The Ukrainian capital is an amazing place to explore, featuring spectacular ancient churches, a thriving street art scene, and delectable cuisine. However, if you wish to venture beyond Kyiv, many enjoyable places in northern and central Ukraine are only a couple of hours’ bus ride away.
Not only are these areas relatively unknown to foreign visitors, but they also remain terra incognita for many Ukrainians, making travel here a true adventure. Here are our top five suggestions for easy day trips from Kyiv.
The Ancient Churches of Chernihiv
Chernihiv serves as the hub of northern Ukraine, a region rich with authentic traditions, historic cities, pristine nature, and numerous elegant palaces and parks. Throughout its rich history, Chernihiv has played a significant role as a religious center, first for the medieval empire of Kyivan Rus and later for the Cossack Hetmanate. Consequently, the city boasts an impressive number of ancient churches, some dating back to the 11th century. Most of these churches were fortunate to survive the tumultuous years of Soviet rule almost untouched, enchanting visitors with original medieval frescoes, baroque facades, and Byzantine interiors.
Getting there: Direct buses to Chernihiv depart from Kyiv’s central bus station and Lisova metro station (the Brovarsky prospekt bus stop). The trip takes approximately two hours.
Landscape Design in Sofiyivka Park
If you need a break from the big-city bustle of Kyiv, hop on a bus and head to Uman. Here, you will discover the finest park in the whole country – the magnificent Sofiyivka Park. Established as a gift from the Polish noble Stanislaw Pototsky to his wife Sofia, the park is a masterpiece of 19th-century landscape design. With its artificial lakes, waterfalls, decorative statues, romantic grottoes, narrow forested pathways, wide alleys, and graceful colonnades, Sofiyivka Park offers a fantastic, relaxing day trip from Kyiv. Unsurprisingly, it is also one of the most visited attractions in Ukraine.
Getting there: There are direct local buses from Kyiv’s central bus station to Uman (approximately two hours and 40 minutes). The park is a mere 10-minute walk from the city center.
Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky’s Museums
When it comes to museums, the small town of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky (90km south of Kyiv) can boast a rich cultural heritage. This quaint town, with a modest population of 27,000, is home to over 20 museums, predominantly part of the unique open-air Mid-Dnipro Museum of Folk Architecture and Life. If you wish to learn about Ukrainian culture and traditions, this is the place to visit. The museum selection here is quite original and, at times, bizarre. You can start at the Space Museum, which is set in a traditional wooden village church. Then continue with the colorful Rushnyk Museum, dedicated to the traditional Ukrainian embroidered ritual cloth; the Bread Museum, which illustrates the history of bread-making; and the Post Museum, located in a former 19th-century post office. This enormous cultural space is worth visiting to experience the atmosphere of an authentic Ukrainian village.
Getting there: Take a direct local marshrutka (private bus) from Chernihivska or Boryspilska metro stations (approximately one hour and 30 minutes). From Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky’s bus station, it’s 2km to the open-air museum, so you can choose to either walk or catch a local taxi to the entrance.
Nature Escape at Dendropark Oleksandriya
Another attractive historical park can be found in Bila Tserkva, located 80km south of Kyiv. Competing in brilliance and size with Sofiyivka, Dendropark Oleksandriya is a vast 18th-century garden and one of the largest landscaped parks in Eastern Europe. Featuring late classicist architecture, numerous alleys, and fields, Oleksandriya is the perfect locale for long romantic walks. Notable highlights include a picturesque Chinese bridge, an impressive Moon colonnade, and artificial ruins with small waterfalls. Although it may not be as meticulously maintained as Sofiyivka, this park offers another excellent nature escape from Kyiv, enjoyable throughout the year.
Getting there: Take a direct local bus from Kyiv’s central bus station to Bila Tserkva (approximately one hour). The park is located on the city’s outskirts; catch bus 22 to Pionerska stop to reach it.
Vinnytsya’s Eclectic City Centre
Vinnytsya serves as a midsize town in the heart of Ukraine’s Podillya region, easily accessible by high-speed train from Kyiv. Although it may not showcase breathtaking tourist sights, the charm of Vinnytsya lies in its relaxed vibe. Start your exploration by savoring a sip of coffee at the European Square, where you can admire the brick water tower built in 1912, now one of the city’s symbols. Next, stroll around the eclectic center to appreciate the remnants of its 19th-century architecture and the golden-domed Transfiguration Church. Don’t forget to visit one of the most unusual attractions in Ukraine – the Pirogov Church-Mausoleum, which houses the mummified corpse of the famous Russian surgeon and inventor of a revolutionary anesthesia technique, Nikolai Pirogov. Conclude your Vinnytsya adventure with a cup of tea, surrounded by old clocks at Mr Zavarkin & Son, a quirky coffee shop and museum.
Getting there: The best option is taking an intercity train from Kyiv’s central railway station to Vinnytsya (approximately two hours and 20 minutes). To reach the city center from the train station, catch tram 1, 4, or 6.
