TOP 10 Most Amazing Places in Kyiv
Kyiv is a unique city that never ceases to amaze visitors and residents of the capital with its landmarks. There are many places here that are definitely worth seeing or visiting in order to leave unforgettable emotions and memories in your mind. And while almost everything in compact historic Lviv is within walking distance, exploring Kyiv’s unique places can take more than one day. For those who do not have much time and want to see only the capital’s most amazing places, it is worth checking out the selection of TOP 10 locations that will not leave you indifferent!
1. The highest observation deck
What could be better than a panoramic view of a huge city from a bird’s-eye height? Immerse yourself in the city’s unique atmosphere of grandeur and visit one of Kyiv’s best observation decks — the monument “Motherland Monument”. The monument has two paid observation decks. From them opens a stunning view of the city’s beautiful panoramas.
Photo from the website kiev.vgorode.ua
The bravest visitors aged 18 years and older can go to the “Extreme” deck, which offers a view of practically the whole city. But it is worth noting that this option is only for those who are not afraid of heights and whose physical condition allows them to overcome the 91 m ascent without difficulty. The cost of visiting the deck is 500 UAH per person (the cost of photo and video shooting is already included in the ticket price). If you are content simply to admire the city’s beautiful landscapes, then choose the second deck — “Landscape”. Its height is 36.6 m, which significantly affected the cost of the ascent — only 100 UAH.
In addition, visitors to the monument can also see two museum exhibitions — “Ukrainian East” and “Ukraine in the Second World War”.
Opening hours:
Mon.-Fri. — from 10:00-18:00
Sat.-Sun. - 10:00 — 19:00
The ticket office is open until 17:00
How to get there:
• Arsenalna metro station, turn left near it and walk 20-30 minutes on foot;
• trolleybus No. 38
Our advice!
There are many people who want to see the beauty of the Ukrainian capital, so it is better to arrive in advance. No more than 2 people per hour are allowed onto the observation decks, so it is better to come earlier. Even before the monument opens there may be several people waiting; after 10:00 they are added to a list and it is decided when you will be lucky enough to get in.
Website: https://www.warmuseum.kiev.ua/_ua/visitors/time/
2. “Dead” city — Vozdvyzhenka
In terms of housing costs, Vozdvyzhenka has become the most expensive place in the capital. And if during Kyivan Rus this was home to potter craftsmen, now it is considered a neighborhood for millionaires, created in the style of an old European town. So it is no surprise, because the minimum cost of housing here starts at 250 thousand dollars. The neighborhood is located in the very center of the capital, parallel to Andriivskyi Descent, in a ravine. The town has 4 streets: Honcharna, Dihtiarna, Kozhemiatska and Vozdvyzhenska. Since geological conditions did not allow architects to design high-rise buildings here, the town now has buildings up to 5 stories high.
Photo from the website ru.wikipedia.org
The “dead” town got its name because it is sparsely populated. This is explained by the fact that wealthy and busy people live here and spend much of their time traveling. The inner courtyards, where children play, are hidden behind the buildings, so curious tourists cannot judge from afar how inhabited the town is.
Vozdvyzhenka is not only a beautiful residential neighborhood of Kyiv, but also a popular place for newlyweds. Wedding photo shoots are often organized here, making it possible to create stunning photos against the backdrop of the “dollhouse” development.
Visitors to the capital should definitely visit this place, since not far away are equally popular historical places of the city — Zamkova Hora, Landscape Alley, and Andriivskyi Descent.
There are shops and cafes, bars, restaurants and a toilet on the territory of the neighborhood.
How to get there:
Entry to the neighborhood is free. And although there is no parking, it can be reached by car or public transport, to Kontraktova Ploshcha metro station.
Our advice!
For those who like to spend time over coffee and reading interesting books, we recommend visiting the first private library, bOtaN. It is located at 9-19 Vozdvyzhenska Street (open from 10:00 to 23:00).
