Travel Ukraine: Interesting Cities and Routes

Ukraine offers dozens of tourist itineraries—from castle tours in Zakarpattia and Lviv Oblast to cruises through the Dniester Canyon and pilgrimage trips. Organized tours allow you to see fortresses, monasteries, palaces, and unique natural sites in one or several days with convenient logistics. Learn more about the most interesting destinations and routes for traveling in Ukraine

Choose a tour in Ukraine for any taste

CHOOSE A TOUR

Ukraine boasts an extensive network of tourist routes that take in fortresses, castles, ancient monasteries, and picturesque canyons. Travelers can choose from day trips or multi-day tours featuring a packed itinerary and professional guides. Among the most popular destinations are Podillia, Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Ternopil regions, where iconic architectural and natural landmarks are concentrated.

We’ll tell you which routes are worth considering for your next trip in the article below.

Kamianets-Podilskyi, Bakota, and a cruise through the Dniester Canyon

Podillia remains one of the most interesting destinations for tourist travel in Ukraine. The “Bakota, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Chernivtsi” tour lasts three days and departs from Lviv or Ivano-Frankivsk. On the first day, travelers head to Chernivtsi, where they tour the famous university and the historic city center. The route then continues to Kamianets-Podilskyi, where a full-fledged tour of the old town and the fortress is included. A separate day is dedicated to Bakota with its unique rock monastery, and the tour concludes with a cruise through the Dniester Canyon, a visit to the Khotyn Fortress, and a tour of the Verteba Cave in Bilche-Zolote.

For those with less time, the two-day itinerary “Kamianets-Podilskyi Cruise + Bakota” is a good fit. It starts from Lviv or Ternopil and includes a tour of the Khotyn Fortress, panoramic views of Bakota with its rock monastery, and a detailed tour of Kamianets-Podilskyi. The highlight is a boat cruise through the picturesque Dniester Canyon. Both tours allow you to see the main sights of Podillia at a comfortable pace—with organized meals and hotel accommodations.

Where to go in Ukraine this summer — read here.

Castles of Transcarpathia: from Mukachevo to Vynogradiv

Transcarpathia is known for having the highest concentration of medieval castles in Ukraine—its territory preserves the buildings and ruins of twelve fortifications built between the 10th and 16th centuries. The one-day “Tour of Transcarpathian Castles + Mukachevo” begins in Uzhhorod and passes through Serednye, home to the mysterious Serednyansky Castle—an eastern outpost of the Knights Templar. In Mukachevo, participants explore the historic center with St. Martin’s Cathedral and Palanok Castle, considered one of the seven architectural wonders of Ukraine. The route then leads to the 15th-century “St. Miklos” Castle of Love in Chynadiyevo and the hunting castle of the Schönborn counts with its ancient arboretum.

The “Forgotten Castles of Transcarpathia” tour offers a different take on Transcarpathian heritage. This route focuses on lesser-known but historically significant sites. Among them is Khust Castle atop Zamkova Mountain, which took over a century to build to guard the salt route. Next is the Kankiv Castle in Vynogradiv, converted into a monastery by the Franciscans, and the Royal Castle of Nyalab in the village of Korolevo, founded thanks to the hunting expeditions of Hungarian King Stephen V. The first written records of this fortress date back to 1262.

Where to go from Chernivtsi for 1–2 days — read about it in this article.

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Castle Routes in Lviv and Ternopil Regions

The Lviv and Ternopil regions offer routes centered around palaces and fortresses that formed the defensive belt of Galicia and Volhynia. The “Golden Horseshoe of Lviv Region — Castles of Lviv Region” tour covers three notable castles in a single day. Olesko Castle—a 14th–18th-century museum-reserve, Pidhirtsi Castle with an Italian-style park (rare for Ukraine) and bastion fortifications, as well as Zolochiv Castle—a monument of defensive architecture that now houses a branch of the Lviv Art Gallery.

In the Ternopil region, a similar program is offered by the “Castles of Ternopil” tour, which starts in Lutsk. The route begins at Kremenets Castle on Mount Bona, offering panoramic views of the Kremenets Tovtry. Next is the Vyshnevetsky Palace, built in the French Renaissance style—the only one of its kind in Ukraine. The program concludes with Zbarazh Castle, which combines palace architecture with fortifications. In the evening, participants have the opportunity to stroll through Ternopil and appreciate the charm of this Galician city with its pedestrian zones and ancient churches.

Where to see the best panoramas of the Carpathians — we covered that here.

One-day itineraries: Drohobych, Svirzh, and pilgrimage sites

Among the one-day itineraries, the tour “All of Drohobych in 1 Day” stands out, offering a deep exploration of this specific city. Over the course of the day, participants visit an active saltworks, St. George’s Church, the multimedia exhibition “Bruno Schulz and His City,” a synagogue, and take part in the theatrical tour “Secrets of the Drohobych Town Hall,” which includes a visit to the observation deck. The program also includes a tasting of local honey cakes and honey cookies. Tourists travel between sites on foot—the walks are short and easy.

Another one-day route is “The Silver Crown of Lviv Region: PARK3020, Svirzh, and Univ”. It combines three diverse sites: Svirzh Castle, Ukraine’s first park of contemporary sculpture, PARK 3020, in Strilky, and the Univ Lavra—an active monastery with a centuries-old history.

For those seeking a spiritually enriching journey, the tour “Pilgrimage from Starunia to Pohon and Manyava” is available. In a single day, participants visit the monastery in Pohonia with its miraculous icon, the Pilgrimage Center of Blessed Simeon Lukach in Starunia, and the Manyava Monastery with a walking trail to the Blessed Stone. The route begins and ends in Lviv.

The Visit Ukraine portal offers a wide selection of organized tours across Ukraine—from one-day castle excursions to multi-day itineraries featuring cruises and visits to historic cities. All tours include professional guidance, well-planned logistics, and a packed itinerary.

Choose a tour that suits your interests and discover a new side of Ukraine!

Remember! Bakota is among the most popular tourist destinations in Podillia thanks to its rock monastery, the Dniester Canyon, and picturesque panoramas. Tours of various durations are currently available, ranging from one-day trips to three-day itineraries that include visits to Kamianets-Podilskyi, Khotyn, and Chernivtsi. For information on tours to Bakota in 2026, what’s included in the programs, and how to choose an itinerary that suits your needs—click the link.

Photo: Pixabay

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