47 Best Sights in Ukraine

Near Grafskaya Quay, on the square named after the famous Russian admiral, this bronze statue was inaugurated in 1959. Nakhimov was an outstanding naval commander and one of the chief defenders of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, when he was killed. These days, newlywed couples lie down bouquets here on their wedding day.

About 1 km (⅓ mi) east of Alupka, behind a little cluster of market stalls, is the cable car that swings you up the side of Mount Ai-Petri. The truly breathtaking ride goes across the foothills and up the mountain's sheer face, offering unobstructed views of the coast and the sea. The course of the chairlift begins quayside and then travels 1,233 meters up the mountain in about 10 minutes; it's a short but very dramatic ride. As you go up, you'll be able to see the elegant dome of St. Alexander Nevsky cathederal.

This is one of the oldest aquariums in the world, dating from 1897, and the only aquarium in the Ukraine. More than 180 different sea creatures are on display here.

Odessa's Archeological Museum is one of the oldest in Ukraine, founded in 1825. Its purpose was to carry out excavations in the northern Black Sea region and preserve its history. More than 160,000 exhibits make up one of the largest collections related to the Black Sea. Some exhibits have information in English.

No trip around the city is complete without a visit to Arkadia, the heart of Odessa's nightlife and beach scene in the summer months. Above the beach, the patios of dozens of themed restaurant, bars, and clubs provide shady spots from which to people-watch and take in the scenery. This is a good place to go if you want to try local seafood.

The Kherson area's star attraction, Askania-Nova was among Europe's first wildlife reserves, dating back to the late 19th century when a local baron began importing exotic animals from around the world to live on his property in the Tavrian steppes. Today, this 520-acre park is home to zebras, wild horses, African and South Asian varieties of antelope, and a huge array of birds, from flamingos to emus. It’s a 90-minute drive from Kherson and the best time to spot animals is in the height of summer.

You can view ship models as well as naval mementos in this museum dedicated to Russia's navy, which had a historically important base here. The museum was a direct result of the scuttling of the entire fleet in Sevastpol's harbor during the Crimean War.

The Odessa Catacombs are a vast, multilevel network of tunnels, the result of stone mining for the construction of Odessa city. To explore the underground part of Odessan history, you'll have to make the trip to the Catacomb Museum (a.k.a. "the Museum of Partisan Glory") in Nerubayskoye, and do so on a guided tour. Just outside the city, the museum tells how during World War II the Ukrainian partisans used these tunnels as a base from which to attack the occupying Nazi troops. Fagot Agency (Rishelievska 4,) offers a guided excursion to the catacombs, which should be booked a day in advance. The Museum shows only a fragment of the underground maze. Many "wild" sections have become a destination for adventure tourists. Touring of the catacombs on your own can be very dangerous.

The Russian playwright Anton Chekhov was drawn to Yalta for the air, which was said to be beneficial for his tuberculosis. He designed both the house and garden and produced a great deal of his literary output here (including the The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters).

About 200 meters south on Primorskiy Boulevard from the Potyomkin Steps will bring you to a historic building, which is currently Odessa's City Hall (a former Stock Exchange). It is in front of a monument to Alexander Pushkin, who is considered by many to be Russia's greatest poet, who spent 13 months in Odessa. Every hour, the clock above the entrance plays the melody "Odessa, My Town".

This famous street has been featured in thousands of books, films, and songs and remains one of the most celebrated in Ukraine. Odessites are passionate about Deribasovskaya, and a trip downtown cannot be complete without spending at least an hour strolling or people-watching from one of its many cafés. Each year, Deribasovksaya gets more beautiful and, of course, more crowded with tourists as the secret gets out.

Engineering enthusiasts and history buffs will likely be impressed by this 2,625-foot-long, 200-foot-high generating station, the largest hydropower station on the Dnieper. Built in the 1920s and ‘30s, the dam was dynamited by the Red Army in 1941 as Germany invaded the Soviet Union, and was again blown up by Nazi troops only a couple of years later. It was rebuilt after the war, when its older generators were replaced with more powerful versions. You can also use the dam to cross the river, on foot or by car.

The historic quay on Nakhimov square offers a lovely greeting to those arriving by sea and is an important architectural monument in its own right. Built in June 1783, it was created from masonry stones. It was further improved in 1787 in honor of a visit by the Russian Empress Ekaterina II, when the quay was equipped with modern amenities and when white marble columns where added. Two lions on the column are said to preserve the calmness of the city.

Also known by its English name—the Monastery for the Caves—this 11th-century monastery complex houses both a huge cultural museum and an active monastery. The monastery is easily recognizable on the Kiev skyline thanks to its gilded dome-topped bell towers and churches, most of which were built (or rebuilt) in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it's the monastery's labyrinthine subterranean cave system—full of narrow passageways and even a few mummified monks—that most visitors write home about. The lavra also houses one of the largest museum collections in the city, featuring religious items, books, and textiles.

