Kiev fascinated us with its wide streets and parks. It’s like a city built within a park. It is definitely a noteworthy place to visit for those who love buildings that have preserved their historical texture and streets full of art.
This article will cover what to visit, eat, do, and stay for a 5 day trip to Kiev.
Accommodation
The hotel we stayed was called Cityhotel. We paid a total of 405 Euros for the hotel staying for 4 nights and 5 days. We made a slightly luxurious choice, there are many places where you can stay that are more affordable. Our hotel was a 15-minute walk from the city center, so we were very comfortable.
Where Can You Visit in Kiev?
Golden Gate
Golden Gate, is one of the most important symbols of the city. This gate, which was used as the entrance gate to Kiev in the past, was actually a part of the walls protecting the city. Only this wooden and stone structure remains from the walls. There is also a museum that can be visited, but we did not enter, we just walked around.
Saint Sofia Cathedral
Saint Sofia Cathedral, one of the most important buildings of Ukraine on the UNESCO World Heritage list, it is an important place for both Catholics and Orthodox people with a history of over 1000 years. It currently serves as a museum. There is also a clock tower in the cathedral. You pay separate fees to visit the tower, cathedral garden and inside the cathedral. We only bought tickets for the garden trip and paid 20 grivna per person.
Freedom Square
Freedom Square is one of the most important squares in the center of Kiev. It is a good place to stop, relax and breathe in the air of the city 🙂
AVFomin Botanical Garden
If you go to Kiev, you will see that the city consists of parks. We visited AV Fomin Botanical Garden, which is close to our hotel, and we took a walk.
Gorodetsky House
Built by architect Vladislav Gorodetsky in the Art Nouveau style, this building is famous for its sculptures outside. If you are interested in seeing the buildings full of sculptures, you can also visit this place.
National Chernobyl Museum
One of the places we wanted to see most when we went to Kiev was the Ukrainian Natioanal Chernobyl Museum. The entrance to the museum, where information and photographs about the disaster that happened in 1986, were 24 grivna per person. Frankly, the museum disappointed us a bit because there are no English informational letters. We just went around. We went to the museum with Uber, as it is a bit far from the city center.
Motherland Statue and WWII Museum
Rodina Mat and Second World War Museum, one of the places I say you should definitely visit when it comes to Kiev, consists of a huge sculpture and museum built on a huge area. There are tanks left from the war in the garden of the museum. Inside the museum are military vehicles, weapons, uniforms and documents from the Second World War. The photo exhibition on the upper floor of the museum will impress you. The entrance fee is 30 grivna per person. We used Uber to get here.
Pirogova Open Air Museum
Pirogova Open Air Museum is a peaceful place away from the hustle and bustle of the city. You can see traditional Ukrainian village houses and examples of past houses in this museum, which is spread over a wide area. There are also restaurants and cafes in the area. If you want, you can shop from gift shops. We provided transportation with Uber, but there are buses from the museum to the city center. The entrance fee is 50 grivna per person.
Andrevski Slope
Our aim to go to Andrevski Hill, one of the top spots in the city, originally named Andrevski Spusk, was actually to buy a few souvenirs. At the top of the slope is the St. Andrews Church, but we did not visit it. If you want to visit, the entrance fee is 20 grivna. There are also places to eat in this colorful street where souvenirs are sold. My aim was to visit the famous writer Mikhail Bulgakov’s house on this street, but I gave up on the trip because they were guided and the guides don’t speak in English.
National Art Museum
I think the National Museum of Art Kiev is one of the places that you should definitely see. When we came across our way to Mariinsky Park, we decided to go inside with my wife and take a walk. There are incredibly beautiful works of art in this museum, which has an entrance fee of 20 grivna per person.
Mariinsky Park and Mariinsky Palace
Mariinsky Park is one of the most beautiful parks you can visit in the city. There is also the Mariinsky Palace in the park, which was built in the 18th century and is now used by the Ukrainian President for official ceremonies.
Caves Monastery
Pechersk Lavra, or Caves Monastery, is one of the most important religious buildings in Ukraine. There are 18 churches in the monastery, which is an important place for Orthodox. Apart from the church, there are also museums in the monastery, which is located in a very large area. There were caves under the monastery, but we did not visit. There are a lot of ticket options, we only bought tickets to visit some of the churches and around the monastery. We paid 40 grivna per person for the tickets. Obviously, it was not a very productive trip because the weather was rainy when we went. We visited some churches and the surrounding area.
Where to Eat
Nikolay
Nikolay, whose name we could hardly figure out, is a famous pie maker close to our hotel. We went there twice for breakfast and what we ate was really delicious. Although one click is expensive for Kiev standards, if it it on your way, be sure to go.
Boulangerie
One of the more beautiful places you can choose for breakfast. It is an affordable place with its taste and price and an extremely sweet place with its ambiance.
Milk Bar
One of the famous places in Kiev that you can choose for breakfast is Milk Bar. This place was also a click expensive for Kiev standards, but the things we ate were delicious.
Honey
I found my chance Foursquare Honey, we understand literally from the application of a French kahvaltıcı 🙂 The dessert we ate in Turkey under the name actually adds how meaningless where the legend adds yiyince 🙂
Puzata Hata
One of the most famous restaurants in Kiev is Puzata Hata. We went to Puzata Hata, where there is a lot of local food and a lot of variety, while we were in Kiev. The price is incredibly affordable.
True Burger
The hamburger place True Burger, close to our hotel, is one of the best places you can try if you happen to be in the way.
Mammamia Pizza
Located in the city center, Mammamia Pizza is an affordable, successful place where you can choose.
The Blue Cup Coffee
It is a sweet place where we like the coffees and desserts we went to several times because it is close to our hotel.
Lviv Handmade Chocolate
Lviv Handmade Chocolate is one of the places you should definitely visit in Kiev! I got the taste of real chocolate for the first time in a dessert. If you go, you should definitely eat from Spartak 🙂
Final Notes
- As soon as you get off the airport, taxi drivers surround you. Do not use a taxi, they are ready to deceive you. We used Uber to go to the hotel. It was very suitable for the price. Even if you don’t use Uber, there is public transport to the city center.
- Do not change money at the airport, even if you do, change it a little because they keep the rate very low.
- There are markets in Kiev that are open 24 hours a day, so don’t have to worry about getting hungry at night or going without water. We generally used Billa as a market.
- It is very difficult to find still water. I give you an advice that will save your life: white capped water non-carbonated water 🙂
- There are few people who speak English, but you can still get along in some way, so don’t be afraid.
- We either used Uber or walked during our trip. We had no problems with Uber and it was always reasonable for us (50-60 grivna). But if you want, you can use public transportation, metro and bus lines are quite common.
- Be sure to get yourself some chocolate from Roshen on Kreşatik Street 🙂