Travel advisory · UkraineGovernments advise against all travel to Ukraine.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Crimea · avoid all travel · Germany, New Zealand, UK, US
- Zaporizhzhia · avoid all travel · Germany, Spain
Also named by one government: 50 km strip along the Belarus border (UK), All other regions of Ukraine (UK), Chernihiv (Spain), Dnipro (Spain), Donbas (Spain), Donetsk (Germany), Eastern parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (US), Kharkiv (Spain), Kherson (Germany), Luhansk (Germany), Odessa (Spain), Sumy (Spain), Chernivtsi (UK), Chernobyl (Spain), Ivano-Frankivsk (UK), Lviv (UK), Rivne (beyond 50 km of Belarus border) (UK), Ternopil (UK), Volyn (beyond 50 km of Belarus border) (UK), Zakarpattia (UK), Zhytomyr (beyond 50 km of Belarus border) (UK)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Advises against all travel to most regions; all but essential travel to some western regions | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Do not travel to Ukraine for any reason | Aug 28, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Vor Reisen in die Ukraine wird gewarnt (Reisewarnung) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel to Ukraine | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Formellement déconseillé : tout le territoire ukrainien | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Kharkiv
Kharkiv is a city in northeast Ukraine known for constructivist buildings from the 1920s and 1930s. Check the security situation before you book.
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Kharkiv is one of Ukraine's largest cities, in the northeast of the country near the Russian border. From 1919 to 1934 it was the capital of Soviet Ukraine, and much of its center was built in that period. Visitors come for the constructivist buildings, most famously Derzhprom, the state industry building on Freedom Square, which is one of the largest squares in Europe. The city is also home to Kharkiv University, founded in 1805, along with museums and theaters.
Kharkiv suits a trip built around architecture, museums and city life, not beaches or mountains. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable months for walking. The city has been under repeated Russian attack since 2022, so check your government's travel advice and current local news before you book, and choose flexible dates and refundable bookings where you can. Two full days covers the center and the main sights.
Kharkiv in five
- Check your government's travel advice firstKharkiv is near the front line and is hit by missile and drone strikes. Read your own government's travel advice for Ukraine before you book, not after.Visas and entry
- Install the Air Alarm appAir Alarm gives live air raid alerts. When a siren sounds, go to the nearest shelter, and find that shelter at your accommodation before you go out.
- Set up an eSIM and save offline mapsMobile signal can drop during attacks and power cuts. Set up an eSIM before you arrive and download offline maps for the city.Phones and eSIM
- Carry hryvnia cash for outagesPower cuts can stop card terminals and cash machines. Carry some hryvnia in small notes so you can pay when the power is off.Money and costs
- Check the war exclusion in your policyMany standard travel insurance policies exclude war and military risk. Read the exclusions and confirm that your cover applies to Ukraine before you pay.Travel insurance
Need to know
- Currency
- Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the rules for yours before you book
- Emergency
- 112 general; 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants is common, not required
- Time
- UTC+2; UTC+3 in summer under daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryCold, snowy
- MarchThaw, raw
- AprilMild, early green
- MayMild, green
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustHot, dry
- SeptemberWarm, mellow
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberCold, damp
- DecemberCold, dark
Right now in Kharkiv
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Kharkiv
10:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today11°8°8%Monday: Fog. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Tue11°8°0%Tuesday: Fog. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed8°1°13%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu5°0°15%Thursday: Rain. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Fri6°1°48%Friday: Rain. High 6°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 48%.
- Sat3°-1°5%Saturday: Snow. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Sun5°0°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
Updated 07:37 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 45.44 UAH
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Poltavaabout 2 hours by trainA regional city about 130 km away by rail. Check train services and alert status before you travel.
- Kyivabout 7 hours by trainThe national capital, too far for a day trip. Plan an overnight stay and check current rail services.Read the guide
- Lvivovernight trainA city in the west of the country, reached by overnight train. Check current rail services before booking.Read the guide
Before you go to Kharkiv
Rules for Kharkiv, checked
- Check your government's travel advice for Ukraine before you book, because it sets your consular help and insurance position.
- Ukraine restricts exit for many men of military age under martial law. Check the current rules before you travel with a male companion.
- Do not photograph military sites, checkpoints or damaged infrastructure. Authorities can detain people for this.
- When an air raid alert sounds, follow shelter instructions and stay away from windows and open streets.
Plan around Kharkiv
Central districts and stays with shelter access
Read the guideGetting around KharkivMetro, trams, trolleybuses and taxis in the city
Read the guideVisas and entry rulesWho can enter visa-free and what to check first
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and what daily spending looks like
Read the guideAll of UkraineRegions, travel advice and entry information
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile data, offline maps and signal backups
Read the guideKharkiv FAQ
Is Kharkiv safe to visit?
Not in the usual sense. Kharkiv is in an active war zone and is hit by missile and drone strikes. Read your government's advice before you decide, and do not rely on this guide alone.
What is there to see in Kharkiv?
Freedom Square and the Derzhprom building are the center of the city, with Shevchenko Park nearby. Expect alerts to change plans at short notice.
Do I need a visa for Ukraine?
Many passports enter visa-free for short stays, but rules change and some men of military age face exit limits. Check the official rules for your passport before you book.
When is the best time of year to visit Kharkiv?
May, June and September are the mildest months. Winters are cold with snow and summers are hot. Safety matters more than season, so check alerts before choosing dates.
Why is Kharkiv under frequent attack?
Kharkiv lies close to the Russian border, and it has been under frequent attack since 2022. This is why the advice on travel and shelter changes often.