Be sure to visit Hashtag Bar at 48 Vozdvyzhenska Street. Only here is there a wide variety of cocktails based on whiskey and craft beer. Poetry evenings are often held at the bar, you can listen to good live music or appreciate the work of contemporary artists. Opening hours: 16: 00-23: 00.
3. Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Ukraine
One of the popular places where residents of the capital like to relax from the everyday city bustle. The place impresses with its originality and beauty. Visitors involuntarily immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the 19th century. This is a huge open-air museum. Those who have never been here before should book a guided tour.
Photo from the website zikua.tv
The museum covers an area of 133.5 hectares, so there is plenty of space for everyone to wander around. If you do not like walking, you can bring your own bicycle or rent one at the rental point located near the entrance. Rental cost — 100 UAH / hour.
There are many cafes and places on the territory where you can have a snack. There is an active church on the grounds, so many people come here for a wedding or to baptize children. Given that there are cottage-cafes on the museum grounds, a special occasion can be celebrated right here.
There are many beautiful places on the museum grounds, so many people choose Pyrohovo for photo sessions.
Admission prices:
For adults: 50 UAH
For children from 7 years old — 30 UAH
Schoolchildren from 7 to 10 years old — 15 UAH.
Children under 7 years old - free.
To receive a discount, proof of identity and student ID are required.
Tour bookings by tel .: +38044 526-24-16
The ticket office is open from 10 to 17:00
Address:
Kyiv, Akademika Tronko St. (Pyrohovo).
How to get there:
• from Lybidska metro station — trolleybus No. 11
• from Bessarabska Market — minibus No. 15
• from Leningradska Square, Druzhby Narodiv metro station — minibus No. 172
• from Akademmistechko metro station — minibus No. 576
• from Lukianivska metro station — minibus No. 496
Our advice!
There are workshops for children on the museum grounds. Various events are held on holidays. You can learn about them from the museum’s official Facebook page.
4. House with Chimaeras — a place where wishes come true
One of the famous and unusual architectural landmarks of Kyiv is the House with Chimaeras. The building, executed in the striking Art Nouveau style, was designed by architect Horodetskyi in 1901. Because of the large number of decorative sculptures, this house is often compared to Notre-Dame Cathedral. The uniqueness of the building lies in the facade decorated with fantastic creatures, including lions, giraffes, frogs, snakes, elephants, antelopes, and sea monsters. Many believe that if you make a wish and find a crocodile among the many sculptures, it will definitely come true. Whether this is true is something you should definitely check for yourself.
The House with Chimaeras has its own unique history. It is believed that Vladyslav Horodetskyi built this house with his own money. For its construction, the architect used materials that were new at the time — concrete and cement — and took out a loan for the building itself. It was a difficult project to build, as the site had many drawbacks: an uneven plot, near a cliff above a drained swamp.
The architect had high hopes for this house, which came to nothing. So before his departure, he cursed the house. According to the curse, only Horodetskyi’s blood relatives can live in the building; all other residents are doomed to an unhappy fate. Whether the curse is true or not, during the entire time no organization that rented premises in this house has managed to achieve success in its business. Many tenants went bankrupt.
Since 2005, the building has been the presidential residence. Since then, only official talks and receptions have been held here. Tours are also conducted in the House with Chimaeras. They take place from 10 to 12:00. Therefore, only those who have registered in advance by tel. can get in:
+38044 207-12-55
Price:
Ticket for an adult — 400 UAH per person.
Tour duration — 2 hours. (in Ukrainian)
Address: Bankova St. 10
How to get there:
• From Khreshchatyk metro station, 300 m, walk along Arkhitektora Verbytskoho St., then along Ivan Franko Square.
• From Bessarabska Square — about 800 m.
Our advice!
If you plan to visit the House with Chimaeras on a tour, you should sign up in advance, 2-3 months before the planned date. A passport is required for entry!
You can get a preliminary look at the exterior and interior of the building using Google Maps, which will let you take a free mini-tour of the house’s rooms.
5. "Travel" into yourself
You have probably heard of or seen many labyrinths in some city around the world. We, however, invite you to visit Kyiv’s first and so far only stone labyrinth, called “Travel into Yourself.” It is said that this is where a person can tune in to their inner voice of reason and find answers to troubling questions.
