“Ukraine is a hidden gem in Europe”: how a trip to Ukraine changed perceptions of war, people, and oneself

Even war did not stop Jonas from coming to Ukraine. And now he recommends it to everyone. Find out why the tourist decided to see the truth with his own eyes, what surprised him in Ukraine, whether he felt fear during his trip — and how the Visit Ukraine team helped him

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In 2025, when most tourists are still wondering whether to visit Ukraine, Jonas from the UK has already been to Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and even the deoccupied towns of the Kyiv region. His trip lasted only a week, but it changed his perception of the war, Ukrainians, and himself forever.

We spoke with Jonas after his trip to find out what brought him to Ukraine, why he chose Visit Ukraine as his travel partner, and what he saw with his own eyes in a country that most people still only know from the news.

Planning a trip to Ukraine during the war: why wasn't Jonas afraid?

“I wanted to visit somewhere culturally and historically interesting. To me, Ukraine was the best choice due to its many cultural landmarks, and I also felt that spending my tourism money here would help more,” Jonas says.

But how do you plan a trip to a country at war? According to Jonas, he did have some doubts: “Due to the war, I wasn’t sure what was the safest or best way to plan my trip”. That's why he turned to Visit Ukraine, a service portal that specializes in travel to Ukraine, even during the war. Our team helped him not only with booking hotels, train tickets, and guides, but also with visa issues and preparing for the conditions of war: from air raid apps to safety advice.

“The manager helping me, Hanna, made sure that I had all the documents I needed, as well as the air raid alarm applications,” he recalls, adding that the Visit Ukraine team "making sure I was on time for my trains, helping communicate with hotel staff if necessary, arranging the drivers to pick me up from the train station to the hotels. The Visit Ukraine staff were on top of everything".

Logistics and safety: is it really safe to travel in Ukraine?

Jonas traveled between cities mainly by night train, which was an adventure in itself:

"Between the Ukrainian cities, I took the sleeper trains. I felt that the trains were a very interesting experience as it was my first time taking any sort of overnight train journey. In the train compartments, there are four of you in a room. Generally, I found that Ukrainians were respectful of your space and privacy and were willing to help you if needed. I also had a chance to speak with several Ukrainians who were also travelling between the cities, which was a great opportunity to connect with locals."

Jonas was also a little surprised by the safety in Ukraine:

"In terms of crime, I felt more safe in Ukraine than I did anywhere else in Europe, including where I came from in the United Kingdom. I never felt any risk of theft, pickpocketing or other crimes," he said, adding that during the day he did not feel any anxiety, and everyone he saw was calm and spending time in restaurants, cafes, or parks.

However, nights in Ukraine were less peaceful for tourists:

“Only at night did it feel a bit more dangerous, especially as the air alarms would come on around 1 or 2 am. However, these did not last for too long and after an hour I would be back in bed,” he says, adding:

"Most people might be afraid of the danger of bombing in Ukraine. However, during my visit, I had an air alarm app on my phone, and another air alarm warning on my Telegram as well as the actual noise of the air raid siren. There are plenty of shelters all around the cities and I was never more than 5 minutes away from one. I will also add that the air alarms were not that frequent in places like Lviv or even Kyiv, mostly happening at night."

And here it is worth reminding: Visit Ukraine strongly recommends that everyone take out medical insurance covering war risks, which will guarantee you protection and financial compensation in the event of an unforeseen situation during your trip to Ukraine. You can take out insurance directly on our website before your trip — just like Jonas did.

Read also: How many times has russia attacked hotels in Ukraine?

From Lviv to Kharkiv: what impressed the tourist most in Ukraine?

In just one week, Jonas visited Lviv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, and the deoccupied cities of the Kyiv region. Each city has its own atmosphere, its own face, its own pain. Jonas was struck by the diversity:

"It is remarkable how Odesa can feel like a mediterranean city - almost like Portugal or Italy - while Lviv was a more tight and compact city, with architecture that reminded me of towns in Poland or Czechia. Kyiv was the biggest city I visited, with a huge metro system and many government buildings and museums that interested me. The Mother Ukraine statue is a must visit for sure!”, he shares, adding that the catacombs in Odesa deserve special attention:

“Also, I think the catacombs in Odesa was probably the best thing I saw during my whole trip. It is a shame that many foreign tourists don’t see it nowadays. I highly recommend people to go down to Odesa just to see the catacombs. It is 100% worth the trip.”

