Top 10 Places To Visit In Ukraine - 4K Travel Guide

0:00What’s up guys!

0:01My name is Ryan and I want to show you some of my favorite places in the beautiful country

0:05of Ukraine, so here is my Ukraine Top 10!

0:15Ukraine is home to some of the most scenic landscapes.

0:18From medieval castles, to the towering Carpathian mountains, Ukraine has so many hidden gems

0:24waiting to be explored!

0:25Let’s start this video off in the beautiful city Kiev.

0:29Located in North Central Ukraine, Kyiv is a sight to see.

0:32Its home to nearly 3 million residents making it the seventh most populous city in Europe!

0:38Its believed to have been founded around the 5th century as a slavic settlement that grew

0:43as it was positioned on the trade route between Scandinavia and constantinople.

0:48Today Kyiv is an important culturally, scientific and industrial center of eastern europe!

0:54I’m amazed by how beautiful the city is, especially during the summertime.

0:57It’s so great and inviting!

0:59One of the most famous places in the city is the Kyiv Monaster of the Caves, it's a

1:04orthodox christian monastery, it began as a cave monastery in the year 1051.

1:10Today it's an active monastery with over 100 monks and is named one of the seven wonders

1:15of Ukraine.

1:16Right next to the monastery is the Motherland Monument, it's a 203 feet tall stainless steel

1:22statue that was completed in 1981.

1:25It's Such a unique statue that towers over the city!

1:29Kiev is such a spectacular city and I hope you all can visit it one day!

1:33Afterwards, we're going to head to the infamous Chernobyl!

1:37Located about a 2 hours drive from Kyiv right near the border of Belarus, Chernobyl is where

1:42the tragic Nuclear accident took place in april 1986 where a failed safety test caused

1:48a reactor to explode which resulted in the worst nuclear disaster in history.

1:53If you want to binge watch a great show, I highly recommend watching HBOs Chernobyl Series!

1:59In 2011, Chernobyl was opened to the public!

2:02Today you can take a guided tour and witness the deserted area around chernobyl.

2:07The town of Pripyat will give you a true sense of what a post apocalyptic world would look

2:12like.

2:13Deserted buildings and an abandoned amusement park will give you a sense of eeriness and

2:18wonder as you imagine what it must have been like to live here before the catastrophe!

2:23What a wild place!

2:25Afterwards, we are going to visit the Carpathian Mountains.

2:28I have to say this is one of my favorite regions of the country!

2:32Located on the western part of Ukraine, the Carpathians are a massive mountain range that

2:36also passes through Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania!

2:40The mountains are home to brown bears, wolves, and lynx.

2:44While the carpathians aren’t as jagged as other european mountains such as the alps,

2:50they carpathians have their own beauty with giant rolling mountains covered in dense forests.

2:56During the winter time, the Carpathians are a perfect place to go skiing!

2:59I think one of the best times to visit these mountains is during the fall when they are

3:03covered in the most beautiful colors!

3:06If I could live anywhere in Ukraine, I’d probably shack up in a cabin somewhere in

3:10these incredible mountains!

3:12After, we are going to visit Palanok Castle.

3:15Located on the western side of the carpathian mountains near the Slovakia and Hungarian

3:20borders, Palanok Castle is uniquely shaped medieval fortress that is built upon a volcanic

3:25hill that overlooks the city.

3:27The exact date of the castle’s founding is unknown, but it was first mentioned in

3:31the 11th century and the castle you see today was built from the 14th to 17th centuries.

3:37The fortress is divided between the lower, middle and upper castle for defense!

3:42I would’ve felt safe here during medieval times!

3:44If you visit you can take a tour of the castle and wonder what it must have been like to

3:49live here during the middle ages.

3:51After, we're going to visit the city of Lviv.

3:54Located in Western Ukraine 70 miles from the border of Poland.

3:58One thing interesting about Lviv is that it's home to 1500 cafes, making it the highest

4:04number of cafes per capita in the world!

4:06I just love all the architecture throughout the city!

4:08There’s so many beautiful churches and other historic buildings, the roofs are so colorful

4:13and unique.

4:15Outside of the Lviv, the countryside offers some unique castles such as the Zolochiv or

4:21Pidhirtsi Castles!

4:22Such a stunning place.

4:23After, we are going to head over to the Pochayiv Lavra Monastery.

