Kyiv/Kiev: Creative Capital

Ukraine’s capital had a creative wave sweep over the city to make it the cultural hub it is today, embodied by urban art, all-day parties, and vintage cafes. With a rich history, it is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and is proud of its heritage. A lot of the sites around Kiev show that proud heritage, from the Saint Sophia Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to Independence Square where outdoor parties are held during the summer months.

If interesting art is to your taste then head to the Mystetskyi Arsenal art quarter in the heart of Kiev. Every season new exhibitions, festivals, and markets come alive to promote the culture in Ukraine. You may even be lucky to catch a glimpse of the Ukrainian fashion week.

Fancy a wander around some beautiful greenery, then you can visit the Botanical Garden which is part of the natural reserve fund of Ukraine. Full of rich flora, it is also home to the Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas that has incredible ancient murals from the 19th century, and also a greenhouse complex filled with a variety of tropical flowers, palm trees, and succulents.

Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi Railway Station Lviv-Holovnyi Railway Station | Duration: 5:10h | Transfers: 0

There is a direct connection from Kyiv to Lviv leaving almost hourly. You can buy your tickets on the official Ukrainian Railways website.

Lviv: Understated Culture

A UNESCO-listed city, it is a very different vibe to that of Kyiv. A mysterious and architecturally beautiful city, Lviv exudes an authentic Central European charm. With quaint cobbled streets, delicious smelling coffeehouses, and cozy ancient courtyards. There is so much to see in this understated city, from buildings and monuments with subtle moldings, architectural masterpieces, and a number of museums, you are sure to never be bored.

A must stop would be Lviv’s Market Square, set at the intersection of eight streets, it is popular for both tourists and residents. As soon as you step onto the cobblestones you will be bathed in history as the square is rimmed with beautiful buildings and antique sculptures.

Another experience to not miss would be to climb the High Castle. You won’t find any ancient fortification here though, instead if you climb the 413-meter-high castle to the top for some breathtaking views over the city.

Lviv-Holovnyi Railway Station → Kolomya Station | Duration: 2:50-3:32 h | Transfers: 0

There is a direct connection from Lviv to Kolomyia/Kolomya leaving 2-3 times daily There is an early morning service and evening service, so plan accordingly. You can buy your tickets on the official Ukrainian Railways website or buy your tickets at the train station.

Kolomyia: Hidden Delights

Famous for its Austrian-style architecture, delicious Hutsul cuisine, and the incomparable Pysanka Museum. Although considered to be a small city, it has reinvented itself and turned into an upcoming tourist destination.

Probably one of the most famous attractions has to be the colorful, egg-shaped Pysanka Museum, which has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest pysanka in the world. Home to more than 10 thousand pysanky from all across Ukraine, as well as from Poland, Romania, Canada, Egypt, and more.

Want to get a bit more of a local experience, then you should visit the Vyshyvanka Market, which is truly unique in Kolomyia. The working hours start on Wednesday nights around 2 am, and this is where masters of embroidery gather to sell traditional Ukrainian shirts, skirts, and towels every week. You will also have the possibility to buy authentic Hutsul accessories such as gerdan.

Kolomya Train Station → Kam’yanets’-Podil’s’kyi Bus Station | Duration: 3:30 h | Transfers: 1

There is no direct train connection from Kolomya; however, with a stop in Chernivtsi to switch to a bus, you’ll get to Kamianets-Podilskyi in less than 4 hours. There is only 2-3 train services per day (1:15h) from Kolomya to Chernivtsi, morning service, and evening service, so plan to take the morning connection to be able to catch your bus in Chernivtsi to Kamianets-Podilskyi (1:25-2:30h). You can buy your train tickets on the official Ukrainian Railways website and buy your bus tickets on InfoBus. When buying the bus tickets there are several stops with Kamianets-Podilskyi make sure to choose this final destination:  “Kam’yanets’-Podil’s’kyi (Kamianets-Podilskyi), UKR.”

Kamianets-Podilskyi: Picturesque City Sights

This is a town that is truly spectacular. Located within a sharp loop in a river to form a natural moat, as well as a tree-lined Smotrycz River canyon. And a mesmerizing Old Town that is connected by a narrow isthmus to its picturesque fortress. You can see the clear difference between the two sides of the city, New Town is slightly more chaotic with restaurants and pretty parks, and the Old Town is quieter and where all the sights are gathered.

The main attraction for this elegant city is the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle. Each tower, dungeon, and wall has a story to tell, and you can learn all of these stories through the National Historical-Architectural Sanctuary.

A unique way to see the city would be to take flight in a hot air balloon. Every May is the Ukrainian Hot Air Balloon Festival in the city where you will witness a fantastic show. You can fly over the enchanting castle and river canyon for an indescribable view.

Kam’yanets’-Podil’s’kyi Bus Station → Uman’ Bus Station | Duration: 6:15 h | Transfers: 0

There is no direct train connection from Kamianets-Podilskyi to ‘Uman, however, there is a direct bus connection. You can buy your bus tickets on InfoBus. There are a handful of options throughout the day.

Uman: Entertaining Pit Stop

A bit of a central travel hub that often is overlooked for a typical Ukraine itinerary stop, Uman is home to the idyllic Sofiyivka Park, as well as being the final resting place for revered Hasidic Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav. Around 25,000-30,000 Jewish pilgrims visit Uman annually to celebrate Rabbi Nachman during Rosh Hashanah.

The Sofiyivka Park is a part of the research institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and displays outstanding garden monuments and park art.  Uman is a great spot to break up any long journey, with many tasty local restaurants, and is the perfect last stop before heading back to Ukraine’s beautiful and funky capital, Kyiv.

Uman’ Bus Station → Kyiv Central Bus Station | Duration: 2:20-2:55h | Transfers: 0

There is a direct bus connection back to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv which gets you there in less than 3 hours. You can buy your bus ticket on InfoBus. If you’re not quite done traveling around Europe by train, check out some other places you could access by train from Kyiv, such as Warsaw, Poland, Minsk, Belarus, and Moscow, Russia.