Tourist routes in the Ukraine for independent travelers
All of the places mentioned in this article you can visit by public transport and sometimes by taxi. All the routes start in Kyiv, but you can go from any other city.
Budget means travel expences (at least second class in the train), 2-course meal, 2-3 stars hotel or higher.
Attention: departure and arrival times of the trains may vary during the year, but only slightly. Actual schedule always check here - http://booking.uz.gov.ua/en/.
Day trips from Kiev
Lviv
What to see: The most developed city for tourists in Ukraine.
Transportation: night trains or intercity
Budget for two: $100
Petra Doroshenka St. ©Yuriy Buriak
Odessa
What to see: sea, promenade, port, Potemkin Steps, Deribassovska street, beaches, Humor festival on the 1st of April
Transportation: night train
Budget for two: $100
Langeron Beach ©Yuriy Buriak
Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khotyn
What to see: the old town and castle in Kamianets-Podilskyi, fortress in Khotyn
Transportation: night train to Kamianets-Podilskyi arrives early in the morning at 5:30. Near the railway station find a bus to Khotyn, but keep in mind that Khotyn castle is open from 9 am. Before the opening territory may be closed, although we visited territory without any problems. From Khotyn go by foot to the main road and catch any minibus, they all go to Kamianets-Podilskyi, where you can explore old town and castle. The second option: first go to the old town on shuttle bus number 7 from the train station, walk there, go to bus station and only then to Khotyn. We returned to Kyiv on the night train at 23:48, but there are other trains earlier and later.
Budget for two: $100
Cat in the old town of Kamianets-Podilskyi ©Yuriy Buriak
Arboretum in Uman
What to see: The best arboretum Ukraine
Transportation: taxi or bus from the central bus station in Kiev, travel time 2 hours
Budget for two: no more than $50
Sofiyivka Arboretum in Uman ©Yuriy Buriak
Mezhyhiria
What to see: luxury residence of the former ukrainian President
Transportation: bus from the metro station Heroes of the Dnieper in Kyiv
Budget for two: $10 if you just walk around the area and $50 if you are going to attend Honka, automobile museum, etc.
Honka ©Yuriy Buriak
Chornobyl
What to see: the most expensive tragedy in the history of mankind
Transportation: only with a travel agency, for example https://chernobyl-tour.com.
Budget for two: $300 for foreigners with an interpreter
Observation deck near the 4th reactor ©Yuriy Buriak
Lutsk
What to see: the old city and the castle
Transportation: night train
Budget for two: $100
Lubart's Castle, the symbol of the city ©Yuriy Buriak
Chernivtsi
What to see: one of the most beautiful buildings in Ukraine - Chernivtsi University, as well as the renovated old town
Transportation: night train
Budget for two: $100
Pedestrian street of Olga Kobylyanska ©Yuriy Buriak
Chernigiv
What to see: beautiful city with a large number of churches and nice center.
Transportation: bus from the metro station Chernihivska in Kyiv, travel time about 2 hours
Budget for two: $50
St. Catherine's Cathedral and a gun ©Yuriy Buriak
Ivano-Frankivsk
What to see: Town Hall, downtown, Independence street and urban lake
Transportation: night trains
Budget for two: $100
Sheptytsky square ©Yuriy Buriak
Kharkiv
What to see: first capital of Ukraine
Transportation: night train or intercity
Budget for two: from $151 to $200
Cascade Fountain ©Yuriy Buriak
Ternopil
What to see: beautiful sunset on the city lake, city center and restaurant "Old Mlyn"
Transportation: night train or intercity
Budget for two: from $151 to $200
Ternopil Pond at sunset ©Yuriy Buriak
Uzhgorod
What to see: castle, skansen and the cherry blossom in the city center in spring
Transportation: night trains
Budget for two: from $101 to $150
Uzhgorod ©Yuriy Buriak
Sambir, Drohobych
What to see: Two old towns in one day
Transportation: night train to Sambir (20:45 - 6:15). From Sambir to Drohobych by bus. Back to Kyiv on the night train from Drohobych (20:37 - 7:15).
