12 Best Shopping in Ukraine

Ukrainian amber is renowned around the world, and visitors with a fondness for the honey-colored resin won't want to miss a visit to the Amber House salon, which features gorgeous pieces of art integrating tiny pieces of amber and other stones into their canvasses.

Designed with families in mind, the modern five-story mall is full of local and international chain stores, beauty salons, and cafés serving everything from pizza to frozen yoghurt. Entertainment options abound and include a movie multiplex, a kids' activity center with games, and a virtual reality hall.

Right in the center of Kiev, this is a historic indoor market selling all kinds of produce, meats, spices, and other food items piled high in glorious displays. Housed in a tall structure dating back to 1910, the market takes its name from Bessarabia, a historic region in present-day Moldova and Southern Ukraine.

Button is one of best firm perfume shops in Odessa, where you can buy niche brands like M. Micallef and Jivago. The store's hand-made glass bottles are legendary. You can also create your own fragrance at the in-store perfume bar.

Cellar of the Massandra Winery was founded more than 100 years ago as the winery and vineyards of the Czar. The specialties are sweet wines, which are inexpensive by European standards.

The centrally located City Mall is one of the most popular shopping spots in town, with lots of chain and department stores and a packed calendar of events ranging from musical performances to craft fairs. There's also a children's play area and a food court with a selection of fast-food options, along with a movie multiplex and an enormous branch of French supermarket chain, Auchan.

An enormous concept shopping center featuring stores selling everything from electronics to groceries, Dream Town also has a movie theater, ice- and roller-skating rinks, video game arcades, kids' play areas, and even an aquatic park. The food court follows the international norm, including a few American fast-food chains. It's a huge place and what it lacks in authentic Ukrainian atmosphere it makes up for in excellent people-watching potential.

Kherson's first proper mall, the single-story Fabrika houses around 200 shops. Local fashion boutiques stand alongside international brands such as Top Shop and Pierre Cardin, and there are plenty of coffee shops and fast-food joints (including the city's first McDonald's). There’s even a six-screen multiplex.

Fortuna has more than 100 kinds of hand-rolled cigars, cigarillas, pipes, and tobacco as well as accessories from the leading manufacturers. It's the largest tobacconist in Ukraine.

This gorgeous, sky-lit shopping arcade dates back to the late 19th century. The passage cuts through the ground floor of the Passage Hotel and is covered with beautifully carved busts and intricate molding over the storefronts. Shops range from quirky boutiques to souvenir stalls.

Odessa's largest open-air food market, which dates back to the early 19th century, is a great place to pick up spices, homemade snacks, and fresh produce. Even if you don't have a spot to cook in the city, its multiple stalls stacked with local goods make it a great spot for taking photographs, especially if you come at sunrise when vendors are setting up for the day.

On the outskirts of town, the enormous Riviera Shopping City is a good spot to check out how Ukrainians are increasingly getting their shopping done—in American-style malls. Riviera has more than 200 local and international chain stores—from Mango to United Colours of Benetton—along with a bowling alley, a kids' area, a movie theater, and plenty of fast food joints. There's also a large branch of the French supermarket chain, Auchan.