Etiquette in Ukraine

  Etiquette in Ukraine

1. Here are a few simple rules of etiquette that may help you out of trouble or embarrassment when visiting Ukraine:

2. If invited into a family home, it is traditional to bring a gift: a bottle of wine, a cake. A bouquet of flowers is customary. If you bring flowers - make sure it is an uneven number of flowers. If there is a child in the house, it is appropriate to provide him/her with a small gift as well.

3. Do not shake hands across the threshold of a door. It is considered bad luck.

4. When shaking hands, take off your gloves!

5. Be prepared to remove your shoes upon entering a home.

6. To keep apartments or homes clean, most hosts will provide you with a pair of slippers called "tapochki". The "i" at the end of "Tapochki" is pronounced as in "hit".

7. On public transportation give up your seat to mothers with children, the elderly or the infirm.

8. At the entrance of upscale restaurants, expect that a coatroom attendant will check your coat, briefcase or baggage.

9. When eating dinner at someone's home, casual dress is recommended.

10. Be ready to give toasts at dinner, for guests are often asked to do so.

11. Offer to share your snacks and cigarettes with those around you.

12. Be prepared to accept all food and drink offered you when visiting friends or relatives. Ukrainians are known for their generous hospitality when it comes to feeding others. Turning down food may be considered rude.

13. For business, dress should be conservative. Men should not take off their jacket unless asked to do so.

14. In Orthodox churches women wear scarves or hats, and men take off their hats.

15. Don't put your thumb between your first two fingers -this is a very rude gesture. It's called "Doolya" and has been used as a symbol of defiance against Ukraine's invaders and oppressors for centuries. If you feel you must make this gesture, be certain your hand remains hidden in your pocket!

Temperature differences in Ukraine/best time to travel to Ukraine                                                                                                                           

If you are going to travel to Ukraine, take clothes which are appropriate for the season. An umbrella, a raincoat and good walking shoes are also suggested.                                                                                                                                              

Average temperatures in Ukraine: April – 10°C or 50°F, May – 15-21°C or 60-70°F, June – 21°C or 70°F, July and August – 27°C or 80°F. However, for the last several years we have experience the increase of average temperatures by 5°C or 10°F in these months, though winters have become unusually cold.

Money/Credit cards/ATMs in Ukraine

Ukraine is still most a cash economy. Credit cards are gaining wider acceptance in larger cities, so if you travel to Ukraine to Kiev or Kharkov, or Odessa , you will find places that accept your VISA, while in shops and restaurants you still can pay only in local currency - grivna. Use of credit cards is limited to the better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores. American Express, MasterCard, and Visa are commonly accepted.

You can take cash from your card in many ATMs in all large cities and towns of Ukraine. Be prepared to pay a service charge of up to 3 percent. There is a daily limit for withdrawing cash in ATMs, so you may need to visit a bank’s department – bring your passport with you. We do not recommend taking Travellers Checks because of the time involved cashing them at banks and the service fees that such institutions impose. If you are visiting Ukraine for first time and are not so sure getting around, you can hire interpreter in Kharkov from our company, see details here, our experienced and friendly Kharkov interpreters will happily help you to go to Kharkov bank, find nearest store, assist you in your personal or business meetings.                                                                                                                            

Be sure to carry an ample supply of grivna with you, as almost all stores do not accept foreign currency for purchases. Exchange booths are plentiful, just watch for signs with black numbers and icons for currencies. One should avoid exchanging currency with individuals on the street. It is illegal and dangerous.

Important Tip on bills! Be sure your U.S. dollar bills or Euros are clean and not wrinkled, free of marks and tears and not worn out too much. Even tiny magic marker strokes used by many North American banks can be cause for refusal to accept your bills in exchange booths. Also do not pay for your apartment or interpreter in worn out bills – later it is difficult or not possible to exchange such into grivna. 

Personal checks do not yet exist in Ukraine.

Personal Safety while travelling in Ukraine

People who plan to visit Ukraine, often ask: “Is it safe to travel to Ukraine?” We can answer that while traveling around Ukraine you should protect yourself as you would in any other country. As to Kharkov, it is a very safe and calm city, but of course you should not “seek for adventures”. Use your common sense, always.

You can leave your passport, declaration form, airline tickets, any other official forms and cash in your flat for rent, or carry them in an inside pocket or a money belt under your clothing while walking along Kharkov, but not in an outward pocket of your clothes.

To be on the safe side, make a copy of your passport and airline tickets and keep one copy in your luggage and one copy with yourself.

Do not carry large amounts of money with yourself and try not to go out at night alone, rather go out in a group. If you go to a night club in Kharkov or bar alone, it’s better not to drink with suspicious strangers.

Medical facilities in Ukraine

Medical care in Ukraine has been improved over past several years a lot. The availability of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics has improved as well. If you have cold or flu or hurt your finger, call Ukraine interpreter and have her go to Kharkov pharmacy with you. Your interpreter can translate to the pharmacist what your symptoms are and what you need. In Ukraine more medications are sold in pharmacies than in USA without doctor’s prescription. But of course some things still lag behind Western health care standards. Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Foreign medical insurance is not always valid for Ukraine. Before coming to Ukraine check with your insurance company if you are covered while travelling to Ukraine. Maybe you will need to buy supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage.

Food/restaurants in Ukraine – What to eat in Ukraine

Public catering has been a growing industry in Ukraine. In such large cities as Kiev or Kharkov you will find many nice restaurants, cafes and fast foods, including national cuisine. Kharkov is a wonderful site to experience good quality local food, which most will find inexpensive (average meal in café  would cost $10-20 per person, restaurant - $30-60 per person). There are some more expensive places of course, but in general Kharkov dining is cheaper than Kiev and Odessa. (Another advantage to travel to Kharkov ! :) But be aware of the cost of wines in Ukraine restaurants and always look for the price for wine – sometimes it can happen that a waiter would suggest you a very expensive wine. French and European wines are often overpriced in Ukrainian restaurants.

Alcohol/cost of beverages in Ukraine

In Kharkov strong drinks are cheap and easy to buy. They are available on sale in Kharkov supermarkets, stalls, bars, restaurants, at markets, and in specialized shops. You shouldn’t buy strong drinks for cheap prices in stalls as they have bad quality. In Kharkov shops you can buy Ukrainian strong drinks, and this will not be a forgery. In Kharkov bars and restaurants drinks would cost much above retail price.

Note that now it’s forbidden to drink strong drinks out of glass bottles outdoors. The bottles should be in packets when you stroll downtown Kharkov streets.

And please do not forget that you must not drive a car in a state of intoxication. If you are stopped by a road patrol, you will be fined for much money or your license will be withdrawn. The police in Ukraine are rather intolerant to drunk drivers, so you’d better take a taxi.

Public restrooms in Ukraine

Free of charge restrooms in Kharkov are practically not available, most of public restrooms located in center of Kharkov, around Svobody square and Shevchenko central park of Kharkov. In the outskirts of Kharkov you will hardly find restrooms. Under all restaurants, bars, clubs there are free restrooms, in which is supported shining purity and freshness, and you can always ask permission to use them.

Operation hours/holidays in Ukraine

Workday in state-opened and private Ukrainian companies usually begins at 9.00-10.00am and ends at 18.00, some shops may work till 19.00-20.00, with dinner break at 13.00-14.00 or 14.00-15.00, the days off are Saturday and Sunday. Most of Ukraine banks are open for visitors from 9.00 till 16.00, days off - Saturday, Sunday.

There also exists at a booking office box such a notion as "technical break" for 15 min., which can happen each 2-3 hours. What they need it for nobody knows. And if your queue has come exactly to the time the "technical break" begins, you will not be served. You will have either to wait till the break ends or occupy a queue in other pay-desk, but there is probability that your new queue will come to exactly the same technical break there.

Rent Car and driver in Ukraine

In Ukraine it is cheaper to hire a car and driver than a rent-a-car in a car rental company. Your Ukrainian driver knows all ins and outs getting around Ukraine, Ukrainian road signs and practice in Ukraine roads. Also your hired driver in Ukraine is responsible for fuel, maintenance, security and most importantly he knows where he's going and can also be your Ukrainian guide and interpreter.

A car and driver may be booked through KharkovRent.Com and if you are ordering our accommodation in Kharkov services and you require a car and driver in Ukraine we will be happy to arrange it for you prior to your traveling to Ukraine.

If you are visiting Ukraine on your own then our Ukraine staff will be at your disposal whenever you need them.

Ukrainian currency

Official state currency since 1996 is hrivna. We have money bills by nominal values 1,2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 hrivnas and small change coins by nominal values 1,2,5,10,25,50 kopeeks. Payments on the territory of Ukraine are realized only in national currency (hrivnas). You may change hard currency for hrivnas at exchange booths scattered all over the city and at the banks. In order to avoid fraud and troubles, do not use services of street changers. You can get cash for your travelers checks in hotels and some banks, from cards – in ATMs. Credit cards are taken for payment in large hotels, restaurants, shops.

Ukraine: a prosperous country or a “third-world country”?

Transition to market economy in Ukraine has appeared highly painful for the average Ukrainian and the country as a whole. Average Kharkovite gets today $150-300 a month. State-owned enterprises quite often delay paying salary. Economic world crisis is worsened in Ukraine by inner political crisis of Ukraine government. Those retired on pension get $100/month. So, the Ukrainians have to do something to live on such small salary. In many places you may see people, selling newspapers, cigarettes, various trifles in order to earn some money. There are a lot of beggars on the streets. But this is sooner their work and not real necessity. Alongside with this, a lot of private, joint companies are being opened, giving additional working places, and you may observe more and more well – off people, especially in large cities, like Kiev or Kharkov. Ukrainian image as of a poor country is not a complete truth any more, first of all it refers to educated layers of society.