Ivano-Frankivsk

The city is well connected by railway with Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa, and buses run from the central bus station to almost all of Western Ukraine. There is also its own airport, although due to the war there are currently no regular flights, so the easiest option now is a train or bus. The railway and bus stations are next to each other, literally across the road, which is convenient for transfers.

Ivano-Frankivsk is a classic starting point for Vorokhta, Yaremche, Bukovel and Verkhovyna: minibuses and buses run regularly from the bus station and the station platform towards the mountains. You can also get to Yaremche or Vorokhta by suburban train in the Carpathian direction - slower, but with views. If the group is large or there is a lot of equipment, it makes sense to arrange a transfer directly to the track.

Almost everything of interest is compactly located in the pedestrian center: the Market Square with the 17th-century town hall, the Armenian church, the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection and the former collegiate church. Take a walk along Stometrivka (Nezalezhnosti Street) and take a look at the park above the lake if you have time. Half a day is quite enough to feel the city before going to the mountains.

The city has enough hotels and hostels in all price categories, many within walking distance from the station, which is convenient for an early start. There are large supermarkets and a grocery market, as well as several tourist shops where you can buy gas, small items or things left at home. It is logical to close with food and gas right here, because in mountain villages the choice is noticeably poorer and more expensive.

The most comfortable season for hiking is from May to September, when the trails are dry and the weather in the mountains is more predictable. In winter, the city becomes the gateway to Bukovel and other ski resorts, so transport to the mountains is active. The least successful are November and April: mud, short days and changeable weather, although this does not prevent the city itself from being pleasant at any time.