Ukraine used to attract more than 20 million foreign citizens every year (23 million in 2012). Vibrant cities, ancient castles, stunning countryside, diversity of landscapes and welcoming attitude all help make it special destination, regardless of its troubles. Ukraine has numerous tourist attractions: mountain ranges suitable for skiing, hiking and fishing; the Black Sea coastline as a popular summer destination; nature reserves of different ecosystems; churches, castle ruins and other architectural and park landmarks; various outdoor activity points. Kiev, Lviv, Odessa are Ukraine's principal tourist centres each offering many historical landmarks as well as formidable hospitality infrastructure.
Tour highlights:
♦ Kiev - Pechersk Lavra, Saint Sophia's Cathedral, Golden Gate
♦ Lviv - Market Square, Lviv National Art Gallery, Beer Museum
♦ Odessa - City Garden, Opera and Ballet Theater, Archeological museum
Trip plan:
Day 1. Arrival in Kiev
Meeting with a sign with your name on it, right by the flight-gate (after passport and customs formalities). Transfer to the hotel by car. 14:00 Hotel check-in. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. Kiev
Breakfast at the Hotel. Free city tour of Kiev. Most of the attractions that are of interest to the city's tourists are religious buildings. Some of the most famous include: the Kiev-Pecherska Lavra Monastery, the Monastery of St. Michael with his gold domes, the churches of St. Sofia and St. Andrew and many others. In addition, the National Opera, the Kiev Youth Theater, the Golden Gate, the Independence Square, as well as the central Krestatik Street can be visited.
All visitors to Kiev who intend to use public transport in the city, and in particular the metro, would probably be interested in the fact that in Kiev is the deepest metro station in the world. It's name is Arsenalna, and it is 105.5 meters underground. Tours start: daily at 12.00 and 16.00.
Meeting Point: Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Sq) in front of the Central Post Office by the Monument with the Globe. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 3. Kiev – Lvov
Breakfast at the hotel. 12:00 Hotel check out. Free time. 20:00 hotel pick up (by reception desk), transfer to the railway. 22:00 Train Kiev – Lvov, the 1st class, sleeper. Overnight on the train.
Day 4. Lvov
06:30 Arrival to Lvov. Train station pick up (with a sign, by the exit from the train car), transfer to the hotel. 14:00 Hotel check in. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. Lvov – Odessa
Breakfast at the hotel. Free walking tour at 11:00. The city of Lviv (Lemberg - German, Lwów - Polish) is located in Western Ukraine. Symbol of the city is the stone lion. The city is known as the most beautiful in Ukraine, it's architectural layout is a collection of numerous styles and epochs. East of the modern part of the city is the Old Town. The points of interest are: Renox Square; the Ivan Franco National Theater - one of the masterpieces of world architecture; the Roman Catholic Cathedral - one of the most remarkable Gothic buildings dating back to the end of the 14th century; the Baroque Cathedral; the Museum of Pharmacy - presents an exhibition of historical pharmaceutical equipment; the Museum of National Architecture and Life, where the old wooden buildings, windmills, churches, schools were recreated on a large area.
Meeting point: Neptune's statue next to the city hall, info centre at the Market Square. 12:00 Hotel check-out. 18:45 Hotel pick up (reception desk), transfer to the railway. 20:40 Train Lvov-Odessa, 1st class sleeper. Overnight on the train.
Day 6. Odessa
08:50 Arrival to Odessa. Train Station pick up (with a sign, by the exit from the train car), transfer to the hotel. Free Odessa tour at 15:00. Odessa is a port city in Ukraine, which is the fifth largest in the country. It is situated on the Black Sea coast. Its population is 1 012 500 people. Officially the city was founded in 1794 as a Russian naval fortress. The name Odessa is borrowed from the Greco-Roman colony of Odessos in Thrace, at the request of Empress Catherine the Great. In the modern city you can see examples of Mediterranean architecture under the influence of French and Italian masters. The palace, owned by Lev Tolstoy's family, is one of the typical representatives of this school. Most buildings are built of white limestone, a deposit from which is close to the city. Abandoned mines have been expanded by local smugglers and used by them as hiding places and warehouses. Today's so-called "catacombs" are a very popular tourist attraction.
Charming examples of architecture are the Opera and Ballet Theater, the National Marine University, the Palace of Chess and the Archaeological Museum. If you come to Odessa, you should not miss the Seaside Boulevard, Suvorov Street, Tschichin Bridge, the French Boulevard and the Museum of Maritime History.
Meeting point: Monument of Vorontsov at the Cathedral Square. 14:00 Hotel check-in. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7. Departure day
Breakfast at the hotel. 12:00 Hotel check – out. Transfer to the airport of Odessa.
Optional events: ►Optional events are not calculated to the tour cost and can be arranged at extra fee on request.
Kiev
Excursions: ►Excursion to Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life - 4 hours►Jewish Kyiv Tour - 4 hours►Kyiv City Tour - 4 hours►Kyiv Pechersk Lavra - 3 hours►World War II - 4 hours►Revolution 2014, walk across Maidan - 3 hours Day tours: ►Day tour to Chernobyl (group) 8-10 hours►Day tour to Chernobyl (individual) 8-10 hours►Day tour to Museum of Strategic Missile Troops 6-8 hours►Day Tour to Uman 8-10 hours
Lvov
Excursions: ►Lviv City tour - 4 hours►Ukrainian Cuisine: Cook and Taste Together! - 4 hours►Walking City tour - 3 hours►Walking Museum tour in Lviv - 4 hours►Jewish tour - 4 hours Day tours: ►Day tour to Zhovkva and Krekhov 6-8 hours►Lviv Golden Horseshoe 8-9 hours
Odessa
Excursions: ► Jewish Odessa excursion - 4 hours► Odessa City Tour - 3 hours ► Odessa Sea Port and Vorontsov Lighthouse - 6 hours, Upon request, subject to reconfirmation► The Museum in Catacombs at Nerubayskoye - 3 hours► Walking City tour - 3 hours► Criminal Odessa - 3 hours► A walk to the Famous Odessa Market Privoz (a walking tour with use of public transportation) - 3 hours Day Tours: ► Day tour to Akkerman Fortress and Shabo Wine Tasting - 6-8 hours► Day tour to the Museum of Strategic Missile Troops - 8 hours► Day tour to Uman - 10 hours► Day tour to Vilkovo and the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve - 12-14 hours► Day trip to Biosphere reserve Askania-Nova - 12-14 hours
Price Includes:
Standard rooms on twin basis at the following hotels: Kyiv – Rus Hotel or similar; Lviv – George Hotel or similar; Odesa – Aivazovsky Hotel or similar
breakfasts at the hotels (except on arrival days)
car transfers in each city upon arrival and departure
1st class railway tickets for the trips Kyiv – Lviv (sleeper) and Lviv – Odesa (sleeper)
Not Included:
International flight tickets
travel insurance
drinks and meals not mentioned
excursions not included in the itinerary
personal expenses
tips
Additional Services:
Single passenger supplement in the train: 135 EUR
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