniforms with certain symbols. They are there to guard the rights of their fellow citizens and foreigners.

Most streets are free of crime. The safest cities are Lviv, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Odessa. Country-wide the crime is estimated to be 11.48 per 1,000. This result is relatively close to such European countries as Belarus or Romania. In addition, the crime rate in Ukraine can be compared to that in Hong Kong or Cyprus – and these countries are not considered particularly unsafe. More statistics says that the homicide rate is not far from that in the United States – per 100,00 inhabitants, it’s 6.34 in Ukraine and 5.35 in the USA.

Sometimes one way encounter pick-pocketing in subway when it is crowded. Another possible scenario is “wallet scam”. Make sure to become familiar with these schemes in order not to fall into the trap. It may seem like a silly plan, but it works when the victim is psychologically vulnerable, which is always true in these situations.

On-line crime is not well-developed. You are likely to be hacked only if you expose your credit card or social security data to strangers. Therefore, do not disclose your credit card information anywhere online.

The last but not the least, use only reputable ATMs. They may be hard to spot if you are not local. Therefore, just trust the ones next to the banks. The ATMs which can be found with Google Maps are safe to use. Make sure to ask your card issuer about the international charges as sometimes commissions may reach up to 50% and the local bank is not responsible for them.

Here we have compiled a list of the safest Ukrainian ATMs to use:

PrivatBank (national)

Raiffaisen Bank Aval (German)

Credit Agricole (French)

We hope that during your visit you will not need to call emergency services. However, do make sure to write them down:

• Fire department (101),
• police (102),
• ambulance (103).

General assistance (112) can quickly help detect the issue and connect you to the needed service. A call may be made from any landline or cell phone.

In case of emergency, it is even possible to use street phones for local communication. These phones are free of charge and look like this:

They may be old and rusty, but they get the job done. You may find these free phones (so-called ‘taksophones’) in Ukraine in most tourist places. Unlike in Great Britain where the booths are red, in Ukraine they are blue :)

The Ukrainian currency has devalued so a solo traveler can afford a more luxurious hotel or dinner in the restaurant today cheaper than 3 years ago. Normally, there is no practice of counterfeit Ukrainian money. It is more advisable to be cautious with purchasing dollar or euro. Even though it may be challenging in current economic circumstances, it is better to trust reputable banks when buying foreign currency.

This is what Ukrainian currency looks like:

500 UAH, ~20 USD

200 uah, ~8 USD

100 uah, ~4 USD

Look for the magnetic strip to make sure the money is real (better safe than sorry J).

When exchanging money, consult the appropriate exchange rate. You may be tempted to exchange currency in the readily available kiosks which are located in the most popular tourist places. If they are not marked as a bank office, then ask them for a license and daily exchange rate list. Check your money before leaving and signing any documents. You can also ask the locals, even on the street, and they will willingly advise where to buy the Ukrainian currency in a certain municipality.

Major safety tips:

• Most major roads in Ukraine are safe. However, make sure to abstain from crossing the road in the wrong place. Not only do you subject yourself to the danger of being run over by a car. What is more, many streets are not well-lit and oftentimes there may be bumps in the roads. At the same time, in big cities, transport can develop speed up to 50 km/hour (30mph). Be safe and cross only when you see the sign or street light.
• Most parks in large cities are well-lit and have picturesque views at night, such as the Park of Eternal Glory in Kyiv:

• However, we still recommend tourists to be cautious when walking at night, especially alone. Racist attacks are not very common in Ukraine. For example, as experience demonstrates in comparison to the large cities in Russia, Ukrainian cities are more welcoming of foreigners. Still, it never hurts to be too careful, does it? The bottom line is this: try to avoid crowded pubs or large sketchy groups at night, especially if you are black, Asian or Middle Eastern.
• Water from the tap is not safe to drink. While it is mostly cleansed, it is advisable to buy bottled water for drinking. You may also inquire your hotel if they have water filters. In such case, drinking water from the tap may be acceptable.
• State hospitals are quite poor. Health insurance will come in handy when travelling to Ukraine. We advise to conduct some online search before your trip. Look online for some hospital recommendations not far from your hotel just in case.
• Corruption has been combatted for years in Ukraine. If you notice or become a victim of corruption, make sure to report the case to local authorities. There is a phone number to report any corruption activity which is monitored by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Ukrainian villages are lovely and safe. Only in the village will you be able to experience the true Ukrainian spirit. You will definitely notice that village people do not have huge fences around their houses. They do not have security alarms on their houses or cars. This is not (only :) ) because Ukrainian villages are not that rich. The village is a community where people live, grow, and get old next to each other. They respect traditions and love to share them with the visitors. They will invite you to their home expecting the same level of trust and integrity from you. One conclusion can be made: the Ukrainian village is safe for the tourist!

