About Kyiv

Kyiv offers endless opportunities to make the most of your time in Ukraine. It is the capital and the biggest and the most developed city in Ukraine. It impresses by its architecture, monumental buildings from different eras, numerous green parks and wide green streets, lakes, river Dnieper which divides the city on the right and the left banks, ancient historical monuments and churches, theatres and museums, stadiums, modern entertaining centers, restaurants and cheerful and welcoming people.

Kyiv is a scientific center of Ukraine. The majority of research institutions of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine,

Ukraine is a beautiful and proud country that can boast supreme geographical position and extremely rich culture. Ukraine can offer numerous places to visit for curious and most experienced travelers.

The majestic Kyiv Pechers`ka Lavra  was built in 1051, the monastery serves as a historical and cultural symbol of Kyiv, which  creates spiritual and cultural value for the Ukrainian nation and also as a spiritual center of the Christian world. Over centuries, the monastery has transformed into a cradle of biblical and evangelical traditions, enriched with works of literature, architecture and art. The Lavra’s architectural structure is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Maydan Nezalezhnosti, is the heart of the city. It is the central Square of Kyiv. Sightseeing program in Kyiv always includes this point. The name is translated as «Independance Square». Maydan Nezalezhnosti can be truly considered as the beating heart of the whole country and the place where Ukraine’s struggle for independence took place.

Mariyinsky palace is one of the interesting landmarks in Kyiv, is a building in the baroque style located near Verkhovna Rada in the city center. Construction of the palace in Tsarsky Garden (currently called Mariyinsky park) was started in 1744 by the order of empress Elizaveta Petrovna. The whole construction process took 8 years. The palace was designed by the well-known architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli who had also designed St. Andrew`s Church

Golden gates is the monument of defensive architecture of Kyiv Rus built by the prince Yaroslav around 1037. Probably the name of Kyiv Golden Gates came from the similar gates in Constantinople that had served the same functions. The gates are a tower with a wide passage and a church on the top. In the old times, church was supposed to show every traveler that Kyiv was a Christian city. In 1240, the gates was seriously damaged during attacks and siege of Batu Khan`s army. Though the Golden Gate had been partially ruined, it served as the city entrance until the XVIII century. In 1832, the first measures on the gate`s reconstruction were taken. In 1982, the Golden gate was fully reconstructed on the occasion of Kyiv`s 1500th anniversary. In 2000s, the building was reconstructed again. The construction works were complete in 2007. Nowadays, tourists can go inside the building to visit the museum with an exposition dedicated to the history and architecture of the Golden Gate. Here they can find parts of ancient walls and also go up the gates to the church with observation platform opening a beautiful panorama over Kyiv city.

National Art Museum of Ukraine (6, Hryshevskoho street, Kyiv), is located not far from Maydan Nezalezhnosti. One of the biggest museums in Kyiv was founded over 100 years ago and was first called the City Museum of Antiques and Art.

Museum has one of the best Ukrainian icon collections. The collection of Ukrainian baroque art is outstanding by its value. Here one can find amazing examples of Ukrainian baroque icons. Vivid and original heritage of Ukrainian avant-garde is represented in the museum by the works of the world-wide famous sculptor Oleksandr Arkhypenko, painters Oleksandra Ekster, Oleksa Hryshchenko, Oleksandr Bohomazov, and Viktor Palmov.
The museum collection is still being formed, and the trends of contemporary art of the end of the 20th – the beginning of the 21st century find their place here.

One more popular museum in Kyiv often visited by tourists is Museum of Western and Oriental Art in Kyiv, also known as the Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko Museum of Art. This is the largest collection of foreign art in Ukraine. (Address: 17, Tereshchenkivska street, Kyiv). The museum was founded in 1919 on the basis of Bogdan and Varvara Khanenko private collection. Famous founders of museum’s collections Bogdan Khanenko and his wife Varvara always dreamt of opening the public museum of art in Kyiv, while collecting works of famous artists and sculptors. The collection of the museum consists of 25 thousand of exhibits and is considered to be the biggest foreign art collection in Ukraine. Museum of Western and Oriental Art in Kyiv boasts the works of Bosch, Velázquez and Rubens among the many masters represented, but they are only part of the attraction.
The house alone, with its frescoed ceilings and intricately carved woodwork, is worth an admiration.

