Because it is one of Europe's largest, oldest and least-explored countries — a land of golden-domed cities, Habsburg old towns, the Black Sea coast and the Carpathian mountains, with a culture of extraordinary depth and a cuisine, led by borsch, now recognised by UNESCO. Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa are great European cities in their own right. It is, however, a country at war: travel advisories currently apply and must be checked and respected before any visit is considered.

Is it safe to travel to Ukraine right now?

Travellers must consult current government advice before making any plans. Ukraine is at war, with air-raid alerts and security risks across the country; many governments advise against all or all-but-essential travel at the time of writing, and travel insurance and normal tourist infrastructure may be limited or unavailable. We celebrate Ukraine as a great European nation and list it for the future and for those with essential reasons to travel, but it is not at present a conventional leisure destination. Your government's latest advisory must take precedence.

What is Ukraine known for?

Its golden-domed heritage and its resilience above all. Kyiv's Saint Sophia Cathedral and Pechersk Lavra are UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Lviv's old town and the wooden churches of the Carpathians are too. Beyond that, Ukraine is known for its black-earth farmland — long the breadbasket of Europe — its embroidery and folk traditions, its literature and music, the Black Sea port of Odesa, and a rich food culture from borsch and varenyky to a confident modern restaurant scene.

Which cities should you visit in Ukraine?

Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa are the three great draws in ordinary times. Kyiv, the capital, offers the golden-domed cathedrals, the Maidan and a vibrant creative quarter; Lviv, in the west, is the romantic, café-filled cultural heart with a UNESCO old town; and Odesa, on the Black Sea, brings grand architecture and seaside character. The Carpathian Mountains add hiking and skiing. At present, though, any itinerary is governed by the security situation rather than by sightseeing, and official advice must come first.

Boutique Hotels in Ukraine - Kyiv & Lviv Heritage Stays

The country and its cities

Most journeys begin in Kyiv, the capital on the hills above the Dnipro — a city of golden domes and grand boulevards, home to the UNESCO-listed Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, the Monastery of the Caves, alongside a fierce modern creative and culinary energy. It is the natural starting point, and the place the club lists its Ukrainian hotel.

Beyond the capital, the country opens out. Lviv, near the western border, is the cultural soul of Ukraine — a beautifully preserved old town of Habsburg façades, coffee houses and churches, with a UNESCO-listed centre and a romance all its own. South lies Odesa, the great Black Sea port, with its grand opera house, its sweeping Potemkin Steps and a famously freewheeling spirit; and in the far south-west rise the Carpathian Mountains, a region of wooden churches, hiking trails, ski slopes and Hutsul folk traditions. Between them stretch the historic towns of the centre and the wide agricultural plains that long made Ukraine the breadbasket of Europe. It is a country of real scale and variety, with a depth of history and landscape that repays the curious traveller.

Ukrainian culture is generous and singular, nowhere more than at the table: borsch, the beetroot soup now recognised by UNESCO as Ukrainian cultural heritage; varenyky dumplings; salo and dark bread; and a wave of young chefs reinventing it all. For where to stay, the club's choice is in the heart of the capital: 11 Mirrors, a design-driven hotel near Kyiv's Golden Gate, founded by the boxer Wladimir Klitschko, with a panoramic restaurant and rooftop over the city.