City: Kiev
Top Things to do in Kiev
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The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Kiev, Ukraine
Having survived the Mongol Empire, WWII, Chernobyl, and Soviet rule, Kiev is the proud capital of the Ukraine. Filled with theaters, museums, religious sites, modern buildings and ancient ruins, the city of Kiev is the center of Ukrainian culture. The Monastery of the Caves, founded in 1015, and Saint Sophia Cathedral, founded in 1037, are both World Heritage Sites. The Museum of the Great Patriotic War, topped by the massive Motherland Statue, provides gorgeous views of the city below.
Restaurants in Kiev
1. St. Cyril's Monastery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 134 reviews
Reviewed By jamesgN5262FD
It's a bit far from central Kiev, but can be reached through a walk through Babi Yar. Babi Yar is a beautiful park with a dark history. It's about a 30min walk through the park from metro to St Cyril's. Make sure you find the correct entrance - just walk around the wall until you find it, it's there. The frescos are absolutely amazing and vividly colored. You cab even go to the choir balcony and look down. There is a particularly moving fresco up there of the transmission of the holy ghost. The cashier lady was kind and spoke English. The attendant inside did not speak English, but was very helpful and turned all these lights on to help better see the frescos.
2. Saint Sophia Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,278 reviews
The cathedral was built over nine centuries and is a great example of Byzantine and Ukrainian Baroque architecture. The interior contains mosaics and frescoes dating back to the 11th century.
3. The Holy Dormition Kyiv Caves Lavra
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,739 reviews
Built by Kiev monks back in 1051, this striking building is the most holy place in the Ukraine. The caves on the property serve as burial grounds for monks.
Reviewed By timfH8872SN - Alpharetta, United States
This is not just a nice old cathedral. This is a HUGE complex of several cathedrals, chapels, dormitories for monks, and CAVES !! It's actually called the Monastery above the caves. It's about 1,000 years old, started by a couple of monks who lived in the caves along the Dnipro river, and it grew into this HUGE monastery complex that will take you ALL DAY to walk around and still only see half of it ! You can even go through tours of the many caves that are under it, where the monks used to live and do whatever monks do. The Cathedrals are ornate beyond belief....the carvings, the gold leaf, the size.....is incredible and breathtaking. I wasn't really excited about going to it, but my friend insisted, and I am very happy I went. It is called the Vatican of Eastern Europe, but I think it is bigger ! You won't believe this place. It is not boring. We saw a wedding being performed, monks walking around, etc. Also, the cafe is nice and a good place to try some authentic Borscht.
4. Rodina Mat (Motherland)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,107 reviews
Reviewed By UKRob - Lingfield, United Kingdom
Take a walk passed all the Soviet era military vehicles to this huge impressive statue. The second World Monuments next to the statue are impressive.
5. Andreyevskiy Spusk
6. Khreshchatyk
7. Maidan Nezalezhnosti
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,734 reviews
Reviewed By Nickkim13 - Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine
Walking around independence square sad history of 2014 so many died for freedom nice to talk to the locals very friendly people ???????????????????????? plenty of very different restaurants near bye ???????????? plus shopping mall and o' Brian pub just up the road ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
8. National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War
9. Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 370 reviews
Reviewed By MayorKiev - Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine
Old Soviet civil and military aircrafts. Soviet/Russians Helicopters and Fighters, also passenger aircraft Designed by Soviet Design Bureau in Kiev by famous Russian aircraft designer - Oleg Antonov, who was born in Russia and was native Russian. The elite of the Russian and Soviet aviation engineering school! Kiev is an old Russian city, until 1917 it was a Russian provincial city in the Kiev province of the Russian Empire. In the 20th century, famous Russian aircraft designers - Igor Sikorsky, Sergey Korolev, lived and worked in Russian Kiev. Igor Sikorsky created the famous bombers "Russian Knight" and "Ilya Muromets". The successes of Russian and then Soviet aviation were possible thanks to the strong Engineering School which was created by the famous Russian scientists Zhukovsky and Chaplygin and the first aircraft creator in Russia and the World - Rear-Admiral of Russia Alexander Mozhayskiy.This museum is based on the former military airfield of the Soviet Kiev Higher Military Aviation Engineering Institute, which graduated aircraft's engineers for the Air force of the USSR.
10. St Michael's Golden Domed Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,535 reviews
Reviewed By 477margaretb - St Martin / St Maarten, Caribbean
Well worth a visit- lovely blue with golden domes, slightly flying buttresses and detailed colorful paintings of saints adorn the outside. The inside is quite ornate but rather busy.
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