The Cherkasy region with children: 7 places that both kids and adults will enjoy

Travelling with children is always a balancing act: it should be educational, fun and not too tiring. We have picked seven places in the Cherkasy region that children of all ages enjoy and that give parents a chance to learn something new.

1. Roshen Zoo in Cherkasy

The zoo is located in Peremohy Park at 132 Smilianska St. It is home to more than 200 animal species and has a Madagascar complex with lemurs, an aquaterrarium and a tropical greenhouse. Children especially love the feeding demonstrations. Opening hours and ticket prices differ on weekdays and weekends, so check them before your visit.

2. Cherkasy’s parks

Kazka (Fairy Tale) Park on Serhiia Ambrosa St has wooden knights, princesses and dragons, slides and trampolines. Sosnovyi Bir is the city’s largest park, with ponds, a “bridge of love” and a Ferris wheel, and it is a sledging spot in winter. Peremohy Park, home to the zoo, has rides, a lake and squirrels you can feed.

3. Cherkasy Academic Puppet Theatre

The theatre at 4 Nebesnoi Sotni St puts on children’s shows mostly at weekends. A good option for a rainy day.

4. Sofiyivka: a boat ride on an underground river

For children, Sofiyivka is a real adventure: sailing through the dark tunnel of the underground river Acheron, looking for the Lion Grotto, watching the swans on the ponds and riding pedal boats. Boats and pedal boats operate in the warm season. In Uman there is also the Nova Sofiyivka fantasy park.

5. Mezhyrich: visiting the mammoth hunters

Few things capture a child’s imagination like a real dwelling made of mammoth bones. In the village of Mezhyrich near Kaniv you can see one that is 15,000–17,000 years old. Combine it with Taras Hill, whose view children will remember too.

6. Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi: an island and a giant

The island park in the middle of the Ros, with its suspension bridges and palace, is a lovely place for a walk, and the giant figure of Rosych on the rocky bank looks like a hero from a fairy tale. In spring the lilacs bloom here.

7. The Buky Canyon

For older children who love adventure, there is the granite canyon in Buky with the Vyr waterfall. They can scramble over the rocks and watch the climbers. Be careful: the cliffs are high and the stones by the water are slippery, so hold little ones by the hand.

Tips for a family trip

• Do not try to see everything in one day: two or three places is ideal for children.
• Bring water, snacks and a change of clothes, especially for parks by the water.
• Schedules and prices change, so check them on the venues’ websites and pages before you go.