Summer is the best time for small trips, new impressions and discovering places that often remain outside tourists’ attention. In order to see a medieval castle, walk among lavender fields, admire views of the Dnipro from above or visit a canyon with rocks billions of years old, it is not at all necessary to travel far from the capital.
Journalists of the culture department of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency have prepared a selection of interesting locations in Kyiv region and near it that are perfect for a weekend trip. Our route includes historical landmarks, natural wonders, picturesque parks and places where you can take a break from the noise of the city, take beautiful photos and simply enjoy summer.
In addition, a detailed list of cultural events in Kyiv can be found on the Instagram page ty_kyiv.
ty_kyiv is the official information partner of the Open4business website.
Buky Canyon
Distance from Kyiv: about 180 km, approximately 2.5–3 hours by car.
If it seems to you that for impressive natural landscapes you need to go to the Carpathians or abroad, Buky Canyon will easily change this opinion. It is one of the most beautiful natural locations in Central Ukraine, which is often called the Ukrainian Grand Canyon.
The canyon is located on the Hirskyi Tikych River in Cherkasy region. Its main feature is huge granite cliffs up to 30 meters high, which, according to geologists’ estimates, are about 2 billion years old. That is why the local landscapes look so unusual for Ukraine.
Another highlight of the location is the picturesque Vyr waterfall. Once an old water mill operated here, and today it is one of the most popular photo zones of the canyon.
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Buky is especially beautiful in June, July and August, when the cliffs contrast with the bright greenery of the banks. In sunny weather, the water takes on rich shades, and the views resemble shots from tourist brochures about Norway or Canada.
The ideal trip format is to leave Kyiv in the morning, spend several hours near the canyon, walk around the village of Buky and return home in the evening with a full gallery of photos and the feeling that you have been much farther away than three hours from the capital.
Radomysl Castle
Distance from Kyiv: about 90 km, approximately 1.5 hours by car.
If you want to feel like the hero of a historical novel for at least one day, go to Radomyshl. Here, among granite rocks and waterfalls, stands a real castle, which more resembles a medieval fortress somewhere in France or Germany than a tourist location in Zhytomyr region.
Once, the paper mill of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra operated on this site, where paper was produced for printing the first Ukrainian books. Today, there is a castle-museum here with the largest collection of home icons in Ukraine. In the halls you can see hundreds of ancient images, each of which has its own history.
But the main thing in Radomysl is the atmosphere. Narrow stone staircases, high towers, a bell tower with a panoramic view, bridges over the water, granite boulders and a park with waterfalls create the feeling that you have entered another era.
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It is especially beautiful in summer, when the territory is immersed in greenery, and the water around the castle reflects its towers, creating a truly fairy-tale landscape.
Mezhyhirya
Distance from Kyiv: about 25 km, 30–40 minutes by car.
If you want to escape from the noisy city but not spend half a day on the road, Mezhyhirya is one of the best options. Once this territory was the closed residence of fugitive President Viktor Yanukovych, and today it has turned into a huge park open to everyone.
The area of the complex exceeds 140 hectares, so it is quite difficult to walk around everything in one day. There are well-kept alleys, dozens of flowerbeds, lakes, fountains, the embankment of the Kyiv Sea and observation platforms with beautiful panoramas.
One of the most popular locations is the famous wooden house “Honka,” which became a symbol of the excessive luxury of the former authorities. The zoo, where ostriches, pheasants, peacocks and deer live, as well as the collection of retro cars, deserve no less attention.
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Mezhyhirya is especially impressive in summer, when the territory is literally immersed in flowers and greenery. Here it is easy to forget that the center of Kyiv is only a few dozen minutes away. That is why many visitors return here again and again: not for the history of political scandals, but for peace, nature and the opportunity to spend a day in the fresh air.
Korostyshiv Canyon
Distance from Kyiv: about 110 km, approximately 1.5 hours by car.
If you want to see a place that more resembles frames from a film or a postcard from a travel magazine than an ordinary location in Zhytomyr region, go to Korostyshiv Canyon.
Granite was once mined here. When the quarry stopped operating, it was gradually filled with water. This is how a lake with surprisingly clean water appeared, surrounded by high cliffs and a pine forest. It was the combination of turquoise water, granite shores and pine trees that made this place one of the most popular destinations for recreation near Kyiv.
In sunny weather, the water takes on an incredible emerald shade, which is why the canyon is often called the Ukrainian “Maldives.” That is why photographers, bloggers and everyone looking for beautiful recreation locations regularly come here.
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A separate bonus is the atmosphere. Unlike many tourist places, there is no feeling of fuss here. The pine trees create natural coolness even on hot days, and the high cliffs add a special character to the landscape.