In case you are more of a contemporary art fan, head to the PinchukArtCentre in Kyiv located near to Bassarabsky Market. Since the opening on September 16, 2006 the art center has become one of the favorite places for Ukrainians as well as for numerous tourists of the capital. Very convenient schedule of exhibitions (from 12:00 to 21:00) and free access provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the best creations of contemporary artists. PinchukArtCentre is constantly hosting art exhibitions of world famous artists.

Gardens and parks

Kiev is also a great city for fun and interesting outdoor activities as it has many picturesque parks. If you are visiting the city in spring, summer or early fall, when the weather is pleasant enough for outdoor walks head to Kyiv Botanical Garden. Gryshko Kyiv Botanical Garden opens the first in Ukraine Aroma Park (aroma garden). Here the visitors will have a chance to experience unique palette of herbal and flower fragrances.
A separate area in the botanical garden now accommodates lush groves of thyme, rosemary, lemon blossom, basil and lavender. The Aroma Park has over half a hectare surface and many different aromatic plants.
Aroma Park in Kyiv is an ideal place to have a walk and enjoy the nature in the middle of unique and spectacular environment which shall become a beautiful spot in the capital of Ukraine.

Feofania complex in Kyiv is a monument of garden and park art of national importance located in Golosiyivsky district of the capital. This park complex, embracing 150 hectares, was founded in 1992; previously, it was a state reserve. The modern name of Feofania appeared in 1803 when the prior of the St. Michael`s Cathedral – Feofan Shiyanov – built a summer house in this area. Feofanian park can boast 86 kinds of bushes and trees. The age of some oaks, maples, ashs and lindens in the park exceeds 100-180 and even 300 years. Apart from being a picturesque oasis of nature in the city, Feofanian park is famous for the gorgeous St. Pantaleon`s Cathedral located on its territory. The park is highly appreciated by Kyiv dwellers and guests as a perfect place to spend weekends. Feofanian park regularly hosts festivals and other interesting events.

Pyrohovo Museum of Ukrainian folk architecture is another place to visit in Kyiv in case you want to learn more about Ukrainian culture. At Pyrohovo you can discover more about the Ukrainian vernacular architecture. This open-air museum displays different samples of regional folk architecture: houses, windmills, churches and schools. All buildings are scattered over beautiful green park to the east of the city center. Everything is pretty spread out here, so the visit involves a lot of walking and a bit of hiking. Long walks and outdoor activities can surely work some appetite in you. Kyiv dining scene is booming. The city offers a wide selection of international cuisines and places for unforgettable dining experience.                                                              Modern Ukrainian cuisine restaurants. As one of the options to savor local traditional dishes visit BARVY Restaurant (3, Mechnikova street, Kyiv). This is the new addition to the local restaurant scene, which introduces the modern Ukrainian cuisine based on traditional recipes of various regions and ethnic groups of Ukraine.
BARVY serves traditional dishes of Transcarpathia, Galicia and Bukovina cuisine, as well as specialties from Odesa and the Crimean Tatar cuisine. Particular attention is paid to game, honoring the fact that hunting has been one of the most popular crafts in Ukraine for a long time.
Prynada Ukrainian Café (24, Geroyiv Stalingrady, Kyiv) is one more restaurant of contemporary Ukrainian cuisine in Kyiv. The menu cherishes Ukrainian gastronomical traditions giving them an interesting modern culinary twist.
The restaurant boasts delicious Ukrainian dishes, stylish and hip interior and exceptionally pleasant atmosphere deprived of folklore cheesiness. Prynada Ukrainian Café offers an unexpected take on Ukrainian traditional food. The restaurant aims at revealing authentic local culinary traditions and the way they can be masterfully combined with current modern European cuisine producing interesting and intriguing tastes and dishes. Enjoy your exploration of Kyiv!