Ukraine's great advantage is the diversity of its nature. In the southwest are the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, while the southern part of the country stretches to the Black Sea. However, there are also picturesque landscapes elsewhere, which is why it is worth taking a trip not by plane, but by car. Traveling by car offers the freedom to make stops whenever you want, and to discover smaller places that you would simply fly over by plane.
The first Ukrainian city
The fastest way to get to Ukraine is through Belarus, and fortunately, crossing the country has become much easier. Traveling to Ukraine in one day may be a bit too much, so an overnight stay in Lithuania or Belarus is perfectly suitable. On the second day of travel, however, you will reach Ukraine, and the first city to make a longer stop is Chernihiv. It is one of the oldest cities in Kievan Rus', first mentioned in 907.
The city's main square shares its name with Moscow's Red Square, but is significantly smaller, but just as beautiful and grand. Right next to the square is a park where you can explore several different churches. The most notable of these is the 12th-century Boryso-Hlibsky Cathedral. Another important attraction is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, whose 58-meter-high bell tower offers a beautiful view of the entire city panorama.
And like in the capital, Chernihiv also has caves used by monks (1 euro), with 315 meters of passages, chapels and galleries. Unlike the cave passages in Kiev, the Chernihiv passages are less well-known and therefore do not have to crowd.
Third and fourth days in gorgeous Kyiv
Kiev is definitely one of the most beautiful and unique cities to visit. The cityscape is colorful with its many churches and monasteries and its magnificent Baroque architecture. Sofia Cathedral (7,50 euros) and its monastery buildings are, quite rightly, on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, or the great Orthodox monastery on the banks of the Dnieper River, has also been included in the same list. The Lavra is home to the Museum of Ukrainian Historical Treasures, the Museum of Book and Printing, and the Museum of Art, as well as the narrow and awe-inspiring monks' caves (3 euros).
Sofia Cathedral
For those who want to visit a slightly more modern museum, the villa of former president Viktor Yanukovych, or Mezhyhirya Residence, has been turned into a corruption museum. The territory of the villa, including the outbuildings, is so large that you can easily spend a whole day there. In addition to picnicking and exploring the villa, there is a mini zoo, artificial lakes, a collection of old cars and even a magnificent ship. Entrance to the area costs 4,50 euros, but if you want to explore the villa from the inside, you need to book a tour (18,80 euros).
Overall, Kiev is a very pedestrian-friendly destination. The main street Khreshchatyk, built in the Stalinist Empire style, the Andriyivskyi Uzviz connecting the lower and upper city, and the shopping street Khreshchatyku are just a few examples of streets that invite you to explore. However, if you have had enough of the city life, a different, more natural experience comes from the Botanical Garden (2,63 euros), which has one of the largest collections of Eurasian flora. However, it is worth going to the Bessarabian Market to buy groceries. The Art Nouveau building is one of the few covered markets that has been operating for such a long time. And of course, don't forget that you can also bargain on the price of goods in the market to keep your wallet happy.
Something different for the fifth day – Rivne and Lviv
After two days in Kiev, it's time to move on, with Rivne as your destination. A city that probably won't make it into travel books about Ukraine, but it still has plenty of parks, markets, and small cafes. When leaving Rivne, you might want to stop at the Tunnel of Love. The romantic name comes from a grassy section of railway line near Klevan that has been photographed millions of times. Legend has it that if you walk there hand in hand with your loved one, you will have love for the rest of your life.
If Kiev is the official capital of Ukraine, then Lviv could be the cultural capital of Ukraine. The old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has many narrow cobblestone streets and pedestrian-only squares. You can spend several days or even weeks in Lviv, but you can also get a good overview in a day. Did you know that the man who introduced coffee culture and coffee drinking to Europe was from Lviv? Perhaps that is why there are so many different cafes in the city: from a cafe designed like a Ukrainian forest brotherhood bunker to a sadomasochistic cafe. You should definitely visit the artisan chocolate cafe, which is spread over several floors and is loved by locals and visitors alike.
Day Six – Time to gather energy for the trip home
On the morning of the sixth day of travel, Lviv is also left behind, and Truskavets, famous for its healing mineral springs, awaits you. There is nothing better than to make a stop there to end your trip and gather energy before heading home. Of the thirteen mineral springs, Naftusya is the most famous. However, if you do not want to spend the night in Truskavets, but want to continue towards Poland, you could at least stop at one of the mineral water houses, where you can get free mineral water.
On the afternoon of the sixth day or early morning of the seventh day, depending on how much time you spend in Truskavets, it is time to drive back to Estonia. Unlike the previous trip, the journey takes you through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. In any case, a proper tour and introduction to northern Ukraine has now been completed.
You can rent a minibus for your trip. www.rendibuss.ee
