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Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in eastern Europe, it’s charming, full of history and it’s cheap. As the capital of Ukraine it’s full of fascinating soviet architecture and has much fewer visitors than other European capitals. The old town is packed with stunning churches, cathedrals and cobbled streets. Kyiv is also home to TWO UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
So if you crave escaping the crowded city streets and yearn to explore a quieter and budget friendly European city, Kyiv is for you!
The Ukrainian capital is ideal for those looking for a weekend city break. It’s easily accessed, has good transport systems and plenty of culture and sights to see. The helpful and informative guide below includes travel tips, FAQ’s and an itinerary so you can see Kyiv in 2 days!
Fun Fact: Kyiv is so green and full of trees that it’s been said that you can walk from one end of Kyiv to the other without ever leaving the shade!
If you haven’t been, then Kyiv is definitely worth visiting! It’s a fascinating and historical European city, full of incredible and colourful architecture. The capital’s soviet past is still evident but it is now evolving into a modern, creative and diverse city.
Kyiv is often used as a base by tourists visiting Chernobyl, the site of a terrible nuclear disaster in 1986.
Most visitors are able to see Kyiv in 2 days, some spend 4, which is more than long enough to see key tourist attractions and absorb local culture. There can be a lot of walking involved so for a more relaxed sightseeing experience, spread sights over multiple days.
We managed to see most of Kyiv in 2 days and added an extra day on to visit Chernobyl.
From the UK, generally a return flight to Kyiv will cost between £40-80 dependant on the time of year. In January 2020 we paid £50, this didn’t include hold luggage. Skyscanner has always been our go to when booking flights as it’s so easy to navigate and use. You can also book flights through Expedia and Hotels.com to easily combine booking your hotel and flights.
There are plenty of hotels and hostels to stay in at Kyiv. If you’d prefer to have kitchen facilities Airbnb is a good option. Stay central if you plan on walking to most of the sights!
In January 2020 we stayed in the budget friendly Hotel Ukraine. Located in the heart of the city, it looks onto the iconic Independence Square and into Kyiv’s Old Town. The traditional yet a little dated Soviet decor adds character and charm to the building, transporting you back to the 1970’s. A former State Hotel, it was originally named “Hotel Moscow” and was built in 1961 to be used by prominent members of the Communist Party.
Not only is it a piece of Soviet history but it has incredible views from the balcony rooms and excellent transport links. The buffet breakfast is served in a stunning ballroom with huge windows overlooking Independence Square.
We paid £130 for 3 nights in January 2020, for a double room with a balcony including breakfast for two. Pretty good value!
Top Tip: We booked through hotels.com, which when logged in you can earn special discounts and take part in their rewards scheme (Book 10 nights and get 1 reward night)
A weekend away in Kyiv is a great way to fit an affordable cultural break into a busy work schedule. Below is a two day Kyiv itinerary, however if you also want to visit Chernobyl be sure to add a day on or be willing to miss out a few of the top sights!
Pecherska Lavra
St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery & St. Sophia’s Cathedral
Kyiv’s ‘Secret’ Restaurant
Independence Square
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The first stop on the Kyiv weekend itinerary is Pecherska Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, abundant with gold domed churches. Founded in 1051, it’s both a sacred historical site and one of considerable religious significance. The site is split into two sections, the Upper and Lower Lavra. The Upper is above ground, it’s main attraction being the 96 metre high Bell Tower which offers panoramic views over the capital. The Lower is below ground and is made up of a labyrinth of caves displaying religious artifacts and mummified monks.
Fun Fact: During WW2 it was reported that German troops tried to remove the mummified monks from the caves. They intended on disposing of them in the nearby river, but when they loaded them onto their trucks, they wouldn’t start, so they gave up.
We were charged 80 UAH (£2.30) which gave us entry to the Upper Lavra and Bell Tower, the Lower Lavra is FREE.
Top Tip: There isn’t much in the way of cafes and food around Pecherska Lavra, so either pick up something on the way or pack snacks.
Having spent the morning absorbing the detailed architecture and golden domes at Pecherska Lavra it’s time to explore Kyiv’s Old Town. Stationed at either end of a wide cobbled street are St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery and St. Sophia’s Cathedral. The architectural wonders were founded in the early middle ages, between the 11th and 12th century. Sadly, St Michael’s was rebuilt in 1999 after being destroyed by Soviets in the 1930’s. St Sophia’s Cathedral is the second and only other UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyiv.
Entry to the grounds at St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery is FREE whilst St Sophia’s costs 20 UAH to enter the grounds and another 60 UAH to go up the bell tower. If budget is tight you can just explore the grounds or walk around the outer wall.
It’s a 45-50 minute walk through the city alongside the river or a 28 minute bus journey. We prefer walking, it’s a way to see more of Kyiv in 2 days!
