Ukraine Travel Tips

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The Ukraine is an absolutely incredible country. There is so much history and so much culture, most people who go there love it. But visiting Kiev can be a bit overwhelming at first. From the huge size of the city to the giant cliffs that the city is built upon. Add the current conflict with Russia and the bustling city and you can easily be overwhelmed. So here are some tips for visiting the Ukraine.

Due to the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia, just avoid talking about anything Russian altogether. In Kiev, there are some pro-Russians, but the further west you go, the more they hate the Russians. Some Ukrainians will happily speak Russian, others are offended if you do, so learn to just avoid the Russia topic altogether and you will have a lovely experience. They also love Americans, so if you say that you are from America they will try and be your best friend.

In 2014 a huge revolution swept across the Ukraine and took place in Kiev. It eventually became a bloody revolution as the government fired upon its own people. This experience has deeply scared society and the wounds are still visible today. So before going, learn about the revolution to better understand the people and to not offend them by talking about their former leader. 

The Ukraine uses the Cyrillic alphabet, so getting around can be a bit of a challenge. Also, not everyone speaks English, so communication is limited. So learn some words in Ukrainian. The people are very nice and want to help you, so if you say a few words, they are usually overjoyed and will do what they can to help you get what you want. 

One problem in the Ukraine is that there are a lot of scams. People will find "your" wallet or jewelry on the floor and rob you. So keep your pockets closed and avoid the scams. Taking a taxi from the airport is also a challenge because they'll charge you double the price. So avoid it by just saying no thank you on the streets.