Currency
National currency of Ukraine is Hryvnya (UAH). The Hryvnya is subdivided into 100 kopiyok. It’s rate at the moment is about UAH 8/USD 1. All payments are made in Hryvnya. There are only few places where they may except US Dollars or Euros.

Language
Official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian. Television, advertising, signs are all in Ukrainian. However, you can hear Russian almost everywhere. Since soviet times, when common language for all union’s states was Russian, many people still haven’t turned to Ukrainian. Anyway, those who speak Ukrainian are treated more respectfully.

Arriving
You can enter Ukraine visa-free and stay 90 days if you’re a citizen of any EU country, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Canada, USA or Japan.

• BY BUS. All international buses arrive at Kyiv central bus station that is situated in Moskovs’ka Square. The entire square is currently undergoing reconstruction, but the service remains constant. If you need to stash your bags, a left-luggage office is available (open 06:00 - 11:00, 11:30 - 17:00, 17:30 - 22:00). Taxis are always on hand and can take you to the city centre for approximately 40-50 UAH. Trolleybuses N°1, 2, 4, 12 and 42 won’t get you to the centre of town but will take you to Lybids’ka metro station in 3 minutes.
  
  
• BY CAR. Entering the country by car, foreigners are required to sign a document at the border swearing that they will bring the car out of the country before a certain date (not more than two months long). This document should be kept together with your driver’s license and your car’s registration papers all the time. Car insurance is obligatory in Ukraine. It may be possible to buy green card insurance valid for Ukraine in your home country; if not you must purchase it from the Ukrainian state company at the border. The latter might cost less than the former, however if you don’t speak Ukrainian or Russian it is easy to get deceived by border officials and buy something which is totally useless. Prices depend on the size of your car’s engine.
  
  
• BY PLANE. Boryspil State International Airport is where most international flights land and depart from. It’s located 34km from Kyiv, passport and customs officials speak English, so don’t worry if you haven’t yet mastered Ukrainian or Russian. Foreigners are supposed to receive registration cards, when they enter Ukraine - save them to present upon leaving the country. Taxis from airport usually accept US Dollars and Euros (30-45 minutes ride to the centre will cost about 150UAH, 20USD or 15Euros). Buses leave every 30 minutes from in front of the building (20-25 UAH) and will bring you to Kharkivs’ka or Vokzal’na metro station.
  
  
• BY TRANE. Trains arrive at the Central Railway Station that is 2 minutes walk from Vokzal’na metro station.

Information
Telephone number of information call centre is 1559.

There’s a Call Centre, created by Kyiv Administration for foreigners. Just call 8900-10-55555, and you’ll get any information. They will help you, if you have any problems staying in Ukraine.

Accommodation
There are more than 50 hotels of different quality in Kyiv. You’d better book a suite in advance by phone. A one-bedroom will cost you $100 to $200 per night.

Apartments for rent may cost less. www.kievapartment.com, www.kievrent.net, www.bestkievapartment.com etc.

Internet
In the centre of Kyiv there are many internet clubs and cafes, such as Vizavi (24, Lesi Ukrayinky Blvd.), Matrytsya (8, Shota Rustaveli), Internet Club (Bessarabs’ka Square, underground). There are restaurants and cafes with a free wifi-zone (with a wi-fi sign on their doors).

Transport

• TAXI. You can order a taxi, inquire about the cost and other conditions by phone (tel. 498-01-01, 1554, 1559, 451-00-21, 249-63-43, 249-6-249, 455-95-95, 463-49-49 and others). Average drive in Kyiv costs 25-50 UAH, depending on distance. The taxi drivers waiting at railway station, casinos, night clubs and fashionable hotels will set their prices depending on your appearance. So if you hear a high price, that is a compliment to you, but still you can bargain.
  
  
• BUS AND TROLLEY-BUS. Route buses and trolley-buses stop at every station (1,50 UAH). There are small yellow buses, which stop on request only (1,50 - 2,50 UAH).
  
  
• METRO (Subway). There are 3 metro lines in Kyiv. Duration of a trip from a terminal to a centre station is about 15-20 minutes. It operates from 5:30 till midnight. To enter metro you need to buy a token (1,70 UAH per trip). The cost doesn’t depend on distance. There are week and month cards available as well.

Car Rental
www.budget.ua

Phones

• FIXED LINE TELEPHONE. To call a number inside Kyiv just dial the number. To make a long-distance call, dial 8, wait for the dial tone, and then dial the city code and number. To call Kyiv from another town, dial 8, wait for the tone, dial Kyiv’s city code (044) and then the number. To make an international call, dial 8, wait for the tone, and then dial 10, country code, city code and the number itself.
  
  
• MOBILE PHONES. Mobile phone calls in Ukraine are relatively cheap and very reliable. You do not need to sign a contract or show your documents to use the local provider’s service. SIM cards are available in special service centres, mobile phone stores and even in the streets. You can also buy cards to refill your account at these same places.

Restaurants
There are many international restaurants in Kyiv, but it’ll be a great experience for you to try traditional Ukrainian cuisine at such restaurants as Cossack Mamay (4, Prorizna str., tel. 228-42-73), Khutorok (1, Naberezhno-Khreshchatyts’ka str., Spas’ky mooring, tel. 463-70-19), Tsars’ke Selo (42/1, Mazepy str., tel. 288-97-75), Zozulya (16, Parkova Road, tel. 229-83-14) etc. An average bill at such restaurants will be about 100-200 UAH per person.

There are chains of Ukrainian self service restaurants, where you can eat your fill with 40-50 UAH only. These are Puzata Khata (1/2, Baseyna str.), Zdoroven’ki Buly (3, Lyuterans’ka str.), Domashnya Kukhnya (16-22, Bohdana Khmelnyts’kogo Boulevard).

Traditional Ukrainian dishes are Borshch (red soup, which main ingredients are pork, beetroot, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and others), Holubtsi (staffed cabbage rolls), Salo (lard) etc. Traditional drink is Uzvar that is made of dried fruits. Traditional Ukrainian spirit is Horilka (Vodka). We aren’t encouraging you to drink much “horilka”, as it’s quite strong (40◦).

Souvenirs
Most souvenirs and antiques shops are located in Andriyivs’ky Descent. Almost all sellers speak English there.

Silver Shark Festival venue
Silver Shark Festival 2009 will be held at the Cinema House that is situated in the very centre of Kyiv (6, Saksaganskogo str.). It’s 5-10 min. walk from Palats Sportu metro station. The nearest hotels are Rus, Premier Palace, Cooperator and Sport.