Ukraine is a country best discovered from behind the wheel. The narrow cobbled streets of Lviv, the baroque of Kamianets-Podilskyi, Sofiivka Park in Uman, the lights of Kyiv, and the Austrian charm of Chernivtsi — you can see it all in a single week if you're driving.
The REIZ Car Rental team has put together a tested 7-day route from west to east and back. It works for first-time road-trippers in Ukraine and for seasoned travelers who want to combine famous cities with lesser-known spots.
In this article you'll find what to see in each city, how much time to plan, how to handle overnights, and why a car is the ideal way to get around.
Day 1–2. Lviv — the heart of Western Ukraine
Start: Lviv. Coffee houses, the Town Hall, the High Castle, Lychakiv Cemetery.
Start your route in Lviv — a city where history waits around every corner. Walk through Rynok Square, climb the Town Hall tower, have coffee on Virmenska Street, and visit the Lychakiv necropolis. In the evening, try a restaurant with local cuisine and Lviv chocolate for dessert.
What to plan for
Plan at least 2 full days for Lviv. The Old Town is walkable, but you'll want a car for trips outside the center (Shevchenkivskyi Hai open-air museum, the castles of the Lviv region).
A car frees you from public-transport schedules and lets you drive out to one of the Golden Horseshoe castles in the evening on a whim.
Rent your car right in Lviv — our office is close to the center, so you can pick up the vehicle the day you arrive.
Day 3. Kamianets-Podilskyi — the fortress city
Lviv → Kamianets-Podilskyi (~4 h). Baroque, the Smotrych canyon, the Old Fortress, sunrise hot-air balloons.
Kamianets-Podilskyi makes an immediate impression: the town sits on a rocky island wrapped on every side by the Smotrych River. Visit the Old Fortress, stroll the baroque streets, and if you get up early, book a hot-air balloon flight — it's the most dramatic view of the canyon.
Tips
The best approach is to arrive in the evening, spend the night in the old town, and walk around the fortress at dawn before the crowds arrive.
Some canyon viewpoints and nearby Khotyn (another fortress on the Dniester) are really only reachable with your own vehicle.
Combine Kamianets and Khotyn in a single day — they're just 25 km apart, and you'll get two fortresses instead of one.
Day 4. Uman — Sofiivka Park
Kamianets-Podilskyi → Uman (~4 h). Park, waterfalls, grottoes, lakes.
The main goal is Sofiivka arboretum — one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. Cascading lakes, grottoes, artificial waterfalls, and thousands of plant species. Plan at least 3 hours for the walk because the park is huge. Afterwards, try the local cafes in central Uman for Podillia-style food.
What to know
It's best to enter the park in the morning when the light is softest. Buy tickets online in advance, especially on weekends.
Uman is a compact town, but on this route it works as a convenient midway stop. Without a car you'd need several transfers to get here.
Fill up the tank before leaving Uman — the next large gas station only appears as you approach the Kyiv region.
Day 5–6. Kyiv — the capital
Uman → Kyiv (~3 h). Pechersk Lavra, Khreshchatyk, Podil, Andriivskyi descent.
Plan 2 days for the capital: the Pechersk Lavra and Mariinskyi Palace, St. Sophia's Cathedral, Maidan, Khreshchatyk, Andriivskyi descent, and Podil — that's the minimum. Save an evening for the Dnipro embankment and the lights of the bridges over the river.
Kyiv with a car
Central Kyiv has many paid parking zones and heavy traffic at rush hour. The best approach is to park near your hotel and use the metro or walk downtown.
You'll want a car for day-trips outside the city — Mezhyhirya, Pyrohiv open-air museum, Bucha — and for the long leg to the final stop of the route.
Choose a hotel with its own parking — in the center it can save you up to 300 UAH a day compared to paid zones.
Day 7. Chernivtsi — little Vienna
Kyiv → Chernivtsi (~8 h). The Metropolitans' Residence, cobblestones, Austro-Hungarian architecture.
The final stop is Chernivtsi — one of Ukraine's most atmospheric cities: Austro-Hungarian architecture, the Residence of the Bukovinian Metropolitans (a UNESCO site), Turetska Krynytsia Square, and the University on the hill. Central Europe is palpable here.
Tips
Plan to leave Kyiv in the morning and budget the whole day for the drive. Spend the night in Chernivtsi; the next day, head back to Lviv (another ~4 hours).
Chernivtsi itself is compact, but the drive from Kyiv to Bukovyna is what really gives you the road-trip feeling — shifting landscapes, stops in villages, and roadside cafes.
Short on time? Drop the car at one of our partner offices in Chernivtsi and take the train back. Check the details with your manager.
General travel tips
A few important things to sort out before you leave:
- Book accommodation ahead of time — especially in summer and on weekends.
- Download Google Maps and Waze offline maps — signal can be patchy in some regions.
- Keep your car documents and insurance papers together in a folder or pouch.
- Plan fuel stops every 250–300 km; the main highways have a dense gas-station network.
- Expect mixed road quality: the main routes are in good shape, but some regional roads can be rough — don't rush.
At REIZ you can rent a car in Lviv for the entire route. We provide a full tank, 24/7 support, insurance, and — by separate arrangement — the option to drop the car in another city. It's the ideal choice for a trip across Ukraine.
Conclusion
A Ukrainian road trip means the freedom to choose your own pace, route, and stops. In 7 days you'll see completely different regions: from Galician Lviv to Bukovinian Chernivtsi, from the fortresses of Podillia to Kyiv.
The REIZ team will help you pick the right car, suggest a route, and prepare the vehicle for the long drive. All you have to do is get behind the wheel and go.
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