Tourism continues to grow to Ukraine each and every year. Predictably, this has plenty of Westerners to head to Eastern Europe in search of fun, adventure, and some seriously beautiful girls. Of course, one of the most common questions we get at Expat Ukraine is “what is the best party city in Ukraine?” This is a very important question, as if you’re trying to head abroad to go on a bender, you must pick the right city. Today, we’re discussing the many options you have, and why Ukraine may be the next best place you can choose for a fun weekend out.
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Why Go To Ukraine To Party?
Let’s say you’ve got a week of vacation saved up that you’re just dying to use. Maybe a few friends are down to tag along for the ride. You want to go to a new country where you’ll be immersed in a new culture, check out the local bar or club scene, meet interesting people, and make some memories.
Of course, you’re going to hear about the same, played out cities that everyone and their mother has been to a million times.
“Prague is crazy, like that movie Eurotrip!”
“Budapest has tons of hookers.”
“Smoke weed in Amsterdam!”
The list goes on. I don’t know about you, but a lot of these places sound seriously played out to me. That’s not to say you can’t possibly have a good time by going to a more “touristy” location, as I’ve had plenty of fun times in all of the above cities.
But, they get old quick. I don’t go on trips to hang out with British tourists and pay $8 a drink at an overpriced bar. Travel is all about having new experiences, and Ukraine is a great place to do so.
And, it’s one country that you can do so more affordably than almost anywhere else on earth.
Ukraine Might Be The Cheapest Holiday Ever
The big advantage that choosing a place like Ukraine that it’s infinitely cheaper than most common European party destinations. Believe it or not, it’s absolutely possible to drop thousands on an organized stag party in a place like Budapest or Prague.
The reality is that neither of these cities is particularly expensive, but that they are so used to tourists showing up that an entire industry has been built to screw you over.
Now, let’s compare that with Ukraine. There’s certainly a large number of tourists that visit the country, but it hasn’t become “mainstream” to visit there just yet.
As a result, drinks in Ukraine will typically run you between $1-$6. The nightlife scene in both Kyiv and Lviv is surprisingly good, regardless of if you want to hang out in pubs or are more interested in mega-nightclubs.
Ukraine Has The Best Women in the World
I can’t tell you how ridiculous it is to hear people talk about “hot German girls” or “sexy chicks in Sweden.”
Ha, ha, ha. Don’t make me laugh.
If you say these things, it’s clear that you haven’t really travelled to that many places at all.
Look, the fact of the matter is that the women in Germany or Sweden are basically identical to the women that you find in Australia, the United States, or the U.K.
In other words, they’re nothing special at all.
They live in a culture that doesn’t encourage them to maximize their beauty and femininity. Of course, there are some attractive girls in these countries, but we have to keep in mind that women across all Westernized nations are generally held to the same lax standards.
On the other hand, Ukrainian women are some of the hottest in the entire world. It’s one place where they are taught from a young age that they are basically required to do their hair, wear makeup, and have a fashion sense if they want to meet a good man.
If you’re coming from a place like the UK, Germany or the USA, you will be absolutely stunned at the quality of the local women in Ukraine. While not every girl is an absolute knockout 10/10, you’ll find that even the most average, basic girls typically hover around 7/10 in terms of their attractiveness.
Compare that to any Westernized nation, where the average girl is quite likely a 4/10, or maybe a 5/10, and you’ll see that Ukraine is worlds better.
In many ways, Ukraine is Europe’s best-kept secret. The economy is still recovering from Communism, so prices are still dirt cheap for any visiting Westerners. You’ll spend a fraction of what you would in any other European country, have access to world-class nightlife and an excellent bar scene, and be surrounded by a huge population of beautiful women.
What’s not to love, right?
Now, it’s time to choose a city to visit.
What is the Best Ukraine Party City?
Kyiv – The obvious winner.
Most people are going to choose Kyiv nine times out of ten, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Kyiv has the most variety of any Ukrainian city. Countless bars, nightclubs, and restaurants await you there.
Some of the downsides include that the city is just massive, getting around can be somewhat difficult and that flights can be surprisingly expensive when compared with cities like Lviv that are more popular for tourism.
Even still, for a quick trip, you’ll find that Kyiv is a seriously great time. It’s only when you decide to live in Ukraine full time that the difficulties become a bit more pronounced.
Nightlife Highlights
The best nightclub in Kyiv, bar none.
CHI has a bit of the “super club” type of vibe, but not in an overly pretentious way. Tables are available for less than a $100 spend, and there’s a big dancefloor area as well.
CHI books some of the world’s best DJ talent and is one place where you’ll see the absolute hottest women in Kyiv out on full display.
They can be a little bit strict at the door, so if you’re with a group, I suggest calling ahead and booking a table a day in advance to guarantee entry.
For Electronic fans.
If there’s a reason that Kyiv is frequently compared to Berlin’s nightlife, this would be it. CLOSER is consistently rated one of the best clubs in the world for Electronic music.
Now, let’s make no mistake. This is not the type of place you get suited up and buy a table at. It’s a bit grungy, bit druggy, strictly Electronic nightclub that specializes in House and Techno music.
The irony is that you can see many of the same artists who play at CHI here as well. Same music, but different vibe entirely. Both are a great time.
