In 2026, Ukrainians continue to plan their vacations, but do so more cautiously than before the full-scale war. The choice of destination now depends on personal preferences and financial capacity, as well as logistics, safety, entry rules, cancellation conditions, and the ability to quickly change plans.
Where Ukrainians will vacation this summer and how much they will spend on recovery and new experiences, UNN inquired.
How many Ukrainians plan to vacation in the summer of 2026
Despite active hostilities on the territory of Ukraine, people are not giving up rest during their own vacations and school and student holidays. On the contrary – 92% of men and women are already planning summer trips. Moreover, almost 70% choose locations in their homeland. This is evidenced by survey data conducted from May 1 to 21 this year by the international management company Ribas Hotels Group.
The main feature of this season (as well as several previous ones) is the closed Ukrainian airspace. Therefore, 69.8% of all vacationers will spend their holidays at home, in Ukraine. And the 22.6% who still chose foreign trips will travel from Moldova, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, or the Baltic countries.
Usually, Ukrainians choose the airports of Chisinau, Warsaw, Rzeszow, Katowice, Bucharest, Prague, Riga, or Tallinn, and from there they reach the resorts by plane.
An alternative is bus tours from Ukraine, primarily to Bulgaria, Montenegro, Greece, and Turkey.
Where Ukrainians go on vacation in 2026
Two destinations are popular among our compatriots:
- foreign beach holidays;
- domestic tourism.
Abroad, the most interest is in resorts with a good reputation built over the years and ready infrastructure, family hotels, All Inclusive meals, and moderate predictable costs. That is why Turkey and Egypt hold the lead among resorts in 2026.
At the same time, the interest of Ukrainian vacationers in European destinations is growing. They are considering the following countries for individual and family vacations:
- Greece;
- Cyprus;
- Bulgaria;
- Montenegro;
- Albania;
- Spain;
- Italy;
- Croatia.
Some tourists choose short trips to Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, the Czech Republic, or Austria.
Within our country, the Carpathians, Transcarpathia, Odesa, the Shatsk Lakes, Bakota, Lviv region, Bukovyna, Podillia, and Cherkasy region remain popular.
TOP-5 foreign vacation destinations in 2026
In 2026, Ukrainians most often choose proven destinations with developed tourist infrastructure, convenient tour formats, and a predictable budget for foreign vacations. Among the leaders remain Turkey, Egypt, European countries, the UAE, and popular routes through Poland and the Baltics.
From Antalya to Bodrum: why Ukrainians choose Turkey for vacation again
Turkey is one of the most popular destinations among Ukrainians. Among the country's advantages are a long swimming season, a wide selection of resorts, developed hotel base, service for families with children, and the All Inclusive format.
Vacationers most often pay attention to:
- Antalya;
- Alanya;
- Kemer;
- Belek;
- Side;
- Bodrum;
- Dalaman.
The Mediterranean coast is suitable for a classic beach holiday, while the Aegean coast is for those who want a milder climate and a calmer atmosphere.
You can get to Turkey by booking an air tour departing from a neighboring country or by buying a bus tour from Ukraine. The latter option is usually cheaper. However, it should be noted that the transfers can last over a day (all this time you will have to sit in seats), and the journey to the resort can be extended due to long queues at customs.
Before paying for any tour, it is worth checking the travel duration, the number of night transfers, and the transfer conditions. In addition, you need to find out whether baggage is included in the flight cost and do not forget to purchase a travel insurance policy.
Egypt remains in the TOP for Ukrainians: where they most often go on vacation
Egypt, like Turkey, has long become a classic year-round beach holiday destination for Ukrainians. Among the most popular resorts, they note Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.
Sharm El Sheikh is more often chosen by those who love to admire coral reefs, those who want to try snorkeling and diving, and people accustomed to relaxing in large hotel complexes.
And Hurghada is preferred by tourists who seek a calmer family vacation, convenient transfer to the sea, and a variety of excursions.
In addition, in recent years, the interest of our compatriots in Marsa Alam and El Alamein has been growing. There, the tourist network is not as developed as in the locations we mentioned above. Therefore, such a vacation will appeal to people who avoid crowds and want to discover a previously unknown Egypt.
And in general, the advantages of Egypt standardly include a warm sea almost all year round and a wide selection of package tours.
At the same time, tourists need to monitor the situation in the region, entry rules, insurance and flight conditions. A visa or electronic permit may be required for a standard tourist trip. All these important nuances should be clarified at the stage of booking the tour with your tour operator or by contacting the websites of the customs and the Egyptian embassy in Ukraine.
Not just transit: what attracts tourists to Poland and the Baltic countries
In 2026, Ukrainians choose Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia both as powerful logistics hubs and as independent tourist destinations.