Options: in the morning you can go the village of Rudki on any bus from the train station in the direction of Lviv and watch there Fredro Palace.
Budget for two: $100
Market Square view from the City Hall ©Yuriy Buriak
Zaporizhzhya
What to see: first of all the Khortytsya island, capital of Cossacks
Transportation: night train or intercity
Budget for two: $100
Bungee jumping bridge ©Nastya Mironets
Dnipropetrovsk
What to see: beautiful promenade and city parks
Transportation: night train or intercity
Budget for two: $100
Fountain at the waterfront, look for a rainbow ©Yuriy Buriak
Poltava
What to see: city center, museum of Poltava battle and rotunda of Friendship
Transportation: intercity
Budget for two: $100
Rotunda of Friendship of Peoples - a symbol of the city ©Yuriy Buriak
Sumy
What to see: city center, Resurrection Cathedral, children's park "Skazka" ("fairy tale")
Transportation: at the moment (2017) there is no convinient trains.
Budget for two: $100
In the downtown, Voskresenska Street ©Yuriy Buriak
Samchyky, Starokostyantyniv, Khmelnytsky
What to see: Khmelnytsky, palace and park in Samchyky, castle ruins and tower in Starokostyantyniv
Transportation: to Khmelnitsky on Intercity from Darnytsa station in Kyiv or on the night trains. Upon arrival, decide what to do. We went by bus to Starokostyantyniv (1 hour). There took a taxi to Samchyky (15 km), walked there and call the taxi driver to take us back to Starokostyantyniv. Walked there and went to Khmelnytsky from the city center by bus. Back to Kyiv on intercity in the evening or on the night train.
Budget for two: from $101 to $150
Facade ©Yuriy Buriak
Letychiv, Medzhybizh, Khmelnytsky
What to see: Letychiv Dominican monastery, Medzhybizh Fortress, Khmelnytsky
Transportation: morning train to Vinnytsia from Darnytsa station in Kyiv. By tram №4 or buses 23A, 29A go to the Western Bus Station. Then by bus to Letychiv (1 hour 20 minutes). There you can visit monastery, monument to Karmalyuk and his tower. Then on any bus in the direction of Khmelnytsky go to Medzhybizh (20 minutes). Visit Medzhybizh Fortress and continue on any bus to Khmelnytsky. Back to Kyiv you can return on the intercity or on the night train from Khmelnytsky.
Budget for two: $100
Medzhybizh ©Yuriy Buriak
Kaniv
What to see: Tarasova mountain with the museum of Taras Shevchenko, the founder of ukrainian language is buried here. Also beautiful scenery, an Assumption Cathedral and armored train.
Transportation: bus from the bus station Vydubychi in Kyiv, travel time about 2 hours.
Budget for two: $50
Monument on the Taras Shevchenko grave ©Yuriy Buriak
Korosten
What to see: beautiful park and the main street
Transportation: bus from the metro station Svyatoshyn in Kyiv, travel time 2 hours. Ask driver to stop near the park. Back to Kyiv buses run from train station (google maps).
Budget for two: no more than $50
Ostrovsky Park in Korosten ©Yuriy Buriak
Radomysl Castle
What to see: park complex with a castle and museum of home icon
Transportation: bus from the metro station Zhytomyrska in Kyiv, travel time 1 hour 20 minutes. From the bus station you can walk (3 km) or take a taxi for $2.5-3.5. Take the phone from the taxi driver to return back to the bus station.
Budget for two: no more than $50
Radomysl Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Oleksandriya Park in Bila Tserkva
What to see: nice park
Transportation: minibus from the train / railway station or from Lybidska metro station to Bila Tserkva. From Freedom Square (the center) in the Bila Tserkva go to park on the buses №1 or №22 to the stop "Klinika" or stop "Pionerska".
