To get the right impression of Ukraine as a whole one should necessarily visit the Transcarpathia beside other regions. The cultural peculiarities formed under the impact of the neighboring countries, the local inhabitants and their customs, and of course the magnificent nature of the locality are the reason why Transcarpathia is worth visiting for a foreign tourist as well as for a Ukrainian resident from any other corner of the country.
The celebrated local vines and the ample Hungarian cuisine in the traditional restaurants called “colyba”; bathing in thermal pools, hot water tubs and pure cold mountain streams; folk songs performed in a contemporary way and the mountain peak landscapes – even the most sophisticated tourists will be overwhelmed by such a storm of manifold impressions!
Every sightseeing tour normally includes the famous castles of the region. The Mukachevo or the Palanok castle is indeed the most prominent one. Its bastions are marked with sculptures reflecting its history. These are the Turul, the mythical bird as the Hungarian national symbol, and the monument to the brave castle owner, countess Ilona Zrini and her son. Musicians playing romantic melodies in the courtyard create a wonderful atmosphere for the today’s visitors.
Another famous tourist destination, the Shenborn hunting castle in Chenadiyevo town is a real work of architectural art surrounded by a huge park. In spring, beautiful Chinese cherry trees blossom around a picturesque pond the shape of which resembles the outlines of the 19th-century Austro-Hungarian Empire. The evergreen shrubbery labyrinths lead to the castle entrance. 
Today the whole territory is given over to the Karpaty health resort however the interiors have preserved their initial look. One of the beliefs connected with the castle says the peculiar chandelier which survived till nowadays would start to swing if a faithful wife stands under it.
There are two more interesting 18 century castles not far from Uzhgorod. 
They are the Templar castle in the Serednye village and the Nevitsky castle in the Nevitske town. Today they are both just majestic ruins with vague outlines of the defense constructions, living chambers and watchtowers. The Nevitsky castle (the name is derived from the Slovak “bride” – such name is related to the history of Mogol invasions when all the town’s young girls were hidden inside the castle for safety) is today the venue for the annual ethnic festival called The Brides’ Castle.
To see the entire picture of everyday life of the people who inhabited the area a couple of centuries ago it is a must to visit the architecture and culture museum in Kolochava village. The Hutsul, Boiky, Lemky, Jewish, Slovakian, Czech and Hungarian cultures are interlaced in this small settlement of the 18-19th cc. precisely reproduced from the constructions, works of art and household items of those times preserved till today.
The natural treasures of the Carpatians are the Synevir lake also called the “see eye” due to its shape; the scenic Shepit waterfall, the Borzhava ridge, the wonderful daffodil valley and much more.
With a booked and rented apartment in Mukachevo or Beregovo you can see all the wonderful places the region is famous for, get to know the local traditions and experience the unique way of life its inhabitants lead.
Dobovo.com is always happy to offer you comfortable accommodation in the desired parts of Ukraine!
Going to Ukraine for the first time you might have some trepidation about what you should necessarily bring, how you should go about the everyday issues you are used to cope with in your country or how to secure yourself from any possible difficulties (if any arise). Here are some important things you should consider.
Though Khortitsa is considered to be the largest island on the Dnipro river, one could easily walk around it in a day. However the island’s dimensions in geographical terms are far from equal with its cultural value. The concentration of Ukrainian culture and history here is much higher than in many other considerable geographical points.
Another outstanding feature of the place is its unique nature. As if by someone’s conception all the Ukrainian landscape types are represented here: rocky and sloping banks, hills and hollows, forest, heath and lakes… Such favorable conditions couldn’t but attract the old Slavic tribes that settled here. And nowadays Khortitsa is a remarkably picturesque and mysterious patch of nature, history essence in the middle of the giant modern industrial center – Zaporozhye.
Have you ever played soccer at a depth of around 300 meters? Or taken a walk down the dry ancient sea bottom? Imagine a maze inside a giant lump of salt with enough space not only for a human but for an entire nine-storey building… This is not a feature film setting but a real place one should necessarily visit when in Ukraine.
Another unusual creation of the workers’ hands is the salt palm tree. It is an underground analogue of the symbol of Donbass, the Mertsalov’s wrought palm tree.
Lviv restaurants testify the city’s taste for good quality and interesting leisure. Small and cozy coffee parlors resembling family sittin-rooms, genuine “Kneipen” serving live beer and rich snacks, luxury restaurants with their festive atmosphere, street cafes especially good for observing the flow of life… This variety of styles, shapes and traditions is a craddle of some truly outstanding locations which excite and delight tourists and local connoisseurs of leisurely lifestyle.
The dwellers of the guerrilla hideout “Kryivka” («Криївка») are glory keepers of the Galicia history. You can never get in if you don’t give the secret partisan watchword to the armed guardians at the entrance. And once you are there you will be treated with mead and horseraddish vodka along with traditional dishes with bold and ironiс names inspired by the historical events. Unusual interior of the location and the atmosphere of ardor will add to the impression of taking part in a successful guerrilla plot.
The same building houses a misterious venue the name of which is known to the select only. For the majority it is “Mason Lodge” or simply “The Most Expensive Galicia’s restaurant” («Найдорожча ресторація галичини»). The prices are indeed striking here – all hundreds and thousands – but only for those who haven’t managed to get a club card or a discount coupon which isn’t so hard as it may seem. The entire place is filled with mystery and luxury: cut glass vases instead of beer mugs, a royal throne in the restroom, white gloves for visitors, candles and pictures… A whole load of curious details for those looking for unusual eating-out experiences.
Another place having something to astonish the conventional restaurant visitors is the owner of a peculiar name – the “Masoch Cafe” («Мазох-кафе»). As the name suggests, the main idea of the location is the cult of the notorious trend and its founder. The names of dishes trigger your imagination, and you are more than welcome to test some of the most popular s/m-attributes (cuffs, whips and chains are parts of the intriguing interior). Tourists come here for fresh impressions, and the frequenters appreciate the quality of service and the relaxing atmosphere.
The creators of the next location decided to maintain the tradition of small Lviv museums and dedicated the opening of the “Gas Lamp” cafe («Гасова лямпа») to the 155th anniversary of the kerosine lamp invention. Here you will be met by a waiter with a lamp and through a dark passage and curved stairs you will get to the three-storey restaurant with peculiar furnishing, old lamps on the walls and fancy crockery. All this gives the location its charm, and the iron-cast gas lamp inventors at the entrance seem to have already become one of the major tourist attractions of the city.
Old Kiev monuments remind us about the great events in the history of the state, unveil the mysteries from the lives of famous people, amaze with the nobility of architectural genius. And the monuments constructed by our contemporaries, by young artists, architects and designers emerge here and there to shed some positive rays on the city’s everyday life. Funny, weird and unexpected, they quickly become favorite attractions for the citizens.
Two sprinkling fountains here are the little girl who climbed the back of the striped elephant together with her tiny pets and the lovely hugging zebras.
The atmosphere of the place is so relaxing that one stops thinking of the everyday problems and starts believing in the good – all due to the merry little birds nestling here and there, the bright colors of the mosaic, and clay bells hanging from the trees.
The Landscape alley has gathered the creations of modern Kiev artists (Konstantin Skretutskyi and many others). However this is not the only place to find unusual monuments and architectural forms in the city. Worth seeing are the new monument to Chopin in shape of a white piano, the monument to the Kiev chestnuts, and the Lovers’ monument to name quite a few.