Through Warsaw, Katowice, Rzeszow, Gdansk, Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn, travelers fly to Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, and other countries.
At the same time, Poland and the Baltics interest our compatriots as independent destinations. In these countries, you can arrange short city trips, see the Baltic Sea, visit museums and castles, plan gastronomic routes, and relax in parks.
This format suits those vacationers who have only a few free days, refuse long flights, or have a moderate budget.
At the same time, it is important to remember the "Schengen rule": Ukrainians with a biometric passport can stay in the zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Dubai, Thailand, or Sri Lanka: which long-haul destinations do Ukrainian tourists choose
The UAE remains a destination for those seeking a warm climate, modern infrastructure, a high level of service, and a combination of urban and beach holidays.
Ukrainians most often choose Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The Emirates are convenient for winter and off-season holidays when it is still cool in Europe.
Among Asian destinations, our vacationers consider:
- Thailand;
- Vietnam;
- Indonesia;
- Malaysia;
- China;
- Sri Lanka.
Compared to others, these trips are more expensive and longer, so they are more often chosen by tourists with a larger budget or those planning a vacation for two to three weeks.
The advantage of Asia is the ocean, different culture, and a wide selection of routes. The disadvantage is complex logistics, long flights, document requirements, and the rainy season, which must be checked separately for each country.
Which European countries do travelers from Ukraine visit on vacation
Among European destinations, the following remain popular among Ukrainians:
- Greece;
- Bulgaria;
- Montenegro;
- Albania;
- Cyprus;
- Spain;
- Italy;
- Croatia.
Greece attracts with its islands, beaches, excursions, and family hotels. Bulgaria has held the status of one of the most affordable options among sea resorts for decades. Especially since you can reach its sunny beaches by convenient bus tours.
Montenegro and Albania are interesting for their combination of sea holidays, mountain activities, aesthetic landscapes for photos and videos as a souvenir of the vacation, and relatively moderate prices for accommodation and food.
Spain, Italy, and Croatia, according to tour operators, belong to a more expensive segment but offer more opportunities for cultural and gastronomic tourism.
Europe is generally convenient for Ukrainians due to its diversity: in one trip, you can manage to relax on the beach, swim in the sea, go on local excursions, visit museums, taste local cuisine, and go shopping.
But in the case of a "European" vacation, it should be taken into account that during the peak season, popular resorts are overcrowded, and prices for accommodation and tickets rise. Therefore, bus tours or hotel rooms are best booked in advance or choose flexible dates.
Domestic tourism: where to vacation in Ukraine in the summer of 2026
Despite the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, people are not giving up local recreation, and even prefer it over all other vacation options.
According to research by Ribas Hotels Group, Odesa and the coast will be the undisputed leaders of recreation among domestic tourist destinations this year. 69.8% prefer such a vacation. The second place in the ranking of the most popular resorts among Ukrainians is occupied by the Carpathians. They were preferred by 52.8%. In third place is the Kyiv region. 9.4% of Ukrainians plan to spend their summer vacation there. Lviv and Khmelnytskyi region achieved more modest results. 7.5% and 1.9% want to go there for their summer vacation, respectively.
Overall, the survey results confirmed Ukrainians' attraction to the sea and mountains as the main formats of summer recreation.
By the way, most of them will spend their vacation in 2026 with a partner. 49.1% of respondents gave this answer. Also, many of our compatriots plan a vacation with children – 28.3% of respondents, respectively. This indicates the predominantly family nature of summer recreation. Solo travel remains a niche format: only 6% of Ukrainians are ready to vacation this way.
Comfortable conditions, location, and price: what Ukrainians consider when choosing a vacation spot
When choosing a place for summer vacation, Ukrainians primarily pay attention to comfortable living conditions, location, and a favorable price.
The most important criterion for vacationers in 2026 was comfortable living conditions. This factor was named by 90.6% of respondents. In second place is location. 81.8% of respondents consider it important when choosing a vacation spot. Another 76.3% of respondents pay attention to a favorable price.
Less priority factors were the reputation of the establishment and the availability of additional services. Reputation was considered important by 34% of respondents, and additional services by 30.2%. Environmental friendliness is taken into account when choosing a vacation spot by 15.1% of respondents. The least importance for the majority of respondents is safety and the possibility of vacationing with large pets: these criteria scored 1.9% each.
Nature walks, beach, and cafes: what activities Ukrainians choose for summer vacation
The most popular activity during summer vacation among vacationers who plan to spend their entire holiday in Ukraine was nature walks. They were chosen by 71.7% of respondents.
