Kamenets-Podolsky is a city that is well known far beyond the borders of Ukraine thanks to its medieval fortress, ancient city center and picturesque views of the deep canyon of the Smotrich River. Our story will tell you what sights of Kamenets-Podolsky can be seen in one day.

Canyon of the Smotrych River in Kamenets-Podolsky (Smotrytsky Canyon). The photo was taken in the area of the Novoplanovsky Bridge.

Where is Kamenets-Podolsky located? How to get here?

Kamenets-Podolsky is located in the Khmelnitsky region of Ukraine on the territory of the Volyn-Podolsk Upland. Here, among the small hills and plains, the Smotrich River flows, which has cut a deep canyon in the ground. This canyon surrounds the historical center of the city on three sides. On the fourth side, access to the city is blocked by the Kamenets-Podolsk fortress. Thanks to this geography, the city was a powerful fortification in the Middle Ages, protected the local population from Mongol-Tatar and Turkish raids, and was an outpost of Europe on the border of West and East.

View of the old city through the canyon. Hanging over the canyon on the left is the Goncharskaya Tower – the remains of the fortifications of the city itself (and not the castle – fortress).

You can travel from Kyiv to Kamenets-Podolsky by car, train, bus, or as part of an organized bus excursion. Masha Pasha came here by car. In principle, one day is enough to see the sights of Kamenets-Podilskyi, so you can stay in the city for one night and then go further, for example to Khotyn Castle and Chernivtsi.

Map of the old center of Kamenets-Podilskyi indicating the main attractions.

From Kyiv to Kamenets-Podolsky by car you can take two routes. One road goes through Kyiv – Zhitomir – Khmelnitsky. The other is through Kyiv – Zhitomir and Vinnitsa. Travel time is approximately the same, about 6 hours, maybe more depending on road congestion, since a good route will only be on the section from Kyiv to Zhitomir and in the Vinnitsa area (if you go through this city). In all other cases, it will be a two-lane road that also passes through populated areas.

View of the Old Town from the castle (fortress). This is the other side from the Novoplanovsky Bridge and the new city.

Directtrains from Kyiv to Kamenets-Podolskyrun every day. You can travel by train 117 Kyiv – Chernivtsi (it leaves Kyiv at 20:05 and arrives in Kamenets at 03:43) or by train 769 Kyiv – Kamenets-Podolsky (it leaves Kyiv at 14:55 and arrives in the city at 22 :52). The second option is probably better, since you are late in the evening, but at least not late at night… This train schedule is current for 2019. You can buy tickets and find out the current schedule on the website Ukrainian Railways.

You can also come to Kamenets-Podolsky byregular bus. There are several bus departures per day, usually early in the morning (8-9 am) or late in the evening (20:00). Ticket price varies from 300 to 500 UAH. This will be the cheapest option for a trip to Kamenets-Podolsky. We recommend viewing and purchasing bus tickets on the Busfor website:

Novoplanovsky Bridge. You can cross the Smotrytsky Canyon along it and get from the new city to the old Kamenets-Podolsky.

Hotels in Kamenets-Podilskyi, where to stay overnight

Masha Pasha stayed in Kamenets-Podolsky at theGala Hotel. The price of a double room in 2019 here was 560 UAH. The hotel is located near the historical center (10-15 minutes walk along the park), in a quiet area. It has its own large territory and bowling alley.

Room “Standard Plus” in the Gala Hotel in Kamenets-Podolsky.

At the Gala Hotel you can eat inexpensively (breakfast is included in the price), there are good rooms and a high rating on booking (in 2019 it was 8.2). We can definitely recommend this hotel, considering its price. You can view current prices and book a room on Booking using this link.

An overview of all Kamenets-Podolsky hotels on booking can be seen on the map:


Booking.com

Old town of Kamenets-Podilskyi. It looks a bit abandoned, many of the houses have not been restored. And this is very different from Lviv and Western European cities and fortresses built for tourists.

