The mountains are not the only reason to leave Truskavets for a day. From here you can see the three castles of the Golden Horseshoe, royal Zhovkva with a monastery in the woods, the medieval fortresses of Transcarpathia or old Lviv. These trips are longer than the mountain ones, and some run only two days a week, so it pays to choose ahead. Here we compare all four. We covered the mountain routes in a separate article on the Carpathians from Truskavets.
At a glance: four trips
- [The Golden Horseshoe of the Lviv region](/tour/zamky-lvivshchyny-zolochiv-olesko-pidhirtsi): 11.5 hours, from 07:45 to 19:15, on Thursday and Sunday. Three castles in one day.
- [Zhovkva and Krekhiv](/tour/zhovkva-krekhiv-z-truskavtsia): 10 hours, from 09:00 to 19:00, on Friday and Sunday. A Renaissance town and a monastery in the forest.
- [Castles of Transcarpathia](/tour/zakarpattia-zamky-palanok-chynadiievo): 13 hours, from 08:00 to 21:00. St. Miklós, Palanok and a wine tasting.
- [Lviv](/tour/lviv-z-truskavtsia-rynok-opera-kava): 11 hours, from 09:00 to 20:00. The Old Town, museums of your choice and Lviv coffee.
The Golden Horseshoe: three castles in a day
The classic trip for anyone who wants castles above all. Zolochiv has the Great Palace and the Chinese Palace, Olesko a castle on a hill with an art gallery, and Pidhirtsi a palace with a park and the Church of St. Joseph. The castles are far apart, so it is a long day: you leave at 07:45 and return around 19:15.
The castles are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Monday and Tuesday, so the trip runs on Thursday and Sunday. The castle courtyards are windy, and the stairs and cobblestones call for comfortable shoes.
Zhovkva and Krekhiv: a town and a forest
This trip combines architecture and nature. First comes Zhovkva: Market Square and the Zholkiewski Castle, the Holy Trinity Church, the Collegiate Church of St. Lawrence and the synagogue, a landmark of the town’s Jewish heritage. After lunch you visit Krekhiv Monastery, walk along its ponds and follow a forest trail to a healing spring and caves.
Zhovkva Castle is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so the trip runs on Friday and Sunday. Wear comfortable shoes for the forest trail, and dress modestly for the monastery. It is the shortest of the four trips and suits anyone who wants some quiet after the town.
Castles of Transcarpathia: the longest day
Transcarpathia is about 170 km each way, which makes this the longest trip: 13 hours. On the way there is a breakfast stop in Mokhnate, then the medieval St. Miklós fortress in Chynadiyovo and Palanok Castle on Castle Hill in Mukachevo, with its museum and views over the town. At the end there is an optional tasting of Transcarpathian wines and a dinner of local food before the drive back.
You return around 21:00, so plan something relaxed for the next day. The bastions of Palanok are windy, so warm clothes come in handy even in summer.
Lviv: a city for the whole day
If towns interest you more than castles, choose Lviv. The route starts at the Opera House on Svobody Avenue, then Market Square and the Town Hall, the Dominican Cathedral, the Dormition Church and the Gunpowder Tower, and the Armenian and Jewish quarters. Then come museums of your choice, the Boim Chapel, the Under the Black Eagle pharmacy museum or the Post Museum, plus free time for coffee and lunch.
The trip takes 11 hours, from 09:00 to 20:00. For more on what to see in Lviv if you stay longer, see our 2-day plan for Lviv.
Which one if…
- …you want castles above all: the Golden Horseshoe, three castles in a day.
- …you want to combine a town and nature: Zhovkva and Krekhiv.
- …fortresses and wine appeal to you: Transcarpathia, but be ready for 13 hours on the road.
- …you want city life, cafes and museums: Lviv.
- …you are traveling with kids: Zhovkva with its forest trail, or Lviv, where it is easy to take a break.
Good to know
- Every trip starts at your hotel or sanatorium, and the guide confirms the exact pickup point after you book.
- Castle admission is paid separately, but most tickets can be added to your booking together with your seat.
- Lunch is at your own expense, and the program includes time for it.
- Prices and the nearest dates are on the cards above.
All the trips from Truskavets, from half a day at Tustan to a full day in Transcarpathia, are in our guide to day trips and on the tours from Truskavets page.
