Berlin
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
The capital of Germany has always been a popular travel destination from Ukraine but now it's even more in demand thanks to cheap flights offered by WizzAir. Those who had never visited Berlin might be interested in exploring its rocky 20th-century history first: visit the famous Holocaust memorial, the Berlin Wall memorial with numerous graffitis and the Brandebourg Gate that symbolizes the unity of Berlin post-Cold War.
Lovers of art often visit Museum Island - the UNESCO heritage site that encompasses five museums located on Spree Island in the Mitte borough. The same borough is also a nice choice for long walks in the Tiergarten - the city's most popular park and one of the largest in Germany. Alexanderplatz, the former heart of East Berlin, is now a big transportation and shopping hub with a view on the iconic Fernsehturm TV tower.
As for the must-try foods, meat schnitzel, currywurst, döner kebab and Berliner donuts can be found in nearly any corner of the city, just like the iconic German beer. TripAdvisor offers Mercure Hotel MOA Berlin, Radisson Blu Hotel, Select Hotel Berlin The Wall, Leonardo Royal Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz and Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz as the most popular hotels in Berlin in 2019. Non-stop flights from Kyiv to Berlin are operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air and Ukraine International Airlines. The price for a round trip starts at UAH 2000.
Copenhagen
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
Thanks to the low-cost flights, the capitals of Ukraine and Denmark are now more securely connected and regularly experience a growing flow of tourists from both sides. The fairy-tale-like looking Copenhagen is larger than Polish Wroclaw, yet managed to preserve the same cozy vibe. One more similarity with Wroclaw is the colorful row of houses on Nyhavn that attracts tourists and photographers.
Families with kids often come here to spend a day in the Tivoli Gardens — the second oldest operating amusement park in the world, visited by Walt Disney himself. Fans of royal history appreciate architectural landmarks like Amalienborg, which is the 18th-century rococo complex of palaces, or Rosenborg Castle, which hosts the crown jewels and has a large garden on its premises.
Copenhagen is rich in street food: you will find everything from hot-dogs and burgers to the authentic open sandwich smørrebrød, frikadeller and, of course, a variety of seafood. Absalon Hotel, Andersen Boutique Hotel, Ibsens Hotel, Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers and Hotel Kong Arthur are in demand in 2019 according to TripAdvisor. Ukraine International Airlines and Wizz Air offer direct flights from Kyiv to Copenhagen. The price starts at UAH 2200 with Wizz Air and UAH 3100 with UIA.
Tallinn
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
The Baltic Sea had been one of the most desirable travel destinations during the Soviet Union. Nowadays, Estonia and neighboring countries shook off the USSR past but still preserved the unhurried European vibe. Tallinn has numerous preserved ancient monuments like the 13th-century St Mary's Cathedral, Toompea Castle built over the 9th-century citadel, and the famous 15th-century defensive tower Kiek in de Kök.
Those who enjoy Orthodox architecture might be interested in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral located in the Tallinn Old Town. The church was built in 1900 and designed by Mikhail Preobrazhensky to resemble the classic Orthodox churches. The 12th-century St. Olaf’s Church dates back to another period of Tallinn's past when the medieval church has been the center of the local Scandinavian community.
Estonian cuisine is full of seafood - whitefish, perch and Baltic herring are one of the most popular picks in restaurants. Rye bread is also served almost everywhere, as it's essential to local cuisine. Estonian Kvass is also a product made of rye bread - this fermented beverage is popular in Ukraine as well.
The most popular hotels include Swissotel Tallinn, Radisson Blu Hotel Olumpia, Hestia Hotel Europa, Hotel Telegraaf and Hilton Tallinn Park. The city's Old Town is also filled with numerous hostels and Airbnb offers apartments for tourists. The most convenient way to get to Tallinn is book one of the two non-stop flights Kyiv-Tallinn operated by Wizz Air and LOT airlines. The round trip starts at UAH 3000 with Wizz Air and UAH 7000 with LOT.
Krakow
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
The magical Krakow is located near the Czech-Polish border and is among the most-visited cities in Poland. Some state that Krakow is, essentially, the personification of Poland due to its medieval vibe and relaxed rhythm of life. Krakow's 13th-century large Main Square is the heart of the city. No matter where you turn from here, you will be surrounded by numerous landmarks like churches, palaces, and parks.
The city's small size is convenient for a walking tour: check out the main religious and architectural gems like the coronation site of Polish royals, the Wawel Cathedral, and the St. Mary's Basilica with a prominent Gothic watchtower. Kazimierz neighborhood is the place to seek for unique souvenirs and trendy bars: the Jewish quarter is nowadays home for local artists and talented bartenders. Krakow has a pretty strong beer scene, so local breweries like Ursa Maior are full of discoveries to be made.
As for the food, try the famous pierogies, kielbasa, and potato pancakes. The most popular Krakow hotels on TripAdvisor in 2019 are Betmanowska Main Square Residence, Topolowa Residence, Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow, ibis Krakow Centrum and PURO Krakow Kazimierz. Like many cities in Poland, Krakow supports Airbnb. WizzAir offers cheap flights to Krakow from Kyiv starting from UAH 2000. The prices fluctuate depending on the date. Ryanair also offers a non-stop Kyiv-Krakow flight with tickets that cost UAH 1680 and higher.
Vienna
Посмотреть эту публикацию в Instagram
The capital of Austria is a quite logical tourist destination from Lviv, given the strong historical ties between the two cities. Vienna is known as the city of intellectuals, art, and royalty. The legacy of Mozart and Beethoven is carefully preserved here and cherished nowadays. The Vienna State Opera and the gorgeous National Library attract visitors, whether they want to see just the architecture or attend the performances or read in silence.
Due to the distances in the city, it's better to take the car to look at everything in Vienna if you're staying for one day: the chief landmarks are located in a 10-minute drive from each other. Pop by the 18th-century rococo Schönbrunn Palace and the same-century Karlskirche, the main church in Vienna. MuseumsQuartier is one of the largest cultural areas of the world, hosting 60 cultural institutions. Families with kids will appreciate Prater park that hides an amusement park and a Ferris wheel. You can enjoy long walks in the open-air Stadtpark or visit the Desert house - a tropical paradise in the Vienna Botanical Garden.
Wiener Schnitzel, goulash, Sachertorte, and, of course, apple strudel are the classic dishes to search in the local restaurants and cafes. Vienna has numerous historic hotels to stay in - for instance, Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel, Austria Classic Hotel Wien, Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier Wien, Hotel Josefshof am Rathaus and The Ritz-Carlton. Airbnb is also a popular option among tourists that come to Vienna. Vienna is a quite popular flight destination from Ukraine. Thus, Ryanair, Austrian Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines and Wizz Air all offer non-stop flights from Kyiv to Vienna. The prices start at UAH 1200 for a round trip and fluctuate depending on the season.
Cover photo: unsplash.com.
Read Also
