Rest in Tatariv helps in the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract (laryngitis, tracheitis, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis) and nervous disorders.

From this settlement, which is located at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level, it is very convenient to hike in the surrounding mountains. The surrounding forests are extremely rich in mushrooms and berries.

Cheap prices for accommodation and high quality of service make Tatariv a great place to stop for visiting the ski resort of Bukovel. In Tatariv itself and its surroundings there are a sufficient number of noteworthy historical, cultural and natural attractions.

In general, a vacation in Tatariv is an unforgettable journey into the heart of the paradise of Hutsulshchyna.

Map of attractions in Tatariv

A brief history of the village of Tatariv

History of the name of Tatariv village

Throughout its history, the village of Tatariv has changed its name several times. The first written mention of this settlement dates back to 1651. At that time, Tatariv was called Prutets and was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Later, the name of the village was changed to Belzets, and in 1673 the modern name Tatariv appeared. Later, in 1772, Tatariv became part of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy (from 1804 – the Austrian Empire, from 1867 – the Austro-Hungarian Empire). In the interwar period, the village was part of Poland. Nominally, until April 1, 1931, Tatariv was a suburb and part of the huge village of Mykulychyn. In Soviet times, in 1946, Tatariv was renamed Kremintsi. This new name was not derived from the flint, but in honor of a Soviet army lieutenant named Kreminets who died here in 1944. The historical name of the village of Tatariv was returned to Tatariv after Ukraine’s independence.

Legends about the origin of the village name Tatariv

Old-timers say that the name of the village is connected with an ancient attack of Tatar hordes on this place. In those distant times, a very handsome young man lived in these parts. All the village girls were in love with him. A local nymph also had her eye on him. One day he was walking in the woods and saw Tatar hordes sneaking up on the village. He immediately ran to warn his fellow villagers of the danger. A nymph in love with the young man, with tears on her face, asked her father, the king of the forest, to save her beloved and his fellow villagers. The wise old forest king took pity on his daughter and threw his magic crown to the ground. The village was immediately fenced off from the nomads by high mountains, and the Tatars could not reach it quickly. During this time, the young man managed to warn the villagers and organize an impregnable defense system together with them. The village survived a fierce battle with the enemies and has been called Tatariv since then.

The second legend about the origin of the village’s name says that in ancient times, wounded and captured Tatars were settled in the Carpathian villages. The present-day village of Tatariv became one of the places of compact accommodation of prisoners. The current name of this picturesque village is associated with these past events.

Formation of the modern resort of Tatariv

Almost immediately after the first written mention of Tatariv, it became a popular vacation spot for representatives of the Polish and Ukrainian elite.

Thanks to the favorable geographical location of the settlement between the mountain ranges that protect the village from the cold wind; healing mountain air purified by dense coniferous forests; and clear water originating high in the Carpathians, Tatariv became a famous Hutsul ecological resort.

Already in the XVIII-XIX centuries, a stream of noble vacationers from Krakow, Lviv, and Vienna came here. In those days, people were treated for tuberculosis and respiratory diseases. Over time, the popularity of vacationing in Tatariv only continued to grow. It became especially popular after it received a railway connection with the world in 1894.

In the early 20th century, Tatariv was described in Polish guidebooks as a climatic resort in the midst of wooded mountainous terrain with a large number of villas, houses, and the sanatorium of Dr. Zhurakovsky.

During the fierce battles of World War I, Tatariv suffered enormous destruction. During the interwar period, Tatariv was rebuilt and further developed as a climatic resort. This trend continued in Soviet times. And in the era of Ukraine’s independence, the popularity of the Tatariv resort has grown exponentially.

Architectural attractions of Tatariv

The village of Tatariv and its surroundings have many interesting locations from a tourist point of view. First of all, it is worth visiting two remarkable architectural monuments of the village (Tatariv Museum of History and Antiquities, Museum of Hutsul Life) and the Zenko Foundation art space.

The interior of the church was decorated with masterpieces of nineteenth-century tempera painting. According to the preserved inscription on the icon of St Nicholas the Wonderworker, it was found that the magnificent five-tiered church iconostasis was painted by Antonii Orzhekhovskyi.

