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Kiev Travel & Sightseeing Guide

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A trip to Kiev
One of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, Kiev has come of age since the fall of the Soviet Union. It has opened its doors to an increasing number of overseas visitors who come for its historical sites and cultural landmarks. There are two international airports, both just outside the city centre with daily flights connecting to cities all over the country and Europe as well as a select number of inter-continental connections. In winter, Kiev is a magical city covered with a blanket of snow while in summer temperatures are warm and the parks full of local and international holidaymakers.

Flights to Kiev
Boryspil International Airport is the main air hub of the city and the country with Kiev International Airport also receiving flights from overseas. Most visitors come into Boryspil with its three terminals. Terminal B serves as the international hub at the airport. Most flights come in from the rest of the former USSR region, the Middle East and Europe with regular flights to London, Moscow and Tehran. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Kiev try Expedia. A regular bus service plies the route between the airport and the city centre, a journey of about one hour, and there are taxis readily available too.

Kiev features a very fast and convenient metro system with three lines that cover the majority of the city centre, otherwise hop on a bus or hail a taxi.

Kiev

Sightseeing in Kiev
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, or Monastery of Caves, has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so too has Saint Sophia Cathedral, both of which rank as two of the top tourist sites in the city. There are however many more to choose from besides. The Mariyinsky Palace is a Baroque structure from the mid-18th century that is also the official residence of the Ukrainian president and a worthwhile place to visit. Numerous other monuments and statues such as that of Vladimir the Great dot the city and should also not be missed.

Visit the Independence Square, the heart of the city, for numerous attractions including fountains and a large pillared statue as its core. This was the scene of the Orange revolution in 2004.

Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Typical Russian/Ukrainian fare like borscht is readily available and incredibly cheap if you stay away from the restaurants catering to tourists. You will soon notice there are pizza restaurants everywhere ranging from budget bites to the very expensive along with Soviet themed restaurants for those with nostalgia for the Communist era. Chinese food can also be found fairly easily and there are a growing number of Japanese restaurants springing up too.

Kiev by night is unsurprisingly fuelled by gallons of vodka with plenty of Ukrainian, Russian and other international beers available everywhere. Bolchaya Vasilkovskaya is a good place to head for reasonably priced drinks and a good night out. Around Bessarabsky market are where many clubs are located but the best night out in Kiev is usually had at Club 112. Expect to spend a fair bit, however.

Fun by day - shopping and activities
Andriyivskyy Descent is an intriguing shopping destination in Kiev, a market that is busiest on Sunday with a much smaller range of stalls for the remained of the week. Real and fake Communist memorabilia is available here in abundance. Bessarabsky is the busiest farmer’s market in the city and a vibrant place to browse and people watch.

Daytrips
Just 12kms south of Kiev is the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, which showcases local life from different regions of the Ukraine in one area. The grounds are home to authentic barns, windmills, churches and peasant huts. There great restaurants serving traditional food and shops selling locally hand made pottery, carvings and handicraft.

Situated on top of a hill that overlooks the beautiful Dnipro River, the Caves Monastery is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The Great Bell Tower soars to over 96 metres and can be climbed for uninterrupted views of the city.

The Motherland Monument and Museum of the Great Patriotic War is fantastic for a day of Ukraine history. The 62 metre high statue is an impressive landmark that can be seen from most of Kiev. Inside the museum there is a host of memorabilia and information about the Ukrainian soldiers who fought during the Second World War.

Must-see attractions
Whilst visiting the city of Kiev it is recommended that you go and see the Chernobyl Museum, which documents and explains the world’s worst nuclear accident. The museum contains actual signposts from the surrounding towns of the evacuated area as well as thousands of photographs from before and after the disaster.

In the centre of downtown Kiev, Andrew’s Descent is one of the city’s oldest and most popular streets. The historic street is filled with early Ukrainian architecture, souvenir shops selling Soviet paraphernalia and numerous museums and art galleries. The charming cobblestoned streets are some of the most beautiful in the Ukraine.

One of the most stunning and impressive attractions to see in Kiev is spectacular St Sophia’s Cathedral. With 13 striking golden domes the cathedral steals the city’s skyline. Built in 1037, the cathedral boasts ancient mosaics and frescoes. The site was listed in UNESCO World Heritage in 1990.

For a relaxing afternoon walk or an outdoor lunch Kiev’s Maiyinsky Park is the perfect place to enjoy the sun. There are numerous statues and walking paths through the park, and it is host to large summertime festivals and events.

Best time to go
The best time to visit Kiev is during the spring between March and April. The weather is pleasant and the flowers are starting to blossom. As well, the Dnipro River looks amazingly blue. Summer time is also nice with temperatures only reaching a maximum of 35°C. If you plan on travelling during the summer, it is advisable to book your accommodation in advance as Kiev is becoming a popular holiday destination.

Rainy day suggestions
For those rainy days when outdoors activities are not possible, there are numerous attractions to see within Kiev that are undercover. The Kiev Art Galley displays a host of works from all over the world. The gallery is filled with important painting from significant Ukrainian artists from years past. Kiev Museum of Wax Figures is an interesting place to visit with works from as early as 1776.

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