5 ideas for guided tours in Ukraine

• Lviv

  Only 70 kilometers from the Polish border, the city of Lviv (or Lvov) is considered the privileged heart of Ukraine. The historical center boasts a very diverse heritage, as you will see when you walk through Rynok Square.

  There are 44 houses, each with its own identity and references to the Baroque, Renaissance, and Empire periods. Lviv has many churches, including the Assumption Church with its 65-meter-high tower.

  But, more than anything, you will love to walk through the tangle of its cobbled streets, which gives it a very charming atmosphere. An idea for an atypical guided tour would be to walk through the underground labyrinths and learn about the history of its catacombs.

  For some peace and quiet, go to the Vysoky Zamok hill and admire the beautiful view of the whole city.

• Kolomya

  Kolomya is located in the middle of a plain, right next to the Carpathian Mountains and on the banks of the Prut River. The city center is very pleasant, with its Austro-Hungarian style made of stylized houses with delicate architecture.

  You can discover two very interesting museums:

  – The Pysanky museum, where you can admire on two floors the famous Ukrainian painted Easter eggs, beautifully carved.

  – The museum of Hutsul folklore, which presents, through everyday objects as well as works of art and music, the history of the people of the region, very attached to their traditions.

  The city is also a departure point, both for the nearby ski resorts during the winter vacations, and in summer to start hiking in the wooded hills.

• Odessa

  Located on the Black Sea, Odessa was built as a huge port in 1794 by Empress Catherine II, who saw its potential and wanted to make it a very important economic center of the Western world.

  Over the centuries, it became a port of refuge for people fleeing misery, war, or discrimination. The names of the streets reflect this history, with streets of the Albanians, Greeks, Jews, and even the boulevard of the French. That’s why it earned the affectionate nickname of Odessa-Mama.

  Visiting the city is a real pleasure. Wander along its wide tree-lined boulevards and admire the beautiful pastel, blue, or yellow houses. Tourists usually start at Primorsky Boulevard, a pedestrianized walkway stretching from Dumenskaya Square to the columns of the Vorontsov Palace. This delightful promenade runs along the waterfront.

  At the end of the promenade, you will reach the legendary Potemkin staircase, made famous in Sergei Eisenstein’s film *Battleship Potemkin*. In summer, visit one of the city’s beaches, such as Lanzheron, Arcadia, or Otrada, and afterward, relax in the shady Tarasa Shevchenka Park nearby.

• Mount Hoverla

  The highest mountain in Ukraine is located in the eastern part of the Carpathians, in the Chornohora Mountains.

  The easy and well-marked ascent of the 2,061-meter-high Hoverla Mountain is one of the most popular expeditions in the country. It is accessible from late spring to late autumn.

  The trails leading to the summit start from the Zaroslyak base camp near the village of Lazeschyna. Along the way, you’ll pass through tree zones (beech, fir, and spruce), fields of wildflowers, the Nesamovyte mountain lake, and meadows showcasing Ukraine’s breathtaking natural beauty.

• Mangoup-Kale

  Mangoup is a very old fortress in the southwestern part of the Crimea, near Sebastopol. The old castle was built by the Goths in the 3rd century, on a 300-meter-high promontory naturally protected on three sides by steep cliffs.

  Looted and burned many times throughout its history, the structure was completely rebuilt by the Turks. Although it was later abandoned, the 15,000-meter-long surrounding walls with defensive towers at each corner can still be seen.

  In the center are the remains of the old building, and the site also features many natural springs. To deepen your understanding of the place and enhance your discoveries, don’t hesitate to hire a Ukraine tour guide.