Ukraine is generally safe as a country, with the main hazard being road accidents. Rip-off scams seem much less common than in more popular destinations; people who offer to help are usually genuine. Ukraine is generally child friendly, children welcome in restaurants and visitors received warmly.

Here are some tips for people planning a visit to Ukraine. In today’s globalized world, many things are becoming assimilated, including cultures and customs. However, there are differences worth remembering that may help you better enjoy your visit to Ukraine. I sketched these suggestions mostly based on my experience with first-time visitors to Ukraine. Some of this text is based on much appreciated input from travelers who visited Ukraine in the past. If there is something I missed or misinterpreted, I appreciate your corrections and comments.

• When in Ukraine, buy and install a SIM card for your phone from a Ukrainian cell phone provider such as Kyivtsar. Voice and data plans in Ukraine are as good as anywhere but seriously cheaper compared to Western countries. For example, you can get unlimited voice and data plan in Ukraine for as low as USD 5 per month!
• Install Google Translate app on your phone. It is useful while trying to understand menus at restaurants and cafes in Ukraine. Many places now have separate English menus, but some do not. I find translating menus for people one of the greatest challenges, listing salad ingredients for example.
• Activate Geolocation feature on your phone and share your Google Maps location with your family back home. Now with your unlimited data plan and excellent cell phone coverage in Ukraine, your family back home will always know where you are.
• Bring an adapter for power outlets in Ukraine, which are the same as in the rest of continental Europe. Most gadget chargers these days are made to be compatible with European 220 Voltage.
• Bring some cash on your visit to Ukraine. There are many places in the Ukrainian hinterland where credit cards are not accepted, or which happen to have no internet connection at the time of transaction. Bringing a couple of hundred USD would be a good idea. Visitors to Ukraine can bring in up to 10,000 USD without filling out a customs declaration, so you will be safely within the legal limits.
• Bring family photos, copies of old documents and letters to help you in your family search in Ukraine.
• Memorize a few words in Ukrainian, such as Hello and Thank you. Make sure you pick up a Ukrainian phrasebook, not Russian. Although many people in Ukraine still speak Russian, Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine and most people will appreciate your effort. These travel tips are for those who travel in Ukraine win a guide, rather than independently. I would advise independent travelers to learn a lot more than hello and thank-you in Ukrainian.
• Bring a small gift for your family or friends who you will be visiting. Think of something original that characterized your country or yourself. For example, ice wine or maple syrup for Canadians. When you do that, know that you will make people want to give you something back. So you might end up with an embroidery of Shevchenko face, or a carved wooden eagle, or a bottle of Ukrainian home made brew to list just a few.
• If you decide to give your family some money, put it in an envelope or a postcard. Some people would decline, but will more likely accept if you say this is to remember your grandparents who lived there a long time ago, or to help kids with school supplies, etc. How much money to give is always a tough question. 100 USD could be appropriate, or more, or less, depending on your means and kinship with the family in Ukraine.
• When visiting a local church in your ancestral town, ask for a donation box to leave a donation. You can fill out a church form listing names of family members who lived in the town to be mentioned in the prayer at the Sunday Mass.
• Ask for your newly rediscovered family’s contact information, such as Facebook accounts, emails or Skype. You will then be able to stay in touch after you leave. In today’s age, computer translation does a decent job if you write to each other each in your language.
• Tap water is not drinkable everywhere. Avoid eating raw fruit and vegetables although I have heard from many tourists who’ve had no problem with this. Meat and fish is generally safe to eat if refrigerated. Although local food may be OK for local residents, your body is not adapted to the new bio environment and may act up by giving you a bad case of diarrhea. The diet is generally healthier in Ukraine than in Western countries, with lots of fresh fruit and veg in the summer, generally less meat and little fast food.
• Mind your alcohol consumption. Strong liquor is common at dinner parties with a family in Ukraine, and family members will want to make sure that every glass is finished bottoms up. Think of a reason you can’t drink more than your limit, such as being on medications or having a medical condition.
• Think of something to say for a toast at a dinner reception in Ukraine.
• Do not put your valuables, such as passports, wallet and credit cards in a back pocket of your rucksack, or in your shirt or pants’ pockets where it is visible. Although pickpockets are not as widespread in Ukrainian cities as in places such as Prague or Rome, it is better be safe.
• Do not have expectations for things to be the same as back home. Some things in Ukraine are done differently and some do not seem to make sense for an outside person, but there is always a reason and logic why things are different.
• For awkward conversation subjects, people might prepare for questions about how much they earn or relationship status. Living standards of people and income in Ukraine are rising with millions of Ukrainians now working abroad. However, some people in Ukraine may still be amazed by how big income of people in the West is in comparison to an average salary in Ukraine. In conversations about money, do mention the cost of living in the West, such as housing, car insurance, health and dental costs, cost of education and taxes. At the end of the list, the balanced number may not be as high.
• Prepare for pavements that may be poorly maintained and step-free access may be difficult, which can make independent travel problematic for wheelchair users. I’d advise parents of small kids to bring reins rather than a stroller.
• Tips for taxi drivers, in restaurants, for guides etc are appreciated if offered. However, there is generally no tipping culture in Ukraine similar to North America. A tipping rule of thumb in Ukraine would be about 20% of a bill, or a round-up. This depends on quality of service and the total amount.
• For Android phones, activate your photo backup from your phone to your Google photos account and take as many pictures as you want. You will never run out of space and will have no need to manually backup your photos. Besides, your family back home will have instant access to your photos when they log in to your Google account. If you have an Apple phone, it has similar features.
• Please do not take photos of every horse drawn cart in Ukraine’s countryside. But if this is necessary, do so discretely rather than into people’s faces. Many people feel embarrassed having their photos taken without permission.