Tourism in Ukraine

Ukraine used to attract more than 20 million foreign citizens every year (23 million in 2012). But since 2014 this has lowered to about 10 million. Visitors primarily come from Eastern Europe, but also from Western Europe as well as Turkey and Israel.[1]

Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine
Tourism in Ukraine
Most Visited Cities in Ukraine
Kyiv
Lviv
Odessa

Before the Russo-Ukrainian War Ukraine occupied 8th place in Europe by the number of tourists visiting, according to the World Tourism Organization rankings.[2] Ukraine has numerous tourist attractions: mountain ranges suitable for skiing, hiking and fishing: the Black Sea coastline as a popular summer destination; nature reserves of different ecosystems; churches, castle ruins and other architectural and park landmarks; various outdoor activity points. Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Kamyanets-Podilskyi were Ukraine's principal tourist centres each offering many historical landmarks as well as formidable hospitality infrastructure. Tourism used to be the mainstay of Crimea's economy, but there was a major fall in visitor numbers following the Russian annexation in 2014.[3]

The Seven Wonders of Ukraine and Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine are the selection of the most important landmarks of Ukraine, chosen by the general public through an Internet-based vote.

Ukraine is a destination on the crossroads between central and eastern Europe, between north and south. It borders Russia and is not far from Turkey. It has mountain ranges – the Carpathian Mountains suitable for skiing, hiking, fishing and hunting. The coastline on the Black Sea is a popular summer destination for vacationers. Ukraine has vineyards where they produce native wines, ruins of ancient castles, historical parks, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches as well as a few mosques and synagogues. Kyiv, the country's capital city has many unique structures such as Saint Sophia Cathedral and broad boulevards. There are other cities well known to tourists, such as the harbour town Odesa and the old city of Lviv in the west. Most of Western Ukraine, which used to be within the borders of the Republic of Poland before World War II, is a popular destination for Poles. Crimea, a little "continent" of its own, had been a popular vacation destination for tourists for swimming or sun tanning on the Black Sea with its warm climate, rugged mountains, plateaus and ancient ruins, though the tourist trade has been severely affected by Russia's occupation and annexation of the territory in 2014.[4] Cities there include: Sevastopol and Yalta – location of the peace conference at the end of World War II. Visitors can also take cruise tours by ship on the Dnieper River from Kyiv to the Black Sea coastline. Ukrainian cuisine has a long history and offers a wide variety of original dishes.

The country's tourism industry is generally considered to be underdeveloped, but it does provide crucial support for Ukraine's economy. Ukraine does have certain advantages, including much lower costs than other European destinations, as well as visa-free access for most people from Europe, the former Soviet Union, and North America. Since 2005 citizens of European Union and EFTA, United States, Canada, Japan and South Korea no longer require a visa to visit Ukraine for tourism purposes.[5] Also, no visa has been required for citizens of Russia, and other CIS countries (except Turkmenistan).

Top 10 countries whose residents provided the most visits to Ukraine (2016)[6]
CountryNumber
Moldova4.3 million
Belarus1.8 million
Russia1.5 million
Hungary1.3 million
Poland1.2 million
Romania0.8 million
Slovakia0.4 million
Israel0.2 million
Turkey0.2 million
Germany0.2 million

Central Ukraine
St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.

Main cities

  • Kyiv – The historical capital of Kyivan Rus and modern Ukraine on the river Dnipro. Ancient churches, broad boulevards, beautiful landscapes and a variety of cultural facilities make it fascinating destination.
  • Chernihiv – ancient city of Kyivan Rus, one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, has lots of Medieval architecture. Some of the oldest human settlements in Europe have also been discovered in the area.
  • Pereiaslav – "living museum", one of the biggest History and Ethnography Reserve in Ukraine. There are over 20 different museums, city hosts various exhibitions and fairs.
  • Vinnytsia – the largest city in the historic region of Podillia. In Vinnytsia there is the largest floating fountain in Europe, built in the river Southern Bug near Festivalny Isle.
  • Sumy – city's history started in the mid-17th century.
The Bernardine church and monastery in Lviv.

