If you have already made up your mind to undertake an interesting and memorable trip to the capital city of Ukraine, please, try to find a time to read essential tips we offer and feel at your ease.
A visitor coming to a foreign country for the first time may feel uneasy. He isn’t sure whether he can smoke in public places or not, wonders how much he is expected to leave for the waiter, and so on.
REMEMBER ABOUT SECURITY!
They say that Ukrainians can spot a foreigner from a kilometer away, but you shouldn’t worry about this alone making you the target of criminals. But Kiev is quite a safe city. Crime in respect of foreigners adds up with pick pocketing and cheating in the markets. It is mainly due to the fact that offensive weapons are illegal both to have and carry in public.
In order to avoid pick pocketing, one should keep any valuables, important documents and money in a safe place and not to flaunt in public. A special money holder can be a good choice.
There are some security points that one should remember to be safe in Kiev.
First, upon your arriving check your luggage and other belongings. If something is missing do not hesitate to contact an airport or train station official.
Second, keep your bags and pockets closed and try to store important documents or money in a safe deposit boxes at a hotel. Wear valuables only in special holders for travelers.
Third, never exchange money in not authorized locations. Illegal exchange is considered to be a criminal offence in Ukraine. Besides, you can be badly “done” by illegal money-changers.
If you happen to be a victim of a crime, it’s necessary to immediately contact the nearest consulate and report the crime to the local police.
We supply our customers with all needed tel numbers.
Customs
Visitors should obey Ukraine’s customs formalities and regulations. When you cross the Ukrainian border you must fill out a customs declaration. It is recommended to declare valuable items and money you bring with you in Ukraine.
Do not loose your entry declaration, as a custom office has the right to confiscate all your valuable items, including cash.
If you want to buy in Ukraine the subjects of high artistic and historical value, you must know that they cannot be exported without a permission issued by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. This applies to art collections or separate works of art, archeological or numismatic items, precious metals and jewels, manuscripts, books published before 1966, furniture made before 1945, hand-made carpets, samovars and some other things.
When buying artwork in the art gallery or shop, it will be good to request a special certificate attesting to its value and artistic significance.
Air transport
Almost all international flights to Kiev arrive at Boryspil International airport, located 40 kilometers from the city center. The city’s another main airport is Zhuliany-Kiev, located 10 kilometers from the center, handles domestic flights.
Save all the documents you receive and fill out while going through customs - you will need these to leave the country.
The most convenient way to get from Boryspil airport to downtown Kiev is by car.
Rail information 
Kiev is connected to European and Asian cities via an extensive network of railways.
The capital’s only station is located right next to the Vokzalna metro station. Train travel is the least expensive and most convenient way to reach just about anywhere.
Kiev is a powerful railway junction. This allows the railway connections to be secured in all directions with most cities and towns of Ukraine, countries of former USSR as well as with major European capitals.
Trains run every day to Moscow, big Ukrainian cities and European capitals.
Taxi
Although you can order a taxi, there is little need.
Private cars and taxis swarm the city streets. To hail a car, simply put your hand out in the road and a car will stop. Private cars, meaning locals who have cars sometimes act as taxi drivers, cost significantly less than taxis.
There are taxi services, which give you price for your trip at once, when you order the car.
You can freely tip in addition - or not -depending on how happy you are about the service provided.
Taking into account the fact that that taxi drivers do not usually speak English, you should have your destination written in Russian or Ukrainian.
Metro
The metro system in Kiev is a very convenient and safe. Buy tokens at any metro station; currently, one token costs 1,50 hryvnas.
Trolleys/buses
These are a good and cheap way to travel around Kiev. You can purchase tickets (price 1,50 hryvnas) at bus stops or from a controller or driver on the trolley/bus.
Communication
Throughout the city there are post offices and public telephones that operate with plastic cards.
Internet
Internet cafes are very popular in Kiev. There is a large number of Internet cafes, most of which are located in the central part of city and open 24 hours.
Electricity
The standard electric voltage in Ukraine is 220 volts.