The best time for a trip is from June to September. Many people come here only for a few hours, but often stay almost for the whole day. After all, Korostyshiv Canyon is exactly the case when the road takes an hour and a half, while the impressions remain for a long time.
Kyivan Rus Park
Distance from Kyiv: about 45 km, approximately 50 minutes by car.
Do you want to travel back a thousand years for a few hours and see what Kyiv was like in the times of the princes? Then you should go to Kyivan Rus Park in the village of Kopachiv. It is not just an open-air museum, but a real journey through time.
Here, the citadel of ancient Kyiv of the 5th–13th centuries is recreated in full size. Massive wooden fortifications, princely chambers, watchtowers and ancient gates allow you to feel the atmosphere of the era when Kyiv was the capital of one of the largest states in Europe.
But the most interesting part begins when history comes alive. On different days, knight tournaments, theatrical performances, horse shows, festivals of medieval culture and reconstructions of historical battles take place here. Sometimes you can see real sword fights or hear how the ancient music of Kyivan Rus sounded.
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The park is especially liked by families with children, because here history can not only be read in a textbook, but literally touched with your hands. And adults often admit that they are no less fascinated than children.
If Buky or Korostyshiv Canyon is about nature, then Kyivan Rus is an opportunity to feel like a prince, a warrior of the princely retinue or a guest of ancient Kyiv for one day. And all this less than an hour’s drive from the capital.
Kaniv Mountains
Distance from Kyiv: about 140 km, approximately 2–2.5 hours by car.
If you want to see the Dnipro the way artists, poets and travelers saw it hundreds of years ago, it is worth going to the Kaniv Mountains at least once. This place is completely unlike the usual image of flat Ukraine. Here high hills suddenly drop down to the water, and the views are so large-scale that they take your breath away.
Taras Hill, the burial place of Taras Shevchenko, is located right here. However, the Kaniv Mountains are not only about history. This is one of the most beautiful natural locations in central Ukraine, where you can see dozens of kilometers of Dnipro slopes, forests and water expanses.
In clear weather, the observation platforms offer panoramas for which photographers come here specially. The mountains become especially beautiful at sunrise or before sunset, when the Dnipro begins to literally glow with gold.
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There is another reason why it is worth coming here. The Kaniv Mountains are a place where you can literally feel the scale of Ukraine. There are no loud attractions, food courts or crowds of tourists here. There is only the wind, the smell of grasses, the boundless Dnipro and a feeling of calm that is so lacking in a big city.
This is one of those locations people go to not for photographs, but for emotions. And only then do they return home with hundreds of shots on their phone.
Oleksandriia Arboretum
Distance from Kyiv: about 85 km, approximately 1 hour by car.
If you want to feel like the hero of a costume film about European aristocracy for at least one day, go to the Oleksandriia Arboretum in Bila Tserkva. It is not just a park, but a real green pearl of Ukraine, which has existed for more than 230 years.
At the end of the 18th century, the park was created by Countess Oleksandra Branitska, one of the richest women of that time. Architects and gardeners from different European countries were invited to arrange it. Today, Oleksandriia is the largest arboretum in Ukraine and occupies more than 400 hectares.
There are no attractions or loud entertainment here. People come here for beauty, silence and atmosphere. Ancient colonnades, romantic bridges, waterfalls, ponds, islands and hundreds of plant species create the feeling that you are walking through the grounds of an old European estate.
The park’s architectural monuments create its special atmosphere: the Luna colonnade, the Chinese Bridge, the Ruins, the Rotunda and numerous sculptures. Each location has its own history and legends.
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Oleksandriia looks most beautiful at the beginning of summer, when the park literally explodes with greenery and blooming. But even on a hot July day, it is easy to find coolness here under the crowns of old trees.
Many visitors compare the park with famous gardens of Europe. And the most pleasant thing is that for this you do not need to fly to France or Austria — an hour’s drive from Kyiv is enough.
This is a place for those who want not just to tick a box on a list of tourist locations, but to truly rest, slow down and enjoy beauty that has not gone out of fashion for more than two centuries.
The Flooded Church in Husyntsi
Distance from Kyiv: about 80 km, approximately 1–1.5 hours by car.
There are places that are difficult to explain with a photograph. They need to be seen with your own eyes. The flooded church in Husyntsi is exactly such a location.
In the middle of the huge Kaniv Reservoir stands a lonely old church, which seems to emerge directly from the water. From afar it looks like a set for a historical film or a frame from a mystical novel. In reality, however, it is a real landmark with a dramatic history.