If this is your vibe, go here.
The standard nightclub experience.
Skybar is similar to CHI, but a little more mainstream and slightly less classy. I prefer both CLOSER and CHI because they’re a bit less tacky than a standard club, but if you’re into a more mainstream vibe, head over to Skybar.
Located directly in arena city, Skybar offers a picturesque view of the Kyiv skyline. The door prices can be a little bit high, around $20 or so per person. Even still, it pays to call ahead and book a table in advance.
And, this is, of course, another place where you’re going to see some absolutely stunning women.
Lviv – The one you didn’t expect.
I’d recommend people who don’t need to go completely “balls to the walls” consider Lviv. There are really only two good nightclubs, so if you’re more of a local bar or pub type of person, Lviv is certainly a good choice.
On top of that, the town is extremely small and easy to get around in. You can stay in any hotel or Airbnb in the city center and walk everywhere that you need to go.
Plus, budget airlines have made trips to Lviv incredibly cheap from many of Europe’s capital cities. Round trip tickets can be had for as low as $40 for a weekend, making it possibly the cheapest party city in all of Europe right now.
If you’re interested in checking out Lviv’s burgeoning nightlife scene, and the secret gems that we uncovered while there, check out our guide on Lviv nightlife.
Nightlife Highlights
The best club in Lviv.
Lviv is not exactly known as a nightlife city, and yet this is one club that may have you thinking otherwise.
Malevich is the largest club in Eastern Europe. DJs are mostly local and the music policy is very commercial, but that doesn’t change the fact that you can have a seriously good time here.
Table service is extremely cheap, door prices are low, and entry is quick and painless. You can spend as little as $70 here for a few bottles.
Even still, most people don’t go to Lviv to go clubbing, and that’s why the bar scene is what we really recommend doing.
The Drunk Cherry is a Lviv institution. This is the perfect place to start off your night.
Situated right on Rynok Square, this place is little more than a tiny room where you buy Cherry flavoured Brandy, stand around a communal set of tables, and chat with groups of people. It’s always full, and you can meet tourists from all over here also.
Choven is a Western-style beer pub that’s situated two streets away from Rynok Square. Here, you’ll find groups of people hanging out after work. It’s less popular with girls (for obvious reasons), but sells excellent beer and has a lively atmosphere.
Both bar and table seating makes it a reasonable choice for socializing and seeing friends.
It’s usually packed, which makes it a great place to mingle with the locals as well.
Odessa – Seasonally amazing.
Odessa is amazing…for about three months a year.
In many ways, Odessa is somewhat of a perfect city. The climate is a few degrees warmer than the rest of Ukraine. It is situated directly on the coast of the Black Sea. Nightlife is incredible and it’s just as affordable as the rest of Ukraine.
Unfortunately, this lasts from about June until September…and then it all goes away.
Odessa has something of an exodus outside of the summer months. The nightclubs are empty, the girls have traded their bikinis for parkas, and the season has officially ended. If you’ve ever been to Ibiza, it is a little bit like that. It’s on fire for a few months, and then it goes back into hibernation.
If you’re looking to party in Ukraine during the summer months, there are few choices better than Odesa. Particularly for a short trip, Odessa can be a lot of fun.
Nightlife Highlights
Located directly on Arcadia Beach, this is consistently rated as the “place to be” when visiting Odessa.
Sure, you’ll get hit with a door cover of $15 and probably meet just as many tourists as you will locals, but so what? It’s a beach club.
Best of all, you can rent a cabana here during the day, and come here to book a table at night. Plan to visit on the weekend, and prepare to have a good time!
Itaka is nothing short of world-class. Just like Ibiza, it’s open both day and night. The first thing you’ll notice about Itaka is that it’s modelled after Greek ruins. This means gigantic white pillars, statues of gods, etc.
Yeah, it’s a little bit tacky, but it’s still a fun time. Sadly, a few of our writers have reported that they’ve fallen victim to the “bottle girl scam” here, where a girl will sit down at your table and run up a bill for the most expensive things on the menu.
We cannot confirm nor deny this, so keep your wits about you.
If you want to get away from the “beach club” type of experience, take a trip over here for the evening. If this place reminds me of anything, it’s a college bar.
There are girls dancing on the bar, cheap drinks, and actually some pretty decent food! It’s not a dive by any means, but it’s not some high-class establishment like Ibiza is either.
This place is just a bit less pretentious and easier to approach girls at than a beach club, in my opinion. While it’s #3 on this list, it still comes in highly recommended from us.
Conclusion – What Is The Best Ukraine Party City?
The answer to this is largely going to depend on what you’re looking for.
To recap: Kyiv is generally the best choice unless you’re looking to do it on the cheap, at which point Lviv would be the most cost-effective. At the same time, if you’re not a huge nightclub person, a smaller city may be your best bet as well.
If you happen to be looking to go during the summer months, Odessa is a close competitor if you’re looking for more of a beach-style experience.
No matter where you go, choosing Ukraine as a destination to party in is sure to provide a good time.
PS: If you’re interested in meeting Ukrainian women in Ukraine, I highly suggest you check out this website to see the local talent before you touch down.
Have fun out there!
-Expat Ukraine
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