Incredible Hotels to Book in Ukraine That You'll Never Want to Leave

Take in the streets of Lviv from your balcony at the grand Bankhotel | Courtesy of Bankhotel / Expedia.com

5 October 2021

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From the buzzing capital of Kyiv to the cultural hub of Lviv and the wilderness of the Carpathian Mountains, Ukraine has a wealth of places to visit. Since its days behind the Iron Curtain, the hotel scene has evolved from state-run, basic digs to swanky boutique spots and luxurious country mansions. Whatever your taste in hotels, you’ll find something that suits you in Ukraine.

Bankhotel

Luxury

Courtesy of Bankhotel / Expedia.com

Bankhotel, in Ukraine’s metropolitan city of Lviv, retains the grand staircases and marble details of its previous life as an Austro-Hungarian bank building. The vaults are now the fine-dining restaurant Safe and a moody wine bar can be found on the seventh floor, where the wine spans decades and continents. Standard rooms are a sumptuous medley of Italian furniture and jazzy, ’60s-style, geometric wall features; suites from the junior to the presidential retain corniced ceilings and round rooms.

Favor Sport Hotel

Courtesy of Favor Sport Hotel / Expedia.com

In a quiet green suburb of Kyiv, a stay at Favor Sport Hotel comes with a delightfully low price tag. It’s near the university, the international airport and the beautiful expanse of Holosiivskyi National Natural Park. Spend days exploring the forest steppe, walking trails and lakes of the park before returning to this casual hotel. The entrance is a welcoming space with a quirky, tiled reception desk. Standard and business rooms offer twin and double accommodation; the option to stay in a single room also makes this an ideal choice for solo travellers.

Villa Venice

On the outskirts of Vinnytsia, this lavish hotel is set in pretty grounds. A Japanese bridge crosses an emerald stream at the front of the hotel and the terrace overlooks manicured lawns. An outdoor pool provides a place to cool off in the hot summers of inner Ukraine. The rooms themselves feature decor fit for a Tsar, with circular beds in some of the suites, jacuzzi tubs and walk-in wardrobes. It’s 6km (4mi) to the centre of Vinnytsia, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied onsite – billiards in the bar, a gastronomy restaurant, tennis courts and a wellness spa.

TsaTsa Hotel

This boutique hostel in the seaside city of Odessa radiates history from its exposed walls. Set around an ivy-dappled courtyard, the tall wooden doors lead to an indoor labyrinth of quirky rooms and eclectic decor – think travellers’ suitcases as coffee tables, and tubas and vinyl records on the walls. Arched stone rooms and chandeliers give a Medieval feel and accommodation covers all budgets, from a bed in a shared, mixed dorm to a private room with two queen beds and an ensuite. There’s a friendly cat that hangs around the courtyard, too.

Mountain Residence

Resort

With a selection of apartments and chalets, Mountain Residence has your ski holiday in the Carpathian Mountains sorted. Accommodation ranges from six-person luxury chalets to cosy little apartments for two. Premium apartments on the top floors come with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and forests. The Sky Garden terrace – with loungers and a pool – also makes the most of this vista. The complex is close to the 2A ski run, so you can enjoy almost ski-in/ski-out access in peak season and there’s a luxurious spa for a post-mountain session.

!FEST hotel

Courtesy of !FEST hotel / Expedia.com

No trip to Ukraine’s cultural capital, Lviv, would be complete without staying in an edgy art hotel. That’s exactly what you get at !FEST Hotel. The !FEST company began life as a summer cafe in one of Lviv’s lively squares, before branching out into innovative restaurants and craft beer brewing. Now, the !FEST hotel represents everything the three entrepreneurs stand for – individuality, open-mindedness and a little pinch of revolution. You can feel it in the snappy, graffiti-style decor of each room, and the industrial-chic of the onsite bar. Having its own craft beer brewery means a bottle of hoppy IPA or Lviv craft lager sits alongside the complimentary water in every room, too.

Bortnichi House

Courtesy of Bortnichi House / Expedia.com

This country hotel near Kyiv oozes old-world charm. Set 10 miles from central Kyiv, it’s surrounded by the peace and quiet of Zaplavne Lake. The rooms and apartments inside are blissfully spacious; some come with private balconies. Everyone can take advantage of the gardens, where a peaceful gazebo provides some shade for loungers. It’s the decor that really steals the show here; chandeliers twinkle above dining tables and art nouveau ceilings swirl with coloured glass in the bedrooms. A continental breakfast provided by the super friendly hosts is all you need to set you up for the day.

11 Mirrors Design Hotel

Courtesy of 11 Mirrors Design Hotel / Expedia.com

In the heart of Kyiv’s historic centre, the 11 Mirrors Design Hotel is a boutique spot for the discerning traveller. Sleek, grey rooms radiate urban elegance at every level; upgrading to a deluxe room means floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the golden domes of the neighbourhood’s glorious churches and cathedrals. Enjoy this view from the rooftop restaurant, too, where local Ukrainian fare is elevated to fine dining with a bit of French flair.

This is an updated rewrite of an article originally by Maria Sibirtseva.

These recommendations were updated on October 5, 2021 to keep your travel plans fresh.

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