Budget for two: no more than $50
Oleksandriya Park in Bila Tserkva ©Yuriy Buriak
Buky (Kyiv region)
What to see: picturesque park
Transportation: take a minibus from the metro station Lybidska to Skvira. There take a taxi to the village of Buky and take phone from the taxi driver to return back to Skvira.
Budget for two: $75
View of the park complex from the frog sculptures ©Yuriy Buriak
Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky
What to see: Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Central Ukraine (Skansen)
Transportation: By minibus from the Chernihivska metro station that will take you to the bus station. Then either take a taxi ($2) or go on foot along the Bogdan Khmelnytsky Street and then across the private sector for about 15-20 minutes. You can ask the locals how to get to the museum ("muzey" in Ukrainian).
Budget for two: $50
Museum-estate of beekeeping ©Yuriy Buriak
City park in Bucha
What to see: nice park
Transportation: Bucha can be reached by different minibuses from the metro station Sviatoshyn in Kyiv, for example 380, 381, 387, 746, 816, 817. Entrance to the park is marked on the map below.
Budget for two: $10
Rotunda in the city park in Bucha ©Yuriy Buriak
Zoo "12 months"
What to see: the newest zoo in Ukraine
Transportation: read here
Budget for two: $20
Zoo "12 months" ©Yuriy Buriak
Sukholuchchya, the hunting residence of Yanukovych
What to see: the hunting residence of the runaway Yanukovych, something like Mezhyhiria, only smaller. There is also a contact zoo.
Transport: as of 2019 only by own car
Overnight: it is possible to stay with your tent for $8.
Budget for two: tickets $4 + visit to the cafe
Sukholuchchya, the hunting residence of Yanukovych ©Yuriy Buriak
Family Historical Park Kievan Rus
What to see: learn the history of Kyiv in an authentic setting, see the performances, taste the ancient dishes and learn crafts
Transport: on your own transport or on a minibus on weekends, information is here
Overnight: it is possible to spend the night, information is here.
Budget for two: tickets $12 + travel + food + souvenirs + events
Family Historical Park Kievan Rus ©Yuriy Buriak
Two day trips from Kyiv
Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khotyn, Skala-Podilska, Zhvanets
What to see: the old town and castle in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khotyn fortress, castle ruins and landscapes in the Skala-Podolska and Zhvanets
Transportation: Night Train to Kamianets-Podilskyi arrives early in the morning at 5:30. Go to old town on a shuttle bus number 7 from the train station, walk there, then go to bus station and take a bus to Khotyn. Leave the bus in the center, take a taxi to the fortress. You can take phone number from the taxi driver. After a visit go to Zhvanets on the taxi (5 km). Also you can walk to the main road and catch any bus, they all go to the Kamianets-Podilskyi through Zhvanets. From Zhvanets continue to Kamianets-Podilskyi on any bus. Skala-Podilska is easily reachable by bus from the bus station in Kamianets-Podilskyi. We returned to Kyiv on the night train at 23:48, but there are other trains earlier and later.
Accommodation: It is not a problem to find a hotel in Kamianets-Podilskyi, better stay in the old town
Budget for two: $200
Castle-fortress in Khotyn ©Yuriy Buriak
Vinnytsia, Tulchyn, Nemyriv, Pechora, Voronovytsia
What to see: The best fountain of Ukraine and the central street in Vinnytsia. Potocki Palace in Tulchyn, Potocki crypt and Southern Bug River in Pechora, Shcherbatov palace in Nemyriv and Grokholski palace in Voronovytsia.
Transportation: morning train to Vinnitsa from Darnytsa station in Kyiv. Then by bus 20A or 31, trolleybus №6, any tram to stop Museum of Kotsyubynsky or by foot (2 km) you need to reach the central bus station. Then by bus to Tulchyn (1 hour 30 minutes). Bus stop is near the Potocki Palace. Return to Vinnytsia, walk around the city and visit the fountain in the evening. The next morning we went to Nemyriv by bus (50 minutes), walked around Shcherbatov palace. Then found a taxi ($35) that took us to several places in Pechora and then drove to the palace of Groholsky in Voronovytsia. From the palace we went on foot to the main road (1 km) and took a bus to Vinnytsia. Back to Kyiv we returned on the evening intercity Ternopil - Darnytsa.
