World Guide

Ukraine

Country · Europe, Eastern Europe

Ukraine
Photo: Juan Antonio Segal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ukraine is a country located in Eastern Europe with Kyiv as its capital. Covering an area of 603,550 square kilometers, it has a population of about 39 million people.

Highlights

The site covers 17 sights across cities like Kyiv, Lviv, and Chernobyl. Major locations include UNESCO sites such as Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Chersonesus, and the Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans. Other notable sights feature the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, Duga radar, Red Forest, Mariinskyi Palace, Livadia Palace, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Dormition Cathedral, Mezhyhirya Residence, Kyiv TV Tower, St. George's Cathedral in Lviv, Bernardine Church in Lviv, and Lychakiv Cemetery.

Food and drink

Traditional dishes and items include pierogi, varenyky, kissel, Kyiv cake, syrniki, halušky, pampushka, paska, tvorog, kielbasa, palianytsia, and kolach.

When to go

The climate data reflects weather at the capital, Kyiv. January and February are the coldest months with daily highs around -1 °C to 0 °C and lows around -6 °C. July and August are the warmest months, reaching average daily highs of 24 °C and lows of 15 °C to 16 °C. June experiences the highest rainfall with 86 mm over about 13 days, while August has rain on about 7 days.

Practical notes

The currency is the hryvnia. The official language is Ukrainian. Electrical plugs are types C and F with a voltage of 230 volts. Driving is on the right side of the road. Time zones used are UTC+02:00 and UTC+03:00.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Ukraine

  • Pierogi
  • Varenyky
  • Kissel
  • Kyiv cake
  • Syrniki
  • Halušky
  • Pampushka
  • Paska
  • Tvorog
  • Kielbasa
  • Palianytsia
  • Kolach

Top sights in Ukraine

  1. Chernobyl New Safe ConfinementChernobyl New Safe ConfinementChernobyl
  2. Duga radarDuga radarChernobyl
  3. Kyiv Pechersk LavraUNESCOKyiv Pechersk LavraKyiv
  4. Red ForestRed ForestChernobyl
  5. Saint Sophia Cathedral, KyivUNESCOSaint Sophia Cathedral, KyivKyiv
  6. ChersonesusUNESCOChersonesus
  7. Mariinskyi PalaceMariinskyi PalaceKyiv
  8. Livadia PalaceLivadia PalaceYalta
  9. Maidan NezalezhnostiMaidan NezalezhnostiKyiv
  10. St. Michael's Golden-Domed MonasterySt. Michael's Golden-Domed MonasteryKyiv
  11. Dormition Cathedral, Kyiv Pechersk LavraDormition Cathedral, Kyiv Pechersk LavraKyiv
  12. Mezhyhirya ResidenceMezhyhirya ResidenceKyiv
  1. Kyiv TV Tower · Kyiv
  2. St. George's Cathedral, Lviv · Lviv
  3. Bernardine Church, Lviv · Lviv
  4. Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian MetropolitansUNESCO
  5. Lychakiv Cemetery · Lviv

UNESCO sites in Ukraine →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C. The wettest is June, with about 86 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C-1051320232424181240
Average low, °C-6-6-24101416151050-5
Rainfall, mm353737445886786558434946
Rainy days12910111313127881013

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Kyiv (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

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