Synevyr Synevyr is arguably Ukraine's best-known lake, featured in songs and poetry and often called the most beautiful one. Located in the far west of Ukraine at the height of 989 meters above sea level, Synevyr is the largest lake in the area of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains.
Synevyr is also known as the Sea Eye: a small round island stands in the middle of the lake like a pupil of an eye. The local legend says the lake was formed of the tears of Syn, a count’s daughter, who cried over the death of her beloved Vyr, a shepherd. The downside to this beauty: the lake is banned for swimming. Close to the lake there is Europe’s biggest reservation for bears.
How to get there: By car from Kyiv through Lviv (some 740 kilometers or nearly 10 hours of driving). By train: take No. 81 or 13 from Kyiv to Volovets (Hr 286 — 350). Then take a bus to Mezhhiria village, then a taxi to the national reserve park where Synevyr is.
Where to stay: Synevyr is located in a national reserve park, where camping is forbidden. One can rent a room from locals in the nearby villages, the closes of which is Synevyrska Poliana. Some hotel options are found at www.booking.com. Several restaurants are available near the lake.
Svitiaz is one of the Shatsk Lakes in the western Volyn Oblast. There are small hotels nearby, but many tourists prefer to rent a room from locals.
Svitiaz and Shatsk Lakes
The deepest lake of Ukraine, Svitiaz is one of the Shatsk Lakes in the western Volyn Oblast. The water here is very clean, but not especially warm. Beach lovers will find some nice sandy beaches.
There is plenty of fish in the lakes, and local markets offer it to tourists. The lake is surrounded by pine trees that ensure the clean air and nice fresh smell.
How to get there: Take an overnight train No. 097 from Kyiv to Kovel in Volyn Oblast (Hr 185), then a bus to Shatsk or Svitiaz (appr. Hr 50).
Where to stay: Most tourists rent out rooms from local villagers. Prices start at Hr 80 per person in a room with a shared bathroom. Galicky Dvir Hotel offers rooms for two for Hr 500 and can be found at www.booking.com.
Bile Lake (White Lake) is found in Rivne Oblast. It is beautiful, but infrastructure here is limited to one state-owned sanatorium.
Bile (White) Lake
Bile Lake in Rivne Oblast is rumored to have wellness properties. The water here is clear and has high concentration of glycerol, a usual component of the hydrating creams
Unfortunately, the lake is not very popular among tourists, so there is no infrastructure. Prepare to camp and cook on the fire.
How to get there: Regular buses and trains from Kyiv stop at Rivne, the closest big city to the lake, at 3 a.m., so the best option is driving. A drive from Kyiv to the Bile Lake is approximately 400 kilometers.
Where to stay: There is a shabby sanatorium owned by Rivne Nuclear Plant (www.rnpp.rv.ua), where price starts at Hr 200 per person, including meals. Another option is camping.
Yalpug Lake in Odesa Oblast.
Yalpug
Yalpug is the biggest lake in Ukraine and one of the biggest in Europe. The lake is located in Odesa Oblast, some 230 kilometers to the south-west of Odesa, near the city of Bolgrad, close to the borders of Moldova and Bulgaria.
The 39-kilometer long lake is known for the water that is warm and a bit salty for a lake. It has a diversity of fish and attracts lots of fishing fans.
Its banks are the constant place of the archeological work. The 5th-century treasure of the Huns was discovered here in 2006, and more gold was found in 2010.
How to get there: Take a train from Kyiv to Odesa (Hr 300) and a bus from Odesa to Bolgrad.
Where to stay: Plenty of small hotels and cottages offer rooms for every pocket. The lowest prices start at just Hr 50 per person, but it’s better to count on Hr 400 per room and more. Most of the local hotels are not represented online.
Shelekhivske Lake in Sumy Oblast doesn’t see many tourists.
Shelekhivske Lake
Shelekhivske Lake, found in the Mezhyrich village in Sumy Oblast isn’t crowded by tourists. The lake is said to be millions of years old, going back to the one of the ice ages. The lake is a bit cold for swimming, but offers a lot to the avid fishing fans. There are wild animals in the forest around the lake.
How to get there: By car from Kyiv (320 kilometers, 4.5 hours) to the Mezhyrich village, then to the lake.
Where to stay: Camping is the only option (there are no facilities).