Once there was the village of Husyntsi on this site. In the 1970s, during the creation of the Kaniv Reservoir, dozens of settlements ended up under water. People were resettled, houses were demolished, but the Church of the Holy Prophet Elijah miraculously remained. Today it stands on a small patch of land, surrounded by water on all sides.
It is this history that gives the place its special atmosphere. There are no noisy attractions or tourist entertainment here. There is only water, silence and a church that survived an entire flooded village.
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It is especially beautiful here in the evening. When the sun begins to sink below the horizon, the water around the church takes on golden shades, and the church itself is reflected in the reservoir. At this moment it is easy to understand why many travelers call Husyntsi one of the most romantic and at the same time most mystical locations near Kyiv.
If you are looking for a place not only for beautiful photos, but also for reflection, calm and recharging, the flooded church in Husyntsi definitely deserves a place on your summer route.
Dobropark
Distance from Kyiv: about 30–40 km, approximately 40 minutes by car.
If you have at least once seen endless lavender fields, flower arches or photos among thousands of flowers on social networks and thought that this was somewhere in France, it is quite possible that in fact it was Dobropark.
In just a few years it has turned into one of the most popular summer locations near Kyiv. It is a huge landscape park that changes depending on the season. In spring people come here for tulips, in summer — for lavender, hydrangeas and roses, in autumn — for bright natural colors.
The main feature of Dobropark is its scale. Millions of flowers have been planted here, and each zone is designed to look like a separate photo location. That is why the park has long become one of the favorite places for family walks, romantic dates and photo shoots.
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Dobropark becomes especially beautiful during the lavender blooming period. At this time the air is filled with the scent of flowers, and the purple fields stretch so far that they resemble the landscapes of Provence.
Many people come here for beautiful pictures, but stay longer. After all, Dobropark is not only about photos. It is a place where you can take a break from the city rhythm, slowly walk along the alleys, lie on the grass, drink coffee among flowers and feel a real summer mood for at least a few hours.
If you are looking for a location where you can spend a weekend with the whole family, arrange a romantic walk or simply recharge among nature, Dobropark is definitely worth adding to your summer route.
Visitors to the Acropolis of Athens can now see the west side of the Parthenon in its most complete form in around 220 years, following the completion of one of the key stages in the restoration of the ancient temple.
Restorers have installed two new marble blocks in the gaps in the western pediment. It is this side of the Parthenon that visitors see first upon entering the site.
The Greek Ministry of Culture stated that the completion of the work restores the architectural unity of the west pediment and allows the temple’s proportions and geometric precision to be seen once again. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described the Parthenon’s renewed appearance as “truly impressive”.
The work was carried out by the Acropolis Restoration Service. According to Greek media reports, this was one of the most complex restoration operations in recent years: specialists had to join the surviving ancient fragments with new marble, precisely cut the blocks, hoist them into place and install them within the monument’s structure without disrupting the building’s historical fabric.
The project is funded through European programmes and forms part of the long-term restoration of the Acropolis, which began in 1975. Restorers are using marble from the Pentelicus area – the same source from which material was taken for the construction of the Parthenon in antiquity.
The Parthenon remains the main symbol of Athens and one of Europe’s most visited monuments. According to the AP, the Acropolis attracted around 4.6 million visitors last year. For Greece, it is not only a cultural asset but also a tourist attraction: restoring the temple’s appearance enhances Athens’ appeal as a destination for cultural tourism.
The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 BC on the Acropolis of Athens and is dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple is considered one of the principal monuments of classical ancient Greek architecture. In antiquity, it was adorned with sculptural compositions, friezes, metopes and pediments, many of which depicted mythological scenes and formed part of a unified artistic ensemble.
Throughout its history, the Parthenon has changed its function on numerous occasions: it was an ancient temple, a Christian church, a mosque, and during the period of Ottoman rule it was also used as a gunpowder store. In 1687, during the war between Venice and the Ottoman Empire, a shell struck the temple, causing an explosion that severely damaged the building.
Another severe blow to the monument’s integrity came in the early 19th century, when the British diplomat Lord Elgin removed a significant portion of the Parthenon’s sculptural decoration to the United Kingdom. These fragments, known as the Parthenon Marbles or the Elgin Marbles, have been housed in the British Museum since 1816.
For decades, Greece has been seeking the return of the sculptures, arguing that their removal compromised the integrity of the monument and deprived the Parthenon of part of its historical and artistic significance. The British Museum insists that the collection was acquired lawfully under the Ottoman administration of the time; however, Athens maintains that no genuine authorisation existed for the removal of key elements of the temple.
