Moldavanka is one of Odesa’s oldest neighborhoods and is often said to be more Odesa than Odesa itself. A working-class suburb, its development only took off after trade was liberalized in 1817 and inhabitants started making money by ferrying contraband goods.

This time of year is ripe for touring Crimea. National Geographic has put it on its list of 20 must-see places of 2013, alongside Africa’s Malawi Lake, Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest and Cape Breton Island. 

As charming as Crimea is, its impaired tourism infrastructure and low number of decent hotels can discourage potential tourists from discovering what the peninsula has to offer. So instead of renting, why not buy?

 If there is any city in the world that combines Soviet heritage with imperial splendour graciously, it is definitely the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

CHORNOBYL, Ukraine — Despite the scary name, the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is a bustling community full of gossip and colorful stories.

Istanbul has more than 13 million residents and a rich history at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East. To really experience Istanbul and feel its spirit, a traveler should walk all the time, take different routes, look around and talk to people who live there.

GENEVA, Switzerland – Every visitor to Switzerland probably has their favorite things – mountains, skiing resorts and chocolate, for many people.

It’s hard to imagine a tiny, coddled 2-1/2 year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Pepsi sporting a mink fur coat, when so many women for decades have coveted the same thing yet never worn one.

Traveling with a pet isn’t always easy. Both Ukrainian and international law have plenty to say about traveling with pets and the procedures to be followed. Here’s a list of tips to keep in mind when taking your furry friends with you on a trip.

One of the most inspiring ways to escape Ukraine’s cold, gray winters is to take a trip to Sri Lanka, the small teardrop-shaped island in the Indian Ocean. It’s got lush green coconut palms, pristine sand beaches and much more.

In Ukraine, January is a month of celebrations. After the New Year and Christmas holidays, the old New Year is coming up on Jan. 14. 

With only two weeks left before the holidays, it’s high time to pick a winter wonderland. For those who prefer active leisure, the Kyiv Post has prepared a selection of prized resorts in Ukraine and abroad.

DNIPROPETROVSK – The eastern industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk, home to an array of political stars and once the leader in making Soviet missiles, is distinguishing itself again. 

SOLOVETSKY ISLANDS, RUSSIA – Traveling to northern Russia became an extraordinary journey from the moment that I and my friends approached the train from St. Petersburg to Murmansk. Our attendant, an attractive brunette in her early 20s, became suspicious of our railway tickets purchased in Ukraine.

BUDVA, Montenegro – A small country in the southwestern Balkans, Montenegro is a popular travel destination with more to offer than just swimming in the Adriatic Sea and sunbathing.

Perhaps the prettiest and most charming of the cities hosting Euro 2012 championship on the Ukrainian side, Lviv is set to pleasantly surprise.

The eastern city of Donetsk, which will host five games of the Euro 2012 tournament, will surely surprise foreign fans with its contrasts.

Introduction: If you visit the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv for the first time, the first impression you will get is that of severe Soviet buildings, wide gray avenues and a gigantic statue of Vladmir Lenin in the central square.

A traditional hangout for artistic and literary types, the French Riviera is now a more accessible summer escape for residents of Ukraine thanks to direct flights from Kyiv to Nice in the April-September period.

One of Ukraine’s prettiest historic cities, Kamianets-Podilsky, opened the tourist season on April 21-22.