Stand on Soborna Street in the early evening and the domes of the Cathedral of the Virgin Protectress rise above the rooftops at the end of the street, visible from several sides of the city at once. Rivne is a working regional centre in western Ukraine, and its sights are spread between a compact centre and a handful of places worth a short trip out.
This guide suits travellers passing through on the Kyiv–Lviv corridor, or anyone basing themselves here to reach the castles and monasteries of the surrounding region. It covers the churches, museums and parks in the city itself, plus the day trips the sources name.
Top things to do in Rivne
1. Cathedral of the Virgin Protectress
At the cemetery gate on Soborna Street, this is one of the largest and tallest churches in Ukraine. Its single large dome, twelve smaller domes and eight small domes form a composition you can pick out from across the city.
Because of its size and position, it reads well from a distance as well as up close; it sits roughly a kilometre south-west of the train station, so it works as a first or last stop if you are arriving or leaving by rail.
2. Cathedral of the Resurrection
On Poshtova Street, this cathedral was built in the 1890s and donated by Emperor Alexander III. The main highlight is the three-tiered gilded iconostasis made by the Kyiv artist Alexander Ivanovich.
Give the iconostasis proper time rather than treating the building as a quick look. Poshtova Street also holds the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, so the two can be seen together.
3. Church of the Holy Dormition
On Shevchenka Street in the centre, this church was built in 1756, which makes it one of the older buildings you can see in the city.
It is central and easy to fold into a walk through the middle of town rather than a separate trip.
4. Ukrainian orthodox church of All Saints of Volhynia
On Cherniaka Street, north-west of the railway station, this is a wooden Greek-Catholic church and the oldest building in town, built in 1756.
Its wooden construction sets it apart from the masonry churches elsewhere in the city, so it is worth the trip out even though it sits away from the centre.
5. Roman Catholic church of St. Antony
On Soborna Street, this church was built in 1899 and now serves as a hall of chamber and organ music. From the late 1960s until 1980 it operated as a theatre.
Check what is on before you go: the building is best experienced at a concert rather than as an architectural stop alone.
6. Rivne Regional museum
On Drahomanova Street, this is the most important museum in the city, holding a collection of materials and objects of the material and spiritual culture of the Rivne region. The house itself was built in the 19th century in the style of provincial classicism and is one of the best monuments of architecture in Rivne.
It opens Friday 10:00–17:00 and Saturday to Thursday 10:00–18:00, and is closed on Monday. Plan around the Monday closure.
7. Museum of the Ukrainian art and Literary Museum of Ulas Samchuk, Museum of amber
Both are housed in the halls of the House of Scientists on Petliury Symona Street. The Museum of the Ukrainian art occupies part of the building, and the Literary Museum of Ulas Samchuk and Museum of amber share the same address.
Because they sit together, you can see all three in a single visit rather than travelling between sites.
8. Park of the name of Taras Shevchenko
On Parkova Street in the centre-east, this is a landscape park-monument and the largest city park. It holds 160 species of trees and shrubs, some of them 150 to 200 years old, along with sports and concert halls and cafes.
It is the natural place to break up a day of churches and museums, and the cafes make it workable at any hour.
9. Hydropark
About two kilometres west of the centre, this is a lakeshore beach and the city's waterside spot.
It pairs well with a warm afternoon in the Park of the name of Taras Shevchenko if you want to keep the day outdoors.
10. Rivne regional musical-drama theatre
On Teatralna Square, this is the city's main stage for drama and music.
An evening performance here is the simplest way to end a day in the centre, since the square is central and easy to reach.
11. Khimik Exhibition center, Concert hall
On Ostroz'koho Kniazia Street, this palace of culture and sport hosts exhibitions and concerts.
Check what is scheduled during your stay, as the programme rather than the building is the reason to go.
12. Zuza art gallery
On Nezalezhnosti Boulevard in the centre, this gallery is open 09:00–18:00 and regularly hosts workshops, including sessions on making decorative vases and plates from ordinary glass bottles and plates.
If a workshop is running, it is a hands-on alternative to the city's museum rooms.
13. Rivne's ZOO
On Kievska Street, east of the centre, the zoo covers 11.17 hectares and opens daily 09:00–20:00. Admission is 25 грн for adults and 15 грн for children.
It is a half-day outing rather than a quick stop, so set it aside accordingly.
14. Tunnel of Love
Starting at Klevan station and continuing to Orzhiv, this is a section of industrial railway completely surrounded by green tree arches, around three to five kilometres long.
Begin at Klevan station and walk the line from there; the arch of trees is the whole point, so go when the greenery is full.
15. Dubno Castle and Carmelite Monastery
About 45 kilometres south-west, this group includes the castle of dukes Ostrozkyi-Lubomirski of the 16th to 18th centuries, the Bernardines monastery of 1614–1630, a 16th-century synagogue and the Carmelites convent of 1630–1686.
With several separate sights on one site, this is the fullest day trip from Rivne and worth giving a full day rather than an afternoon.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Rivne Regional museum on Drahomanova Street, keeping in mind it is closed on Mondays. Then walk to the Church of the Holy Dormition on Shevchenka Street and the Cathedral of the Resurrection on Poshtova Street, where the gilded iconostasis is the highlight. The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul is on the same street if time allows.
Afternoon. Cross to the Cathedral of the Virgin Protectress on Soborna Street, then continue along Soborna Street to the Roman Catholic church of St. Antony. Finish the afternoon in the Park of the name of Taras Shevchenko, using its cafes for a break.
Evening. Take in a performance at the Rivne regional musical-drama theatre on Teatralna Square, or check the programme at the Khimik Exhibition center, Concert hall on Ostroz'koho Kniazia Street.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Rivne Regional museum open?
It opens Friday 10:00–17:00 and Saturday to Thursday 10:00–18:00. It is closed on Monday.
What does it cost to visit Rivne's ZOO, and when is it open?
The zoo opens daily 09:00–20:00. Admission is 25 грн for adults and 15 грн for children.
Where can I hear organ music in Rivne?
The Roman Catholic church of St. Antony on Soborna Street serves as a hall of chamber and organ music.
How do I reach the Tunnel of Love?
Start at the Klevan station; the tree-arched section of industrial railway continues from there until Orzhiv.
Decide which day trip you want — Dubno, Klevan or the zoo — and build the rest of your time in Rivne around it.