Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe after Russia. The country is rather flat and includes autonomous region of Crimea in the south. Ukraine is a fun filled and exciting country that is situated in Eastern Europe. Many families now go on holiday to the Ukraine and stay in holiday villas and self catering apartments. It shares borders with Russia to the east Poland to the west, Romania and Moldova to the south west, Belarus to the north and the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea to the north. It is the ideal place to spend a relaxing and exciting vacation with your family in a holiday home rental.

The capital Kiev has become has a famous tourist attraction and offers you with the most informative journey back into time. Many people come to Kiev on short breaks or long weekend breaks and stay in one of the many self catering apartments that are available to rent from their owners. While staying in a holiday apartment rental in Kiev, they are able to experience the true culture of a self catering holiday in the Ukraine.

You can visit the Kiev fortress which was built as a part of a fortification to protect the people from invaders. The countryside is a great place to escape from the bustling city life with its panoramic views, nature, wildlife and pleasant weather. Shopping here is always rewarding as you get a cross cultural experience with a mix of east and west. There are several shopping malls, but the main attraction for the tourists is the array of flea markets that are popular in this vibrant city. One such example is the black bazaar where you get everything from bread to the famous Kiev chocolate. You can even shop for clothes, shoes, jewellery books and furniture. Many holiday makers like to stay in self catering apartments in Kiev and use them as a base to explore this bustling city.

When you are tired of walking you can take a boat ride and go sightseeing. You would be able to see a number of sights while enjoying a couple of drinks and absorb extravagant views of the city. Ukraine is famous for theatre which is better known as opera. Watch their performances in Lviv where there are a number of opera companies that perform. The opera house of Ivan Franko is a fine example of the superb local architecture with the building being a source of pride to the locals.You can also taste wine in Crimea where the vineyards produce very high quality wine and can it can be bought quite cheaply.

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, after Russia. The country is rather flat and includes the autonomous region of Crimea in the south.

Most of the Crimean Tatars were forcibly moved to Central Asia in 1944 to suppress their nationalist intentions.

The official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian; one of the three East Slavic languages, closely related to Russian and Belorussian.

Tatar Mongols invaded the area in the 13th century but the western Ukrainian principality of Galicia, founded in the 12th century, suffered less from the Mongol invasion.

Annexed by Poland in the 14th century, although the Ukrainian Cossacks allied themselves with Russia.

The partitions of Poland saw much of the land handed over to Russia in 1667, while Galicia became a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1772 to 1919.

The Cave monastery, Perchersky, was founded in the early 11th century and is one of the most sacred buildings of the Russian Orthodox church.

The ruins of the Golden Gate also date from the same period and was once the main entrance to the city.

Kiev was the centre of the Rus principality in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, and it is still known as the Mother of Russian Cities.

From London travel to Ukraine by train…

It’s easy to travel by train from London to Ukraine. It’s also safe, comfortable, affordable and an adventure. Eurostar and German Railways link London with Berlin, then there are daily sleeper trains from Berlin and Warsaw to Kiev. There’s even direct sleeping-cars several times each week from Berlin to Odessa and Simferopol in the Crimea.