68UkraineKievCapital of a newly independentUkraine, spiritual home of theRussian people.Livadia palace, YaltaRich in atmosphere, this iswhere Stalin, Churchill andRoosevelt met to carve upEurope between them in thedying days of World War II.The CrimeaPretty coastal scenery, warmpleasant weather and many sites of cultural interest makethis one of Ukraine's mostattractive regions.321SevastopolSite of the Crimean war andhome to the Russian fleet, thiscity has a long naval history.LvivCultural capital of Ukraine, this undiscovered gem isreminiscent of Prague beforethe stag parties and touristhordes arrived.OdessaA grand, crumbling city by the sea.6541256Often overlooked as a destination,wherever you choose to travel toin this huge country you'll be richlyrewarded by experiencing a part of theworld that few people choose to go to.It has been the stage for manyhistorical events: The Yalta Conferencein World War II, when Churchill,Stalin and Roosevelt met to decide the fate of post-war Europe, washosted here, and it was the site of thefateful Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War, seared intoBritish folklore by Tennyson's poem.Culturally, Ukraine has a verve andvibrancy unique to a newlyindependent country, while historicalinfluences remain. Scenically, the BlackSea coast offers the beautiful rollingcoastline of the Crimean peninsula and the unique and precious wetlandsof the Danube river delta. Elsewhere,the countryside is dotted with castlesand pretty villages that have remainedunchanged for centuries.Coastline, CrimeaSt Andrew's Church, KievMarket square, Lviv34

Find out more For suggested itineraries and practicalinformation about travel in Ukraine, pleasesee our website.www.audleytravel.comInteractive maps and features, further suggested itineraries,accommodation, climate informationand articles written by our specialists.Discuss your plans with our Ukrainespecialists 01993 838 245?Odessa and YaltaThe southern city of Odessa on the Black Sea iswell worth a visit, offering museums, architectureand the grand spectacle of the Potemkin Steps,made famous in Eisenstein's classic film 'BattleshipPotemkin'. Further down the Black Sea coast onthe Crimean peninsula, the long-established resortof Yalta, sits between the brooding CrimeanMountains and the Black Sea. The nearby LivadiaPalace is rich in atmosphere, having hosted thefamous Yalta Conference of 1945 where Stalin,Roosevelt and Churchill decided the direction ofthe post-World War II world. Also within reachof Yalta is the town of Sevastopol - site of thekey battles of the Crimean War, as well as the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade.KievUkraine's bustling capital, Kiev, has a wealth ofhistory far greater than its current importancetoday would suggest. It is from here that theneighbouring countries of Russia and Belarusdescended, and the significance of Kiev in thehistory of art, architecture and religion of theseareas is clear in the beautiful old town andstunning churches. The 11th century St Sophia'sCathedral is an exquisite jewel, while theAndrievsky Ascent has a pretty collection of 17th and 18th century dwellings, some of whichare now small art galleries. A visit to the famousCaves Monastery is also a must - founded in1051 by Greek monks after Ukraine adoptedChristianity as its religion, this is the home of the Ukrainian and Russian orthodox churches.LvivAt various times part of Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Soviet Union, Lviv (or Lvov in Russian) is a charming, muchunderrated destination. Despite (or perhapsbecause of) this multicultural history, it is thecentre of Ukrainian culture. Unlike in Kiev, littleRussian is heard on the streets, and the city ishome to the more fervent Ukrainian nationalists.The old town is a delight to wander round, with grand old buildings reminiscent of Budapest or Prague.Ukraine69Livadia Palace, near YaltaSwallow's Nest Castle, near YaltaCaves Monastery, KievUkrainian lady with needlework, LvivAudley in UkraineUkraine is easily accessible, with direct flightslinking London and Kiev. At the time of goingto print, no visa is required for EU citizens,making arrival simple and hassle free. Oncethere, we make use of the reliable trainnetwork and domestic flights to cover thelonger distances. Ukraine can easily becombined with Russia, and a trip to 'TheThree Capitals' of Kiev, Moscow and StPetersburg is highly recommended.PracticalitiesA week in Ukraine is long enough to seeKiev and one or two other places. To seeKiev, Lviv, Odessa and Yalta, you would needat least ten days, ideally two weeks. If youwant to combine Kiev with Moscow and St Petersburg, allow at least 10 days. Kiev is a popular city with business travellers and has a reasonable range of good quality hotels,with one or two smaller boutique styleplaces. Outside of Kiev, the choice is a littlemore limited but there are more and moreplaces opening.The best time to travel in the Ukraine isspringtime, when the weather is clement andblossom is on the trees, and autumn whenthe weather is also most pleasant. Summer isenjoyable in the north, but the south can beextremely hot and the beaches crowded.