4:27Located about 2 hours drive outside of Lviv, this monastery is the second largest in the

4:31country after the one in Kviv!

4:33It's just absolutely enormous!

4:35The monastery dates back to 1527 and today it's one of the most important religious places

4:41in Western Ukraine.

4:42I love the golden plated domes contrasted with the green roofs!

4:47Such a fascinating place!

4:48After, we're going to head to Ivano-Frankivsk.

4:52Located at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, Ivano-Frankivsk is a beautiful

4:56city.

4:57It began as a polish fortress in the 17th century and grew to one of the most prominent

5:02cities in the region!

5:03Today it's a beautiful city.

5:04I love how it has a lake in the center of it, a perfect place to enjoy on a hot summer

5:08day.

5:09The central square of the city is another great spot with the uniquely designed Ratusha

5:13building in the center!

5:14After that, we're going to head to Chernivtsi!

5:18Located about a 2 hours drive from Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi is one of Ukraine’s important

5:23educational and architectural sites!

5:25The Chernivtsi National University is one of the highlights of the city!

5:29It was founded back in 1875 and is one of Ukraine's most beautiful and prominent universities!

5:35Afterwards, we're going to head to Bakota!

5:39Located on the Dniester River about a 2 hours drive from Chernivtsi.

5:42It's such a beautiful area with a massive bay and rocky cliffs that overlook the river.

5:48It is believed the area was settled around the 12th century by christian monks who left

5:52behind cave monasteries filled with ancient frescoes and paintings.

5:57Overall I just think it's a beautiful area in western Ukraine.

6:01Another stunning nearby spot its the Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, I think this is one of the most impressive

6:07medieval castles in all Ukraine!

6:09Located just a hour's drive outside of Bakota, It is perched perfectly on a peninsula as

6:14it overlooks the town!

6:16It is believed that the castle was built sometime around the 13th century.

6:20Due to its strategic position, the fortress was subject to many foreign invaders throughout

6:25the years.

6:26I just love the towers with their pointy roofs, it kinda reminds me of a mini Hogwarts.

6:30You can walk around the castle and marvel at its medieval stone walls.

6:34The cobblestone bridge leading up to the castle frames it perfectly.

6:38It's such a cool medieval place you gotta check out if you visit Ukraine!

6:43Afterwards we are going to visit Crimea.

6:45The status of Crimea is currently disputed, in 2014 it was annexed by Russia, but Crimea

6:51is still internationally recognized as being part of Ukraine by the United Nations and

6:56other countries.

6:57Politics aside, I just want to show the beauty of Crimea because it's such a beautiful place

7:02that deserves recognition!

7:03Crimea is Located on a peninsula on the northern coast of the Black Sea, The coastline reminds

7:08me a lot of the Mediterranean with its rocky coast, and vineyards.

7:12One of the most beautiful towns in Crimea is Simeiz.

7:15It's a great resort town with some striking rock formations that line the coast!

7:20Another impressive place is the Genoese Fortress.

7:23Located in the small town of Sudak.

7:25The medieval fortress was built by the Italian Republic of Genoa and was completed in 1469,

7:31it's an impressive stone wall with over 14 towers.

7:35Crimea is such a beautiful place.

7:38For our final destination we are going out head over to the seaside town of Odessa!

7:42Located about a 6 hour drive from Kiev, Odessa is a port city located on the north west shore

7:48of the Black sea.

7:49The history of Odessa is fascinating, it was an ancient greek settlement, then it became

7:50a Tatar settlement in 1440 by the Khan of Crimea, and later became the domain of the

7:51Ottomans in 1529!

7:52Today it is Ukraine’s third most populous city and a popular tourism spot!

7:54It's a great place to come in the summer and bathe in the Black sea!

7:58One of the coolest spots in Odessa is the Akkerman Fortress, it's unclear when the fortress

8:03was founded, but it's believed to have been established in the 13th century by the Republic

8:07of Genoa.

8:08Odessa is just such a beautiful and historic city you gotta visit if you're ever in Ukraine.

8:13Well that is it for my Ukraine Top 10!

8:16Let me know where your favorite place is in Ukraine in the comments below!

8:19I also started a relaxation channel where I post hour-long films with calming music

8:23to bring some peace and nature in your life.

8:26I did a film on Ukraine that you’ll have to check out.

8:28You can find me on Tiktok and Instagram @shirley.films.

8:31It's Ryan and we will see you later!