Five Ukrainian villages are vying for the title of the world’s best according to UN Tourism 2026

In 2026, five Ukrainian villages submitted applications for the UN Tourism international competition “Best Tourism Villages.” Find out what Opishnia, Kryvorivnia, Vyhoda, Kytayhorod, and Medzhybizh are known for, and when the winners will be announced

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Last year, two villages in Zakarpattia—Kolochava and Synevyrska Polyana—were included in the list of the world’s best tourist villages according to the UN World Tourism Organization. In 2026, five new Ukrainian contenders have a chance to repeat this success. This was reported by the Travel Press Club.

The application period for the UN Tourism “Best Tourism Villages” competition closed on June 9, 2026. From July through September, an international team of experts will evaluate all participants, and the winners will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2026—likely in October, as was the case last year.

Read also: “Lake of Youth” in Bukovel Receives Blue Flag — the World's First Mountain Lake with International Quality Certification.

Opishnia (Poltava region): a Cossack town of potters

Opishnia is an ancient Cossack town in the Poltava region, which is now considered the main center of modern Ukrainian pottery. It is home to pottery workshops, museums, and traditions passed down from generation to generation. The town has long been a magnet for those who want to experience living folk culture and see how authentic ceramic pieces are born from the hands of a master.

Kryvorivnia (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast): the spiritual capital of Hutsulshchyna

Kryvorivnia is a legendary high-mountain village in Hutsulshchyna, considered the spiritual and cultural capital of the Carpathians. Authentic Hutsul traditions are preserved here, unspoiled by the pressures of tourism. At the same time, Kryvorivnia is known to a wider audience as the filming location for iconic Ukrainian films.

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Vygoda (Ivano-Frankivsk region): a narrow-gauge railway in the heart of the Carpathians

Vygoda is a picturesque village at the foot of the Carpathians, attracting tourists primarily with its unique narrow-gauge railway. Today, a tourist mini-train runs on it—a rare attraction that combines authentic transportation with Carpathian landscapes. For families with children, this is a particularly unforgettable experience.

Kytayhorod (Khmelnytskyi Oblast): a canyon and geological uniqueness

Kytayhorod in the Khmelnytskyi region is known primarily for the deep canyon of the Ternava River and a unique geological natural monument—the so-called Kytayhorod outcrop. This place attracts tourists who appreciate natural beauty and geological rarity, a landscape unlike any other in Ukraine.

Medzhybizh (Khmelnytskyi Oblast): Fortress and Sacred Heritage

Medzhybizh is a village with a dual tourist identity. On the one hand, it is home to a majestic 14th-century fortress, one of the best-preserved medieval strongholds in western Ukraine.

On the other hand, Medzhybizh is an important pilgrimage site: it is home to the grave of Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, which is visited annually by thousands of pilgrims from around the world.

What’s next: when the winners will be announced

After the application deadline on June 9, an international expert team from UNWTO will evaluate all participating villages from July through September. The final results will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2026. Last year, this took place in mid-October.

If any of the five contenders makes it to the winners’ list, Ukraine will confirm its place on the world’s tourism map for the second time in a row as a country with a unique rural heritage. And to discover these places on your own even before the results are announced, be sure to visit them this summer—through Visit Ukraine, you can find pre-planned tours to various regions of Ukraine.

We remind you! The Carpathians are an ideal destination for hiking: there are routes for every skill level, from easy walks to climbs up two-thousand-meter peaks. Modern tours combine hiking with rafting, horseback riding, and Hutsul cuisine. Read more about the most interesting hikes in the Carpathians and what’s included in their itineraries.

Photo: Depositphotos

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