In second place is beach recreation, which interests 67.9% of respondents. Another 62.3% of respondents noted that during their vacation they are interested in restaurants and cafes.
Spa treatments also have significant demand. This format of leisure was chosen by 47.2% of survey participants. Excursions interest 22.6% of respondents.
Entertainment and active leisure formats turned out to be less popular. Parties and children's events, hiking, karting and shooting, as well as extreme sports were chosen by 1.9% of respondents each.
Thus, Ukrainians during their summer vacation this year are primarily focused on quiet leisure formats, nature, beach recreation, and comfort. At the same time, extreme activities and entertainment events remain niche interests.
What prevents Ukrainians from choosing a vacation spot
Ukrainians name high price, low level of comfort, and poor location as the main barriers when choosing a place for summer vacation.
According to the Ribas Hotels Group survey, the most common obstacle when choosing a vacation spot in 2026 was the high price. This factor was named by 83% of respondents.
In second place is a low level of comfort. It was noted as a barrier by 75.5% of respondents. Another 62.3% of respondents pointed to a poor location.
Safety concerns remain relevant for a significant portion of Ukrainians. This factor was named by 45.3% of survey participants, which is expected in wartime conditions.
Among the listed barriers, the lack of convenient transport has the least influence on the choice of vacation spot. It was noted by 15.1% of respondents.
How to choose a tour and what vacationers should pay attention to in 2026
The first important criterion is logistics. Tour operators advise Ukrainians to analyze the full route before paying for the tour:
- where the departure is from;
- how long the journey takes;
- whether transfer is included in the tour price;
- where tourists are boarded;
- whether there are night transfers;
- how much time there is between arrival at the airport and the flight.
If you do not pay attention to these factors in advance, a seemingly cheap tour can double or even triple in price. After all, you will have to pay extra for tickets to the country of departure, a hotel for one night, baggage, food on the road, and taxis.
The second criterion is booking conditions. You need to check:
- whether the booking dates can be changed;
- what happens in case of flight cancellation;
- whether funds will be refunded for a canceled booking or a flight that did not take place;
- what amount of fine is provided for refusing the tour;
- whether insurance is included in the tour price;
- what exactly the insurance policy covers.
You need to read the conditions regarding children, baggage, transfers, and medical assistance abroad especially carefully.
Visa regime and documents during travel: what you need to know about them
Before traveling abroad, you need to check the validity of your passport. Many countries require it to be valid for several more months after the date of entry or exit. For Schengen area countries, Ukrainians with a biometric passport can travel without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. But visa-free travel does not mean an automatic right to entry: border guards may ask for documents confirming accommodation booking, a return ticket, insurance, and proof that the tourist has sufficient funds in their account.
Note that currently, a visa-free regime applies for short-term trips to Turkey. For Egypt, you need to clarify the conditions for obtaining a visa or electronic permit in advance, as the rules may differ depending on the resort and route. For the UAE, you should also check the permissible visa-free stay period and passport requirements.
If a child is traveling with one parent or with other accompanying persons, it is necessary to find out the requirements regarding the consent of the other parent and documents for the child.
Budget and tour prices in 2026
The travel budget this year depends not only on the country and hotel level. The final amount is influenced by the season, departure city, travel, baggage, meals, transfer, insurance, exchange rate, and booking date.
The cheapest are usually bus tours to Bulgaria, Montenegro, or Turkey. But travelers who want to go there will spend more time on the road.
Turkey and Egypt remain popular due to the predictable package price.
For domestic recreation, the budget also varies greatly. A farmstead in a village, a hotel in Bukovel, an apartment in Odesa, a thermal complex in Transcarpathia, or a house near the Shatsk Lakes – all these are different levels of expenditure. On average, you should count not only accommodation but also food, travel, excursions, pools, parking, and additional services.
Yes, the Odesa region has already demonstrated the most aggressive increase in the cost of recreation. It added 27% in cost at once. Experts explain this by the fact that demand in the region significantly exceeds supply, so the market reacts accordingly to the situation.
In Transcarpathia and Bukovel, the increase in tariffs is more restrained – only 16%. This is associated with higher competition in these destinations.
At the same time, the increase in the average tariff is also partly explained by inflation. Therefore, the real increase in margin is more modest than it might seem when talking about nominal terms.
It is also worth considering that early booking often helps save money, but in wartime conditions, it is important to choose options with transparent refund conditions.
The optimal approach is not to chase only the lowest price, but to compare the total cost of the trip. It is worth looking at what is included in the tour, how long the vacation will actually last excluding travel, what risks the tourist takes on, and how well the destination matches the purpose of the trip.
Reminder
Earlier we wrote about which vacation destinations in Ukraine tourists are choosing this year and how much it costs.