Kiev
Travel Guide > Europe > Ukraine > Kiev
In this Article
- Introduction
- Neighbourhoods
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Eat
- Drink
- Sleep
- Work
- Learn
- Keep Connected
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Introduction
Kiev is the capital of Ukraine and with almost 3 million people it is also the largest. It is located in the central north of the country along the Dnjepr River. The city (and the country in general) have become more popular during the last years and it is not difficult to see why when you just walk around this impressive city. On the one hand, there are the typical wide 6 lane boulevards with massive buildings alongside and monuments for everything and everyone, on the other hand it has some beautiful Orthodox churches like the St. Sophia Cathedral. The Monastery of the Caves is another highlight places on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 'Maidan' or Independence Square and the Khreschatyk boulevard are the heart of the city where you will find good food and excellent nightlife as well. The welcome mix of new and old makes this city a place to spend a few days before exploring the rest of the country.
Neighbourhoods
Sights and Activities
- St. Sophia Cathedral - Original, 13th century cathedral modelled on Aya Sophia in Istanbul;
- The Lavra caves - Place of pilgrimage for Ukrainian Orthodox followers, a large complex of parks, churches and the 'caves', including underground chapels and corridors lined with the preserved bodies of priests in glass coffins. Do not wear shorts; women must cover their head and cannot wear trousers - you can hire coverings and skirts there, but expect to queue to do so. The caves are free, but entry to the complex requires tickets.
- Andreyvskiy Spusk - a traditionally Bohemian street in the north part of the centre of Kiev containing bric-a-brac and souvenir stalls and several small, fascinating museums.
- The Museum of Folk Art and Architecture - located in a village 40 mins south of Kiev (at the end of the line of local bus 156) contains traditional houses, windmills etc. saved from all around the country.
Events and Festivals
Weather
Kiev is cold and dismal between November and April. The best time to visit is in the summer months when the weather is generally warm and sunny with temperatures averaging 25 degrees Celsius during the day from June to August. Highs of 35 degrees have been recorded though, as well as winternights way below -20 degrees. Precipitation is fairly even throughout the year, with some more rain in summer though and snowfall in during winter.
Getting There
By Plane
Boryspil International Airport (KBP) near the capital Kiev is the base of Ukraine International Airlines, the national airline of Ukraine. International destinations of the airline include Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Kuwait, Lisbon, London, Manchester, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Rome, Tbilisi, Vienna, and Zürich.
Aerosvit Airlines is an even bigger airline and has farther destinations like Shanghai, Beijing, Almaty, Bangkok, Toronto, Delhi and New York.
Several dozen other airlines serve Kiev as well, mainly from European cities and former Soviet Union Republics.
By Train
By Car
By Bus
By Boat
Getting Around
By Car
By Public Transport
The metro system is extensive and co-ordinates with local minibuses. Buy plastic tokens for the metro in the entrance hall to each metro station. Metro maps and station signs are all in Cyrillic.
By Foot
Central Kiev and the main sites can be reached by foot. The Caves Monastery requires using public transport (or a much longer walk...) - take the metro to Arsenalna and follow the main road East/South East.
By Bike
Kiev is not a good city for cycling around.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Budget
| Property | Address | Type | Popularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| HI Hostel Really Central Kiev | 10, Bogdana Khmelnitskogo str. Floor 2. Apt. 50 | Hostel | 90 |
| HI Independence Square Hostel | 10, Malaya Zhitomirskaya str. apt. 11 | Hostel | 91 |
| Hostelukraine Kiev Backpackers | 28 Yaroslaviv Val str., 4th floor Apt. 13 | Hostel | 71 |
| International Hostel Tatarka | 77 Lukjanivska Str | Hostel | 56 |
| International Youth Hostel Kiev | 52-A, Artema street Korpus 2, 8th floor | Hostel | 65 |
| International Youth Hostel Olympic | 3, Marshala Zhukova street Right across the street from the Fire Station,Metr | Hostel | 46 |
| International Youth Hostel Yaroslav | 10, Yaroslavska str. | Hostel | 75 |
| Kiev Central Apartment | 3 Basseina Street 8 Yaroslaviv Val St, Kiev, Ukraine | Apartment | 80 |
| Kiev Lodging Hostel | 5 Pushkinskaya str., 2nd floor, apt. 10 | Guesthouse | 89 |
| Kiev-Art Hostel | Konstantinovskaya 20, office 29 | Hostel | 88 |
| Perova Apartment | blv Perova 16-v ap.3 | Apartment | 86 |
| Sunflower Guesthouse | 12 Travneva Street Hotiv | Guesthouse | - |
| The Backpackers Love Hostel | Gogolivska 25 Apt 15 Kiev | Hostel | 87 |
| Tiu Kiev Backpackers | Gogolivska 25 Apt 4 | Hostel | 93 |
| TIU Kreschatik | Apt 11 Kreschatik 8a Kiev | Hostel | 88 |
Mid-Range
Hotel Turist on the East bank: Kiev's biggest hotel; 27 floors, you might be lucky and get a good view back towards the city centre. Price includes breakfast (unusual in Ukraine).
Upscale
Work
Learn
This is version 9. Last edited at 16:26 on May 19, 09 by Utrecht (+1391). 24 articles link to this page.
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