Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine, is located in the north-central part of the country on the Dnieper River. It is also the largest city in the country and is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. Kiev is the most popular tourist destination in the country.
The city will attract you with its magnificent Soviet architecture buildings, ancient monasteries, golden-domed churches, and excellent streets.
Two of the best places to visit in Ukraine, the Kiev Pechersk Lavra monastery, and St. Sophia's Cathedral, are located in Kiev. Both of these places have been listed under UNESCO World Heritage sites and are flocked by tourists. Other places you may opt to visit include the Museum of Folk Architecture and Ethnography.
While visiting this beautiful medieval city, you will love taking a walk down Andriyivskyy Descent, a steep cobbled street lined on both sides with Art Nouveau-style houses with gargoyles. You will also enjoy the cultural life of the city which can be glimpsed through various opera, musical performances, and theaters that are held in Kiev.
Kiev enjoys summer in the months between May to August, with July as the hottest month. The winter months in the city start in October and continue till March. The coldest month in Winter is in January.
· Be wary of the touts
· Do not entertain the beggars.
· Always carry with you a first aid kit.
· Do not let anyone cheat you.
· Sit only in a prepaid taxi. If you are unable to find a prepaid taxi, you must always negotiate the fare before hiring the taxi.
· Do not indulge in any form of physical or verbal fights with anyone.
· Always carry with you at least one proof of your identity.
· Drink only bottled mineral water.
· In case you suffer from any medication, make it a point to carry with you all the necessary medications.
· Always keep your passport safely.
· Make sure you have a pre made photo copy of your passport.
· Do not trust anyone with your valuables or cash.
· Do not leave your baggage containing cash and valuables in the hotel room.
· Enquire about the room safe before booking a hotel.
· Do not click a picture in the religious place without the permission from the authority.
· Never film without permission.
· Dress only in accordance with the prevalent cultures and traditions.
· Learn a few words from the local languages. This shall remove the communication barrier that you may encounter in a foreign country.
Keep away from drugs.In Ukraine the legal age for drinking is 16 years.
The Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the most beautiful monasteries in the Kiev district of Ukraine. It is also popularly known as the Monastery of the Caves by a lot of people here. The monastery is famous because it belongs to the past historical era and was opened in the year 1731. The surrounding area is quite calm with a river flowing by and has a beautiful sight to gaze at.
Khreschatyk is the major important street of the city Kiev and is stretched at 1.3 km from the European Square to Bessarabska Square. There are several hotels in the location which tourists choose to stay in while on their holidays here. Khreshchatyk has various historical monuments, museums, offices throughout the street. It is one of the costliest streets for shopping in Europe.
The St. Sophia's Cathedral is not only a church but a complete architectural monument on its own. Due to its brilliant structure, the place has now become a major landmark and it was also named as Ukraine's first heritage site by UNESCO. You can also climb top to its bell tower and the view from there will surely be a breathtaking experience.
This is one of its kind open museum which showcases the scenario of the World War II. As we all know, Ukraine was largely affected by the devastating war and this museum in Kiev just gives a glimpse of how deadly it was. There are various objects, tanks and monuments that are memoirs of the times when the World War II took place here.
Central squares of all the popular cities in the world are quite famous and so is that of Kiev's. The Maidan Nezalezhnosti is one of the most important squares of the city where one can enjoy various concerts and festivities. There are many famous landmarks around the place and this attracts a lot of tourists here. The place has received many names until now and the current name means Independence Square.
Just like the museum of history, this one is a war museum too. Ukraine was among the most affected nations by the World War II and you will find various landmarks dedicated to the war. Mother Motherland is a monumental statue of a lady looking towards east and holding a shield and sword in both the hands which depicts that she is going towards Russia. Tourists love to hang around the place while on their holidays here.
If you are someone who likes being in a village area with rivers, mountains and all the natural elements to make your trip worthwhile, visit Pyrohiv. It lies in the southern outskirts of the city and also has an open museum for Folk architecture and Life of Ukraine. This is a huge tourist attraction and has a lot to offer for visitors.
After being through all the hustle and bustle of the city, you can come at the St. Cyril's Monastery to calm down and meditate for some time. You will see a lot of other people meditate here as well and the interesting part is most of them are always tourists from different parts of the world. Enjoy your stay in the city but don't forget to attend a meditation session at the St. Cyril's Monastery.
Walking in nature is extremely soothing and calming, especially in the parks of Kiev. You will find a lot of parks in midst of the city and they all are great places to just hang around or to go for a walk. The parks look beautiful and are decorated with some lovely trees and plants. The Mariinsky Park and the Khreshchatyk Park are among the most popular parks here.
Shopping is one of the most enjoyable activities for all the tourists no matter where you visit. The most popular thing for which you can shop at Kiev are handicraft items. You can easily find some of the best handicraft shops, art galleries and other kind of craft shops at the local market here. Some markets here are also quite popular for organic food including fresh fruits and vegetables which are mostly visited by the locals here.
Museums are a treat to visit no matter where you go. Since the World War II happened here, most of the museums here are war museums that have war related items to showcase. You will also love to visit the Museum of miniatures where all the sculpture, works of art are in a miniature form and you would have never watched such art before. The museums also hold exhibitions that are a delight to watch. If you are on a holiday here, check out the exhibitions that are set to take place in the museums in the city.
The Maidan Nezalezhnosti is the heart of the city as well as the country. It is an iconic place where many revolutions have taken place. Although it is not the most attractive or historical landmark in the city but there are various sentiments attached to this place. You will find cafes around the square so take a walk around here and enjoy the vibe by sipping a tea of your choice, this is the best what you can do here.
Website: Official Website
Forum: Official Forum