Western Ukraine
Waterfall Zhenets in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
  • Lviv – old city in the west of country, with its medieval old town and unique architecture with Polish and Austrian influences. The top tourist destination in Ukraine, when it comes to architecture and culture.
  • Ivano-Frankivsk – western Ukrainian city that was recognized as the best city to live in Ukraine.[7]
  • Chernivtsi – the capital of Bukovina offers Balkan atmosphere and fine classical Habsburg architecture in Central-European style, as it was part of Austrian empire (prior to 1918).
  • Uzhhorod – the capital of Transcarpathia, one of the oldest cities in Ukraine, attracts tourists because of its proximity to the Carpathian Mountains.
  • Mukacheve
  • Kamianets-Podilskyi
  • Ternopil
  • Lutsk
  • Drohobych
Sharivka Manor, Bohodukhiv Raion Kharkiv Oblast
Livadia Palace in Yalta (Crimean Southern Coast)

Eastern Ukraine
  • Kharkiv – city's history started in the mid-17th century, when the Cossacks created the Sloboda settlements; and since then, the city has turned into one of the largest commercial, cultural and educational centers in Ukraine with a population of over 1.7 million people. From December 1919 to June 1934, Kharkiv was the capital of Soviet Ukraine. The Ukrainian cultural renaissance commenced here in the years 1920–1930.
  • Sviatohirsk and Bakhmut
  • Donetsk
  • Luhansk

Southern Ukraine
  • Odesa – a harbor city on the Black Sea with a mixture of different cultures, including Jewish, Armenian, German, Russian and Greek cultures along with the native Ukrainian culture. Odessa is Black Sea resort and the largest trading center of Ukraine.
  • Zaporizhia – the sixth largest city in Ukraine, famous by Khortytsia island, DniproHES and "Sotsgorod" (Socialistic city).
  • Izmail – a historic town near the Danube river in the Odessa Oblast (province) of south-western Ukraine.
  • Crimean Southern Coast (Crimean Riviera) - a coastline of Yalta and Alushta municipalities (currently under administration of the Russian Federation)
  • Sevastopol (currently under administration of the Russian Federation)

Landscapes
  • Carpathian Mountains – impressive mountain landscapes with skiing and hiking possibilities, spas with cold and hot springs. Ski resorts include Bukovel, Slavske, Verkhovyna, Vorokhta.
  • Hoverla – the highest mountain in Ukraine. Hiking.
  • Azov coast – bathing resorts.
  • Dnieper – cruises.
  • Dniester – canoeing, boat sailing.
  • Shatsk lakes – bathing, camping, hiking.
  • Sofiyivsky Park, located in Uman, Ukraine.
  • Waterfalls of Ukraine – ecotourism.
  • Rainbow over the Carpathian Mountains
  • The rhododendrons at the Chornohora valley
  • Dniester Canyon National Nature Park near Chervona mountain
  • Dzharylhak National Nature Park, Kherson Oblast
  • Village in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
  • At the top of Hoverla in winter
  • Bukovel - is the largest ski resort in Eastern Europe and Ukraine
  • Carpathian Biosphere Reserve in Zakarpattia Oblast
  • Buky Canyon in the Cherkasy Oblast

Seven Wonders of Ukraine
Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, 2019

The Seven Wonders of Ukraine are the seven historical and cultural monuments of Ukraine, which were chosen in the Seven Wonders of Ukraine contest held in July 2007.

Seven natural wonders of Ukraine
Tourism in Ukraine

Winners of all Ukraine competition Seven natural wonders of Ukraine:

  • Askania-Nova near Askania-Nova, Kherson Oblast
  • Granite-steppe lands of Buh in Mykolaiv Oblast
  • Dniester Canyon, Dnister
  • Marble Cave (Crimea)
  • Tovtry Podillian Banks in Khmelnytskyi Oblast
  • Lake Svitiaz part of a group of lakes near Shatsk, Volyn Oblast
  • Lake Synevyr near village of Synevyrska Poliana in Carpathian Mountains

Recognized World Heritage sites
  • Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Kyiv Caves Monastery) and Saint Sophia's Cathedral
  • Lviv city historic centre (mainly Old Town)
  • Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans (Chernivtsi)
  • Ruins of Chersonesus in Sevastopol
  • Segments of the Struve Geodetic Arc
  • Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests in Ukrainian Carpathians
  • Wooden tserkvas of the Carpathian region

Medical tourism

Lately many modern dental clinics with high quality dentistry equipment and high quality materials have been established in Ukraine. They provide patients with high quality dentistry services for prices much cheaper in comparison with Western and Russian clinics. Many tourists from United States, European Union and Russia arrive for dental services, providing a sort of dental tourism.

Other popular sorts of medical tourism in Ukraine are soas, eye and plastic surgery, hair transplants, and mud baths.

Truskavets and Myrhorod are well known for their mineral springs.

Religious tourism

Uman is a pilgrimage site for Breslov Hasidic Jews, especially on Rosh Hashana kibbutz.

Events

Festival culture
Thousands of tourists visit the festival of medieval culture "Silver Tatosh" in the castle of Saint-Miklos, Chynadiyovo, Zakarpattia Oblast
Police patrol by bicycles in the tourist area of Lviv

In recent years a variety of festivals emerged in major Ukrainian cities. Among the most popular are international jazz festival in Lviv, street food festival in Kyiv, various summer festivals in Odessa—a popular tourist destination in summer. Many of these festivals take place in former industrial buildings of the Soviet era and are thus helping to rejuvenate these areas.

