10 Places in Ukraine That Look Like They're Abroad

Ukraine has destinations that rival popular European destinations in terms of atmosphere and architecture. From the Viennese facades of Chernivtsi to the Alpine landscapes of the Carpathians—you can experience “Europe” without a flight or a visa. Learn more about places in Ukraine that resemble foreign resorts, and the tours that can take you there

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Ukraine impresses with its diverse landscapes and architectural styles, which are often compared to the most famous corners of Europe. The Viennese architecture of Chernivtsi, the canyons of Podillia, castles straight out of French postcards, and tulip fields—you can see all of this while traveling within your own country. You don’t need a passport or long flights to do this.

We’ll tell you more about which locations give you the feeling of traveling through Europe in this article.

Chernivtsi, Kamianets-Podilskyi, and Bakota: Vienna, Montenegro, and the Middle Ages in Ukraine

Chernivtsi is often called Little Vienna—and deservedly so. The Austro-Hungarian heritage is evident here in every detail: from Kobylianska Street with its elegant facades to the Residence of the Bukovinian Metropolitans, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the “Weekend in Chernivtsi: Ivasyuk, Mykolaychuk, and Malanka” tour, you can take a two-day theatrical city tour, visit the Volodymyr Ivasyuk Museum, travel to the Bukovinian cheese factory “Dobri Gazdy” in Mykhailivka, and learn about the Malanka traditions in Vashkivtsi. The itinerary combines the city’s architectural elegance with the authentic Bukovinian charm of the surrounding villages.

The three-day tour “Wonders of Podillia and Bukovina + Bakota” allows you to combine Chernivtsi with several other impressive locations. After a sightseeing tour of the city, the route leads to the Khotyn Fortress—one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine—and then to the rock monastery in Bakota and the Dniester Canyon. A boat ride through the canyon is reminiscent of a journey through the fjords of Montenegro or Norway—rocky shores, turquoise water, and silence all around. On the third day, the itinerary covers the old town of Kamianets-Podilskyi along with the fortress and the Smotrych Canyon.

Kamianets-Podilskyi is yet another location that looks like a set from a European historical film. The three-hour tour “Kamianets-Podilskyi — A Fascinating Journey into the Heart of History” will take you on a three-hour walk through the cobblestone streets of the Old Town, past the Dominican Monastery and the Cathedral with its minaret, to the Kamianets Fortress. The combination of defensive architecture, the Turkish Bridge, and panoramic views from the fortress walls is reminiscent of medieval cities in Southern Europe.

Where to go from Lviv for the weekend — read about it in this article.

Castles of Lviv, Ternopil, and Zakarpattia Regions: Ukraine’s Palace Routes

The Olesko, Pidhirtsi, and Zolochiv castles form the so-called Golden Horseshoe of Lviv Region—a route that, in a single day, offers a glimpse into European palace architecture of the 14th–18th centuries. On the one-day tour “The Golden Horseshoe of Lviv Region — Castles of Lviv Region”, you can see Pidhirtsi Park, modeled after Italian parks and unique to Ukraine, as well as visit the museum-reserve at Zolochiv Castle, which houses the collection of the Lviv Art Gallery.

The Ternopil region offers its own castle route on the “Castles of Ternopil” tour. The Vyshnevetsky Palace, built in the French Renaissance style, is often called the “Versailles of Volhynia”—Taras Shevchenko and Honoré de Balzac once stayed here. Kremenets Castle on Mount Bona offers panoramic views of the Kremenets Tovtry, while Zbarazh Castle combines the functions of a fortress and a palace with medieval exhibits inside. The one-day program concludes with an evening stroll through Ternopil and, if desired, a boat ride on Europe’s largest urban pond.

The castles of Transcarpathia transport you back to the era of the knightly orders. The “Tour of Transcarpathian Castles + Mukachevo” one-day tour covers Serednyansky Castle—an outpost of the Knights Templar, Palanok Castle in Mukachevo, St. Miklos Castle in Chynadiyevo, and the hunting castle of the Counts of Schönborn in the Neo-Romantic style with Gothic motifs. The itinerary also includes a walk through an ancient arboretum to the Fountain of Youth and a lake with swans.

By the way, in our previous article we discussed, where to vacation in Ukraine on a budget.

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Odessa and Mezhyhirya: Resort Atmosphere and Park Luxury

Odessa, with its seaside boulevards, southern character, and Mediterranean architecture, has long been associated with the resorts of Italy and Southern France. The two-day tour “Black Sea Weekend: Odessa, Akkerman Fortress, Shabo Wine Culture Center, Film Studio, Catacombs” adds to the classic Odessa experience a visit to the Akkerman Fortress in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi—one of the most imposing fortresses in the South, whose walls rise above the waters of the estuary. At the “Shabo” Wine Culture Center, you can visit 200-year-old cellars, a vineyard, and enjoy a tasting—the atmosphere resembles the wine regions of Tuscany or Provence. On the second day, the itinerary includes the “Criminal Odessa” tour through Moldavanka, the Odessa catacombs, and a visit to the film studio.

Just 30 minutes from the center of Kyiv lies the Mezhyhiria park complex, which in scale and landscape design resembles grand European residences. The tour “Mezhyhiria — the former president’s residence. Private tour” will take you through 140 hectares of landscaped avenues, Japanese gardens, artificial waterfalls, and lakes. The grounds feature golf courses, a museum of vintage cars, and the “Club House” made of Karelian pine. The route is also interesting from a historical perspective—one of the most famous monasteries of the Kyiv Rus era once stood on the territory of Mezhyhiria.

Where to go for the first time in the Carpathians — we tell you here.

The tulip fields of Volyn and the Alpine ridges of the Carpathians

Every spring, Volyn transforms into a veritable Holland—this is the name given to a three-hectare flower farm planted with multicolored tulips. The one-day tour “Volyn Holland” begins with a walk through the Tunnel of Love near Klevan—a natural green corridor over the railroad tracks, considered one of the most romantic places in Ukraine. After the tulip fields, the route leads to Lutsk, where you can visit Lubart’s Castle, the Bell Museum, a 15th-century pharmacy-museum, and see the Kosach family home, where Lesya Ukrainka wrote her first poem.

The Carpathians are often compared to the Swiss Alps—and the Borzhava Range provides good reason for this. On the two-day tour “Borzhava, Synevyr + Rikka Khust”, the itinerary includes a walk to Lake Synevyr—the largest mountain lake in the Carpathians—a visit to the Rikka Khust thermal complex with its warm pools and spa, and the next day—a hike up Mount Hymba with a panoramic view of the Borzhava Range and a visit to the Shipit Waterfall. The combination of mountain landscapes and thermal springs creates an atmosphere familiar to those who have visited Alpine resorts in Austria or Switzerland.

The Visit Ukraine portal offers tours along the country’s most interesting routes—from castle getaways to Carpathian adventures and Black Sea trips. Each itinerary is designed with comfort and a rich program in mind.

Choose the tour that’s right for you, and see for yourself that traveling through Ukraine is all you need for unforgettable experiences!

Remember! Ukraine is rich in natural attractions worth seeing with your own eyes: from Carpathian waterfalls to the underground labyrinths of Podillia. Ready-made itineraries let you visit the most interesting locations in a single day or plan a full-fledged trip lasting several days. Read more about the best waterfall and cave tours in Ukraine from Visit Ukraine by following the link.

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