Unlike Caribbean beaches, Swiss Alps, and Michigan casinos, Ukraine isn’t usually a bucket list destination for everyday travelers. Despite the country being plagued with stereotypes of Cold War-era notions, harsh and freezing winters, and an overall gray landscape, these ideas couldn’t be further from the truth in most cases. In reality, Ukraine is packed with cultural heritage, historical meaning, and magnificent natural beauty that warrants a visit – once the unfortunate military invasion eases up.

Amid all the tragedy and catastrophe affecting the country, let’s take a moment to appreciate the most beautiful parts of natural Ukraine. These picturesque sights are fully accessible to tourists, offering call reception and browsing opportunities for all, while appearing as if they’re untouched.

Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains

Stretching across four Ukrainian regions in the country’s southwest are the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains, a part of the broader Carpathian Mountains that can also be found in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia. In Ukraine, it is the highest mountain range in the country at 2,061 meters. And yes, you can certainly try hiking all the way up there if you’re fit enough to do so.

No matter what your adventure calls for, these mountains have it all. You can sip on mushroom broth, rent a village house in a meadow, visit a luxury spa, travel on horseback, or go skiing in the colder months – all with the Carpathian Mountains as your backdrop. Dotted with pretty pink flowers and waterfalls tucked away in secret, this place is enigmatic and magical, all wrapped in one.

The Tunnel of Love, Klevan

The Tunnel of Love naturally exudes romance, thanks to the stunning green tree canopies that change colors with the seasons. This 6.4-kilometer section of railway links Klevan, a tiny rural settlement with just over 7,000 residents, with Orzhiv, an even smaller settlement housing 4,000 residents.

About 4.9 kilometers of the railway is completely shrouded in forest, creating a beautiful sight and atmosphere that makes the tunnel look like an oil painting. It’s a popular place for couples to stroll since trains only pass by three times a day.

Optymistychna (Optimistic) Cave

The Optymistychna Cave is what’s known as a gypsum cave located in the village of Korolivka. Gypsum is a colorless mineral that can be tinged with other hues like pink, blue, brown, yellow, and other vibrant shades. With 264 kilometers of passageways mapped out, this incredible labyrinth is the longest gypsum cave in the world.

But how on earth did it get the name Optimistic Cave? Paleontologists were extremely skeptical about the cave’s existence because they were unable to find it, so when they did, it was a no-brainer to give it that name. If you’re looking for somewhere truly special to visit untouched by civilization, this cave is an unusual and exciting place to go. It was only opened to tourists in 2010, where they can now tour seven different routes and travel 3 to 18 kilometers on foot to see the incredible gypsum rosettes and crystals.

Synevyr National Nature Park

Synevyr National Nature Park is something straight out of a dream, with crowds and crowds of beech primeval forests, steep, towering mountains, and the showpiece of the park – Synevyr Lake. A visit to the park will introduce you to protected wetlands, sparkling waterfalls, and a variety of fauna, including those in the Rehabilitation Centers for Brown Bears and Birds of Prey.

Head to the northwestern part of the park, and you’ll see Lake Synevyr in all its glory, right at the foothills of Mount Ozerna. Said to have formed 10,000 years ago, this tranquil lake is surrounded by an approximately 150-year-old forest and has a tiny island in the center called the Sea Eye. Unsurprisingly, the lake was named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Ukraine in 2008.

Koiaske Salt Lake

If you haven’t had your fill of magical-looking lakes just yet – don’t worry, as Ukraine has a few. One of the other charming lakes in the country is located in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory. Just four kilometers long, two kilometers wide, and a meter deep, this shallow salt lake is known for its healing properties and, above all, its pink to scarlet color. It owes its blush color to the microscopic algae in the water and the saltiness of its waters. Even more fascinating, when the water evaporates, and the salt crystallizes around it, the lake exudes the smell of viola and produces crystal stones. Although Koiaske Lake is such an awe-inspiring phenomenon, most tourists don’t know about it.

Tip: This isn’t the only pink lake in Ukraine. In Syvash Bay, you’ll find Lake Lemuria, an incredibly salty lake (270–300 grams of salt per liter) with mud that is certified for use in cosmetic and wellness products.

Dniester Canyon

The Dniester Canyon is found in the Dniester Canyon National Nature Park, with rock formed long ago in the Miocene, Upper Cretaceous period, and Lower Palaeozoic era – in other words, 5 to over 500 million years ago. It’s such a large unit that the walls of the canyon create a microclimate, making summer temperatures almost an entire degree warmer than the surrounding areas and even extending the season by around 10 days.

The most famous part of the canyon is the stretch from the mouth of the Zolota Lypa River to that of the Zbruch River. In this area, you’ll find sweeping landscapes, grottoes, waterfalls, islands, and travertine rocks, all contributing to a unique vista.

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