This is precisely why the current restoration of the west pediment has not only architectural but also symbolic significance. Greece is demonstrating that it continues to restore the Parthenon as a single monument of world culture, despite the fact that a significant part of its sculptural heritage still remains outside the country.
In 2024, a representative of the Turkish Ministry of Culture stated that there was no document bearing the sultan’s seal in the Ottoman archives that would confirm the lawful sale or authorisation for the removal of the Parthenon sculptures by Lord Elgin. This strengthened Greece’s position in the dispute with the British Museum.
Local budgets received 161.8 million hryvnias in tourist tax from January through May 2026, which is 22.6% higher than the figures for the same period last year, according to a statement from the State Tax Service of Ukraine (STS).
As noted in a post on the agency’s website on Thursday, Kyiv led the regions in terms of tourism tax revenue (34.7 million). Based on the results for the first four months of 2026, Kyiv and Lviv Oblast collected the same amount (22.5 million UAH each); however, based on the results for the first five months of 2026, Lviv Oblast lagged behind with 32.2 million UAH.
Also among the top four regions were Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast—27.8 million UAH—and Zakarpattia Oblast—14.7 million UAH.
The tourism tax is not paid by local residents of the community or individuals who rent housing there on a long-term basis; individuals on business trips (provided they have an official order or certificate); individuals with disabilities, war veterans, and participants in the cleanup of the Chernobyl accident; children under 18; individuals who have arrived at sanatoriums on medical treatment vouchers; and those registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In today’s environment, every hryvnia paid in tourist tax helps regions maintain economic stability, create new jobs in the service sector, and enhance the competitiveness of domestic tourism.
The tourist tax is paid by Ukrainian citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless persons as an advance payment prior to temporary accommodation at lodging facilities (hotels, hostels, vacation homes).
Tax agents are business entities that provide temporary lodging services (hotels, hostels, vacation homes, etc.); they transfer the collected funds to the local budget. A list of such agents is published on local council websites.
The tax rates are set by local councils for each day of stay at up to 0.5% of the minimum wage for Ukrainian citizens and up to 5% for foreigners.
As previously reported, revenues in Bukovel and Yaremche for the first four months of 2026 increased by 31% thanks to the fight against the shadow economy: In 2026, 211 on-site inspections of businesses were conducted at resorts in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, resulting in 7.3 million UAH in fines and the identification of 46 unregistered workers.
KYIV, LOCAL BUDGETS, STATE TAX SERVICE, TOURISM, Tourism tax
According to Serbian Economist, tourist arrivals to Montenegro in the first quarter of 2026 fell by nearly 4% amid a sharp drop in the number of visitors from Turkey and a continuing decline in the Russian segment, according to the statistical office Monstat.
In January–March 2026, Montenegro welcomed 169,419 tourists, who accounted for 1.079 million overnight stays across all types of accommodation. Compared to the same period last year, the number of tourists decreased by 6,400, or 3.8%, and the number of overnight stays by 41,000, or 3.7%.
The main factor behind the decline was the Turkish market. According to Vijesti, in the first quarter, Turkish citizens accounted for 60,359 overnight stays, compared to 114,477 a year earlier. Thus, the figure fell by 54,000 overnight stays, or 47%. A particularly sharp decline was recorded in private accommodations: the number of overnight stays by Turkish citizens fell from 95,043 to 44,744.
Tour operators attribute the decline to events in late October 2025, when, following an incident in Podgorica involving foreign workers from Turkey and Azerbaijan, attacks occurred on the property and businesses of Turkish citizens. Following this, the Montenegrin government temporarily introduced a visa requirement for Turkish citizens. In December 2025, the visa-free regime was restored, but in a reduced format: the length of stay without a visa was reduced from 90 to 30 days.
The Russian segment also continued to shrink. In private accommodations alone, Russian citizens recorded 317,000 overnight stays in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 370,000 a year earlier. The decline amounted to 53,000 overnight stays, or 14%. Over the past two years, Russian tourist arrivals to Montenegro have already declined significantly: in 2023, tourists from Russia accounted for approximately 3.7 million overnight stays, while in 2025, the figure was approximately 2.4 million.
Part of the decline was offset by other markets, primarily Serbia. According to Vijesti, the number of overnight stays by visitors from Serbia in the first quarter increased by nearly 50,000 compared to the same period last year. The number of overnight stays by tourists from Albania, Germany, and Bosnia and Herzegovina also increased, but this was not enough to offset the decline in Turkish and Russian tourist flows.
