5 Free Museums in Kyiv Worth Visiting After the War

Learning something new about the cultural and historical heritage of Ukraine is a pleasure available to anyone who is in Kyiv not only on 18 May, International Museum Day (when admission is free), but also on other days. For those who want to broaden their knowledge and avoid paying for admission once again, we offer a selection of interesting and popular museums in Kyiv.

National Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve “Kyiv Fortress”

“Kyiv Fortress” is not just a museum, but part of history. It is one of the largest earth fortresses in Europe, built over almost two centuries. Walls with embrasures and loopholes for firing rifles and cannons — in this building, all the conditions were created for convenient artillery enfilade fire.

You can learn more about the history of fortification from the exhibition of the second museum, which is also located in “Kyiv Fortress”. And to see everything for free will be able visitors who come here on the last Friday of the month at the address:

24-a Hospitalna St.

Tel.: 234-19-70

Hetmanship Museum

Guests of the Hetmanship Museum, located at 16-b Spaska St., can immerse themselves in the era of the emergence of the hetmanate in Ukraine or feel like part of the Cossack state. More than 3000 books are kept here, including not only scholarly works on Cossack and hetman themes, but also a variety of historical publications. This museum preserves one of the largest collections belonging to the family of Hetman P. Skoropadskyi.

Free of charge visits to the Hetmanship Museum are possible on the last Saturday of the month.

Tel: 462-52-90

Museum of Outstanding Figures of Ukrainian Culture: L. Lysenko, L. Ukrainka, P. Saksahanskyi and M. Starytskyi

The museum’s name is no accident, as it includes the names of four well-known Ukrainian figures, since the apartments of the famous poet, theatre figure, musician, Ukrainian playwright and actor were located in one block. Today their personal belongings are kept there, and a variety of exhibits connected with their work and lives have been added. Each department of the Museum of Outstanding Figures of Ukrainian Culture offers free admission for visitors every month, on the first and third Thursday.

The L. Ukrainka department of the museum is located at 97 Saksahanskoho St. (tel.: 289-16-51)

The Lysenko department — 95-b Saksahanskoho St., (tel.: 289-02-91)

The Starytskyi department — 95 Saksahanskoho St. (tel.:289-44-20)

National Museum of the History of Ukraine

The National Museum of Ukraine is an incredible place that will impress you with the number of unique landmarks of history and culture. It is the only museum whose name has changed 13 times. And it is most interesting because it is located on Starokyivska Hill, where the founder of Kyiv — Kyi — once fought. On the last Monday of each month thanks to the many exhibits, visitors can learn almost everything from the most ancient times to the present completely free of charge at:

2 Volodymyrska St.

Tel.: 278-65-45

National Art Museum

The National Art Museum is one of the oldest museums of Ukraine, built with funds from the industrial intelligentsia in the 19th century. The museum’s modern collection includes more than 40 thousand exhibits, among which are genuine masterpieces of Ukrainian sculpture and painting, works created by masters of Kyivan Rus. The jewel of the museum collection is the ancient icons, which free of charge can be viewed by visitors on the last Sunday of the month.

6 Hrushevskoho St.

Tel.: 228-64-29