
Where to go on vacation in summer: car tour to the Carpathians for 3 days
Summer vacation in the mountains has long been a great alternative to sea coasts. Mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls – picturesque landscapes of the Carpathians mesmerize and make one fall in love. Besides, the area is rich in historical and cultural sights. Planning a vacation in the Carpathians for a week or a few days, you can choose activities for every taste: climb to the top of a mountain, walk to a waterfall, visit an ancient castle, go rafting, indulge in gastronomic tourism…
A weekend tour to the Carpathians by car is a great idea. You will be able to ensure freedom of movement and explore even remote corners without any problems, change routes to suit your needs. For such a weekend it is ideal to rent a four-wheel drive car. For overnight stays, you can bring a tent or plan to stay in local hotels.
Day 1: Ivano-Frankivsk – Yaremche – Vorokhta
You can choose Ivano-Frankivsk, a city founded in the seventeenth century, as the starting point of your journey. From here you can get to the heart of the Carpathians. In one day, choosing a tour to the Carpathians for two people, you can enjoy both active city life and appreciate the color of the Ukrainian mountains.
Ivano-Frankivsk
We recommend starting from the cultural and historical center of the Prykarpattia region – Ivano-Frankivsk. Must-see places to visit:
- Town Hall — the building houses a local history museum and an observation deck offering a bird’s-eye view of the city;
- The Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection, built in the Baroque style. Inside it you can see stunning frescoes and icons;
- City Market — here you can always buy fresh food, souvenirs and other trifles.

How to get there: when going on a family tour to the Carpathians, be sure to rent a four-wheel drive car from 7Cars service. If you start your trip in Kyiv, you should plan your departure along the highway E40/M06 (enter the necessary coordinates to build an exact route) through Zhytomyr and Rivne (average travel time is 8 hours). If the starting point of your trip is Lviv, you should choose highway N-09. This route will take you approximately 2.5 hours.

Departure: after visiting the sights of Ivano-Frankivsk you should keep your course to Yaremche (the road will take about 1.5 hours).
Yaremche
Yaremche is rightfully considered to be a real tourist center of the Carpathians. The picturesque nature, clean mountain air and rich cultural heritage are amazingly combined here. You should definitely visit:
- Probii Waterfall, near which there are observation decks offering stunning views of the water flow;
- souvenir market — here you can buy handicrafts, Carpathian teas and other memorable souvenirs;
- “Carpathians in Miniature” park-museum — a place that allows you to get acquainted with architectural monuments and objects of cultural heritage of the Carpathians.

How to get there: the route to Carpathians by car should be planned along the highway N-09.
Walk: if you want to stretch your legs a bit and walk through the forest, be sure to choose the popular hiking route “Dovbush Path”. Here you will be able to see numerous rocks, wooded slopes and caves.
Huk Waterfall
The Huk Waterfall, surrounded by dense forest and rocky cliffs, is the hallmark of the Carpathians. You can walk to it through the forest, enjoying the atmosphere of silence and solitude.

How to get there: the route to the Huk Waterfall from Yaremche should be planned along the highway N-09, heading in the Vorokhta direction.
Activities: you can take a walk around the waterfall, enjoying the birdsong, the sound of the water and the fresh mountain air. Huk Waterfall is an ideal place for photo shoots.
Vorokhta
You can finish your day in Vorokhta, a famous ski resort with the Carpathian National Nature Park nearby. However, in summer it is no less interesting here, as you can visit:
- old railroad viaducts built in the late nineteenth century;
- the wooden Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, built in the traditional Hutsul style.

