B1-33 · UNESCO Sites in Ukraine

UNESCO Sites in Ukraine

The UNESCO World Heritage List includes places that are so important that they belong to the whole of humanity, such as the pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China. Ukraine has eight sites on the list (as of 2025). The first two, St. Sophia's Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, were added in 1990. Here are four more that are worth visiting.

Lviv. The old center of Lviv looks like a fairy tale. The city was founded in the 13th century by King Danylo and named after his son Lev. In the middle of the Market Square stands the town hall, and around it there are 44 old houses, each one different. Lviv is famous for its coffee houses and chocolate shops. Many tourists come for one day, but it's better to stay longer and enjoy walking through the narrow streets in the evening, when the lights come on.

The Residence in Chernivtsi. In the 19th century, the Orthodox archbishops of Bukovina decided to build a new home. The result is a group of red-brick buildings with colorful patterns on the roofs. It was designed by Josef Hlávka, a Czech architect. Today, it belongs to Chernivtsi University, and fans of Harry Potter don't mind seeing a building that reminds them of Hogwarts.

The Wooden Churches of the Carpathians. In the mountain villages of western Ukraine and southern Poland, local carpenters spent centuries building churches completely of wood. Their roofs look like towers made of steps, and inside there are painted walls and icons. Sixteen of them are on the list, eight in each country. Many visitors prefer exploring the region on foot, because the churches stand in quiet green valleys.

The Historic Center of Odesa. This is the newest Ukrainian site on the list, added in 2023 to help protect it during the war. Odesa is a port city on the Black Sea that grew fast in the 19th century. You can see its famous Opera House and walk down the Potemkin Stairs, 192 steps from the city to the port.

The other sites are the Struve Geodetic Arc, a chain of old survey points that crosses ten countries, the ancient beech forests of the Carpathians, and the ancient Greek city of Chersonesus in Crimea. Do you know which one is nearest to your home? Try to visit it one day!