An integral part of this monument is a two-tiered wooden bell tower. The first tier is log and square, and the second is a frame structure with eight walls and bell towers. The bell tower is decorated with a dome supported by shaped brackets. It is covered with a hipped octagonal roof.

Another interesting location not far from the church is a wooden cross with wreaths decorated with ribbons of the colours of the Hungarian flag. This is the place where 17 Hungarian soldiers from the First World War are buried.

After the arrival of Soviet rule in the village, the church was closed for a long period of time (1954-1987). At that time, the church was placed under protection as an architectural monument of the Ukrainian SSR. In the late 1980s, the church was partially covered with a tin roof. At the time of independence, the church was returned to the Greek Catholic community of the village, which holds regular services here. In 2017, the church was restored, during which the authentic shingle roof was returned to the shrine.

The last restoration of this architectural monument was carried out in November-December 2021. As a result of the work, the length of the station’s railway platform was increased from 180 to 324 metres. This allows the station to accommodate passenger trains with 12 cars. Prior to the reconstruction, the railway station in Tatariv village was capable of simultaneously receiving trains with only 6 cars. The renovated platform is equipped with modern LED lighting. The facade of the station building was also repaired. Despite the station’s renaming to Tatariv-Bukovel in 2021, the facade was kept in its historical name – Tatariv.

Another tourist attraction on the territory of the Koruna complex in the village of Tatariv is a wonderful contemporary art gallery – the Zenko Foundation art space. It is located in the central building of the hotel.

The gallery’s exhibition halls regularly host exhibitions of contemporary Ukrainian art, represented by paintings, sculptures, installations and video art by well-known Ukrainian artists.

Hiking in the mountains from the village of Tatariv

The village of Tatariv is home to many noteworthy majestic mountains, mighty waterfalls and picturesque meadows. The surrounding nature is like a magnet, attracting tourists higher and higher. On the way, you can pick up a huge amount of berries and mushrooms in season. All this should be accompanied by photo shoots in the most picturesque places. The most popular and convenient routes for hiking from the village of Tatariv are the Khomyak and Yahidna mountains.

In the Lisnova valley, extreme sports enthusiasts have the opportunity to try an exciting flight on the highest zipline in Ukraine. The cable of this zipline is 500 metres long and 60 metres high. The sensations after the flight are incredible.

At the meadow, you can make a stop to visit a local kolyba, where you can try tinctures, taste cheeses and have a full lunch, represented by delicious Hutsul cuisine.

After a snack, you can continue on to Mount Yahidna. It offers an incredible view of the Montenegrin ridge, and the photos taken here will proudly take pride of place in your photo archive.

It will take you about 12 km to get to the top. The estimated time to complete this route is 4.5 hours.

What else to do in Tatariv?

In addition to sightseeing and hiking in the mountains, Tatariv has many other interesting recreational opportunities.

Safety equipment should not be neglected; you should wear a life jacket and a special helmet. As for clothing, it all depends on the weather. In case of cool weather conditions, you should definitely wear a wetsuit. On hot days, it is enough to wear a swimsuit/swim trunks and shorts.

There are 6 categories of river rafting difficulty. In the Ukrainian Carpathians, the easiest waterway for rafting is the Chornyi Cheremosh. Rafting on this river belongs to the 3rd category of difficulty. There are only a few rapids on the way of rafting tourists on the Cheremosh River. But it is worth keeping in mind that the flow speed here can reach 20 km/h, which does not allow you to relax and will enrich your body with adrenaline to the fullest.

Rafting on the Bilyi Cheremosh river is a bit more difficult. The rapids and treacherous turns of this waterway allow it to be classified as the 4th category of difficulty.

A very popular destination for rafting is the Prut River. In different parts of this waterway, the difficulty of rafting belongs to the 3rd and 4th categories of difficulty. For extreme rafters, the Prut River is of great interest due to its variable nature and a large number of obstacles in the form of rapids, stones and bends. The most difficult section for rafting on the Prut River is the route through Probiy waterfall. It is worth remembering that beginners are not allowed on this section, it is the realm of professional extreme sportsmen. Not every pro dares to overcome an eight-metre drop and a huge number of treacherous rapids in this section of the Prut River. To pass the Probiy waterfall, beginners should first gain enough experience on other sections of the Prut River for their safety.

