Do hostels in Ukraine accept cards or only cash?

Paid in cash at every hostel I used in Ukraine - mostly in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv. One place did have a card terminal, but it didn’t work with my foreign debit card. The girl at reception said that’s common and recommended cash. Even in bigger cities, smaller hostels just aren’t set up for international cards. I’d say if you want to avoid last-minute withdrawals, have enough cash on you when you arrive. The ATM inside a branch is always safer than those near hostels.

None of the hostels I stayed at in Ukraine took my card. Even when they said “cards accepted” on Booking, they all wanted cash on arrival. I stayed in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Lviv, and had to do a late-night ATM run more than once. Some staff were nice about it, but a few wouldn't even let me check in without full cash payment. Bring local currency, especially if you're arriving late. Honestly, I don’t even try using my card anymore unless it’s a hotel.

I booked all my hostels in Ukraine via Hostelworld or Booking.com using a card, but once I arrived, three out of four wanted cash at check-in. They said they “only charge the deposit” online. One hostel in Lviv had a card reader, but they added a 3% fee for using it. Best bet? Message the place a day before you arrive and ask. I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying enough cash just in case - ATM runs during check-in are a pain.

I stayed in a few hostels across Kyiv, Lviv, and Uzhhorod this spring, and only one actually accepted card when I checked in. The rest either said their machine was down or they preferred cash. One even asked me to go to a nearby Oschadbank ATM to pay in full. So yeah - I’d definitely bring enough hryvnia to cover at least your first couple nights. If you’re asking, “do Ukrainian hostels take cards at check-in?” - sometimes, but don’t count on it.