Fun things to do in Ukraine

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The most awesome experience I have had in an indoor aquapark and spa.Kiev built Europe's largest indoor aquapark and this opened nearly 2 years ago. It is fantastic with a 35metre slide and many others in varying degrees of adrenalin inducement. To also have a fantastic spa facilities here makes it just great to get you back in shape for the rigors of western life. It is part of what is making this city stand out on the map. Then to go to the Opera for a third of the price of London in the restored opera house or go for a fabulous meal for half the price of London. To be able to go and finish the night out with some top class clubbing or just chilling out. Then to go on the adventure trail with a tank or paint balling is just some of the activities but the best is to be able to walk down the Arts and crafts on Andriivs'kyi descent on a lazy Sunday afternoon from the golden domes of St Michaels .

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Kyiv is the capital city of Ukraine located in the central region of the country. Kyiv more commonly known as Kiev is a buzzing modern city with ancient churches, castles and palaces on it's door step. Kyiv is the perfect place to spend a couple of days at the end of your travels in Ukraine before departing.

If you are football fans Kyiv has two stadiums. The first is the Olympic Stadium which is the official ground of the Ukraine national football team and the second is the Lobonovsky Stadium which is home to Dynamo Kyiv.

You can get to Kyiv from any major Ukrainian city via train, bus or car.

Kiev and Odessa are both awesome. I would recommend both. Odessa is a bit better in the summer, because it's warmer, but you'll still have fun. I don't have too many recommendations on clubs, but sounds like you got that covered. Check out Andrevskiy Spusk in Kiev and the Lavra. Cool stuff. Odessa also has a really beautiful opera house. In fact, I have a post on my blog http://travelwithashley.com/ if you want more info.

If you want to be a local backpacker you shoould take a train to Przemysl (an interesting place itself) , mini bus to Medyka, cross the border as pedestrian, take marshrutka to Lviv.
Once I did also an interesting one long day trip by getting train from Ustrzyki Dolne to Hiriv (Chyrow in Polish) than by marshrutka to Sambir and Drohobycz (both off the beaten path but interesting cities) and Truskawiec (a bit symbolic spa for Poles and Ukrainians, but also once popular among Soviet Union citizens, not very unique for me). There are also frequent marshrutka (and train) service to Lviv from all of these cities.
Return to Ukrainian Karpaty mountains is my target for a near future.
There are palaces around Lviv-popular among Polish tourist,
Uzhorod is an quite interesting place at Slovakian border. it belonged to six states within last 100 years.
Kamieniec Podilski and Hotin (Chocim) strongholds are frequently visited.
Some visit Chernivtsy on Ukrainian Bucovina (close to Romania)
Krym (Crimea), Odessa, and mentioned by you Kyiv are another interesting destination.
Travelling in Ukraine was always a piece of cake for me, but the language is very similar (and even easier if someone knows Russian a bit). Locals are extremely friendly towards tourists. The rule is like in The UK- the less touristic place the more hospitable people. The public transport (especially marshrutka system) is efficient. The descent accommodation is available sometimes with lower prices than in Poland.
If you are in Lviv Folk open air museum shouldn't be missed.
For people interested in traditional culture- Hutsul area (in Ukrainian Karpaty) - shouldn't be ommited. One of famous band(for those interested in it in Poland) is Roman Kumlyk's one from Verhovyna.
Kvas as a national non-alcohol bevereage should be tasted. There were only sometimes to much fat on pirohy for me, but 'salo' is a national speciality and goes well with pertzovka s medom (hot pepper wih honey vodka) ot alternatively with usual horilka .

Read more: http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-1183-1-Travel-Ukraine-1-forum.html#ixzz1g1Zx7aQT

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If you are interested in visiting museums, why not go to those museums dedicated to the famous representatives of the Ukrainian culture:
Ivan Franko,
Lessya Ukrainka,
Nickolay Gogol.
I would also recommend other interesting things:
- going to the opera and drama theaters in the capital and in the regional centers,
- visiting arts museums and picture galleries,
- attending a concert of folk music (on the picture).

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Depending on your wishes you can visit some of the most significant places of the cultural heritage in Ukraine:
the memorial places connected with the life of
the Bard of Ukraine
Taras Shevchenko
(1814-1861)
- his birthplace in the village of Moryntsi;
- Shevchenko National Reserve in the town of Kaniv where the great poet was buried;
- the National Shevchenko Museum in the Ukrainian capital;
Christian Orthodox shrines:
- Sophia Cathedral in Kiev
(it is a state reserve now);
- Cave Monastery (Kiev Pechersk Laura) in the capital;
- Pochaiv Laura in Western Ukraine;
- other restored cathedrals, ancient temples in Chernihiv and Lviv.

Ukraine’s independent participation in the international forum of this kind is an opportunity to show the world community the country’s strategy of internal and external development, to reveal its cultural and historical heritage, its contribution to the world’s science, culture and art. This is a unique chance to demonstrate its scientific, technical and educational potential, as well as some examples of solving problems common to all mankind.

Hello Nathan,

Hello Nathan,

In Kiev the Kreshchatyk (downtown) is closed to traffic on Sunday. It is for pedestrians only and is a wonderful time to stroll and really get involved with Ukrainian life. The You can easily walk a couple of blocks up hill to tour St. Sophia, they have great tour guides in all languages) and also catch an Orthodox service at St. Michaels Cathedral (10:00 AM). The real culture of Ukraine is in their religion. From here its a wonderful walk along Andreveski to St Andrews Church, the Baroque church with the green dome, and the Artisan market. Most likely you will see a lot of wedding parties there for pictures and the traditional kiss. An alternative would be to take the tram behind St Michaels to the river. Its also very easy to take a taxi (in Ukraine just about everyone with a car is a taxi) bus or Metro to the Lavra. Its far better to have a guided tour from one of the monks there than a commercial tour director. Kiev is a beautiful city to walk around and experience the food and people.

As for Sevastopol, I would agree with the other comments. More time in the Crimea is way more interesting and fun.