Ivano-Frankivsk (formerly known as Stanyslaviv, Stanislau, or Stanisławów)
is a city of 238000 inhabitants, located at the foot of the Carpathian mountains in west Ukraine. In order to reach Hungary or Slovakia from here, it is necessary to cross the Carpathian mountains.
Ivano-Frankivsk was established as the Polish city of Stanislawow in 1662. It was initially a fortress meant to protect the Polish–Lithuanian commonwealth from Tatar invasions. In 1772 it became part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. After a major fire in 1868 it was completely rebuilt.
After World War I Ivano-Frankivsk became part of Poland, after World War II it became part of the Soviet Union, and after the Ukrainian independence in 1991 it became part of Ukraine.
Ivano-Frankivsk has a pleasant historic core with a number of interesting buildings (the town hall, some churches), but otherwise lacks very special sights.
How to get to Ivano-Frankivsk
Ivano-Frankivsk can e reached by plane (there are flights to Kiev), train or by car/bus.
Accommodation
There are a number of hotels and pensions in Ivano-Frankivsk, most of them bookable via the international booking portals.