However, one of the most emotional moments was the memorial wall near St. Michael's Cathedral:

"Along the St. Michael’s church in Kyiv, there is a wall filled with the portraits of the men that have died since the start of the conflict in 2014. Seeing how huge the wall was, and the amount of photos touched me. It reminded me of the human cost of this war, and more importantly that it has been going on since 2014 and not just 2022. For me it was very different to hear on the news that some people have died in the conflict and to actually see the faces of these men who have given their lives for their country. It was the same when I saw the Bucha memorial."

Jonas says that watching videos is one thing, but standing in places destroyed by russian attacks is quite another:

"It reminded me of the reality of what these people living here had to go through. However, I was also given an impression of hope. While some areas were destroyed, others were also being rebuilt and I saw a lot of construction work going on to repair the buildings or even build new houses and apartments. It reminded me of the resilience of the Ukrainians to be able to take such devastating hits but still keep their heads high."

Read also: Top questions foreigners ask about Ukraine — history, traditions, and culture of the Ukrainian people.

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Emotional connection: what touched you the most in Ukraine?

Kharkiv became particularly close to Jonas:

“In Kharkiv, my guide Serhii was very well connected to the locals there and I had the chance to meet a few of the people who live, work and protect Kharkiv. It made me feel particularly connected to the Ukrainian people.”

And although Kharkiv is very close to the front line, he did not feel afraid there:

"There was a bit of anxiety, but after I saw how other people in the city were calm and going about their days, I felt more relaxed. It was interesting to me how, despite being so close to the frontline, the people in Kharkiv did not seem very panicked or scared. Rather, they were living their lives as normal and keeping a strong heart. It inspired me to also be less afraid!"

When asked what he learned about Ukraine and Ukrainians that he didn't expect during his trip, Jonas replied:

“How ‘used to it’ Ukrainians were. Nobody seemed shocked or scared when the air alarm appeared during my dinner in the restaurant. To me it was a bit sad knowing that it is normal for Ukrainians to hear an air alarm and not have any reaction, it reminded me of how long this war had continued.”

Read also: Which cities in Ukraine are most visited by foreign tourists.

Why is Ukraine attractive to tourists: is it worth visiting during the war?

For Jonas, the answer to the question of whether Ukraine is worth visiting even during the war is unequivocal: yes. And if he had to describe the country in one sentence, he would say: “Ukraine is a hidden gem in Europe with diverse experiences for every type of traveller!”

He also believes that more foreigners should visit Ukraine now, not only for tourism, but also to understand what is really happening here:

"I think the understanding part is important. As I said earlier, it is very different to hear and see on the news what is going on in Ukraine and to actually be in Ukraine, seeing the damage and destruction with your own eyes - and to hear it from the Ukrainians as well. Every person I spoke with had a brother, or a husband, or even a father who was fighting or in the army. Hearing how they experience everyday life with this worry in the back of their minds was heartbreaking."

And despite the fact that it was a rather emotionally difficult experience, Jonas would like to visit Ukraine again: “I would love to visit more of nature and do some hiking in the Carpathians. As Ukraine does not have much tourism now, this is something that I feel would be very worthwhile as there are less people on the hiking trails. I also feel like I would want to spend more time in Lviv and Odesa, which were very culturally interesting cities!”

Read also: Travel guide to Ukraine during the war in 2025.

Legal support and recommendations before traveling to Ukraine

Before his trip, Jonas sought legal advice from Visit Ukraine regarding his visa. According to him, it was quick and clear — they explained how to apply and what documents to prepare. Jonas also emphasized: “Unless you have a visa-free regime, I would recommended getting legal support,” because the last thing you want is “was to be stranded before entering Ukraine.”

For those who are unsure whether to travel to Ukraine as a tourist right now, Jonas recommends preparing in advance, downloading an app that alerts you to threats, and being ready to take shelter if necessary:

“To me, I felt very safe as I had taken all the necessary precautions. Just be prepared and you will be alright!” he says.

Jonas' story is not only about discovering Ukraine as a tourist destination, but also about the courage to see reality. About understanding that does not come from a screen. And about how one trip can change everything.

With the Visit Ukraine team, such a trip becomes not only possible, but also safe, comfortable, and emotionally enriching. Legal support, insurance, logistics, guidance, excursions, and translators — all in one place. As Jonas said: “These guys know where they’re doing 100%.” See for yourself!

Check out our ready-made tours to Ukraine on our website, and for advice on individual travel, write to our managers at WhatsApp or tours@visitukraine.today.

We remind you! We recently shared the story of Mark, who came to Ukraine for 11 days and saw life in the country during wartime. Read why he considers this trip special in our previous article.

Photo: from Jonas' personal archives

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