If you bring electric appliances, make sure to take a plug adapter.
For expensive equipment like computers, it is a good idea to bring a surge protector
Time
Time in Ukraine is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT.
Daylight Saving Time is from late March till late October. Clocks are set one hour forward in the last Sunday of March and one hour backward in the last Sunday of October.
Working Hours
Most offices in Ukraine are open from Monday to Friday, with one hour for a lunch.
One hour’s interval is usually from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The working time from 9 a.m. till 6 a.m.
Banks are open to public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. five days per week.
Most shops, grocery stores, malls, supermarkets in Kiev work 12 hours a day, 7 days per week, without a break. Some of them are working 24 hours per day.
Most cafes and restaurants in the central part of city are open till the last visitors.
Traveler’s checks
Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted in Ukraine.
We recommend you not to bring them (or bring only as a backup), as a high commission rate and much paperwork are always expected.
Also you need some days while bank will check them.
If you still want to take some traveler’s checks on your trip, take Thomas Cook or Visa, which are the most common in Ukraine. To cash traveler’s checks you will need a passport and receipt of purchase.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard and Eurocard are three main credit cards accepted in major restaurants, stores etc.
However, note that credit cards are not widely in use in Ukraine and sometimes they will not be accepted (particularly if the matter concerns smaller shops, cafes and remote areas).
It will be good for you always to have some cash in local currency- hryvna- in case your credit card won’t be accepted.
If you have some local store credit cards, it is better to leave them at home, as you will not need such cards in Ukraine.
As a good idea will be to have a different credit cards as a backup.
With a different cards you will have access to more machines.
And if you have, for example, AMEX card, take Visa or MasterCard as an alternative, as American Express and Diner are not popular in Ukraine than those ones.
In conclusion we must say that Ukraine operates primarily on a cash economy. You should be very careful using your credit card, and it is will be better not to use it in any shady places.
ATM
The central part of Kiev is crowded with Automatic Teller Machines, so you should not worry about finding one.
In Ukraine an ATM will give you money in local currency, that is in hryvnas.
The amount will be according to the exchange rate of that bank that is owner of ATM.
In order to withdraw money from ATMs one should know his personal identification number (PIN), which must contain numbers only, as Ukrainian keypads have no letters.
One will pay a fee for using ATMs but this fee is considerably lower than that for traveler’s checks.
! Do not use the ATM at night time, in the dark place on the street far from the center.
You can withdraw money in any bank of Ukraine as well.
Although all ATMs give money in hryvnias, in the bank you can get money both in hryvnias and dollars. And it is safe!
Ukrainian money 
Ukraine is mostly a cash economy country.
The name of Ukrainian money is HRYVNA for paper money and KOPECKS for metal coins.
You can use the credit cards in the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores.
Customs regulations prohibit sending cash, traveler’s checks, personal checks, credit cards or passports through the international mail system to Ukraine.
These items are regularly confiscated as contraband by customs authorities.
You can send cash by Western Union or make transfer using the bank accounts in case if you are working with the legal Ukrainian business.
NOTE: Changing any currency for Ukrainian currency or another currency is legal only at banks, currency exchange desks, at hotels and at licensed exchange booths.
Changing money with black-market traders is illegal and can be dangerous!
Visit your Ukrainian lady at her home 
If your lady invited you to her home, please, remember, that it is advisable to bring a gift with you. It need not be expensive at all. Even a bottle of wine or box of chocolate would be a good choice.
Do not forget about flowers! Traditionally Ukrainian women like flowers.
Do not forget that odd number of flowers is intolerable.
Ukrainian people are very hospitable and cordial. So, when eating at a Ukrainian home, be prepared to eat whatever they serve you. And don’t bother telling a Ukrainian that you don’t want any more food because they do not know the meaning of the word “No.”
They probably serve wine or vodka to drink, so if you don’t drink alcohol, ask politely for juice or tea. As for the food, it is always very tasty. The special thing about Ukrainian Cuisine is that the meat is as a rule fatty and often the potatoes are fried.