Hidden beneath Independence Square is the covert and futuristic restaurant, Ostannya Barykada (Last Barricade). It’s completely unadvertised and passers-by are oblivious to the clandestine eatery above or below them. To access the hidden gem you must first enter a lift pressing a disguised button. Once in the ‘bar’ you give a secret passcode to the ‘bartender’ (found by scanning the enormous QR code). You then pass through the first secret door then a second hidden in a wall of hands.
Their homemade fruit teas are delicious and thick, almost like a hot smoothie (59 UAH = £1.70). For starters we ordered the traditional Ukrainian Borscht, a sour red soup (79 UAH=£2.30) which was really tasty. Then for mains Eve had the Chicken with honey sauce (148 UAH=£4.30) and Nick had Stewed Young Goat Meat (199 UAH=£5.80) which practically fell off the bone. We also ordered a side of fried potatoes with mushrooms (79 UHA = £2.30). This was definitely too much, and we have bottomless pits for stomachs!
Top Tip: It can get busy so if you plan on going peak time it might be worth booking a table in advance. We visited mid afternoon for a late lunch and had no problem walking straight in.
Finish the day off in Independence Square, also known as Maidan Nezalezhnosti. It’s the central square in Kyiv and is beautifully lit at night. Locals gather with friends and street performers play music, it’s great atmosphere to end the evening with.
Fun Fact: Independence Square is known for being the centre of the capitals political rallies. Since the EuroMaidan protests in 2013 peaceful demonstrations and displays such as Christmas markets have now been moved as to not disrespect the dead. See before and after photos of the devastated square here.
Arsenalna Station
Motherland Monument
Museum of the Great Patriotic War
People’s Friendship Arch
Chicken Kyiv
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Start the day off with a trip to the World’s Deepest Metro Station! At 105.5 meters below ground it takes around 5 minutes to journey between platform and surface.
Dependant on where you’re staying get on a metro to alight at Arsenalna Station, from here it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the next sight. Tickets (which are actually small plastic tokens) can be easily purchased at kiosks or you can use contactless to tap in and out (very much like the London Underground).
A one way ticket will cost you 8 UAH (the equivalent to £0.24)
We have a thing for world’s top travel systems, in Hong Kong we rode the world’s longest outdoor escalator!
The next stop on our 2 day Itinerary is the controversial Motherland Monument. Towering over Kyiv’s skyline it’s one of the cities most popular sights. It was built in 1981 to celebrate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany, however, many Ukrainians now believe it should be pulled down. The overall structure is 102 meters tall, ranking 25th in the world’s tallest statues, in comparison, the Statue of Liberty only ranks 49th!
Fun Fact: In 2015 Ukraine outlawed Soviet and Communist symbols and monuments, however WW2 monuments are exempt. In 2018 there was a motion, according to the 2015 decommunization laws, to remove the Soviet Union emblem from the monuments shield. In spite of this though it still remains intact today.
Built into the base of the iconic Motherland Monument is Kyiv’s Museum of the Great Patriotic War. Paying homage to those who fought for Ukraine in WW2, it’s a sombre but informative and memorable experience. The museum also now contains exhibits on Ukraine’s current conflict with Russia which began in 2014. With over 300,000 exhibits displayed in 12 connected spacious halls it’s one of the largest museums in Kyiv. It’s a moving experience and for some, can be overwhelming. You’ll leave with a stronger understanding of what Ukrainians went through during WW2, their Nazi occupation and more about their current conflict with Russia.
Entrance fee: 30 UAH per person (equivalent to £0.88)
Top Tip: There’s a small cafe in the basement for refreshments. Although when we visited in January 2020, the cafe only sold hot drinks and no food but this could’ve been the time of year or day. You’ll be there for several hours so pack some snacks incase!
The People’s Friendship Arch opened in 1982 and was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the USSR. Much like the Motherland Monument there was a motion to dismantle the arch in 2016 due to decommunization laws, but this has yet to happen. The arch stretches 50 meters in diameter and is situated next to a ‘glass’ bridge!
Fun Fact: In November 2018, Ukrainian artists added a sticker to look like a crack in the middle of the arch to represent Russian aggression.
From the museum, the Friendship Arch is a 50 minute walk or a 30 minute bus ride. Walking is a great way to see more of the city, especially when you are trying to see Kyiv in 2 days! The path runs alongside the river and through several parks so is a pleasant walk.
The last stop on our Kyiv itinerary isn’t the famous dish of chicken fillet coated in breadcrumbs. It is in fact a restaurant! This was the best restaurant we ate at whilst in Kyiv, the food was delicious and still incredibly cheap. We stumbled across this gem whilst walking around town and thought the name was comedy genius. This is also a great spot for breakfast if you’re staying nearby!