Type Event Location Season Notes
Film festival Molodist International Film Festival Kyiv April
Film festival Odesa International Film Festival Odessa Second half of July
Food festival Deruny Festival Korosten September
Food festival Lviv Cheese and Wine Festival Lviv October
Humor festival Gumoryna Odessa April
Arts festival Gogolfest Kyiv September
Music festival Zakhid Rodatychi, Lviv region Middle of August
Music festival Fajne Misto Ternopil July
Music festival Alfa Jazz Fest Lviv June
Poetry festival Meridian Czernowitz Chernivtsi September
Music festival Atlas Weekend Kyiv June
Sports festival Hot Air Balloon Festival Kamianets-Podilskyi May
Cultural festival Forpost Fest Kamianets-Podilskyi August
Sports festival Leopolis Grand Prix Lviv June
Cultural festival Book Forum Lviv Lviv September
Cultural festival Etnovyr Lviv August

Trade fairs
City Trade fair Industry Notes
Kyiv AGRO Agriculture
Lviv The Lviv Publishers’ Forum Books
Kyiv Metal-Forum of Ukraine Metal branch
Velyki Sorochyntsi Sorochyntsi Fair Cuisine
Kyiv Jeweller Expo Ukraine Jewellery
Kyiv Kyiv Fashion Clothes and style
Kyiv Upakovka Packaging industry
Kyiv Arms and Security Weapons

Governing body of tourist industry and its chairs
  • Main Directorate of Foreign Tourism (at the Government of the Ukrainian SSR and part of the Soviet Goskominturist)
    • 1964–74 Yosyp Zatyahan
    • 1974–89 Viktor Dobrotvor
  • Ukrintur Association
    • 1989–93 Volodymyr Skrynnyk
  • State Committee of Ukraine on tourism
    • 1993–96 Volodymyr Skrynnyk
    • 1997–98 Anatoliy Kasianenko
    • 1998–2000 Valeriy Tsybukh
  • State Department of Tourism (State Committee of Youth Policy, Sport and Tourism)
    • 2001–02 Anatoliy Matviyenko
  • State Tourist Administration of Ukraine
    • 2002–05 Valeriy Tsybukh
  • State Service of Tourism and Resorts (Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
    • 2005–06 Ihor Prystavskyi
    • 2006–10 Anatoliy Pakhlya
  • State Agency of Ukraine on Tourism and Resorts (Ministry of Infrastructure)
    • 2011–14 Olena Shapovalova
  • Department (Directorate) of Tourism and Resorts (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade)
    • 2016–17 Ivan Liptuha
    • 2018–2019 Oksana Serdyuk
  • State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine (Ministry of Сulture and Іnformation Policy of Ukraine)
    • 2019–present Mariana Oleskiv

Rules of entry to Ukraine

Due to the situation with COVID-19, the rules of entry to Ukraine[8] have changed significantly. For tourists planning to travel to Ukraine, it is important to familiarize yourself with the list of documents required to enter the country, for example, such as a document confirming the receipt of a full course of vaccination against COVID-19, a negative result of an express test for the determination of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus antigen or a negative result PCR test.

Foreign travel statistics

Most visitors arriving to Ukraine were from the following countries of nationality:[9]