Sights of Kamenets-Podolsky

The main attractions of the city are located in its historical center – the Old Town. It was founded back in the 11th century. And in the 14th century, under Prince Olgerd, it turned into a powerful fortress city. In the entire long history of the city, this fortress has never been taken during a siege, in direct battle. It changed hands only as a result of diplomacy, negotiations and deception.

Old town of Kamenets-Podilskyi. Many houses are made of stone. In some places defensive structures (towers, walls, bastions) have been preserved.

From the new city (Novy Plan district) you can get to the Old city via a single bridge, it is called Novoplanovsky Bridge. On the other side of the Old Town, the Castle Bridge leads to the fortress. There are no other roads and paths anymore. In fact, old Kamenets-Podolsky resembles an island located in the middle of the canyon of the Smotrich River.

There are several churches and cathedrals in the old town.

The Old Town is not very big, there are only 4 squares and 21 streets. You can leisurely walk around the historical center in an hour or an hour and a half. Among the attractions here are the Town Hall building, several cathedrals, cathedrals and churches, a Turkish minaret, and defensive towers. There are also several muses here ev (but Masha Pasha did not visit them).

The Town Hall of Kamenets-Podilskyi has a high tower. It can be seen from afar.

The Town Hall of Kamenets-Podilskyi is one of the oldest such buildings in Ukraine. Now there is a cafe and a money museum here. Also, do not forget to visit the Armenian Market Square – the largest square of the old city, the Center of life of the Armenian community. Nowadays, various fairs and festivals are held on this square.

View of the Kamenets-Podolsky fortress from the Old Town. In front of us is the Castle Bridge.

Fortress of Kamenets-Podolsky

fortress diagram

Of course, the main attraction of the city is the Kamenets-Podolsk Fortress (or castle, as it is also called). It was built over many centuries, from the 11th to the 17th centuries. This is one of the best fortifications in Europe! It acquired its final appearance in the 16th century.

Entrance to the Kamenets-Podolsk fortress (castle) is paid.

Now the fortress is quite distant from the new city. You need to go to the old city along the Novoplanovsky Bridge, then cross the historical center of Kamenets and passing along the Castle Bridge you will finally get to the fortress.

The Castle Bridge is actually not a bridge, but a narrow and long isthmus that connects the fortress with the city.

Inner courtyard of the fortress

The Kamenets-Podolsky fortress has the shape of a polygon, with a tower at each corner. In total, the castle has 13 towers: Papal, Kolpak, Tetchinskaya, Lyatskaya, Dnevnaya, New Western, Small Western, Rozhanka, Komendantskaya, Lyantskoronskaya Tower, Black, New Eastern, Vodnaya. Some of them, unfortunately, have already been destroyed.

Towers and walls of the Kamenets-Podolsk Castle

In addition to the powerful fortress walls and towers of the fortress, among the defensive structures in the city itself, you can also visit theLower and Upper Polish Gates. These separate fortresses protected the old city from other sides (not protected by the castle itself). Their main attraction is the Stefan Batory Tower, built in the 16th century on the site of an older entrance gate. And also a Turkish arched bastion with large spans. It was built by the Turks during their rule in the area.

Stefan Batory Tower in Kamenets-Podilskyi. Previously, it was a fortress separate from the castle, which guarded the approaches to the city from the canyon.

Masha Pasha’s general impression of the visit:
Kamenets-Podolsk fortress (castle) is probably the best such structure that has been preserved on the territory of Ukraine. The old city itself looks a little abandoned (there are unfinished and dilapidated buildings, some are surrounded by buildings real fences). This makes it very different from Lviv or other ancient cities in Europe, which have been completely restored for tourists. But this abandonment also has its own charm.

Our trip was also a little spoiled by heavy rain, but that depends on your luck.

Towers and walls of the Kamenets-Podolsky fortress. Outside view.

Defensive structures and walls of Kamenets-Podilskyi. Castle towers.

View of the fortress from the outside. Two of the castle’s 13 towers are visible.

Former brewery of Kamenets-Podolsky. The building is located almost in the canyon itself.