5 attractions in Kiev

You like Eastern Europe? It is a part of the continent that has not yet been fully discovered so you keep finding incredible destinations to visit. Kiev It is the capital of Ukraine and although it is a large, bustling and cosmopolitan city it has its charms.

To make the most of the visit, the ideal stay would be four days, but it is true that sometimes one cannot stay in one place for so long, so we think of a two or three day stay to get to know this handful of attractions. Aim then what you can not miss in Kiev.

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv has a population of about three million people and it was born with an important enclave at the crossroads of trade routes between the Baltic and the Mediterranean. In the thirteenth century this part of Europe was invaded by the Mongols and was divided forever, in addition to the fact that its destiny from then on was marked by foreign powers.

Today the city unfolds on both sides of the Dnipier River which empties into the Black Sea. The western part is the oldest and is decorated with wooded hills, the famous hills of Kiev. The river is navigable and has a whole system of gates, while around it there are small rivers, reservoirs, lakes and artificial ponds. So much water does the city itself offer its inhabitants 16 beaches and more than thirty recreational areas.

Kiev has a system of buses, minibuses, trams, metro, taxis, funicular and a train that bypasses it. The system, excluding taxis, uses a flat rate.

5 attractions in Kiev

The Pechersk district is historic and is in the center of the city, right between the Dnieper and Lypky Klov hills. The name derives from Kiev Pechersk Lavra Caves, an Orthodox monastery who was born inside a cave back in 1051. Today is World Heritage and over the centuries it has transformed it into a complex of bell towers, cathedrals, underground cave systems and impressive defensive walls.

You can not stop knowing the Great Lavra Bell Tower, 96 and a half meters high, the Dormition Cathedral (rebuilt after World War II) and a handful of other picturesque old churches. Today this place it's a museum, one of the largest in Kiev.

La Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square It is the center of Kiev since the fall of the Soviet Union. Here the revolutionary events of 2004 and 2014 took place and it is a point of the city that concentrates huge modern buildings, typical of Soviet architecture. From it comes the Khreshchatyk street, with four lanes and a kilometer long.

The bombs and troops of WWII destroyed it and later it was rebuilt in Soviet style as well. On weekends it is pedestrian so you may have the opportunity to visit it.

El Museum of the Great Patriotic War It is located near Pechersk Lavra and is a memorial complex reminiscent of the German - Soviet war. It was inaugurated on May 9, 1981 and you will see tanks, planes of all kinds, cars, monuments and you can even listen to Soviet war songs. The best is the gigantic Monument to the Mother of Ukraine, impossible to ignore because it is gigantic with its 102 meters high. What photos are you going to take! Both from above, from his platform at head height, and from a distance.

La St. Sophia Cathedral It is the oldest church in Kiev and is World Heritage. It is also a very large site, with several buildings including a bell tower, the cathedral and a school. You will see another set of golden domes nearby: the Monastery of San Miguel. You can visit it for free. It dates from the Middle Ages but was demolished in WWII and then restored and reopened. It is a place full of decorations and ornaments so if you like art it is great.

If you want to escape from the big city, there is a place in Kiev that you must visit: Andriyivskyy Descent. It is like the place chosen by a bohemian of Kiev to live, where poets and artists lived, a luck of Montmarte. In the same line is Sharing, in the upper part of the city. Here the buildings are smaller, more colorful and picturesque. The streets are narrow and it is ideal for a leisurely stroll.

So far you have the five most touristic places in Kiev, which you cannot miss on a first visit. Of course it is not the only thing that the capital of Ukraine offers, there are more museums, neighborhoods and attractions. There are even some out of the ordinary attractions so if you have time write down these names and indications:

  • Chernobyl Ukrainian National Museum: Kiev is only 100 kilometers from the nuclear power plant. Outside you will see an ambulance, military jeeps and a tank. The driveway is a stairway lined with signs with the names of all the villages that were affected by the 1986 nuclear accident. It is a small museum. It is located at 29 Khoryva Street and is open from Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Sundays and the last Monday of each month.
  • Golden Gate of Kiev: is a medieval gate rebuilt that was once one of the entrance to the city. The original was from 1037 and in 1982 the city completed its first 1500 years of history so it was restored then. The construction was somewhat controversial because it was not well known what it was originally like, but in the end this brick and wood structure that is on Volodymyrska Street remained.
  • La Arsenalna metro station: is the World's deepest built subway station. About 105.5 meters deep! The escalator is phenomenal and going up and down takes a long five minutes, and in fact to get to the platform you have to combine several. It was built in the '60s.

Well, you know, you have a lot to see in Kiev between the most traditional from a tourist point of view and the rarest. A little and a little can make your visit unforgettable.


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