Ukraine is known all around the world for having some seriously amazing attractions things for tourists to enjoy. Whether it’s the capital city of Kyiv, the infamous Chernobyl reactor site, or even just the hordes of pretty girls that walk the streets each day, foreigners will find plenty to keep them busy in Ukraine. But, one of the most stunning (and commonly overlooked) attractions that Ukraine has to offer is the Tunnel of Love. Today, we’re talking all about this beautiful site that every visitor to Ukraine should see.
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What is the Tunnel of Love?
The Tunnel of Love is a 5 kilometer stretch of industrial railway in Western Ukraine. What makes this railway unique is that it is completely covered by trees from all angles. What’s resulted is a forest canopy that encloses the entire railway, making for one of the most unique landscapes you will ever see.
But, how did it get this way? Surely, this must have been intentionally designed by a team of landscapers, right?
Well, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. In fact, the Tunnel of Love in Ukraine came about as a happy accident of sorts.
During Soviet times, trees and other shrubs were planted around railways to prevent them from being seen by aircraft and other forces hostile to the USSR. This was a low-tech, yet highly effective way of masking supply routes to feed the rapidly industrializing Soviet Union.
Decades have passed since the trees were first planted, and they have been kept neatly trimmed by trains passing by on the railway itself. Any time a branch grows even a few inches too far, it is quickly cut down by one of the passing trains on the route. As such, the trees have “learned” not to grow too far into the path of the railway.
Where Does The Train Go?
In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not the train ride itself that’s the attraction, but rather the path of the train itself.
The train route is largely used by the Odek Plywood Factory for transporting finished pieces of plywood harvested from Ukraine’s native birch tree population to the Klevan Railway Station. From there, they are exported across Europe, as Ukrainian birch is known to make some of the finest plywood available.
It is also interesting to note that at one point, the train tracks split in two, with one track going to a Soviet-era military base that is thought to still be active to this day. That being said, it’s many kilometers away from the tunnel itself, and you won’t be stumbling upon any military activities by accident.
In many ways, the Tunnel of Love is a perfect metaphor for Ukraine as a whole. A complete accident that was spurred by Soviet industrialization that’s turned out to be a hidden gem that the world can marvel at and enjoy decades after a societal breakdown.
You can’t help but appreciate that such a perfect storm of factors could only happen in a place like Ukraine. Anywhere else in the world, the railroad would have been rerouted, the trees would have been cut down, or it would be turned into a cheesy national park that costs $30 to get into.
Not in Ukraine. It’s been left in all of it’s untouched, accidental beauty.
What we’re left with is an accidental piece of complete and utter beauty, appreciated by loving couples the world over.
Legend Has It…
Believe it or not, it’s only been in recent years that the greater public has discovered the existence of the Tunnel of Love. It was only after the photos started to go viral on social media that tourists began catching on to its existence.
If you’re looking for a nice trip to take your Ukrainian sweetheart on, look no further.
But, it goes without saying that the local people of provincial Ukraine have admired its beauty for many years. As such, legends have been created surrounding it even though it’s only a few decades old.
The folktale says that if a couple visits there, and makes a wish together, it will eventually be granted provided that both of them have genuine intentions and are truly in love.
The attraction has become popular for wedding photos and for meandering young couples to lazily
Safety First!
Contrary to what you may think, the Tunnel of Love is a relatively safe place to visit. Trains are rather infrequent, passing by only a few times a day and the site is hugely popular with tourists.
As such, train conductors know to keep a sharp eye on the tracks and to travel at relatively low speeds.
There was one unfortunate incident where a Japanese woman injured her hip in 2017, but this is one of the only known times when someone was injured on the train tracks. Fortunately, she’s made a full recovery and is now (hopefully) far more vigilant of passing trains.
If you’re concerned about safety, don’t be.
The Tunnel of Love is perfectly safe.
How To Get To Ukraine’s Tunnel of Love
The Tunnel of Love is located between the tiny village of Orzhiv and Klevan. Keep in mind, this is in Western Ukraine, closer to Lviv than Kyiv. The best place to base yourself if you’re looking to travel to the Tunnel of Love is in Rivne. It is the closest town and is only 30 minutes away.
But, getting to Rivne from any of Ukraine’s major cities will require a trip on the country’s rail system. Surprisingly, trains in Ukraine can be rather nice, particularly if you upgrade to a private car. Upgrades typically cost less than $10 per person and ensure you have a locking compartment and can enjoy your privacy.
You can book your train tickets in Ukraine with this website.
From Kyiv
As of our time writing this, the train from Kyiv to Rivne takes approximately 6 hours and costs roughly 400UAH round trip, or $16. Unfortunately, it typically arrives at 4:00 AM, meaning you’d be best off checking into a hotel for the night before heading to the tunnel.
From Lviv
Traveling to the tunnel from Lviv is quite easy. The train from Lviv to Rivne takes just under 3 hours in total. Depending on the timeframes, you can either do this as a day trip or plan an overnight stay.
From Rivne
Once you’re in Rivne, you can simply take a taxi to Klevan and ask your driver to drop you off at the Tunnel of Love. They will know where they’re going, and it should really cost no more than 500 UAH, or $20. Your hotel should be able to call you someone who is reliable and trustworthy.
Tell your concierge to have them come back in a few hours to pick you up after you are done touring.
If you’re feeling particularly cheap, you can take a marshrutka (or a minibus) from the Klevan train station. Tell the bus driver that you want to be let out at the tunnel of love. Have your Google translate handy!
They’ll know exactly where to take you.
Tour, Or No Tour?
Generally speaking, I think that much of the fun of Ukraine involves going at it yourself. Half of the experience involves riding Soviet-era trains and maybe even taking old school minibusses to get where you’re going. For me, this is one of my favorite parts of living in Ukraine as a foreigner.
Sure, there are definitely tours out there. They’ll overcharge you and give you a watered-down experience. Needless to say, I’d suggest just considering doing it on your own. Plus, if you have a lovely Ukrainian girl to tag along with, she’ll make the process as easy as pie.
Where To Stay
One of my favorite parts of Ukraine involves venturing out into the less explored territories of the country. If I could recommend any hotels in Rivne, they would be as follows…
- Hotel Rivne Ukraine – Consistently the top-rated hotel in Rivne. While I wouldn’t say that it’s as luxurious as those you would find in major cities, it’s really quite nice for being just $40 a night.
- Hotel Boutique Central – A smaller hotel that’s just as nice, if not slightly nicer than Hotel Rivne. They include a delicious breakfast with your hotel stay, and the rooms are slightly more modern than most others in the town.
- Optima Rivne – Also a fantastic choice for a stay in Rivne. While this hotel is usually frequented by business travelers, it provides Western-style convenience in the center of Rivne.
While you can definitely stay in Klevan, I’d suggest having a short trip to the nearby town of Rivne for a night or so. There’s a bit more to do and see in Klevan, and the hotels are worlds better than those in Rivne.
The above travel guide will get you to and from there with no problems whatsoever. On top of that, you can even schedule in a trip to the Ukrainian cultural capital of Lviv if you’re in that neck of the woods.
Conclusion – Is Visiting Ukraine’s Tunnel of Love Worth it?
Absolutely.
The whole experience is nothing short of a total joy, and is seriously dirt cheap to boot. Traveling around to the smaller parts of Ukraine is one of the best parts of an extended visit, and visiting the Tunnel of Love can provide experiences that are sure to last a lifetime.
Of course, the process is a whole lot more fun if you have a local Ukrainian girl to bring along with you. If you’re interested in dating Ukrainian girls, I highly suggest that you check out this website.
Have fun out there!
-Expat Ukraine
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