Experience in Vinnytsia, Ukraine by Mark

What is it like to live in Vinnytsia? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Situated on the River Bug, Vinnitsia is one of the nicer looking and better kept Ukrainian cities and has won national awards for this. That said Ukraine is a poor country and Vinnitsia like most ex soviet bloc countries is still blighted by many ugly buildings from the Soviet era. It has a number of good quality restaurants. Transportation links are good. The weather can be very cold in the winter (-20) and sometimes very hot in some parts of the summer (38c-40c)

What is the student lifestyle like in Vinnytsia?

Vinnitsia is a cheap place to live which is one of the most important factors. There are many foreign students who study medicine at the Piragov Institute, which is a world class medical university.

How much does it cost to live in Vinnytsia?

Good quality student accommodation is available for $100-$200 pcm. Food is generally cheap as is eating out. Transportation is cheap.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Vinnytsia? Is there any advice you can give?

Accommodation is plentiful. There are some modern apartment blocks not very far from the Piragov Institute, often available for rent.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

You can buy most kinds of food in Vinnitsia. Best to look in the Urajai market. Ukrainian cuisine is worth trying: Borsht, Galypsoi and Ukrainian sausage (if you eat pork). You can also find fresh water fish dishes such as carp and pike.

What places would you recommend visiting in Vinnytsia?

The park in the centre of Vinnitsia just above Sobornoi Street is very pleasant with some fountains and surrounded by cafes and restaurants. It has a small museum devoted to the Afghan war. It is worth seeing the jet fountains near the chocolate factory when they are running. Some of the villages surrounding the city are also quite pleasant, for example Luka Malevshivska. Also try the Hammam which is on Piragov Street. Its a bit expensive as things go in the Ukraine but really worth the experience. You will need to book treatments there in advance.

Is it good to eat out in Vinnytsia? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There is a very good Georgian near Sobornoi Street which is the main street through the centre of Vinnitsia. You can also find many other restaurants, even two Macdonalds and an Italian pizza restaurant,owned and run by an Italian from Rimini (he doesnit speak English.

Is the nightlife good in Vinnytsia? Where is good to go?

My son tells me that there are no good nightclubs but there are some. I quite like a pub near Ploshad Pobedi which sometimes has a live band playing 1970's and 80's rock and they are pretty good.

What advice would you give future students heading to Vinnytsia?

Not many people speak English or any other foreign language in Vinnitsia so if you are going to go there as a student you really do need to learn at least modestly good Russian to get by. Try to do the Babel course online.