Ukraine or Poland?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Ukraine
Reserved with strangers but deeply hospitable once greeted; feeding a guest well is a point of honour.
What we have written up
- Akkerman Fortress fortress
- Aktove Canyon canyon
- Andriyivskyy Descent street
- Bakota viewpoint
- Baturyn town
- Berdychiv town
Worth knowing before you go
- Card and phone payments are near-universal, down to market stalls and taxis
- Tipping around 10% in restaurants is appreciated but not demanded
- Coffee culture is serious - tiny espresso kiosks appear on almost every corner
Poland
Reserved at first, deeply hospitable once greeted; history is present and respected.
What we have written up
- Andruty Kaliskie wafer
- Augustow Forest forest
- Aula Leopoldina hall
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum monument
- Babia Gora mountain
- Barania Gora mountain
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping is around 10% for table service
- Cards work nearly everywhere, contactless is universal
- Intercity trains are cheap and good; book Pendolino seats ahead
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely (plugs and voltage: Wikipedia, «Mains electricity by country» (after the IEC World Plugs list), read 15 October 2026); check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.