How to get there: to get to Vorokhta you can take highway N-09.
Activities: here you can find youth activities to suit all tastes. For example, you can rent mountain bikes, go horseback riding, take a cable car ride, etc.
Accommodation: you can stay overnight in one of the estates (e.g. Vorokhta 365 or other). Please note that you should book accommodation in advance, because the demand for affordable accommodation in the Carpathians is always high in any season.
Day 2: Vorokhta – Verkhovyna – Kosiv
If you are going to the Carpathians for a weekend vacation, the second day can be fully devoted to the beauty of the mountains and the culture of the Hutsuls. Vorokhta-Verkhovina-Kosiv combines beautiful natural landscapes and unforgettable local flavor.
Verkhovyna
If you are looking for a perfect combination of Carpathian nature and classic Hutsul traditions, it is worth visiting Verkhovyna. To do this, you need to travel about 55 kilometers (the road will take about 1.5 hours). A must is to visit:
- Museum of Hutsul life and art — traditional costumes, household items and many other exhibits will allow you to learn more about unique Ukrainian traditions;
- House-museum of the movie “The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” — the exposition includes props from the filming of Serhii Paradzhanov’s famous creation. By the way, it is housed in the house where the director himself lived.

There is also a museum of Hutsul magic, an observation tower and many other interesting locations in Verkhovyna.
How to get there: you can get to Verkhovyna by car from Vorokhta along the R-24 highway.
Local handicrafts: Verkhovyna is home to many workshops where traditional embroideries are created. There are also ceramics and wood products with traditional ornaments. If you are interested in Carpathians vacation with children, be sure to visit one of these workshops – an interesting leisure time will be provided!
Additional information: the village of Kryvorivnia is located near Verkhovyna. There are numerous workshops here, where ceramic and wooden products are made. There is also a museum of Ivan Franko. To get to the settlement, it is recommended to use the highway R-24.
Kosiv
Kosiv is a famous folk crafts center that you should definitely put on your travel vishlist. Visit such locations:
- Kosiv Craft Market — here you can get acquainted with a wide assortment of various souvenirs: from embroideries to carpets and ceramics;
- Museum of Folk Art and Hutsul Craft — the exposition includes traditional costumes, musical instruments, ceramics and much more;
- Museum of the Kosiv State Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts — here the artistic heritage of famous masters of folk art of the Hutsul region is kept.

How to get there: when planning the route from Verkhovyna to Kosiv, you should take the R-24 highway. The distance between the settlements is 35 km.
Accommodation: You can stay for rest and overnight accommodation directly in Kosiv itself. In the city there are many estates and hotels for every taste and budget. It is quite possible to plan an active vacation in the Carpathians inexpensively.
In addition: not far from Kosiv you can also visit the village of Kosmach. Here is located the Center of Hutsul embroidery and weaving. The movement is carried out on the highway R-24.
Day 3: Kosiv – Sheshory – Kolomyia – Ivano-Frankivsk
If you went on a Carpathian road trip, spend the third day in Sheshory and Kolomyia. Here you can enjoy magnificent waterfalls and unforgettable mountain scenery.
Sheshory
Be sure to plan an early departure from Kosiv to Sheshory. This will allow you to enjoy a stunning view of the morning Carpathians. Sheshory Waterfalls (also known as Sribliasti waterfalls) are located on the Pistyn’ka River. Having planned a Carpathians vacation in summer, be sure to enjoy the picturesque landscape, which disposes to long walks and unforgettable photo shoots. It is also recommended to visit local workshops.

How to get there: the traffic is carried out on the highway R-24 (the route duration is about 19 km).
Kolomyia
Of course, the Carpathian tourist route cannot do without visiting the cultural center of the region – Kolomyia. The city is well known for its numerous museums, as well as historical buildings. Such locations are a must-see:
- Museum of Pysanka — there is a huge collection of painted eggs from different regions of Ukraine. Additionally, master classes are held here;
- National Museum of Folk Art of the Hutsul Region and Pokuttia — here you will find an incredibly large collection of traditional costumes, musical instruments, ceramics, etc.

You should definitely take a stroll along the central streets of the city (you can find many interesting locations on the map). You will be pleasantly surprised by the local architecture, relaxed atmosphere and cozy places.
How to get there: from Sheshory to Kolomyia drive along the highway R-24. The distance between the settlements is 35 km.
Return to Ivano-Frankivsk
You can finish your vacation in the Carpathian Mountains at the starting point of the route – Ivano-Frankivsk. Walk around the city, enjoy the coolness of fountains, visit local attractions (e.g. Bastion Gallery, Art Museum).
How to get there: you can get from Kolomyia to Ivano-Frankivsk by highway N-10. The distance between the settlements is approximately 60 km.
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