Things to do in Kyiv
Although the city has seen many highs and lows in its long history, Kyiv's cultural attractions are a constant, guaranteed to occupy sightseeing travellers. A leafy capital city, filled with old domed buildings and evidence of new wealth, Kyiv is still largely untapped as a tourist destination (by European standards) and promises some surprises, part old-school Russian and part 'New Ukrainian'.
Highlights in the city include St Cyril's Monastery, a tiny, 12th-century church with some incredible restored frescoes; the UNESCO-listed St Sophia Cathedral; the Great Patriotic War Museum and the Motherland Monument that looms above it; the National Chernobyl Museum, which details the tragic events of the nuclear accident that shook the country in 1986; the riverside Mariyinsky and Khreschatyk parks, perfect for a stroll or a jog; and the fascinating Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra Monastery. On hot summer days, visitors will enjoy boating and other watersports and games at Kyiv's popular Hydropark.
St Sophia Cathedral
Dating back to the 11th century, the exquisite green and gold-domed St Sophia Cathedral was an important power centre for the Soviet Union. It has been damaged and repaired many ti…
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (Caves Monastery)
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (the Caves Monastery) is a fascinating living piece of history dating back to 1051. The Venerable Anthony, a devout monk, settled in a cave on the western bank …
National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War is dominated by the enormous Motherland Monument, which looks like the sword-wielding sister of the Statue of …
Hydropark
Summers in Kyiv can be notoriously hot, and locals know that the best way to beat the heat is a trip to Hydropark Island. Less an amusement park than an entertainment development, …