Nationality2006200720082009
 Russia6,429,264 7,258,222 7,638,202 6,964,435
 Poland3,979,453 4,430,140 5,242,980 2,546,132
 Moldova3,056,433 3,998,674 4,418,821 4,339,138
 Belarus2,127,250 2,918,694 3,407,064 2,984,672
 Hungary1,159,711 1,251,724 1,033,376 814,790
 Slovakia506,045 664,605 644,918 537,511
 Romania349,094 1,010,065 1,440,466 1,077,299
 Germany215,437 325,479 231,632 213,995
 United States113,507 132,376 128,122 123,001
 Italy63,337 77,054 70,625 73,737
 Turkey61,892 79,856 79,438 60,078
 Azerbaijan59,628 71,112 80,350 66,996
 United Kingdom56,662 66,132 68,709 66,851
 Israel53,032 58,932 90,353 68,303
 Lithuania46,624 52,645 56,991 48,314
 Uzbekistan45,632 78,074 86,874 96,341
 Czechia45,548 50,415 43,959 46,646
 Armenia43,561 57,995 56,050 53,373
 France42,840 48,160 50,403 49,810
 Georgia40,240 50,472 53,544 40,544
 Kazakhstan36,163 54,629 48,565 43,524
 Latvia33,582 39,773 44,737 35,555
 Austria25,765 31,623 30,044 27,218
 Netherlands24,886 28,019 30,305 31,548
 Canada23,795 28,485 28,855 31,372
Statelessness17,845 24,747 23,531 18,716
 Estonia17,361 19,997 21,094 16,016
 Bulgaria15,885 16,674 24,588 25,102
 China15,458 17,160 16,574 16,137
 Greece14,827 16,107 18,156 16,377
 Sweden13,926 15,865 16,992 16,050
 Spain12,589 13,669 14,135 13,453
  Switzerland12,533 13,243 13,878 13,266
 Serbia12,281 10,011 5,203 5,065
 Tajikistan11,747 25,149 29,875 29,463
 Belgium10,323 11,741 12,913 13,455
 Denmark9,655 10,605 10,996 12,697
 Kyrgyzstan7,351 11,122 19,859 20,520
 Japan6,833 6,903 6,437 5,439
 India6,821 7,370 7,262 8,183
 Norway6,689 8,142 8,892 10,712
 Iran6,584 7,483 7,698 8,883
 Finland6,404 7,801 8,298 7,992
 Australia5,412 6,784 5,277 5,224
 Slovenia4,847 6,527 7,570 5,499
 Syria4,692 6,653 6,084 5,290
 Ireland4,635 4,830 5,091 4,951
 Jordan4,390 5,162 3,613 5,221
 South Korea3,809 5,151 5,985 5,374
 Turkmenistan3,475 3,374 6,039 7,631
Other countries58,472 69,598 60,5982 69,094
Total18,935,775 23,122,157 25,449,078 20,798,342
Number of foreign citizens visiting Ukraine (from 2014, excluding Crimea)

Statistics are based on data from the State Statistics Agency of Ukraine.[10]

  • 2000: 6.4 million[10]
  • 2001: 9.2 million[10]
  • 2002: 10.5 million[10]
  • 2003: 12.5 million[10]
  • 2004: 15.6 million[10]
  • 2005: 17.6 million[10]
  • 2006: 18.9 million[10]
  • 2007: 23.1 million[10]
  • 2008: 25.4 million[10]
  • 2009: 20.8 million[10]
  • 2010: 21.2 million[10]
  • 2011: 21.4 million[10]
  • 2012: 23.0 million[10]
  • 2013: 24.7 million[10]
  • 2014: 12.7 million[10]
  • 2015: 12.4 million[10]
  • 2016: 13.3 million[10]
  • 2017: 14.2 million[10]
  • Palanok Castle in Mukacheve
  • Svirzh Castle in Lviv Oblast
  • The famous Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater
  • Arkadia Beach in Odessa
  • Restaurants in Ukraine are very affordable for foreign tourists.
  • Berehove - a small town in Western Ukraine
  • Palace Residence of the Metropolitans in Chernivtsi
  • Schoenborn Castle-Palace in Zakarpattia Oblast
  • Mukachevo Town Hall
  • Kamianets-Podilskyi
  • Gate tower of Lubart's Castle in Lutsk
  • Valley of Narcissus in Zakarpattia oblast
  • Synevyr National Nature Park
  • All Saints Scete of Sviatohirsk Lavra in Sviatohirsk, Donetsk Oblast
  • Common Tern on Bilosaray Spit, Sea of Azov
  • Trinity Cathedral in Sumy
  • Multimedia Fountain Roshen in Vinnytsia - is the only one multimedia fountain in Ukraine and the largest floating fountain in Europe.
  • Gorky Park - is one of the most visited attraction in Kharkiv
  • No, it's not Africa - it's Askania-Nova a biosphere reserve located in Kherson Oblast, within the dry Taurida steppe near Oleshky Sands.

See also
  • List of museums in Ukraine
  • List of places named after people (Ukraine)
  • List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ukraine
  • Seven Wonders of Ukraine
  • Biosphere reserves of Ukraine
  • Lists of Nature Reserves of Ukraine
  • National Parks of Ukraine
  • Transport in Ukraine
  • Ukrainian cuisine
  • Ukrainian culture
  • Ukrainian historical regions
  • Visa policy of Ukraine
  • Wooden churches in Ukraine

References
  1. Tourist group, State Statistics Committee of Ukraine
  2. UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, volume 6, UNWTO (June 2008)
  3. Tourism takes a nosedive in Crimea bbc.co.uk, accessed 29 December 2015
  4. Tourism takes a nosedive in Crimea BBC. Retrieved 29 December 2015
  5. Ukrainian Consulate General of Ukraine in New York – Nationalities with no Visa requirements
  6. "Foreign citizens who visited Ukraine in 2016 year,  by countries".
  7. Найкращим українським містом визнано Івано-Франківськ (Ukr.)
  8. "Visit Ukraine - Information and Rules". Visit Ukraine. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  9. Foreign citizens who visited Ukraine by country - State Statistics Service of Ukraine
  10. "Tourist group".
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ukraine.
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