On the following national public holidays banks, schools and government offices are closed. Holidays falling on a weekend are usually observed the following Monday.

31st of December- 1 of January - New Year's Day is the main holiday in Ukraine, everybody’s happy because people wait for the great new life in the New Year and give each other presents. There’s no Father Christmas, there’s Father Frost in Ukraine. He comes on New Year’s Eve and gives presents. Traditionally people gather with family or friends.

6th and 7th of January - Orthodox Christmas. Being predominantly Orthodox country, Ukraine, contrary to many western countries, celebrates Christmas not on December 25th but on January 7th. Note that the New Year is much more celebrated than Christmas.

22th of January - Day of Unity of Ukraine. Being a national holiday, it's not the public one, though, and, therefore, it's a regular work day in Ukraine.

8th of March - International Women's Day is the time, when flowers are sold for doubled prices, and men suddenly realize the importance of women.

Late March - early April - Orthodox Easter. After-Easter Monday is a day off, too. Note that Orthodox Easter regularly falls on different day than Catholic one.

1st and 2nd of May - May Day & the Day of Spring. In the Soviet times they called it The Day of Labor, but it was a holiday for all. Now it’s just May Day - another free from work day to meet friends.

9th of May - Victory Day. The day of victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. It is widely celebrated throughout the country and military parades are carried out.

Early June - Trinity Sunday. This Christian holiday is a public holiday in Ukraine.

28th of June - Constitution Day. Ukrainian constitution was signed on this day in 1996.

24th of August - Independence Day. Longed for independence of Ukraine was proclaimed on this day in 1991.

The time in Ukraine is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meridian Time or one hour ahead of Central European Time. (+2 GMT or +1 CET). During summer Daylight Saving Time, Ukraine's time is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich. So if in London it’s 10 a.m. in Kyiv it’s 12p.m. (in Ukraine the 24-hour system is used).

Every year the clock is set 1 hour forward on the last Sunday of March and, then, returned 1 hour back on the last Sunday of October.

Open Hours. One great thing about Ukraine is that all shops are opened even on Sundays. The food shops are usually opened from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for Sundays (from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), however, many of them are opened round-the-clock even in small villages.

Large department stores, clothing stores, malls are opened all week long from 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.

State institutions, offices, companies are usually opened from 9 a.m. or 10. a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. and do not work on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Most banks are opened from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, some major banks' central offices are opened on Saturday as well. Self-service ATMs regularly operate every day round-the-clock.

There are plenty of currency exchange offices in big cities that work until late night and sometimes round-the-clock.

On public holidays all banks, offices, museums and some shops are closed. However, large department stores, food stores, supermarkets may operate on Sunday schedule.

220 Volt and 50 Hz AC current supplies are used throughout Ukraine. Most of the sockets are standard European-size for double round-pin plugs, the same as in France or Germany. Appliances from the US, Canada, Great Britain will need adaptors.

Power cuts are not very common, but the electricity current is not as quality as in Europe - power surges may occur. So, if you have a sensitive device it's better to get a stabilizer for it, especially if you are traveling.

Most trains have electricity sockets where you can charge your mobile telephones or plug in a shaver, but it is not recommended to use them for sensitive devices (such as laptops) without a stabilizer.