7 Stunning Cities That Embody Ukrainian Culture

Ukrainian Culture

Up until a few weeks ago, many people didn’t even know where Ukraine was on the map. Now, we see it non-stop in most news and social media outlets.

Unfortunately, all the videos and pictures we see are of a war-ridden country in the middle of collapsing, which is why we wanted to take the time and look beyond all the gruesome images to uncover what’s underneath.

Ukraine has a rich history and a one-of-a-kind culture, reflected in a series of historical sites. It has beautiful modern cities and cozy small towns. Not to mention, traditional villages. It offers many natural attractions, including magnificent mountains, canyons, forests, rivers, and lakes.

The national parks in Ukraine are home to many different unique species, some of which you won’t find anywhere else in the world. There’re even seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in this stunning country!

With that in mind, rather than focus on the rubble that seems to be building up, we went on a hunt to find the most beautiful cities that embody Ukrainian culture. Keep reading to see what we found!

Hint: Number 5 should be on your radar!

Lviv

If you look up this city today, you’ll find many photos of chaos and refugees fleeing. But behind all that, Lviv has a reputation for being one of the most gorgeous cities in Ukraine.

Its historical downtown is among the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, and if you look at it even in the photos, it’s not hard to see why.

It’s full of Magnificent cathedrals, intriguing museums, narrow cobblestone streets, as well as many cozy restaurants and small boutiques, where you can buy some lovely souvenirs for your loved ones.

It all creates a uniquely charming atmosphere and makes any visitor fall in love with this city and its beautiful residents right away, it’s what Ukrainian culture is all about!

Odessa

While this beautiful Ukrainian city holds its breath, awaiting an attack, your own breath will be taken away if you see the many sights it has to offer!

Odessa has one of the largest seaports in Ukraine, and it offers several amazing beaches where you would get away for a summer adventure. But the city wasn’t only about its seaside.

Its architecture attracted many tourists all year round, so it became a tourist attraction even for those who weren’t into lying on the beach.

Meanwhile, Odessa’s Opera House is the second-largest in the world, right after La Scala in Milan. It was built in the 19th century, and it may remind you of the Opera House in Vienna for a reason: The same Austrian architectural studio designed it!

Kamianets-Podilskyi

It’s ok if you can’t pronounce this next one, neither can we! Kamianets-Podilskyi is one of the oldest Ukrainian cities. It was first officially mentioned in the 12th century, but the precise year of its foundation is believed to go even further.

The city’s main attraction is its grand fortress that silently witnesses all the events happening across the centuries. It stands on the island majestically, encircled by a river and surrounded by a canyon.

If you were to take a walk inside the fort during the day and see its illumination in the evening, you would be left in awe. But Kamianets-Podilskyi isn’t only about this fortress, however magnificent it is. The city itself is mesmerizing with all of its historical buildings and modern murals.

Chernivtsi

Harry Potter fans, rejoice! If you ever get the chance to go to Ukraine, you can actually visit a castle that looks exactly like Hogwarts. In fact, one can even study in this castle if they chose to.

The magnificent site you see in the photo above happens to be the former Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans, and now it’s the main campus of the University of Chernivtsi, the most prominent Ukrainian University.

If you were to take a walk inside and along the territory, you could stroll through the buildings and see all the intricate designs of the castle.

Just imagine how it would feel to study inside one of the UNESCO World Heritage Objects. Behind the castle’s complex, you would also find an enormous park, where you’d enjoy taking a walk or sitting on a bench enjoying a picnic.

Kyiv

Unfortunately, this Ukrainian city needs no introduction due to all the media coverage it has gotten lately. But the reality is that the capital of Ukraine has so many thrilling places that it would be worthy of a separate article. So we’re just going to give you the highlights.

First, it’s Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven wonders of Ukraine.

Second, there’s Podil, a beautiful historic neighborhood that is known as the birthplace of Kyiv’s trade and commerce.

Third, it’s the Dnieper River, which is one of the major rivers of Europe, not to mention its numerous parks. Fourth, there’s the impressive open-air Museum of Folk Architecture, and Life called Pirogovo, located on the outskirts of Kyiv.

And we won’t even mention all the historical monuments, parks, churches, and all the rest of the Ukrainian culture worth visiting and experiencing! Now, whether any of these incredible places will still be standing by the end of the Russia-Ukraine war, we can’t say…But we sure hope they survive!

Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi

This city was mentioned for the first time in a text of the Rus’ treaty with the Byzantine Empire in the year 911. It’s located not far from Kyiv, so it would be an effortless day trip if you were visiting the Ukrainian capital.

The small city is home to several museums, and it certainly deserves its title of the city of museums, which is what locals know it as. The most remarkable one would be the open-air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, where visitors could learn more about Ukrainian culture.

There is also the Museum of Rushnyk, a traditional Ukrainian cloth used in weddings and other rituals, the Museum of Ukrainian National Dress, the Museum of Space, and even the Museum of Bread.

So if you were interested in learning more about the history and culture of this country, Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi would be the place to be!

Uzhhorod

Located near the border with Slovakia, Uzhgorod has played musical chairs with five different countries before actually becoming a Ukrainian city. Today it’s at the center of the Transcarpathia province that seems to be politically oriented towards Europe.

If you’d ever get the chance to see this city, your first stop should be Uzhgorod Castle. It’s full of various museums, where you can learn a lot about its history and take a walk through the park that surrounds the castle.

But in the city itself, you would wander along the cobblestone streets exploring, and sit and relax near the Uzh River’s banks. But, of course, Uzhgorod is just a great starting point, where you can spend a day or two before heading to one of the countless hidden mountain resorts in the Transcarpathia region.

So, what do you think? Would you ever consider visiting this country in the future? Assuming this war ended as soon as possible, the Ukrainian culture is one you should definitely experience at least once in this lifetime!

But if an overseas trip is not in the cards for you, may we suggest: The US’s 16 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns