As most of Ukrainians celebrate the holiday in January, it is relatively easy to find last-minute tickets and hotel rooms for Dec. 25. As the holidays approach, the Kyiv Post suggests nearby destinations that provide a nice atmosphere for a brief Christmas getaway.
The western Ukrainian city of Lviv is an obvious top choice for the celebrations. Ukraine’s historical heart, Lviv, offers marvelous architecture from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city is also heaven for foodies. Its narrow, paved streets host dozens of themed restaurants and cozy coffee and pastry shops.
This holiday season, a Christmas tree will be installed in a square near the magnificent Opera House, while Rynok Square will host a nativity scene. The holiday plan includes caroling, various workshops, and music performances that will take place throughout the city center.
An annual Christmas fair will run through to Jan. 19 in the heart of Lviv, offering various gifts and tasty treats. The fair is open every day from noon till 10 p.m, and on holidays and weekends from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.
How to get to Lviv: A second class Intercity train ticket for Dec. 23 is available for Hr 284. First class is Hr 460. The train gets to Lviv in five hours. A two-way flight is around Hr 2,300-3,000.
Where to stay: Lviv isn’t lacking in hotels. Plenty of options are available for Dec. 24, from a Hr 80 bed in a hostel to a presidential suite in Hotel Atlas Deluxe for Hr 5,040. An average price of Hr 1,400 per night will find a standard room for two in the very heart of the city.
Kamyanets-Podilsky is another attractive history-soaked city, located roughly 500 kilometers from Kyiv. A visit to see its mysterious centuries-old carved stone makes for a very special Christmas celebration. For many centuries Kamyanets-Podilsky was the cultural and political capital of Podillya, the central-western part of Ukraine. Now it is a popular tourists’ spot with a medieval castle being the main attraction.
Kamyanets-Podilsky is called a city of seven cultures, but Poles and Armenians had most influence on its architecture. The cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and the City Hall building are popular places of interest.
Christmas celebrations here start on Dec. 19 and will be themed after Cossacks culture. A spoof sich, traditional Cossacks fortification, will be installed in the Old Town. The festivities include horse riding, archery and traditional food tastings.
The city’s must-see, the Kamyanets-Podilsky Castle, is open to visitors from Tuesday till Sunday on 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Entrance tickets are Hr 20.
How to get to Kamyanets-Podilsky: The Dec. 23 afternoon train from Kyiv is just Hr 93. The train arrives in 6.5 hours.
Where to stay: A standard room in a central hotel is around Hr 550 per night. Plenty of rooms are available for Dec. 24 at www.booking.com.
Slavske ski resort in Lviv Oblast is another promising Christmas destination. This village is surrounded by three picturesque mountains suitable for skiing – Trostian, Politekh and Pohar. Rural guesthouses are the best places to experience Ukraine’s Christmas traditions and hospitality. Delicious home-made food with mushrooms and blueberry-filled desserts will add to the cozy winter atmosphere.
How to get to Slavske: A train from Lviv is just Hr 113.
Where to stay: A room for two in the local hotels and guesthouses ranges from Hr 200 to Hr 900.
For those who have money to burn and are not intimidated by crowds, there is always Bukovel – Ukraine’s best known European-style ski resort in the Carpathian Mountains. Night skiing, sauna, pubs and cafes make for a special Christmas holiday here. There are both hotels and guesthouses to stay in.
How to get to Bukovel: An overnight train from Kyiv to Ivano Frankivsk, the city closest to Bukovel, is Hr 170, but there are not many tickets left for the holiday dates. A bus from Ivano-Frankivsk to Bukovel departs from the railway station every hour and arrives in Bukovel in 2.5 hours. A car drive from Kyiv to Bukovel is about 630 kilometers.
Where to stay: Hotels in Bukovel itself are from Hr 2,000 to Hr 6,800 per night and the hotels at the bottom of this range are mostly booked. Hotels a short drive away offer rooms at Hr 500.
Odesa, Ukraine’s largest port city on Black Sea, will start celebrating on Dec. 19. The city may not have snowy scenery, but its peculiar spirit and rich infrustructure can work for a nice winter getaway, including a fair on Primorsky Boulevard and a vintage Christmas Tree on Soborna Square. At 8 a.m. on Dec. 25 all of the Odesa churches will hold a prayer service for peace in Ukraine.
How to get to Odesa: To get to Odesa by train from Kyiv on Dec. 24 will cost Hr 218. Driving to Odesa is a good alternative – it is only 475 kilometers away from Kyiv.
Where to stay. Over 200 hotels, apartments, and hostels offer rooms in Odesa for Christmas time. Standard rooms for two in the city center start at Hr 500.
Kyiv Post staff writer Oksana Torhan is available at [email protected].
