The Best Locations in the Carpathians – Landscapes Straight from a Magazine Cover

A wonderful weekend surrounded by the mountain peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians is the best option for tourists visiting this most picturesque region of our country. Oleksandr Belmega, one of the country's best bloggers, was born in Verkhovyna, and it's no surprise that he dedicates most of his reports to this Carpathian region, unabashedly calling it a "fairytale come true" on his personal Facebook page. Verkhovyna is truly located in the heart of the picturesque Carpathian region and has long been a tourist mecca.

Oleksandr regularly updates his blog with new photographs of the Carpathian Mountains, each one seeming more and more beautiful and picturesque. He takes the photos himself, but it's these photos that inspire many tourists previously unfamiliar with Ukraine's mountains to travel to the Carpathians. After viewing the photos, users are choosing, if not a full month-long vacation in the Carpathians, then at least a weekend trip to one of the cities.

As for attractions and places of interest for tourists, there are so many in the Carpathians that it's impossible to list them all. But, first of all, I'd like to highlight the following: the Hoshiv Monastery, the Carpathian Mini-Tram (the legendary narrow-gauge railway in the village of Vygoda), the Dovbush Rocks, and simply the incredibly picturesque panoramic views of the Carpathian Mountains.

"Pearls" of the Ukrainian Carpathians – what to look for
In the center of the village of Vygoda, in the very heart of the mountain peaks, you can find a Carpathian tram. Locals don't use it as their primary transportation. This is a unique highlight, intended primarily for tourists. A tram tour can be booked while still in Lviv. You can also drive to the village and arrange a tour on the local tram once there.

The Dovbush Rocks are perfect for an ideal family vacation – a quiet place where you're sure to be undisturbed by the noise of civilization. They offer wonderful places to relax and camp overnight in tents. The Dovbush Rocks are easily accessible from Ivano-Frankivsk.
The Greek Catholic Monastery of Hoshiv formerly belonged to the Order of St. Basil the Great. The monastery is located in the village of Hoshiv (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Dolyna District). This monastery is worth visiting simply because it is the greatest religious historical and architectural site in Ukraine.

The blogger also notes the rapid development of Carpathian tourism, especially in recent years. This is largely due to the mountain tourism trend at Carpathian resorts. The blogger, who runs the "Iron Highways" page, discusses the variety of services, adapted to the modern consumer, now offered during Carpathian vacations. However, getting to your pre-selected resort comfortably can sometimes require considerable ingenuity.
The Ukrainian Carpathians are located some distance from both the eastern and southern regions of the country—at least 150 kilometers, on average. This distance largely determines the choice of transportation. According to Oleg Vasiliev, more resilient travelers prefer to use private cars.

Tourists who prefer the soft cushions of a sleeper car opt for a 20-hour journey in a comfortable, modern Ukrzaliznytsia train. Incidentally, travel within the country is already permitted under quarantine regulations.
Blogger Vasiliev believes that tourists from the eastern regions of the country are especially fortunate when it comes to train travel. They can take train No. 001 Kostiantynivka-Ivano-Frankivsk and reach the Carpathians without unnecessary transfers. The train travels along the Druzhkovka, Kramatorsk, and Slovyansky Kurort route. The fare will cost around 1,200 hryvnias.

Tourists from Kharkiv have a choice of three trains heading in the desired direction:
No. 015 Kharkiv-Ivano-Frankivsk;
No. 017 Kharkiv-Uzhhorod;
No. 001 Kostiantynivka-Ivano-Frankivsk.
The starting price for a ticket is 1,050 hryvnias.
From the southeastern regions of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, you can reach the Carpathians by train from Zaporizhzhia to Uzhhorod. Tickets for this train start at 1,226 hryvnias.
Those from the south will be able to reach the western regions by only one train: Odesa-Lviv. Tickets will start at 710 hryvnias. Once in Lviv, you will transfer to another train, bus, or car.
Finding the perfect train is also easy for Kyiv residents. Residents of the capital can take one of several direct trains running between the central and western regions of the country:
No. 001 Kostiantynivka-Ivano-Frankivsk;
No. 008 Kyiv-Ivano-Frankivsk;
No. 015 Kharkiv-Ivano-Frankivsk;
No. 017 Kharkiv-Uzhhorod;
No. 029, No. 081 Kyiv-Uzhhorod;
No. 749 "Intercity" Kyiv-Ivano-Frankivsk.
The minimum fare should be considered a ticket price of 836 UAH. Vasiliev also notes that branded trains and overnight express trains are currently available.

Only these trains feature state-of-the-art "SV" carriages and comfortable compartments. The cost of these trains is significantly higher than regular train tickets. However, in return, travelers enjoy significant advantages. First and foremost, they enjoy shorter travel times compared to regular trains. For example, the direct journey to Uzhhorod, a whopping 1,350 kilometers long, takes only about 19 hours.