Ukraine and Moldova's Best

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Lviv

   Lviv is a picture-perfect Central European city. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is by no means the only place where you can get in touch with traditional Ukraine while you visit. Lviv’s unique atmosphere emanates from all of its elegant houses and cobblestone streets. You’ll have a wonderful time exploring this atmospheric destination, the heart of Ukrainian culture. The most popular tourist destination in Ukraine, Lviv is a cosmopolitan city with a long history of Jewish, Polish, Austrian and Hungarian influences. European history buffs, or anyone who likes to experience Old World elegance and sophistication will love it here.

   A driver will be at the airport to greet you and transfer you to your centrally located Lviv accommodation. The transfer takes about 30 minutes.

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Lviv

   

   Meet Lviv

   The best way to get to know a city is on foot with the help of an expert local guide, who will introduce you to the main historical and contemporary sites of the Old Town (UNESCO Heritage). Unlike many cities in Ukraine, Lviv was lucky enough to escape the destruction in World War II, and nowadays its fascinating streets and numerous museums make it one of the most exciting places in Ukraine to explore. You will uncover the stories behind the medieval atmosphere of Lviv, that will hark you back to days when Lviv was a wealthy trading center.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

3. Day 3 Your Second Full Day in Lviv

   Explore Beyond the City Limits

   Leave Lviv, and explore the history of its neighboring villages, castles, and towns. No matter the tour, you'll get a taste of the area's sheer historic and architectural diversity.

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Castles around Lviv Private Tour

   This tour will allow you to experience some of the majestic history of the Lviv region by touring its most impressive palaces and castles. You'll start in the picturesque hills of Olesko, where a fortress still shows the marks of past battles. In this area there are several easily accessible sites. You'll also see a fairy tale palace with slender towers, shining mosaic tiles and playful decorations. The past will come alive for you as you tour these castles with an expert guide. You'll love learning more about the royal past of this region.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 7 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Zhovkva and Krehiv Monastery Private Tour

   On this fun trip you'll come to a better understanding of the region's history and culture. Zhovkva is a real pearl of local architecture, and the nearby village of Krekhiv is also an epicenter of important buildings, in this case churches and monasteries. You'll have a guide with you for the day, so you'll learn all about the interesting history that shaped the region.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 6 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   Watch the video

4. Day 4 Traveling to Kyiv by Train / Arrival in Kyiv

   

   It's time to leave Lviv behind and head to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. There are several direct trains a day, but only two fast trains that leave either very early in the morning or in the later afternoon and get to Kyiv just over 5 hours later. We'll have you picked up from your accommodation in Lviv and taken to the train station. If you'd prefer to leave at a different time, a private transfer can be arranged at an additional fee. Please note that the private transfer takes about 8 hours and can include different stops along the way: Tunnel of Love, Tarakaniv Fort, or Dubno castle.

   

   You can upgrade your transfer

   Kyiv By Private Transfer with Stops

   Upgrade for an additional cost

   Kyiv is a modern city steeped in history, where high-end shops and colorful restaurants are surrounded with classical architecture. It is the source of Eastern Slavic culture and Kyiv still keeps a firm hold on history. The city’s famous buildings include Saint Sofia, a church that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nestled in the hills, Kyiv feels spread out and can be a bit of a challenge to take in if you’re trying do so on foot but an excellent public transport system and very inexpensive taxis make getting around a breeze. There’s no shortage of unique things to do here, like touring the grounds of the opulent villa of former President Victor Yanukovych, complete with a huge collection of cars and private zoo. Another must-see, the Monastery of the Caves or Pechersk Lavra, is unlike anyplace else. This UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of a large complex of churches and chapels but most striking is a series of underground caves where you can see mummified monks from the 11th century. It’s just one more thing that makes Kyiv special.

   When you arrive at Kyiv's train station, we will have a driver there to meet you and take you to your accommodation. The transfer takes about 30 minutes.

5. Day 5 Your First Full Day in Kyiv

   

   Get to Know Central Kyiv

   After a good breakfast it’s time to tour the city. We will arrange for an expert local guide to take you on a walking tour of central Kyiv. During the three hour tour you'll get your bearings and an introduction to the city and its culture. From Kyiv's Broadway to its almost Parisian quarter there's much to cover. You'll spend some time in the Maidan, the square that was the locus of the Euromaidan Revolution and see the city's main churches, the golden dome of St Michael's and St Sophia's Cathedrals and St Andrew's Church.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

6. Day 6 Your Second Full Day in Kyiv

   Delve Into Folklore, History, and Mysticism

   While a walking tour is the best way to see the Old Town and Upper City, there's much more to Kiev and its surroundings than can't be covered on foot. Its long history stretches back to Viking princes and the missionaries who convinced them and their ancestors to build great monuments but also humble catacombs. Many traditions from that time live on in peasant culture. Depending on your interests you can check how the monarchs lived or visit an open-air museum with traditional houses, different from one part of Ukraine to another.
   

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Kyiv Pechersk Lavra Private Walking Tour

   This two-hour excursion will take you thousands of years back in time. With an expert local guide you'll explore one of the most interesting UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Pyrohiv National Village Museum Private Tour

   On this excursion you'll get away from the bustle of the city to see how locals used to live. Visiting the open-air ethnographic museum of Pyrohiv is always a thrill. The whole trip takes about 3 hours 30 minutes. You'll be picked up from your accommodation and brought back there afterwards.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours 30 minutes

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

7. Day 7 Traveling to Odessa by Airplane / Arrival in Odessa

   

   The fastest way to get to Odessa is by air. There are several flights throughout the day, some departing Kyiv's smaller Zhuliany airport located closer to the city center. The flight time is around 1 hour 20 minutes, so door-to-door should take between 4 and 5 hours. We have included economy class tickets in your package. While it is possible to go by road with a private transfer, it's a very long day and the only interesting stop is at a decommissioned missile base, now a museum.

