Visit Kiev Ukraine: Top 5 Attractions

Kiev is the lively capital and largest city in Ukraine, greedily taking up both banks of the Dnieper River. Three million people call this fusion of ancient and modern architecture home. Kiev’s beautiful cathedrals and monasteries spill out onto cobblestone streets and abundant green spaces and parks. Although many buildings were destroyed during the Communist occupation, some of Ukraine’s stunning architecture was spared and serve as a testament to the city’s fierce tenacity.

First known in the 5^th century as Kievan Rus, Kiev – or Kyiv – reached its greatest period of prosperity during the 11th and 12th centuries when it was a major trade route between the Baltic and the Mediterranean. Below are the top 5 reasons to visit Kiev.

Disclaimer: Since the publishing of this article, Ukraine is at war with Russia and not safe.

1. St. Sophia Cathedral

Named after the great Hagia Sofia in Istanbul, St. Sophia was the first UNESCO World Heritage site in Ukraine, and one of the city’s landmarks. In addition to the stunning green and gold-domed cathedral, the complex also includes a bell tower and the House of Metropolitan.

Centuries before the Czars, Kiev was the center of Slavic spirituality. Construction of the Byzantine cathedral, the oldest church in Kiev, first began around 1037 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise, but the cathedral took two decades to complete. St. Sophia is where the princes were crowned in Kiev’s heyday and was the burial place of the Kievan rulers.

Controversy has surrounded the church in modern times, with different religious factions laying claim to it. In 1995, a bloody riot around the funeral of Patriarch Volodymyr prevented the burial on the premises. As a consequence of this incident, the church no longer holds services, but offers the public a secular museum of Byzantine history and architecture.

2 Pechersk Lavra

The 11^th century UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Seven Wonders of Ukraine, Pechersk Lavra ( a.k.a the Monastery of the Caves) is a highlight of Kiev and should not be missed. The extensive sacred grounds hold cathedrals, chapels, monasteries, catacombs, caves, and a bell tower.

The site includes a labyrinth of narrow catacombs containing open coffins displaying mummified bodies of monks who once lived on the premises.

Pace yourself and climb to the top of the bell tower! You’ll be well-rewarded with a panoramic view and great selfie opportunity with the brilliant gold domes of the Dormition Cathedral and Dnieper River in the background.

“Let’s try to ring the bell!” said Alison, my travel companion. Well, we gave it a good try!

3 Mezhyhirya Residence

The Mezhyhirya Palace, also known by locals as “the Museum of Corruption,” is the palace where former President Viktor Yanukovych lived from 2002 to 2014. Yanukovych’s outrageously decadent estate was originally founded as a monastery where it remained until 1923 when it was closed the Bolsheviks following the establishment of the Soviet Union.

Now, the estate is a state-owned museum, opened to the public in 2014 as a tangible testament to the excessive, lavish lifestyle of the former president. Yanukovich fled to Russia during the Maidan Revolution in 2014. After he vacated the palace, the Activists of Automaidan took care of the residence and prevented it from being looted until it was turned it into a public park, owned by the state.

The estate encompasses over 350 acres of artificial lakes and lush gardens on the banks of the Dnieper River.

4 Traditional Food

Varenyky, also called pierogis in some regions of Western Ukraine, are traditional dough dumplings filled with mashed potatoes and fried onions, minced meat, or pickled cabbage. They can also be filled with fruit such as cherries and served with sour cream and honey as a dessert.

If you like, you can take a cooking class in Kiev to learn how to make varenyky. First, dough is made from flour, salt, butter, and evaporated milk, kneaded and formed into a ball which is rested for 30 minutes. The dough is then rolled out into a thin, flat layer from which 3-inch circles are cut.

We put pre-boiled sour cherries in the middle, folded the dough in half, and then pressed the edges. The stuffed pastries were boiled for a few minutes and served hot. A delicious and fun experience!

5 Chernobyl

Without a doubt, the most memorable part of my visit to Kiev was visiting Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. With an approved guide, we were allowed to tour the Exclusion Zone which includes the nearby ghost town, Pripyat.

“The radiation here is less than you received on your flight 10,000 miles high, from the U.S.” said Nazar, our guide. He had a hand-held Geiger counter with him at all times and frequently took readings to assure us.

Before the 1986 nuclear catastrophe, Pripyat was the pride and joy of Ukraine which had high hopes for duplicating the success in other cities. Pripyat’s 50,000 residents reportedly enjoyed an income 40% higher than the rest of Ukraine because of the nuclear facility. Tragically, the city wasn’t evacuated until two days after the disaster.

Some of the sites we toured were the abandoned amusement park, hotel, schools, and government buildings. As broken stained glass crunched beneath my feet and I had to sidestep puddles of standing water and other debris, I could not help but marvel that we’d never have access to such a place in highly-regulated America.

Chernobyl affected me deeply, especially the kindergarten. To this day, the images of the cribs, disheveled books, and ruined dolls are accompanied with the stinging of tears in the back of my eyes.

Click here to read my full guide to visiting Chernobyl.

Safety

Yes, Ukraine is safe, as long as you stay away from Crimea in the far eastern part of the country, where there is an ongoing territorial dispute with Russia. The U.S. Department of State has issued a warning for U.S. citizens to defer all travel to Crimean peninsula, but there are no restrictions at all for Kiev or other beautiful cities like Odessa and Lviv.

NOTE: Since the publishing of this article, Ukraine is at war with Russia and not safe.

If You Go

Ukrainians are friendly and welcoming, but most don’t speak English, although this is starting to change with the young. And then there’s the wholly unfamiliar Cyrillic alphabet. These are things to consider when planning a trip to Ukraine.

5 Reasons to Visit Kiev originally published in Getting on Travel.

About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.