The main advantages of rafting on the Prut River are the presence of some of the most extreme and difficult rapids in Ukraine, as well as convenient access to the rafting site. The disadvantage of the Prut River is its low water level. In this regard, the Chornyi Cheremosh river is more full-flowing and has a consistently high water level.

The rafting season in the Carpathians is usually in spring. However, in the case of rainy summers, the season becomes longer. The best month for rafting in the Carpathians is April.

However, you should not be afraid to try rafting on the mountain rivers of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Those who have tried this extreme entertainment at least once in their lives are eager to repeat this adventure again and again. Thanks to the adrenaline rush and extraordinary emotions, they feel like real heroes who can do any feat.

Horse riding is a very popular pastime for tourists and holidaymakers in the village of Tatariv. There is nothing better than to walk through the Carpathians on horseback with the feeling of an aristocrat. Local grooms have developed interesting routes that allow you to see all the beauty of the local nature. Under the supervision of experienced instructors, horseback riding is as safe as possible. The animals themselves are extremely intelligent and very obedient. And their ability to rely on their sixth sense will help you avoid any dangers. Horseback riding is an excellent health remedy for spinal diseases, improves the psychological state and has a generally positive effect on the human body.

Horseback riding is a very good holiday option for both romantic couples and families with children.

It is at this time that the chances of catching a fish on a hook increase exponentially. Fishing among the picturesque landscapes of the Carpathians is an extremely good way to calm down and enjoy the harmony of nature.

Before the full-scale invasion of Russia, the village of Tatariv hosted the annual Tatariv Vatra festival. The constant and most attractive components of this festival have always been incendiary music, delicious Hutsul cuisine, fire shows and a great mood.

The most interesting places near Tatariv

Where to eat?

The picturesque village of Tatariv has many interesting restaurants and kolybas where you can taste delicious Ukrainian, Hutsul and European cuisine.

If you want to enjoy the taste of traditional Hutsul dishes, you should pay attention to such well-known kolyba and restaurants in Tatariv as Hutsulsky Dvir, Dykyi Med, Koruna, Suzirya Karpat, Petros, Olga and Lavanda Country Club.

Those who prefer traditional Ukrainian and European cuisine should visit Cufer, Bili Horvaty, Prut and Tatariv Deluxe restaurants.

For lovers of delicious beer, the Beer Garden restaurant and brewery is a good place to go.

Those who want to enjoy bakery products and/or delicacies like to visit the Kulchytsky Bakery cafe in Tatariv.

The best fast food places in Tatariv are undoubtedly “U Armena” and “Hutsuly ta ribs”.

Prices for food in the village of Tatariv are several times lower than in the neighbouring Bukovel, but the quality of food and service is in no way inferior to the mega-popular resort.

How to get to Tatariv village?

Thanks to its good geographical location and proximity to popular ski resorts, Tatariv has no problems with transport links.

The lion’s share of tourists and holidaymakers come to Tatariv by rail. Trains from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Kremenchuk, Rakhiv and Yasinya arrive here daily.

The next most popular way to get to Tatariv is by bus and minibus. Buses from Verkhovyna, Rakhiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kolomyia, Yasinya, Bukovel, Yaremche, Kosiv, Khust, Kharkiv, and Dovhopol regularly arrive at the local bus station.

To get to Tatariv by car from Kyiv or Lviv, you should go through Ivano-Frankivsk, where you should turn to Nadvirna. Then the road goes through Delyatyn and Yaremche to the village of Tatariv. If you are travelling from Uzhhorod, you should pass through Mukachevo, Khust, Tyachiv, Rakhiv and Yasinya.

As for air travel, the nearest airports in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk are currently closed due to martial law.

In any case, the road to Tatariv is a kind of excursion to the most picturesque places in Ukraine.