Ukraine Travel Guide: FCDO Advice, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and the Carpathians

A By Anna · Updated 21 October 2026 · 3 min read

Airports

Ukrainian airspace is closed to civil flights; normally Kyiv Boryspil (KBP) and Lviv (LWO)

Flight time

no flights; before the war around 3h20 from London to Kyiv

Best time to go

When it is safe: May-June and September for cities; June-September for the Carpathians

Currency

Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to most of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Odesa and Crimea, and against all but essential travel to the western regions, including Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Chernivtsi. Russia's invasion, which escalated to a full-scale war in February 2022, continues to bring frequent missile and drone strikes across the country, including the western regions, and civil airspace is closed. Consular support is extremely limited, and travelling against FCDO advice is likely to invalidate your travel insurance. Read the latest GOV.UK FCDO travel advice for Ukraine before making any plans. This guide celebrates the country's culture and places, and looks ahead to a time when visitors can return safely.

Ukraine is a large and varied country, stretching from the Carpathian Mountains in the west to the steppes of the east and the shores of the Black Sea in the south. It has a long and complex history, from Kyivan Rus' a thousand years ago to independence in 1991, and a culture of rich traditions in music, embroidery, painted Easter eggs (pysanky) and food. It borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Belarus and Russia.

Why go (when it is safe)

1. Kyiv – the capital's golden-domed St Sophia's Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra monastery complex are both UNESCO-listed. Andriyivskyy Descent, St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery and the riverside parks show the city's character.
2. Lviv – a beautifully preserved, UNESCO-listed old town of Renaissance and Baroque buildings, cobbled squares, churches of many denominations and a famous café culture.
3. Odesa – a cosmopolitan port on the Black Sea, known for its grand opera house, the Potemkin Stairs, its humour and its seaside atmosphere.
4. The Carpathian Mountains – green, wooded mountains with Hutsul villages, wooden churches (some on the UNESCO list), hiking trails and ski resorts such as Bukovel.
5. Kamianets-Podilskyi – a fairy-tale fortress and old town perched on a rocky island in a loop of the Smotrych river canyon.
6. Chernivtsi – a former Habsburg city whose university, set in the former residence of the Bukovinian metropolitans, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
7. Food and drink – borscht, varenyky (dumplings), holubtsi (stuffed cabbage), salo, deruny (potato pancakes) and Ukrainian wines and horilka are central to Ukrainian hospitality.

Where to stay (when it is safe)

• Kyiv – central areas around Khreshchatyk, Podil and the Old Town have the widest choice of hotels.
• Lviv – stay in or around the old town to walk everywhere.
• Odesa – hotels near the historic centre and the seafront.
• The Carpathians – mountain guesthouses, chalets and resorts around Yaremche, Vorokhta and Bukovel.

Getting there

There are currently no commercial flights to Ukraine, because civil airspace is closed. Before the war, direct flights from London to Kyiv took around 3 hours 20 minutes. At present, those who do travel for essential reasons generally go overland via Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania or Moldova. Read the latest advice in full before considering any journey.

Best time to visit

Ukraine has a continental climate. Late spring (May and June) and early autumn (September) are ideal for city breaks, with comfortable temperatures. Summers are warm, especially on the Black Sea coast, and winters are cold and snowy, particularly in the Carpathians.

We research every guide carefully, but prices, opening times and timetables change. Check them shortly before you travel. Links to our booking partners are affiliate links.