Photo from the website my-obolon.kiev.ua
Address: Obolonska Embankment 7, building 5, in the flowerbed, next to the church).
Our advice!
Before you start walking the labyrinth, don’t forget to focus on the problem that concerns you. Think about its solution while going through the labyrinth.
6. Zhukiv Island
Zhukiv Island is one of Kyiv’s most beautiful and cozy places, where there are few people and you can enjoy privacy in nature. A unique combination for a densely populated capital! The area is located near the small Zhukivka River, which flows into the Dnipro. Back in the 19th century, it was one of the favorite hunting grounds of Kyiv’s rulers, and livestock belonging to the nearby monastery grazed on the large meadows. Unfortunately, only ruins remain of it now.
Photo from the website sollyplus.rent
Today Zhukiv Island is a huge area (with a total area of about 360 hectares), where you can find rare plant species listed in the Red Book: a five-hundred-year-old oak, stoats, and more.
The island is often used as a place for overnight stays by small groups. So here you can not only take a walk, but also sit noisily with friends.
How to get there:
• By minibus No. 412 to the Korchuvate stop, then walk from there;
• By car through the Zhukiv Ostriv checkpoint (entry is paid)
Our advice!
There are many mosquitoes on the island, so it is worth avoiding clothing that leaves the legs exposed, as well as very comfortable high-heeled shoes. In summer, be sure to stock up on mosquito repellent.
7. Lysa Hora
One of Kyiv’s best-known places is Lysa Hora, wrapped in myths and frightening stories. More horrifying stories have been told about this place than about any other, and they do not deter curious tourists; on the contrary, they attract them with their mystery.
The legendary Lysa Hora is also called a “place of power” because it is considered popular among witches and sorcerers. Rumour has it that pagan rituals and witchcraft are constantly performed here.
Photo from zeft.in.ua
Lysa Hora is located near Vydubychi metro station. To the east it is bounded by Stolychne Highway, and to the north by Sapersno-Slobidska Street. If legends are to be believed, pagan rituals used to be held here, and there was a pagan sanctuary on the hilltop itself. According to psychics, this place has bad energy, but that does not deter satanists, pagans, and nonconformists.
How to get there:
From Vydubychi metro station, walk 5,5 km or get there by car.
8. Tower Crane Cemetery
Kyiv is a city of new buildings, where the volume of construction is the largest in Ukraine. So it is no surprise that as a result of the huge amount of construction, a place called the “Material Base of the Tower Crane Department” emerged. Spare cranes in various conditions are brought here. Most of them are no longer used for construction and remain here to rust, adding to the number of residents of this “metal cemetery.”
Photo from successful-city.com
The area is closed, but you can ask the security guard to let you in so you can take good industrial photos, provided safety rules are observed.
Address: 7 Promyslova St.
How to get there:
Walk from Vydubychi metro station.
- 9. House with a compartment
On Shovkovychna Street there is a small house that resembles a medieval palace. It was built in 1912 by the Ukrainian architect P. F. Aloshyn for Councillor Kovalevskyi.
Photo from uk.wikipedia.org
The uniqueness of the two-story building with a corner tower is that one of the rooms is designed in the form of a train compartment. According to legend, it was in a train compartment that the house owner met his future wife, so one of the rooms is arranged as a reminder of an important fateful meeting.
Address: 1/15 Shovkovychna St.
10. Ar-Ramha Mosque
Kyiv is home to many people of different nationalities. The number of Muslim residents reaches 250 thousand people. So it is no surprise that a real Muslim mosque, Ar-Rakhma, appeared among the city’s buildings. This is the first and largest mosque in Ukraine. It consists of three large halls that can accommodate up to 2000 people.
Photo from kievtime.com
When you enter the complex, you almost involuntarily find yourself in a true “Arabian fairy tale,” so it is hard to recognize even a hint of Kyiv in the photos taken there.
Address: 46 Lukianivska St.