Serbia remains one of Montenegro’s key tourist markets. According to the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro, in 2025, Serbian citizens accounted for 18.1% of foreign tourist arrivals, ranking first among external markets. In private accommodation, the share of Serbian tourists by overnight stays in 2025 was 25.6%, which also makes Serbia one of the main sources of demand for the Montenegrin tourism sector.
Ukrainian tourists also constitute a significant group of visitors to Montenegro, particularly in private accommodations. According to Monstat data for 2025, tourists from Ukraine accounted for 4.7% of overnight stays by foreign tourists in private accommodations, compared to Turkey’s share in this segment of 4.9%.
Official monthly statistics show that in March 2026, Montenegro’s collective accommodation facilities recorded 56,306 thousand arrivals and 123,913 thousand overnight stays. Foreigners accounted for 71.9% of all overnight stays, with the majority occurring at seaside resorts—72.4%.
Among foreign tourists in March, visitors from Serbia led the way with 5,980 thousand arrivals, followed by Albania, Germany, China, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine.
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Join UP!, an international travel brand founded in Ukraine, is shifting its business model from a traditional tour operator to a vertically integrated comprehensive travel service—Join Up! Travel Universe, the company’s press office told Interfax-Ukraine.
“We are moving to a new stage—creating the brand image of Join Up! Travel Universe, a vertically integrated model that combines all key elements of travel into a single seamless system centered on the customer. Our goal is to move beyond selling individual services and instead manage the entire customer experience: from the inspiration to travel to returning home from the trip,” commented Join Up! co-founder Alina Alba.
The change in the business model also means a change in the approach to the company’s development. While the growth strategy was previously focused primarily on scaling, the focus is now shifting to development “from within”: multi-service capabilities, quality control of the travel experience, and a seamless customer experience where all touchpoints are integrated into a single system (an omnichannel approach) to deliver the necessary service.
The foundation of the vertically integrated model will be: strategic airline partner SkyUp, our own DMCs (destination management companies that serve tourists in vacation destinations), traditional travel agencies (B2B sales), travel shops (offline B2C sales points), and direct online sales via the website. Consumers will be offered package and dynamic tours, hotel bookings, airline tickets, excursions, events, activities, vehicle rentals, and more.
This structure will enable Join Up! to better control quality at every stage of the customer journey and create a cohesive, predictable, and personalized travel experience. The new model also makes it possible to adapt travel solutions more quickly to changes in customer behavior and market conditions, as well as to attract a new audience—people who are accustomed to planning their own trips and organizing the entire travel process.
The new travel planning format will also allow travelers to literally “build” their vacation like a construction set and view all trip details in one place—in the mobile app or web version of the platform.
The updated platform is already available to users, though new services will be added gradually so that customers can receive personalized travel solutions tailored to their needs, budget, and lifestyle. For agents, this transformation opens up new opportunities to expand their product lineup, improve the customer experience, and attract a new audience that values a diverse range of services and seamless interaction.
In addition to transforming its business model, the Join Up!™ brand is updating its visual identity across all official digital platforms.
Over the past 15 years, Join Up! has evolved from a travel agency and local tour operator into an international travel brand. The company is currently represented in Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldova. Since its inception, the brand has served more than 8 million tourists across all markets and developed a partner network of nearly 10,000 travel agencies, according to internal data.
As reported, the travel company Join UP! LLC was established in 2013. The ultimate beneficiaries are Yuriy and Oleksandr Alby.
The company’s authorized capital is UAH 72.671 million.
According to Serbian Economist, low-cost carrier Wizz Air will open its first hub in Montenegro at Podgorica Airport on March 30, 2026, and begin a phased rollout of 17 new routes to European cities. This was announced by Montenegro’s airport operator, Aerodromi Crne Gore.
According to the published information, the new flights will be introduced gradually from late March through mid-June. Among the announced destinations are Malmö, Paris-Beauvais, Hamburg, Maastricht, Catania, Bratislava, Barcelona, Basel, Rzeszów, Rome, Baden-Baden, Cologne, Ljubljana, Poznań, Vilnius, Gdańsk, and Wrocław.
As previously reported, Wizz Air will station two Airbus A321neo aircraft in Podgorica. According to the company’s estimates, the new base will create about 80 direct jobs and generate approximately 700 indirect ones, as well as increase tourist and business traffic through the capital of Montenegro. Back in October 2025, the carrier stated that the launch of the base and new routes is expected to add about 1 million seats per year.
For Podgorica Airport, the project also has infrastructure significance. Aerodromi Crne Gore previously announced plans to invest €21 million in equipment and modernization in 2026, with the main focus on Podgorica, where traffic is expected to grow by approximately 50%, in part thanks to the Wizz Air hub.
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