Smoking and Drinking
There are no any strict regulations in Ukraine regarding smoking, but indeed smoking is prohibited in public places and on transport.
We recommend not to buy cigarettes and especially alcohol on the street.
A zero tolerance drink driving policy applies in Ukraine.
To eat in Kiev
You will never die from starvation in Kiev - that is for sure!!! 
There is the great number of high level restaurants in Kiev that serve American, Argentinian, Asian, Belgian, Caucasian, European, French, Indian, International, Italian, Jewish, Mexican, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Steakhouses, Fusion, Moroccan, Seafood cuisine and offering their customers comfort and high style.
And of course, the Ukrainian national food inns!
Fast food & Sandwiches, Pizza and Sushi bars are very popular now in Ukraine too.
The prices at some new, trendy restaurants in the centre are rising accordingly, but an evening dining out at most places will still cost less than you would expect to pay for the same level of service and quality at your home.
Equally appetizing moderately priced and budget options are widely available in all parts of the city.
When the weather has warmed up sufficiently, many of the cafes and bars around the centre will set up outdoor seating.
Also you will find a great number of cafes, that work as the buffet. These places are popular in Kiev thanks to their law prices and good quility of food.
Also, there are some Pizza delivery services.
You need to find an opportunity to taste traditional Ukrainian cuisine with famous Ukrainian borsch (beet soup) with pampushki (soft rolls soaked in fresh crushed garlic and oil).
And other dishes, famous Kiev chicken – stuffed and breaded boneless chicken breast, is also called Kotleta stolychna, the Capital Cutlet.
Not a traditional Ukrainian dish, it was a delicious Soviet era invention to impress high-level officials. It is delicious!
And the hit of Ukraine are vareniki also known by the Polish perogies, these are boiled or fried triangular dumplings. The fillings vary tremendously: potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage, and meat are just as common as, in the summer time, cherries, plums and berries. All varieties are served with either melted butter or smetana. Each Ukrainian region, restaurant, family has its own favorite recipe.
The First President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk many times proudly announced in his interviews, that he personally prepared his own vareniki for the holidays, based on careful historical research of the development of this national dish.
And during his May 1995 visit to Kiev, US President Bill Clinton declared vareniki “one of his favorite foods.”
Entertainment
Once you are in Kiev, you will feel a special atmosphere of our old Slavic city. Its hospitality will charm you with their unique spirit. You will find a wide variety of nightclubs, casinos and cinemas, where you can spend night, meet nice people, dance all night long, watch a good movie and just have a great time of your life with your lady.
Also you can visit theatres or concerts. We sure your lady will propose you to attend ballet in Kiev Opera House.
Though plays in drama theatres are conducted in the Ukrainian or Russian languages you can visit concert hall.
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory, but usually expected in restaurants. If you believe that the service was good, you can leave some money for the waiter.
Some restaurants put “Service not included” in their menu, and you will have to pay for the service as much as you consider necessary.
Check your bill before paying! Tipping can be 5 to 10 % of your total bill.
Tipping is not required in fast food restaurants, cafes, and other places where you order your food at a counter.
WC
Public restrooms are a sore, dirty and not very aromatic subject in Kiev.
The best ones can be found at the central train station and in underground shopping centres. The other end of the spectrum rears its ugly head at parks, beaches and some high-traffic McDonald’s locations.
Many public toilets charge up to 1 or 2 hryvnas.
Health Insurance
Before traveling to Ukraine, we recommend you to contact your insurance company and find out if its policy applies overseas and which health expenses it may cover. As a rule, cover is rather limited. So, you can shop choose the most appropriate one, as prices and conditions might vary greatly.
Note that the Medicare and Medicaid programs pay for medical services only in the USA.
There are no vaccination requirements or other special requirements for international customers visiting Ukraine.
As of medical facilities, Ukrainian standards of care are different from American or Western European standards. If you need some prescription medicine, take it with you, as only basic supplies may be available in Ukraine.