   Suggested flight:

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   Please note that the flight included in your package is non-refundable. In case you would prefer more flexibility, we can check the flexible fares for you and let you know about the price difference. In addition, the price of the flights is subject to change until we receive your deposit.

   It’s no surprise that Odessa has been featured in so many famous works of art and literature; it has been a cultural center with a unique energy since it was founded in the 18th century. Today it is a lively destination with an engaging variety of restaurants, shops, and unique architecture. One of the city’s most famous buildings is the Opera House, which is both beautiful and very affordable to visit. A port city on the Black Sea, Odessa is also known for its beaches. The famous Potemkin Stairs lead down to the port and are definitely worth seeing. It’s easy to have a wonderful time just strolling though this scenic, very walkable city. Odessa’s catacombs are a famous sight, and along just about any avenue you can admire brightly colored neoclassical buildings. Gourmands will love exploring the city’s dining scene, which boasts some of the best cuisine in Ukraine.

   A driver will be at the airport to greet you and transfer you to your centrally located Odessa accommodation. The transfer takes about 30 minutes.

8. Day 8 Your First Full Day in Odessa

   

   Get to Know Odessa

   Our guided tour of Odessa has been created to give our guests a better understanding of what makes the city unique. You'll walk though Odessa’s historic quarters, seeing the magnificent National Opera and the Ballet House as well as the beautiful Primorsky boulevard. Of course the city’s most iconic sights are on the list too, including the Potemkin Steps, the Vorontsov and Tolstoy palaces, Deribasovskaya street and the City Garden.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

9. Day 9 Your Second Full Day in Odessa

   Explore Beyond the City Limits

   Ready to step outside Odessa and explore beyond the city limits? We suggest enjoying a packed full day tour with a private driver and guide who can show you the highlights of the region. You can see more of the Black Sea coastline, the town of Belgorod-Dnestrovksy and the "White Fortress" (one of Ukraine's largest fortifications), or head to Transnistria, an unrecognized country still living out the Soviet 80s.

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   The Akkerman Fortress Private Tour and Local Wine Tasting

   Here's one of our favorite day trips outside of Odessa. You'll get to see an ancient fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a fantastic vineyard! An expert local guide will tell you exciting stories about the region as you take in the Black Sea coastline and the countryside, as well as the town of Belgorod-Dnestrovksy and the ”White Fortress,” one of the largest fortresses in Ukraine. The tour continues with a visit to the Shabo winery and Ukraine's center of wine culture. You'll explore cellars built two centuries ago, once visited by the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and King Carol ll of Romania. Of course there will be time to sample some of the vintages.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 10 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Transnistria Private Day Trip

   Transnistria might just be the strangest non-country you'll ever visit. A self-declared republic on the territory of Moldova, this former Soviet territory just can't let go of the past. If you'd like to come to a better understanding of this unique region while seeing some of its most important architecture, we recommend this nine-hour tour with an expert local guide and driver.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 9 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

10. Day 10 Traveling to Chisinau by Private Transfer / Arrival in Chisinau

    

    Today you're not just traveling a hundred miles or so by land, but it will also feel like you're traveling back in time to the Soviet era as your transfer to Chisinau takes you through Tiraspol, the capital of the breakaway self-declared republic of Transnistria.

    We will arrange for a 1.5 hour guided tour in Tiraspol and then you'll have some free time for lunch. The total journey time is around 8 hours. Please note on the border between Ukraine, Transnistria, and Moldova, there's passport control. This process could add some additional time to your journey, depending on the traffic. The vehicle used for your transfer will be a standard sedan, station wagon, or minivan. We can arrange for an upgrade to a more luxurious class of vehicle for an extra fee.

    Moldova’s capital is certainly the country’s liveliest and most cosmopolitan city, but it is also a place of history still visible in the architecture of Old Town. The main sites here are easy to see on foot: City Hall, the Arch of Triumph, the Bell Tower and the Orthodox Church are all clustered in the center. You can also look forward to charming restaurants and cafes and plenty of excellent local wine. About 30 minutes by car outside of Chisinau you’ll find two famous underground wineries, and these are just one of the numerous possibilities for day trips. The majority of the city was destroyed in World War II, so many of the buildings were reconstructed in drab communist style, but the center of the city is an oasis of peace, calm and classical architecture.

    Welcome to Chisinau! Our driver will bring you straight to your centrally located accommodation.

11. Day 11 Your First Full Day in Chisinau

    

    Visit One of the World's Largest Wine Cellars

    Cricova is one of the most luxurious wineries in Moldova, a place famous worldwide for its sparkling wines prepared using the recipe of Pierre Perignon, a famous monk-wine maker. Cricova holds the world record for having the largest cellar area in use for actual wine storing and production.This guided tour will give you a unique chance to sample world class wines while getting behind-the-scenes in the depths of this amazing winery.

    • Activity Level : Light
    • Duration : 4 hours

    Included in your vacation package price

    Watch the video

12. Day 12 Departure Day

    A driver will pick you up at your Chisinau accommodation and drop you off at the airport for your departing flight. The drive takes about 30 minutes.