What else to see near Vinnytsia: Hitler's headquarters Werewolf (take the bus from the train station to the village of Stryzhavka, ask to stop near the Werewolf). Mehring Palace in Stara Priluka (bus from the bus station №3, Vatutina str., 18. From the railway station take a trolley bus #7 or buses 3A, 3B, 20A).
Accommodation: We stayed at the hotel Podillia (http://www.booking.com/hotel/ua/podillia.en-gb.html), soviet-style 2 star hotel in the center.
Budget for two: $200
Potocki Palace in Tulchyn ©Yuriy Buriak
Ternopil, Zbarazh castle, Kremenets, Chortkiv, Terebovlia, Berezhany, Arboretum in Rai, Skalat, Brody, Belokrinitsa, Vyshnivets Palace, Pidkamin, Mykulyntsi
What to see: Ternopil and various small old towns in the Ternopil region.
Transportation: night train to Ternopil and back. Using buses (http://bus.com.ua/cgi-bin/bus-gn?tr=1), plan the program, depending on the number of days and leave the time for Ternopil.
1 day - Chortkiv, Terebovlia (Mykulyntsi)
1 day - Buchach, Mykulyntsi
1 day - Kremenets, Belokrinitsa, Vyshnivets Palace, Zbarazh castle
1 day - Berezhany, Arboretum in Rai, Skalat
1 day - Brody, Pidkamin
Accommodation: For the first time we stayed in this hotel in Ternopil http://alligator.te.ua/?lang=en. It has a large water park! Last time we stayed at hotel "Ternopil" (http://www.hotelternopil.com/).
Budget for two: $101 - $150
View of Kremenets and Jesuit Collegium ©Yuriy Buriak
Dubno Castle, Tarakaniv Fort and Klevan
What to see: Dubno Castle, Tarakaniv Fort, tunnel of love and remains of the castle in Klevan.
Transportation: This route is much more convenient to travel by car, but you can use public transport. However, keep in mind that travel time by bus to Dubno from train station in Kyiv is about 6 hours. First we visited Dubno Castle, then on the taxi went to Tarakaniv fort. On the taxi we returned to Dubno and went to Rivne by bus (1 hour). From Rivne to Klevan by bus is about 30 minutes to go. From Rivne to Kyiv by bus is about 5 hours to go.
Accommodation: We stayed in this hotel between Rivne and Klevan http://park-hotel.rv.ua/en.
Budget for two: $200
"Tunnel of Love" in Klevan ©Yuriy Buriak
Lviv + surroundings (for example Zhovkva, Stryi)
What to see: Rest in Lviv easily combined with a visit to the many interesting places in the Lviv region, which can be reached by bus, taxi or train. So, as we have seen most of the interesting places in the area, this time, in addition to Lviv, we visited the little-known Zhovkva and Stryi.
Transportation: night trains or intercity to Lviv. Stryi is easily reached by bus from the train station in Lviv or by local train from the suburban railway station, which is located nearby. To Zhovkva is better to go by taxi (32 km, we paid $19) and return back by bus.
What else is near the Lviv: a lot of places which are reachable by bus, check our map.
Accommodation: It is no a problem to find accommodation in Lviv
Budget for two: $200
Castle in Zhovkva ©Yuriy Buriak
Shatsky Lakes
What to do here: swim, relax and ride a bike around the deepest lake in Ukraine
Transportation: night train to Kovel, then bus to Shatsk or Svityaz. Back on the bus to Kovel and on the night train to Kyiv.
Accommodation: better to find and book in advance, find here links to websites.
Budget for two: from $151 to $200
Sunset on the lake Svitiaz ©Yuriy Buriak