Language
The country’s official language is Ukrainian, but in practice the situation is much more complex.
In the 2001 census more than 85% of ethnic Ukrainians declared Ukrainian as their native language. This is certainly an encouraging sign, but the average foreigner on the streets of Kiev won’t be hearing the Ukrainian language anywhere near that often. Since independence in 1991, it has become much more popular and widespread.
Still, Ukrainian is heavily used in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine, and only in western regions Ukrainian is truly predominant.
Kievlyane – citizen of Kiev – are very polite and educated, it means if you will speak English they understand you. But it does not mean, that all of them are speaking English:))
Holidays and days off in Ukraine
We hope that will be interesting for you to know more about the holidays in the country, where lives the lady of your dream.
You must know, that in Ukraine, if the holiday day coincides with the Saturday or Sunday, the next Monday is the day off in the most offices. 
The New Year celebration is first on the calendar and it is very popular.
Many people celebrate it twice - on January, 1 and 14. Second date corresponds to January, 1 in the Julian calendar, officially used in Russia before 1918.
The presents are supposed to be sent by Father Frost (Ded Moroz) and the Snow Maiden (Snegurochka). They are very popular during the New Year celebrations.
Next is February 23, Soldier's Day, known until recently as Soviet Army Day, popularly viewed as holiday for all men.
It is not the day off in Ukraine, but all people celebrate it in the offices and at home.
March 8. Originally International Women's Day.
For the Ukrainian women it is a big event: like Mother's day and Valentine's altogether.
We recommend to send or flowers, or small gifts to all your ladies in Ukraine, whom you are corresponding with. It will be highly appreciated as it is considered to be a sign of your attention.
Most ladies like to receive this day roses.
But season flowers - tulips, snowdrops are also popular as the first spring flowers.
It is the day off in Ukraine.
Mayday, until recently officially termed International Workers' Solidarity Day, is now known as Day of Spring and Labor.
In Ukraine we have two days off - May 1 and 2.
Ukraine celebrates Victory Day on May 9 to commemorate the 
millions people fallen in World War II. There is hardly an Ukrainian family, which would not suffer from Nazis in the Great Patriotic war 1941-1945.
Flowers and wreaths are laid on wartime graves on this day in all big and small cities, villages of Ukraine. Veterans come out into the streets wearing their military orders and medals.
There is always the salute in the city-hero, the capital of Ukraine - Kiev, and many other main cities of the country.
It is the day off.
The newest holidays of Ukraine :
June, 28 the Day of the Constitution and August, 24 -the Independence Day.
Both are days off.
There is one very popular holiday in Kiev.
The Day of City - the birthday of Kiev- is always celebrated at the last weekend of May.
There are the festivity all round the city.
The most popular places are: the Andreevsky Uzviz, where are located many art galleries and the big open air exhibitions of art; at the afternoon – Pevcheskoe Pole and Independence Squire where are great concerts.
The beautiful salute at night is finishing this day.
Church feasts have been reborn. Ukraine is mostly Orthodox country.
But the Greek Catholic church is popular and influenced in the Western part of Ukraine.
This church has its own holidays, but they are not the days off for the whole country.
Easter and Christmas are celebrated nationwide and are the days off.
The next day after these holidays is also day off.
Christmas in Ukraine is celebrated on January, 7, according to the Julian calendar
The Easter Day is celebrated on Orthodox calendar.
The special sweet Easter cake is cooked. The Easter cakes are on sale in all bakeries and supermarkets.
On Easter days, people usually visit their relatives and friends with presents. They say traditional greeting: "Christ has risen!", the answer is "Indeed is risen!" and all kissing three times.
Special for this day, all people prepare the colored or covered with drawings eggs - pisanka.
Some of pisanka are masterpieces and are kept in the museums of folk arts.
There is the beautiful, unique museum of pisanka in the Western part of Ukraine, in the small city Kolomia. Different areas of Ukraine have different style of pisanka (Easter eggs)
Also the day off in Ukraine is the Day of Troitsa (Pentecost). For this day homes are adorned with fresh green branches. Girls often make garlands of birch branches and flowers to put into water for fortune-telling.
