by Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0 

A Thousand-Year History at the Crossroads of Europe and Asia

A. About Kiev

Nickname: Northern Rome

Founded in the fifth century, the beautiful and underrated city of Kiev (or Kyiv) is the capital of Ukraine, situated on the Dnieper River, which naturally divides Kiev into the Right Bank and the Left Bank areas.

💣Due to the tragic war in Ukraine our score sadly no longer reflects reality.  

We will keep hoping the country will soon have back its former glory. We keep Kiev unchanged on our list as a sign of our hope for peace 🕊!

Best Things to do in Kiev

The Good

Kiev is extremely affordable, holds an abundance of great sights, and scores over 5/10 in all other categories as one of the very few cities on our list (the others being Istanbul, Budapest, Krakow).

➖ Negative Aspects

The only considerable weakness still is safety.


B. Best Things to Do in Kiev (Detailed List with Photos and Information)

In total, we count more than forty sights in Kiev. The following sights and attractions contribute to a score of 6.70/10 in this highly important category:

# ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL 7 3.6 out of 5 stars

Now being a museum, Kiev's beautiful 11th-century cathedral features well-preserved Byzantine-style mosaics and frescoes, elegant gold domes, and a 76 m-tall wedding-cake bell tower well worth climbing.

Cathedral | Viewpoint World Heritage Site: since 1990

by Francisco Anzola / CC BY-SA 3.0

# KYIV PECHERSK LAVRA 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

This beautiful complex of various beautiful churches with gorgeous, golden domes, eerie underground labyrinths, and the Bell Tower of Dormition Catedral providing wonderful views, was built from 1073 to 1089.

Caves and Orthodox Christian Monastery | Viewpoint World Heritage Site: since 1990

by Віктор Полянко / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Steeped in history and culture, Kiev's huge and lively central square features the iconic Independence Column, beautiful fountains (with a popular nightly show), and an awesome underground mall.

Square

by Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0

 

# St. Michael's Cathedral 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Located opposite St. Sophia’s Cathedral, this functioning golden-domed monastery on the banks of the Dnieper River is a faithful reconstruction (2000) of the original (1108), which was torn down by the Soviets in 1937 for having “no historical value.”

Cathedral 

by Norbert Aepli / CC BY-SA 3.0

 

# Rodina Mat (Motherland Monument) 6 3.1 out of 5 stars

Sixty-two meters (203 ft) in height, this monumental stainless-steel statue of a woman with a shield and a sword stands proudly as a symbol of the victory of the Soviet Union against Nazi Germany. You can go up to the observation deck at the height of the shield to enjoy a breathtaking view of Kyiv. 

Statue | Museum | Viewpoint Height: 62 m / 203 ft; Construction: 1979–1981

Pedro J Pacheco / CC BY-SA 4.0

# Andriyivskyy Descent and St. Andrew's Church 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Known as "the Montmartre of Kiev", the picturesque and steep cobblestone Andriyivskyy Descent connects the top of Andriyivska Hill with the gorgeous Baroque Saint Andrew’s Church and the Lower City.

Street and Church

Valerii Tkachenko / CC BY-SA 2.0

 

# Golden Gate 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Despite its name not being golden at all, this unique legendary wood, stone, and brick structure was reconstructed in 1982 based on archaeological excavations. It is possible to climb to the observation deck as well as visit the Church of the Annunciation.

Gate | Museum | Church | Viewpoint Total Height: 10.5 m / 34 ft] | Width: 32 m / 105 ft

by George Chernilevsky / Public domain

 

# National Opera House of Ukraine 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Established in the summer of 1867, this elegant Neo-Renaissance building is home to the prestigious Taras Shevchenko National Opera Theatre.

Opera House

by Andrew Bossi/ CC BY-SA 2.0

 

# Khreshchatyk Street 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Stretching across 1.2 kilometers, this tree-lined boulevard is the main shopping street in Kiev. During the weekends and public holidays, the area is closed to traffic.

Shopping Street

by Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0

# National Museum of Ukrainian Architecture and Culture 5 2.7 out of 5 stars

Considered the largest open-air museum in Europe, the beautiful National Museum of Ukrainian Architecture and Culture features over two hundred traditional Ukrainian buildings.

Open-Air Museum Established: 1969 | Surface: 1.49 km2 / 370 acres | Buildings: 300

by Uk-Kamelot / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scoring and Icons Legend (Click here for detailed information)

10 = top-10 sight in the world

9 = world-class  

8 = outstanding

7 = excellent 

6 = impressive

5 = interesting

4 = decent

3 = mediocre

2 = bad

1 = abysmal

= World Heritage Site

= Excursion


C. Other Notable Sights and Attractions in Kiev

    • St. Volodymyr's Cathedral 5
    • Kiev City Hall 5
    • St. Cyril's Monastery 5
    • Mikhail Bulgakov Museum 5
    • National Art Museum of Ukraine 5
    • Arka Dryzhba Narodiv (‘People’s Friendship Arch’) and Mariynskiy Park 5
    • Dnieper Quay 5
    • Museum of Miniatures 5

D. Best Day Trips and Excursions from Kiev

 Mezhyhirya Residence Museum (24 km from Kiev) 5

Museum

Chernobyl (134 km from Kiev) 5

Exclusion Zone


E. Top 10 List of the Best Things to Do in Kiev (including close-by excursions)

To sum things up, these are the ten best sights we recommend to you when visiting Kiev for at least three entire days:

ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL 7

KYIV PECHERSK LAVRA 6

Independence Square 6

St. Michael's Cathedral 6

Rodina Mat (Motherland Monument) 6

Andriyivskyy Descent and St. Andrew's Church 6

GOLDEN GATE 5

National Opera House of Ukraine 5

Khreshchatyk Street 5

National Museum of Ukrainian Architecture and Culture 5