Public transport in Ukraine consists of subway, bus, trolley, tram, and marshrutka (basically, a small and faster version of the bus). Ukrainian transport may not be the safest place in the world :) However, this is true only due to the large number of people using it every day. On the positive note, transport is very cheap compared to other countries: one metro ticket costs $0.30 in Ukraine and $1.75 in Paris whereas safety level in the Ukrainian metro is much higher.

Thus, safety in public transport in Ukraine is moderate. During busy hours, you may find yourself in a crowded metro wagon. This may be the time to be extra watchful about your belongings. Here are a few tips to make your trip safer:

• Use Google Maps to find the best safe route and estimate trip length, distance, and likely crowdedness.
• Check our tips on using public transport to make your trip safe and comfortable.
• Here are our taxi recommendations, but you should prioritize Uber over local cabs. Speaking about Uber, the company complies with international standards and most cars are fitted with GPS location services. And it gets even better. Uber is extremely cheap in Ukraine – you will have to pay around $12 for a ride from the Boryspil airport to the city center. Please note that the airport is located 40 km outside of the city.

Ukraine travel warning applies only to the abovementioned territories – Donetsk and Luhansk. Other than that, the railroad is a safe and comfortable way to travel. You are free to choose between different train types. In more detail, they are discussed in one of our articles. It goes without saying that 1st and 2nd class carriage types are the safest.

There is only one state rail service provider Ukrzaliznytsia. This is what their trains look like:

Modern trains are fitted with cameras and have guards on shift all the time. Traveling by train may not be always as comfortable as in Poland or Germany ,but on the plus side, it is cheaper and no less safe.

Air travel is the fastest and safest way to get around. At the same time, it is the most expensive choice. However, there are such local airlines as the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) or MotorSich which comply with international safety standards. They both offer flights all over Ukraine and UIA flies abroad for relatively acceptable prices.

We are sure that nothing like that will ever happen. However, in case your passport appears to have gone missing, here is what you can do to fix it:

• The first step is contacting the embassy.
• They will provide the most relevant information and advise on how to proceed.
• Then you should inform the country you reside in/came from. They will provide the needed certificates and lists to complete.
• Then ask your homeland police to provide a reference for Ukrainian border control. Your hotel may help you make the phone call.
• Then you may freely enter (transit) and exit Ukraine with the certified proof from the homeland Consular.

As you probably already know, the eastern border of Ukraine is currently not a tourist attraction. The security level in Donetsk and Luhansk regions is unstable. The armed clashes between the Ukrainian and Russian sides are ongoing. According to the UN publications, there have been over 10,000 casualties in the southeastern region of Ukraine during the past 3 years. Therefore, there is no tourism in this geographical area. Moreover, there is currently no consular services in these occupied territories of Ukraine.

Crimea used to be part of Ukraine. Now it is occupied by Russia. Therefore, there is border control and one would need to have legitimate reasons to enter it, especially from the Ukrainian side. The best way to get to Crimea would be by travelling to Russia first. Crimea is currently safe as there is no war activity on its territory. However, if you would like to explore the Black Sea on the Ukrainian side, consider Odessa. It is an extremely well-developed and safe city. It is also a luring attraction for tourists as only 62% of the citizens are Ukrainians. Everyone else is of a foreign descent in Odessa.

Chernobyl has been a tourist attraction for many years. In terms of radiation, it is no less safe to breathe Chernobyl air than stand on the side of a highway. However, due to the radioactivity contained in all objects located there, it is only possible to enter the territory with the guidance of your tour operator. If you are looking for an interesting adventure, it is safe to visit as constant supervision will be provided.