Waterfalls are places where nature shows its power: it roars, splashes, and captivates from the first step. In Ukraine, there are many more such places than one can imagine, and each has its own character and mood. We have prepared 11 waterfalls, for which it is worth deviating from the route and falling in love with travel again.
Maliyevets Waterfall
Address: Maliivtsi village, Khmelnytskyi region
Source: UkraineIs
Maliyevets Waterfall impresses from the first glance – not with its noise or power, but with its character. It's hard to imagine that this 18-meter beauty is man-made, as harmoniously it fits into the Podillia landscape. The rock from which the water cascades is completely covered in moss and looks like a living creature – fantastic, ancient, and enchanted by wonder.
The waterfall can be viewed from different angles: approaching it, peering into the grottos, climbing up, and watching as the water disappears over the edge of the rock. The rock itself is two-storied, with cave-like cells, remnants of an ancient cave monastery.
Burbun Waterfall
Address: near Lysyets village, Khmelnytskyi region
Burbun is a natural waterfall on the small Bobrivka river, with a height of about five meters. It formed in a narrow gully with limestone rock, where water, jumping off the rocky ledge, creates a compact, but distinctly defined cascade.
The main feature of Burbun – the color of the water. On a clear day, it has a rich blue-turquoise hue that contrasts strongly with the dark rocks and greenery around. This natural basin with clear cold water has made the waterfall popular and one of the most photographed in the region.
Kamyanytsia Waterfall
Address: near the villages of Kam'yanka and Dubyna, Lviv region
Kamyanytsia Waterfall is located in the Carpathians, on the Kam'yanka river. This is one of those locations that is easy to access. The waterfall formed on a massive sandstone slab, from which the water falls in a wide stream, dividing into two branches.
The rock from which the water descends is dark, smooth, polished by time. In spring and after rains, Kamyanytsia becomes particularly impressive, as the water floods the entire ledge, and the noise is such that it’s hard to communicate nearby.
Lazny Waterfall
Address: Dovhe village, Lviv region
Lazny is hidden in the forest near Dovhe village in Lviv region, and one does not stumble upon it by accident – people walk along the path beside the stream. At first, you hear the water, and soon the waterfall appears: it is not wide, but it is tall and steep, falling almost vertically from the rocky ledge, without unnecessary bends.
The water here is cold and fast, the rock is dark and always moist, and around – a dense forest and shade even in sunny times. Lazny does not look “postcard-like”, but it is genuine: without railings, without platforms, without crowds of people. This place is more about movement and freshness than about lingering stays.
Droplet Waterfall
Address: Bukove village, Ivano-Frankivsk region
Droplet Waterfall does not impress with its size – that’s its essence. Here, the water does not fall in a powerful stream but flows down the rock in thin streams, drop by drop, spreading across the stony slope. Because of this, the waterfall looks almost motionless, as if suspended in time.
It is particularly interesting to observe after the rain, when the streams increase, and the entire rock seems to come alive.
Rusyliv Waterfalls
Address: Rusyliv village, Ternopil region
Rusyliv Waterfalls are not just one point, but a whole series of cascades in the canyon near Rusyliv village in Ternopil region. The path leads along the stream, and waterfalls appear one after another: smaller, larger, hidden around bends, each with its own mood. There is no single “main” one – the entire route is important.
The rocky walls of the canyon are high, sometimes almost closing, creating a feeling of isolation. The water cascades over the ledges, rolling over the stones, changing rhythm and sound. In hot weather, it is especially comfortable here: cool, humid, always hearing the water, but not so much that it becomes exhausting.
Waterfall near Novopavlivka village
Address: Kirovohrad region
This waterfall surprises simply by its existence. Kirovohrad region is not the area where you expect to see waterfalls, but near Novopavlivka village, the river suddenly breaks stereotypes. Among the steppe landscape, the water cascades from a rocky threshold, forming a small but clearly defined cascade.
The place looks unexpectedly: flat banks give way to stones, the water roars louder than expected, and around is open space unlike the Carpathians or Podillia. There is no “wild forest” here, but there is a sense of space and simplicity.
Fontanka Waterfall
Address: Fontanka village, Odesa region
Fontanka Waterfall is another example of how southern Ukraine defies expectations. There is steppe nearby, not far from the sea – and suddenly the water falls from a rocky ledge, forming a small waterfall. It is not high or loud, but the very fact of its existence makes this place special.
Around the waterfall are dry slopes, open space, and a sharp contrast between the heat of the air and the coolness of the water.
Vchelyka Waterfall
Address: Zhytomyr region
Vchelyka is a waterfall that does not look “touristy”. It is hidden among the forests of Zhytomyr region, on a river with dark water and a stony bottom. There are no sharp height changes here. The water calmly but confidently slides over the rocky threshold, creating a steady, constant sound.
The place has a very Polissia mood: shade, moisture, soft light between the trees. The stones are slippery, the banks overgrown, everything feels as though a person is a guest here and not the master. Vchelyka does not try to impress – it simply exists.
Smuhar Waterfalls
Address: near Roztoka village, Chernivtsi region
Smuhar Waterfalls are located in the valley of the mountain stream Smuhar. This is the case where the waterfalls are not a point but a route: you walk along the stream, and they unfold one after the other.
The area here has a distinctly Carpathian style, but less “processed” than the popular locations. A narrow valley, stony banks, steep height changes – the water falls with a loud roar. The highest cascade, Velyky Smuharsky (Bukovynsky) Huk, is felt with the body – the noise and moisture hang in the air.
Bili Kamni
Address: Dnipropetrovsk region
In the very heart of the industrial center, on the thresholds of the Inhulets river, hides a true natural-technogenic wonder – Bili Kamni Waterfall (or Karachunivskyi Waterfalls). The waterfall appeared in the 1930s during the construction of the reservoir.
The place is divided into Western and Eastern cascades, with the height of the Western reaching an impressive 12 meters. This is the perfect location for a summer escape from the heat, as the water in the Inhulets here always remains cool.
Thus, these waterfalls showcase Ukraine as it is seen during travels, rather than on postcards. Ten of them are located near roads, while others require a longer descent, silence, and companionship with cold water.
