Jan

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Kiev Travel & Sightseeing Guide

January 10, 2008 |

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.

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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.


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