You carefully plan your trip to Kiev, surf the Internet to learn about the best sights of Kiev, restaurants and nightclubs, and think how best to plan your stay, what to see and where to go ... You pack your new camera to make beautiful pictures of golden domes, Kreschatik street and Kiev parks ... You think what to wear and check the weather forecast for the days of your visit ... In a few days or weeks you will enter another world with smiling people, ancient brick streets , monuments and cathedrals ...
Brief facts:
Status: capital of Ukraine
Number of regions: 10
Foundation Date: fifth century of our era
Area: 839 km2
Height: 179 m above sea level
Geographical coordinates: latitude 50 ° 27 N; longitude 30 ° 30
Climate: temperate continental with mild winters and warm summers
Temperature: the average temperature in Kiev in January is 6 degrees below zero Celsius, the average in June is 20 degrees above zero Celsius; the lowest winter temperature is 25 degrees below zero Celsius; The highest summer temperature is 32 degrees above zero Celsius.
Population: 2.6 million (2005)
Density: 3178 people / km2
Car code: A.A.
Telephone code: +380 44
Mayor of Kiev: Leonid Chernovetsky (since 2006)
History of Kiev
Legend has it that there was a princely family of three brothers named Kyi, Schek and Khoryv and sister Lybid. Kyu governs the powerful Slavic tribe and is looking for a place to settle a new home for his people. When they approached the beautiful hills on the Dnieper River and saw a beautiful panorama of the blue river and seven hills covered with chestnuts, they really liked this place and decided to settle there. They founded the city and baked his name Kiev in honor of their elder brother Kyi more than 1,500 years ago. Prince Ky and his family lived on one hill, Schek settled on another hill, which received Shchekavitsa’s mane, and Khoryv settled on the third hill called Horevitsa.
From 882, Kiev became the capital of an ancient strong state, called Kievan Rus. In 998, the Kiev Prince Vladimir introduced Christianity in Kievan Rus, baptizing the Kiev population on the Dnieper River. In 1240 the city was destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars, who invaded Kievan Rus, and then were rebuilt. Since 1362, Kiev and most of Ukraine belonged to Lithuania and Poland, and in 1654 it became part of the Russian Empire, and then the USSR.
In 1991, the people of Ukraine voted for the independence of Ukraine, and Kiev became its capital. Since then, it has been the center of the political, economic, and cultural life of Ukraine.
In November 2004, Kiev became the center of the Orange Revolution, when hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians protested against election fraud on the streets, and then elected another ruling party and President of Ukraine.
Accommodation in Kiev
Most visitors in Kiev prefer accommodation in apartments or hotels. Kiev hotels provide security and a certain level of service depending on their level (three-star, four-star, five-star), apartments in Kiev provide greater privacy and flexibility. A room in Kiev will cost $ 100-130 per night, and a one-room apartment with all the amenities will cost $ 40-60 depending on its location, location and additional amenities, such as a jacuzzi, home theater, etc.
Sights of Kiev
I recommend you visit:
Golden Gate of Kiev - The ancient gate to Kiev, which is now located in the very center, is made of wood and stone with a small golden dome above
Sophia Cathedral - one of the most beautiful Kiev cathedrals with a bell tower and chestnuts around the cathedral
St. Michael's Cathedral - a recently restored cathedral with beautiful blue walls, ornaments and large golden domes
St. Vladimir's Cathedral - the cathedral in the center of Kiev, where official Orthodox religious ceremonies are held
St. Andrew’s Church and St. Andrew’s Descent (St. Andrew’s Descent) - a popular place with tourists with numerous souvenir stalls, old brick slopes, art galleries and museums
Kiev cave monastery (Lavra) - An ancient monastery, where you can see the caves, where monks lived in ancient times, several churches and the largest bell tower in Kiev
Russian Art Museum and Ukrainian Art Museum - art experts will be very pleased to see the masterpieces of world art in Kiev museums
Kiev Opera and Ballet Theater - a pleasant experience of listening to live classical music and watching dances
Pirogovskoy ethnic village - an opportunity to see old village houses, windmills and household appliances from different regions of Ukraine
War Museum - You can see there numerous tanks and military aircraft and a giant metal statue of a woman, symbolizing the Motherland
Kiev Botanical Garden - in spring and summer you can see beautiful trees and blooming flowers
Mariinsky Palace - the majestic palace where official government ceremonies take place, it is surrounded by a green park with a panorama of the Dnieper and its left bank
Independence Square - the most central part of Kiev, from which the distances to other cities are calculated, there is a large underground shopping center, a central post office, banks and restaurants
St. Khreshchatyk - the main street in Kiev, where people can walk on the highway on Saturday and Sunday
Vladimirskaya mountain - a park on a hill with a large statue, symbolizing Prince Vladimir with a cross, when he introduced Christianity and baptized Slavic people.
What to wear
If you come to Kiev in the summer, it would be nice to take a summer jacket, jeans and T-shirts, sandals or baskets, and perhaps shorts or a dress for a heat event. In the spring or autumn it is better to take a few warm clothes and a jacket. In winter, you will need a winter coat or a warm jacket, several sweaters, a scarf, gloves and a cap.
If you go inside a church or cathedral, women should cover their heads with a shawl, and men need to take off their hats.
Restaurants in Kiev
To try the delicious Ukrainian cuisine, we recommend the following Kiev restaurants:
Restaurant "Pervak" - average price restaurant, located in 2, Rognedinskaya St. Petersburg. You can taste borscht and dumplings, small pies and various meat and fish dishes. Lunch will cost you about 30-50 US dollars per person depending on the food and drinks you choose.
Restaurant Taras - located in the Shevchenko Park near the large Kiev museums, near the Kiev University. You can order a variety of pancakes, as well as national dishes. Lunch will cost you 35-55 dollars.
USSR Restaurant - located near the Kiev Military Museum and the Kiev-Lavra Monastery in 42/1 Sykhnevo Rebellion St. Petersburg. and decorated with symbols of the USSR. Lunch will cost you 35-55 dollars.
Puzata Hata (Big Bellidge House) A fast-food restaurant that combines original peanut-style interior, delicious Ukrainian cuisine, a huge selection of dishes and low prices. It is located in the center, st. Basseynaya, 1 / 2a, at the beginning of Khreshchatyk. Here you can try traditional Ukrainian pampushkas, chicken Kiev, various salads and main dishes. On the ground floor, you can also choose one of the many cakes and even order fresh juice. The cost of lunch is 3-10 US dollars per person.
Zodorovenky Buly (good health for you)
This is a very popular fast-food restaurant, located near the Khreshchatyk metro station, which probably has the largest selection of various products: salad bar, pancakes, dumplings, pizzas, soups, delicious desserts. Its comfortable rooms are decorated in different styles: Chinese, Indian, Egyptian and Greek. There is also a tea bar with cakes, where you can sit and talk. Dinner: 3-10 US dollars per person.
Ukrainian souvenirs
You can buy various Ukrainian souvenirs on Andrew’s Descent (Andrew’s Descent): embroidered towels, nesting dolls, wooden signs and eggs, glass souvenirs, dolls in national clothes, paintings and clothing. In Kiev's central magazine (Tsum) there is a souvenir section located in Khreshchatyk and a souvenir shop near the St. Sophia Cathedral.
