There are numerous fun and exciting things to do in Kyiv, Ukraine (also known as Kiev, Ukraine). While living there for a month with a close Ukrainian friend of mine, I was able to explore every side the city had to offer. And there are many, many sides. I’m going to tell you about some of my favorite adventures.
1. Tour the Monastery of Kyiv
The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a very well known and historical monastery in Ukraine. A UNESCO World Heritage Sage, the monastery harbors a series of underground caves holding the bodies of many sacred monks.
Though I am not too religious, this location had a very spiritual atmosphere. I highly recommend paying for an English tour of the underground caves. Here, you will be able to see the bodies of the sacred monks as you walk through the caves with nothing but a candle to guide you. The stories told about these men were both incredibly fascinating and mystifying.
2. Visit the Motherland Monument
The Motherland Monument in Kyiv, Ukraine feels akin to the Statue of Liberty in NYC. Standing at 203 feet (62 meters), it is enormous and dominating and beautiful. The monument is part of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War.
I also recommend walking through the part and getting a look at some of the Ukrainian tanks and other war vehicles. It is a very lovely place with a lot history and meaning.
3. Walk around the Andriyivskyy Descent
This was by far my favorite part of Kyiv. Deemed by some the “Montmartre of Kyiv”, the architecture of this street has a very old and charming feel. Beautiful cobblestone roads lead upwards from the neighborhood of Podil to Old Kyiv. One of the centerpieces lies at the top of the hill- Saint Andrew’s Church.
Just next to the church at the top of the hill is a little outdoor dining area. I highly recommend ordering a drink and sitting there, while listening to the sounds of the many local musicians who like to play in the area.
If you go on the weekend, prepare to pass by many little stalls set up in the street selling local artisan knick knacks. It’s a great place to buy some souvenirs.
4. Explore Mariinskyi Palace (The President’s Residence)
You will find no better manifestation of corruption than at Mariinskyi Palace. Paid for completely by stolen tax money, the ex-president built an entire complex of a home solely for himself. Though he later fled to Russia, the residence is now open as a park for people to enjoy.
I spent an entire day walking around the residence. You will not believe how large it actually is. There are numerous restaurants and buildings, a farm with horses and bulls and ostriches, a bathing house, a golf course, a horse stables, some weird statues, a giant boat, and so much more.
5. Rent scooters and cruise through the city
This was my absolute favorite thing to do in Kyiv, Ukraine. There are electric scooters parked all over the sidewalks in the city. All you have to do is download the app (I used both Bird and Bolt quite a lot) and put your card info in- then you are ready to scan and ride the scooter wherever you please.
Since Ukraine is very cheap, it only costs a few dollars to ride for 30 minutes. This is more expensive than the metro, but well worth it. You can go all around the city and felt a good feel for the vibes. And since you are allowed to drive on the sidewalk, you don’t need to worry about any traffic rules.
6. Take in the crazy nightlife
What can I say? Kyiv has a strong nightlife scene and you don’t want to miss out. Whether you want to visit fancy nightclubs, explore the cool bar scene, or dance it up in the most techno of techno clubs, Kyiv has it all.
Hangover was a very fun and fresh outdoor nightclub that I went to a couple times. It is 21+, though I don’t think the rules are followed very strictly. I enjoyed the music and the drinks (beer is about 100UAH and drinks are about 180 UAH), although the lines get very long if you don’t arrive early in the night.
The Alchemist Bar is another fan favorite. It’s a little eclectic bar with delicious and unique cocktails. My friends and I loved watching the bartender make them.
7. Independence Square
Also know as Maidan Nexalezhnosti (or sometimes just Maidan), Independence Square is one of the main squares in Kyiv. During countless moments of political turmoil, this was often where civilians flocked for protests and rallies.
Other than being beautiful, the square is situated on Khreshchatyk Street. There are many stores around the area and tons of things to do.
8. Mariinsky Park Observatory and Friendship Arch
Mariinsky Park is located right next to Andriyivskyy Descent. There are lovely pathways through the park that lead to the observatory next to Friendship Arch. Here you will find some of the best overlooking views of Kyiv.
Friendship Arch is a pretty controversial monument. The tall rainbow shaped arch depicts Russian and Ukrainian workers holding hands, representing the friendship between the two nations. The controversy is pretty obvious, considering the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia. It wasn’t too long ago that Russia invaded and annexed the previous Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Political tensions are ongoing.
9. World’s Deepest Metro Station
Now, I have mixed feeling about this one. I love seeing anything that’s world record breaking. However, I take issue with long, long escalators. And this is one of the longest ones I have ever been on. It was cool in a way. But descending into the pits of the earth on this never-ending escalator got dissociative real fast.
If you also don’t like long escalators, you can take a friend. Sit down and enjoy the ride. I think it’s worth the visit, just to say you did it. Ukrainian metro stations are also incredibly pretty. Some have giant murals painted across the walls and other cool designs.
10. Try Varenyky, Borchst, and other Ukrainian delicacies
Kyiv, Ukraine has a vast amount of restaurants serving some of the country’s most famous dishes. Varenyky was a personal favorite (it’s the Ukrainian version of a dumpling). They serve many different kinds- meat, potato, mushroom, vegetable. The meat and potato ones were divine.
One restaurant I personally recommend a restaurant called O’Panas. The inside is decorated like an adorable old Ukrainian cottage. Oftentimes there is a man there hand-making clay pottery. If you ask, he will let you make your own dish! (It’s completely free and you get to keep it after). The only difficulty with this was the language barrier, but I managed.
I also really enjoyed another restaurant called Pervak. The food was delicious and they give you a free shot of moonshine just to try it out! I couldn’t believe how many flavors of moonshine there were. Don’t forget to try it with a bit of pig’s fat, the traditional Ukrainian way!
There are many other amazing things to do in Kyiv and all around Ukraine. One of the most popular things to do when visiting Ukraine is to take a tour of Chernobyl, the site of a major nuclear disaster. You can also try out the Ukraine train system and venture south to the Black Sea-side city Odessa, or west to the beautiful city of Lviv. Wherever you decide to go, you will surely have an amazing time!
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