Kiev, capital of Ukraine, is one of Eastern Europe’s most important cultural centers and also one of the oldest. The rich history of Kiev dates back to the 9th century and has given way to impressive landmarks and museums with ancient to modern day artifacts. Though the city was severely damaged during World War II, it has been reconstructed to show the beauty of its architecture, especially since the Ukrainian Independence in 1991.
Follow Kevin, our eDreams travel guide, on his trip to this Ukrainian city, let’s take a walk through Kiev in pictures to see what the Ukrainian capital has to offer its visitors.
But first things first, how to get to Kiev? Kiev has two passenger airports: the Boryspil International Airport and Kyiv Zhuliany International. Boryspil is the largest airport in Ukraine and is used mainly for international flights to Kiev. Kyiv Zhuliany is a smaller airport used mainly for domestic flights.
Chornobyl Museum
The Chornobyl Museum is a history museum dedicated to the April 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster, which was one of the worst power plant accidents in history.
- Address: 1, Khoryv Lane
- Metro: Kontraktova Plosha
Khreshchatyk Street
Khreshchatyk is Kiev’s main street. The 1 kilometer long avenue goes from Bessarabska Square to European Square, with many prominent atractions along the way.
- Metro: Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Khreshchatyk, or Teatralna
Kiev Pechersk Lavra
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra, also known as Monastery of the Caves because of its extensive underground network of caves, tunnels, and passageways, is one of Eastern Europe’s most important centers of Christianity. It is both an Orthodox Christian Monastery and museum, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Address: 21, Lavrska (former Mazepy) St
- Metro: Arsenal’na
Open-Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life
In the village of Pyrohiv (Pirogov), on the outskirts of Kiev, is the Open-Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, or Museum of Folk Architecture and Folkways of Ukraine. Its 370 acres display different parts of Ukraine’s traditional architecture and village life around the country.
- Address: 1, Krasnoznamennaya St, Holosiivs’kyi district
St Sophia’s Cathedral
Saint Sophia Cathedral is an 11th century Christian Orthodox temple. The impressive byzantine and baroque cathedral is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Address: 24, Vladimirskaya St
St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery
Saint Michael’s Monastery is an Orthodox Christian monastery which was originally built in the Middle Ages, but was destroyed in the 1930s and rebuilt after Ukraine’s independence as it is today in 1999. It is located on a bluff over Kiev’s Podil neighborhood.
- Address: 6, Tr’okhsvyatytel’s’ka St
Motherland Statue and War memorials
The Motherland Statue, one of Kiev’s most emblematic landmarks, is located in the 25 acre memorial complex conmemorating the German-Soviet War. The War memorials complex is referred to as the Museum of the Great Patriotic War and it includes over 300,000 exhibits.
- Address: 24, Lavrska St
- Metro: Arsenalna
Babi Yar
Babi Yar is the name of a ravine which played a large part in the history of genocide carried out by the Nazis in Ukraine. The area is now a memorial site for the many massacres that took place during this time, most notably the Massacres of 29-30 September, 1941.
- Metro: Dorohozhychi
Maidan Nezalezhnosti
Maidan Nezalezhnosti, in English “Independence Square”, is Kiev’s main square located on the famous Khreshchatyk Street. The name of the square refers to the independence of Ukraine in 1991.
- Metro: Maydan Nezalezhnosti
Mariyinsky Palace
Mariyinsky Palace is the official residence of the President of Ukraine. The palace was constructed from 1744-1752 and is located on the banks of the Dnieper River on a large estate that includes beautifully landscaped gardens.
- Address: 5, Grushevskogo St
Golden Gates of Kiev
The Golden Gate of Kiev is believed to be constructed in 1017-1024 and is the only remaining of the 3 entrances to the ancient city fortress of Kiev. It is now a museum with exhibits showing the history of the gates as well as ancient Kiev.
- Address: Shevchenkivs’kyi district on the corner of Volodymyr St and Yaroslaviv Val St
- Metro: Zoloti vorota
St Volodymyr’s Cathedral
Saint Volodymyr’s (Vladimir) Cathedral is the mother cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It was constructed between 1862-1896 and is notable for its elaborately decorated interior which includes mosaics by Venetian masters.
- Address: 20, Shevchenko boulevard next to the older Fomin Botanic Gardens, next to the Kiev University
- Metro: Universytet
If we’ve peaked your interest in Kiev and Ukraine keep reading: Amazing Ukraine Seen from Above