This day is celebrated on the Orthodox calendar and always celebrated on Sunday, the next day, Monday, is a day off too.
On the last weekend before the Lent (on Orthodox calendar) Ukrainians celebrate the Pancake Day (Maslyanitsa). As in Russia, it is folk tradition to meet the Spring and to cook the pancakes, as the symbol of sun. We eat them with all possible stuff: meat, or cottage cheese, or sour cream and butter, or caviar. It is usually the special open-air merrymaking. Also, it is the home party.
Jews and Muslims also celebrate their feasts without fear of secular authorities.
Etiquette in Ukraine (just some advices)
- Should you be invited to a Ukrainian home for dinner - be assured that you will get the best of what's on hand and plenty of it. Ukrainian people are famed for their hospitality and love to invite people over in order to thoroughly stuff them.
When invited to a Ukrainian's apartment for a dinner party, it is appropriate to bring something along, usually alcohol (bottle of good wine or champagne), cake and perhaps flowers for the hostess.
- If there are children in this family - a small gift for the child is always appropriate.
- Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering a home. You will be given a pair of slippers (tapochki) to help keep the apartment clean. All families have some pairs of slippers especially for visitors.
- Drinks are usually preceded by toasts (sometimes taking the form of long speeches) and much glass clinking.
- Be prepared to give your toasts. An open bottle must often be finished:)
- Often the revelry lasts well into the night and can include singing and dancing until people pass-out or go home. These parties can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of your visit to Ukraine as they provide insight into the Ukrainian people and their way of life.
- Be careful in complimenting something in Ukrainian home. Your host may offer it to you!! Especially, after the good dinner with alcohol!
- If you buying flowers for your lady, make sure the number of flowers is odd; even number of flowers is for funerals.
- On public transportation give your seat to mothers with children, the old or infirm. People will admire you. Especially your lady!!
- Men should offer to carry the parcels of women, they are accompanying.
- When you are sitting in the metro or on the bus, don't let your feet even come close to the seat.
- When passing through the aisles in a theater or elsewhere, it is polite to face the people sitting down.
- Offer to share your cigarettes with those around you, especially, on the train or at the office. Do the same, if you are eating something. Be prepared to be offered by people around you.
- In Orthodox Churches women wear scarves or hats, and men take off their hats.
- Death and the Afterlife. Ukrainians observe ancient funeral traditions very faithfully.
A collective repast follows funeral services and is repeated on the ninth and fortieth days and then again at six and twelve months.
An annual remembrance day called Provody on the Sunday after Easter gathers families at ancestral graves to see off once again the souls of the departed. Provody is widely observed in contemporary Ukraine. Under the Soviets it symbolized an ancient tradition. Its Christian symbolism represents Christ's victory over death. Its pre-Christian roots are attuned to the rebirth of nature in the spring and to an ancient ancestors' cult.
Some Superstitions
- single girl will never sit at the corner of the table, because it is considered that she will not get married during 7 years
- Do not whistle inside or you will whistle away your money.
- Don't repay loans in the evening. :)
- If someone gives good wishes, or you talk about your good fortune, you must spit three times over your left shoulder and knock on wood to keep your good fortune.
- If you see the black cat crossing your way before you - you must spit three times over your left shoulder not to loose your luck.
- It's a bad luck if you accedentally scatter salt on the table, floor, etc. It means you'll have a fight or a quarrel with somebody that day. To avoid it, you'll need to take a pinch of salt and scatter it over your left shoulder. Repeat it three times. :)
- Before leaving on a long trip, sit quietly for two minutes.
- It is considered a bad luck to return to your house after you've already left. (if you forgot something, etc.) But it is possible to reduce this bad effect by glancing in the mirror. :)
- If you leave something behind in Ukraine, it means you are coming back!
For more questions, please, feel free
to contact at
info@encounter.kiev.ua