Fun Fact: Chicken Kiev’s are not actually from Kyiv. They were first created by a Russian chef in the 19th century. But you can find some delicious kiev’s in Kyiv!
When in ‘Chicken Kyiv’ you HAVE to eat Chicken Kyiv!
For mains we had to have the Classic Chicken Kyiv which was served with mashed potato and roasted veg (139 UAH = £4.10). For starters we recommend the Varenyky in a Chicken and Mushroom Sauce (99 UAH = £2.90).
Check out the menu here.
Exploring Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone is a surreal, incredible and memorable experience, one that will stay with you forever. It’s an event that changed history and by visiting you’re preserving memories to pass on to future generations. The experience will grant you a unique perspective on the sheer scale of the disaster that occurred in the early hours of 26th April 1986.
The once bustling town centre of Pripyat is now abandoned, desolate and decaying. Streets are scattered with derelict cars, toys and other everyday items from decades ago, pieces of history now being seized by nature.
There are plenty of single and multi-day tours to Chernobyl. If you’re interested in learning more about Chernobyl and how you can visit the exclusion zone we created a helpful and informative guide! Included in the guide are details on how you can get FREE GIFTS when you book a tour with ChernobylWel.come. We’d really recommend staying that extra night in Kyiv in order to visit Chernobyl, you won’t regret it!
Kyiv is safe from radiation. In fact, you’ll be exposed to more radiation on your flight to Kyiv than whilst you’re actually in Kyiv. Even after the recent fires in the Chernobyl Exclusion zone, radiation levels in Kyiv have not increased.
The weather in Kyiv ranges from hot, dry summers to cloudy and freezing winters. The coldest months are from November through to February where it reaches lows of – 10°C. Winters can be icy, so pack sensible shoes! Peak summer, from June to August, it can reach highs of 35°C.
Top Tip: Layer up in winter, inside museums and shopping centres it’s warm so you’ll want to strip off but outside it feels like your nose could fall off!
Below we’ve included some of the most popular FAQ’s about Kyiv. If you have any other questions, feel free to drop them in the comments below. This’ll also help other readers who might have similar questions!
Kyiv or Kiev? In short, it’s spelt both ways. ‘Kyiv’ is the official translation in Ukrainian and ‘Kiev’ comes from the Russian pronunciation. ‘Kyiv’ is the official and correct spelling according to the Ukrainian Government but ‘Kiev’ is the more recognizable spelling outside of Ukraine. Business Insider have a great article discussing this in more depth.
The best currency to take to Ukraine is Euros, BUT the only currency you can legally use in Ukraine is Ukrainian Hryvnia. It’s a closed currency, so don’t bother trying to get hold of it before your trip. Which is why we said the best currency to take to Ukraine is Euros. When you arrive in Ukraine head straight to the currency exchange. If you’re landing at Kyiv Boryspil the nearest currency exchange is right in front of you as you enter arrivals.
Top Tip: TripAdvisor and other online forums claim that there are currency exchanges on every street corner. This may be true… we must have just missed every street corner because we hardly saw any!
For a trip to Kyiv you should budget 680 Ukrainian Hryvnia (£20) per day. This includes public transport, food and entrance fees to attractions.
If you plan on buying lots of souvenirs then you might want to think about adding extra on.
From our above itinerary you can see that Kyiv is incredibly cheap! We spent less than this each day and were still able to eat wherever we wanted.
Overall Kyiv is safe, it’s much like other European cities, pickpocketing and petty theft still occur so be aware and be sensible. Government advice states you should carry your passport on your person at all times due to police spot checks. We didn’t do this as we felt they were more secure in our hotel safe, but it’s up to you.
There were a lot of teenagers gathering around Independence Square and the shopping centres in the evenings but this seemed more social than anything else. So no need to be worried.
For foreign travel advice check out the government website here.
It is chemically safe to drink the water in Kyiv, however it is widely recommended to boil or filter it before drinking. Even after boiling it can taste quite chemic. To be safe it’s best to buy bottled water from supermarkets for drinking. Tap water is ok to brush your teeth with, we did and had no stomach problems.
Hopefully this guide has inspired you to book a weekend away in Kyiv! If you have any questions or want to tell us about your trip leave us a message in the comments below or get in touch. Don’t forget to like this post below if you enjoyed it! For more travel inspiration and guides click here.
Thanks for reading,
Eve and Nick
*Our posts may contain affiliate links, if you click the link and purchase an item through this you won’t pay a penny more, but we get a small commission which helps keep…
*Our Visiting Chernobyl post may contain affiliate links, if you click the link and purchase an item through this you won’t pay a penny more, but we get a small commission which…