This incredibly beautiful toy-town building, which stands on the very edge of a 40-meter cliff, is a favorite subject of Crimean postcards. Commissioned by the German Baron von Steinheil, it was designed and built by the Ukranian architect Leonid Sherwood between 1911 and 1912 in the style of a medieval castle. It overlooks the Black Sea and is situated near the remains of an ancient Roman fortress dating from the 1st to 3rd century AD. It's now operated as a tourist restaurant.

Originally established as a fruit orchard in the 18th century, Globa Park today is one of Dnepropetrovsk's top spots for outdoor recreation in the mild summer months. It's right near the city center and has plenty of bars and cafés for people watching along with jogging trails, a basketball court, rides, playgrounds, and even a children's train. There's also a lake with resident swans and lots of grassy areas for spreading out a picnic.

The summer residence of Russia's Czar Nicolas II was built in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There are 60 buildings in the complex, the centerpiece of which is the aristocratic Great Palace, built in Italian Renaissance style with Byzantine, Gothic, and Arabic architecture elements. The famous Yalta Conference of 1945 took place here, during which Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin completed plans for Germany's defeat. The palace has a shop, a café, and a church.

This avenues of this park are shaded by chestnut, acacia, and cypress trees. During World War II, it came under particularly heavy German bombardments that left virtually no living thing in the park. Many monuments and statues here are dedicated to great sacrifices of that war. There's also a museum here. The park is about 20 minutes from the City Center by public transportation.

One of the most striking architectural constructions in the Crimea, this palace was completed by Czar Alexander III in 1889 and later became Stalin's summer dacha. The Massandra wine collection contains about million bottles of famous wines from all over the world, while the estate's winery produces its own vintages. You can view the palace's paintings and antique furniture collection, stroll through the surrounding park land, and taste some marvelous wines from the Massandra cellars.

The largest Jewish community center in the world, the Menorah Center is a stunning modern structure designed to resemble a menorah, with seven towers and a total floor plan of around 50,000 square meters. The center was designed to encourage the revival of Dnepropetrovsk's Jewish community, through religion, culture, and business. Features include a conference center and two hotels, along with a number of restaurants, banquet halls. The symmetrical structure is also home to the Jewish Memory and Holocaust in Ukraine Museum, which chronicles Judaism in the Ukrainian context along with a large section on the Holocaust.

One of the most famous monuments of Sevastopol, this column, which stands on an artificial rock among the waves, was the state emblem of the city in the Soviet times. It commemorates the scuttling of the Russian Navy (so that the ships would not fall into enemy hands and so that they would block entry into the harbor) after a year-long siege by French and British troops during the Crimean War. On top of the column is a bronze, two-headed eagle holding a laurel wreath in its beak.

The gardens were first laid out by Christian Steven, a Russian botanist (Swede by birth) in 1812. This superb example of architectural landscaping is also the largest scientific-research establishment in southern Ukraine and a nature reserve. The garden covers a few square kilometers of hillside all the way to the shore and is a home to 25,000 species of plants. The park is divided into 4 different sections, including an extensive rose garden and a garden of subtropical plants.

This 57-acre riverside park is one of Zaporoshe's most popular green spaces, and plays host to concerts and festivals in summer. There are also shops, cafes, and plenty of activities for children, including pony rides, playgrounds, and carnival rides.

Housed in Russian poet Alexander Pushkin’s old apartment, the museum pays homage to his short 13-month stay in Odessa, where he lived after being exiled from Russia in 1823. The museum features original manuscripts penned by the poet alongside a few mementos, paintings, and English-language descriptions. A small statue of Pushkin stands in front of the building.

Founded in 1977, the museum was opened to the public in 1984. It occupies a 19th century palace built by the architect Ludwig Otton. The collections located in 24 halls utilize real historical objects to trace the history of literary Odessa. More than 300 writers are represented.

Trained dolphins and fur seals put on a show several times daily at this open-air performance pool.

Visitors wanting a little respite from Kremenchug's industrial surrounds will appreciate the greenery at Park Mira, a popular spot for strolling, jogging, and picnicking in the summer, or sledding in the wintertime. The park is home to an open-air display of military equipment, including cannons and planes, and there's a hilltop gazebo offering panoramic views of the city.

The World War II memorial called "Alley of Glory" was constructed here in 1961. This is where you'll find the graves of the fighters who liberated Odessa from the Nazis and a monument to the Unknown Sailor with its eternal flame, not to mention a monument to Taras Shevchenko, the poet after whom the park was named. The large park covers 225 acres overlooking the Black Sea. It dates to the 19th century and was once an artillery battery.

Constructed in 1905, the cathedral was virtually destroyed during World War II, along with most of the rest of Sevastopol. It was partially restored and until 1962 remained a church. After, it was turned into a gymnasium and city archive. In 1992, the northern part of the cathedral was returned to church control and was re-consecrated in the name of great martyr Pantelejmon. It remains a worthy example of Orthodox architecture and is worth seeing (even though it seems to be undergoing a never-ending renovation).

This open-air museum, a branch of the local history museum, contains more than 200 statues of Ukrainian, Russian, and Western fairy-tale characters. Crimean artists, wood carvers, and stonecutters created the pieces. You can stroll among the sculptures when visiting the nearby zoo.