Visitor Essentials
Here you’ll find practical tips for first-time visitors, from getting around the city to safety, healthcare and money.
Key things you need to know before your trip
Practical tips for tourists
Visitor FAQ
In Ukraine, the power sockets are types C, F, and E — with two round holes for the plug. The voltage is 230 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. If your country uses different sockets or voltage, you’ll need an adapter.
In case of emergency, you can call the following numbers:
- 101 – Fire department
- 102 – Police
- 103 – Ambulance
- 112 – General emergency services number
Calls to these numbers are free from both local and international phones.
At 112, you’ll usually find operators who speak English. For the other numbers, service is typically provided in Ukrainian.
Tap water in Kyiv is officially considered safe to drink, but most locals prefer filtered or bottled water.
Tipping in Kyiv isn’t mandatory, but it’s commonly practiced as a nice gesture of appreciation. People usually tip around 10–15% of the bill in restaurants, taxis, and to delivery couriers.
In the center of Kyiv, many people understand English, especially young people and employees in the service industry — hotels, restaurants, cafés, and popular museums. English is also commonly spoken in private clinics.
It might be more challenging in residential areas, public transport, small shops, cafés, and markets. Overall, it’s helpful to have a translator app on hand and learn a few basic phrases in Ukrainian.
