Trostyanets’

Day Trips

Arrive at Trostyanets and check into your charming local guesthouse near the center. Enjoy a light breakfast of homemade varenyky and fresh pastries at a nearby café. Take a leisurely walk around the central square to soak in the city’s relaxed pace.

Grab a map from the tourism center and head towards the Yusupov Palace grounds. Admire the palace’s neoclassical façade and expansive green lawns. Stop at the on-site café for traditional herbal tea brewed from locally grown garden herbs.

Dine in a family-run restaurant serving roast pork and root vegetable borscht. Join friendly locals for a chat over a glass of mead or locally brewed beer. End the night with a peaceful stroll under gas-lit street lamps in the main square.

Start with breakfast of syrniki with sour cream at a café near the palace. Wander through the palace gardens as the dew still glistens on the manicured lawns. Listen for birdsong echoing among the centuries-old trees.

Take a guided tour inside the Yusupov Palace to learn about the noble family’s history and opulent lifestyles. Marvel at the ornate ceilings and intricately carved wooden floors. Relax in the reading room overlooking the courtyard.

Head to a riverside terrace café along the Tashan River for grilled fish and fresh salads. Enjoy live folk music from local musicians under a canopy of string lights. Capture memories in photos by the illuminated palace façade.

Wake up early to visit the historic Aptekarsky Garden, once a botanical pharmacy. Breathe in the fragrant aromas of medicinal herbs and rare flowers. Join the gardeners for a quick workshop on traditional herbal remedies.

Make your way to the bustling city market to sample artisanal cheeses, smoked meats, and seasonal berries. Chat with vendors to learn about local produce and age-old pickling techniques. Pick up fresh ingredients for a picnic lunch by the canal.

Return to the market square to try street food specialties like stuffed cabbage rolls wrapped in vine leaves. Sip a glass of homemade kompot while listening to street performers. Wander through stalls lit by lanterns before heading back.

Rent a bicycle near the town center and set off along the historic Trostyanets–Okhtyrka canal. Feel the cool morning air as you pedal past willow-lined banks. Pause at scenic overlooks to photograph reflections on the water.

Stop at a riverside picnic spot, unpack local cheeses, fresh bread, and seasonal fruit. Swim in the canal if the weather is warm or relax in the shade of ancient poplar trees. Continue your ride towards small wooden bridges and hidden clearings.

Return your bike and treat yourself to pancakes drizzled with locally harvested honey at a cozy café. Exchange tales of the day’s ride with fellow travelers. Finish with a serene sunset walk along the canal’s cobblestone promenade.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading to the Trostyanets Local History Museum. Explore exhibits showcasing Cossack relics, folk art, and rural life in Sumy Oblast. Try on a reconstructed 19th-century kosovorotka shirt for a fun photo.

Walk to the Art Gallery to admire contemporary works by Ukrainian painters and sculptors. Engage with a resident artist during an afternoon workshop on traditional pysanka egg painting. Leave with your own handcrafted souvenir.

Attend a lecture or film screening at the cultural center in the refurbished manor house. Sample a selection of local craft beers and small bites during intermission. Stroll back under starry skies through the softly lit streets.

Set out early for a guided hike into the surrounding oak and pine forests east of Trostyanets. Spot deer, woodpeckers, and maybe a shy fox as sunlight filters through the canopy. Practice nature photography with tips from your guide.

Pause on a moss-covered clearing for a packed lunch of smoked fish, rye bread, and fresh vegetables. Bathe in the tranquility of the forest and listen to the rustle of leaves. Try your hand at identifying edible berries with local foraging experts.

Return to town for a light supper at a lakeside inn offering mushroom soup and buckwheat pancakes. Cozy up beside a wood-burning stove with a cup of hot raspberry tea. Share stories of your forest adventures with fellow hikers.

Attend a hands-on cooking class to learn how to make traditional borscht and varenyky from scratch. Roll dough, chop root vegetables, and simmer broth under the guidance of a local chef. Sample your creations alongside freshly baked rye bread.

Visit a nearby village bakery still using a wood-fired oven to see how European loaves and sweet buns were made for generations. Learn about local grain milling at a small family-owned mill. Pick up locally ground flour as a keepsake.

Experience a communal village-style dinner in a restored farmhouse courtyard. Feast on roasted lamb, pickled vegetables, and honey-drizzled cheese under paper lanterns. Join in a lively round of folk songs with invited village musicians.

Depart early by minibus to the Voronivshi parkland, famous for its ancient trees and sprawling meadows. Hike to a hidden lake where crystal-clear water reflects the sky. Collect wildflowers and relax on smooth river stones.

Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by your guide with smoked sausages, fresh herbs, and homemade kvass. Swim in the cool waters or rent a small rowboat for a quiet paddle. Discover hidden waterfalls and bird-watch along the shoreline.

Return to Trostyanets for dinner at a garden bistro serving seasonal salads and grilled vegetables. Unwind by a crackling outdoor fire pit with a mug of woodfire-roasted coffee. Plan tomorrow’s activities under a blanket of stars.

Treat yourself to a spa morning at the restored Yusupov manor’s traditional Russian banya and massage treatments. Savor herbal steam infusions made from local botanicals. Float in a cool plunge pool to invigorate your senses.

Recline in the manor’s sunlit lounge with a selection of regional teas and sweet treats. Take a guided walk through the adjacent rose garden, learning about heirloom varieties. Browse the on-site boutique for handmade soaps and linen goods.

Dress up for a classical music concert or theatrical performance hosted in the palace ballroom. Sip champagne and nibble gourmet hors d’oeuvres during intermission. End the night with a slow dance under crystal chandeliers.

Enjoy a final treat of freshly baked pirozhki filled with berries or meat at the local bakery. Sit in the café’s courtyard and savor your meal as you reflect on your Trostyanets journey. Chat with café owners about hidden city gems you may have missed.

Stroll through the town one last time, picking up souvenirs like handmade ceramics and embroidered linens from artisanal shops. Stop by the central fountain to capture final photographs of the city’s architecture. Head to the train or bus station for your onward journey.

If time allows, enjoy a light dinner at a station café or pack snacks for the road. Raise a final toast to Trostyanets with a bottle of regional fruit liqueur. Depart with memories of warm hospitality, rich history, and natural beauty.