Kiev Guide.
Feel the unique character of
this ancient and forever young city.

To write a short Kiev guide is actually an idea which can confuse anybody. During its 1,500 history Kiev accumulated so many treasures that every time you visit Ukraine capital you discover something completely new for you. Cities are like people. Each of them has its unique character and charm. You have to see Kiev with your own eyes to feel its unforgettable beauty.

Kiev is an extraordinary city. Perhaps there are no too many cities in the world which would have so many historical and cultural monuments like Kiev has: churches, theaters, museums, monuments, concert halls, and so on. The same old story again - so many places to see, but so little time. Let's do one step at a time. This page of our Kiev guide is about its downtown.

The central part of Kiev is the oldest, most visited by tourists, and perhaps the most interesting part of Ukraine capital. It is impossible for any Kiev guide to miss this place.

Let's take a stroll under the huge chestnut trees that line the streets. We will start at Bessarabska Square (closest metro: Teatralna). This is the very end of the Khreschatyk street - the most famous and one of the busiest Kiev's streets.

Khreschatyk street is much younger than Kiev itself. The first buildings appeared there at the end of the 18th century. It used to be one of the favorite hunting places of Kiev princes. It has always been the place of the popular stores and restaurants, the freshest news and active social life.

The entire street was completely destroyed during World War II by the retreating Red Army and rebuilt in the neo-classical style of post-war Stalinist architecture that rises sheer like carved canyon walls. The street is closed for auto traffic on weekends that makes it a large outdoor party place. Thousands of people have a good time in nearby restaurants, clubs and outdoor cafes.

I guess that any decent Kiev guide would suggest you to visit the Bessarabsky central covered market built in 1910 - 1912, which is located here. It has a large selection of fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, seafood, fish, caviar, spices and fresh flowers. You can make a great breakfast while shopping there. None store can compete with their variety and prices.

Market is certainly worth a visit even if you don't like shopping. It is a lot of fun and will make your Kiev experience unique. The market is opened from 8am to 7pm. If shopping at the market, bring some bags as more vendors won't supply you with any.

After you leave the market, walk up Taras Shevchenko Boulevard. At the junction of Khreshchatyk and Taras Shevchenko Boulevard one of Kiev's few remaining Lenin statues is located.

About a 5 minute walk from Khreschatik there is a park named after the famous Ukrainian poet and artist Taras Shevchenko. Across the street facing directly onto the Taras Shevchenko Statue you will see the beautiful red building of the Kiev Taras Shevchenko National University.

Take a right onto Volodymyrskaya Street. I guess that any Kiev guide would agree that none of Kiev's streets has as many historical and cultural monuments as Volodymyrskaya Street has. On this street can be found:

• The Taras Shevchenko University.
• The Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet House.
• The Golden Gate.
• The Saint Sofia Cathedral.
• The National Museum of Ukrainian History.

Having crossed Bohdan Khmelnytsky Street, you'll find yourself in front of the Taras Shevchenko State Opera and Ballet Theater. The theater was built during 1898 - 1901 according to the project of the architect V. A. Shreteron on the site of the pre-revolutionary municipal theater which was burned down in 1896.

The building of the theater is noted for the great acoustics of its auditorium. Cane and slabs of cork-tree were set in the walls to aim such effect. In the 1980s the vast reconstruction works were carried out at the theater. As the result the exterior and the interior of the ancient building were renovated, and the theater was supplied with the latest equipment.

Much of the theater's creative efforts are concentrated on productions of classical Ukrainian and Russian operas and ballets. Ukrainian opera singers and ballet dancers are and always have been among the most talented in the world. They are to be found performing now in many ballet and opera companies of the world.

Information about theater's plays can be found at the National Opera and Ballet Theater official website. Ticket prices range from 5 to 50 Hryvnia ($1.00 to $10.00) per performance and are available at the ticket box near the theater office (Phone: 234-7165) or from ticket outlets located throughout the city and shopping malls.

Passing the Opera Theater, after a couple of blocks you'll reach the Golden Gate, a reconstruction of the historic gateway in the ancient city walls of Kiev. This gateway was constructed by Yaroslav the Wise, Prince of Kiev, in the mid-eleventh century. In 1240 the Golden Gate was partially destroyed by Batu Khan's Golden Horde. Through the years it gradually fell into ruins.

In 1832 the ruins were excavated and an initial survey for their conservation was undertaken. In the 1970s an adjacent pavilion, housing a museum of the gate was added. In 1982, the gate was completely reconstructed for the 1500th anniversary of Kiev. Although there is no solid evidence as to what the original gates looked like.

Keep going along Volodymyrska and you you'll get to Sophievskaya Square. The Square has been considered to be public and trade-economical center of Kiev since the period of Yaroslav’s the Wise reign (1019-1054). There is the equestrian monument to B. Khmelnytsky in the middle. This monument is a peculiar emblem of Kiev.

Next to the monument the impressive 250ft campanile is located. Behind the white wall shining in the sun the golden domes of St. Sophia’s Cathedral can be seen. The complex now remains a museum of Ukraine's Christianity. More about the Cathedral of Saint Sophia you can read at Kiev Churches page.

Once you leave St.Sophia's Cathedral, go to the monument to B. Khmelnytsky and look around. You will see a lot of golden domes not too far (3 blocks away) from the monument. Those domes belong to St. Michael's Golden Domed Cathedral. More about St.Michael's Cathedral you will find at Kiev churches page.

If you are not very tired, you can continue your way to European Square. This is a place where Khreschatyk street begins. Two more streets - Vladymyrsky Decent to Podil area and Grushevsky street meet each other here. Another choice to reach European Square is "Khreschatyk" or "Maidan Nezalezhnosty" metro stations.

There are two interesting buildings located in European Square. The big building made of glass and light marble is "The Ukrainian House". It always has a lot of exhibitions, concerts, cultural and business meetings. On the opposite side of the Square you will see the Kiev Philharmonic known for the finest recordings and concerts in every major city in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Two famous Kiev Monuments - Volodymyr the Great's Monument and The Friendship Arch can be reached from the European Square.

One block west from the European Square the city's main square and one of the most popular places for meetings and dates Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosty) is located. Always full of life, crowds of people, and different actions.

Now your Kiev guide invites yo to find more quiet place. Let's go up to Architect Horodetsky street pass the Kiev Conservatory building, the famous Ukrainian theater named after Ivan Franko and continue up to Bankova Street.

Kiev guide.
Horodetsky Building.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org

Building #10 on Bankova street is the famous Horodetsky Building. Perhaps any Kiev guide will tell you some scary legend about this building. It was built by the well known architect and extravagant person Vladislav Horodetsky, as a private residence in 1902.

The walls and the roof of the structure are decorated with intricate sculptural ornaments of mythological and hunting themes. There is an art gallery "Ukraine" in this building. Even if you are not going to buy anything there, it is certainly worth a visit. Interior of the building is as much whimsical as its exterior part.

Now it is time to visit Andriyivsky Uzviz (Decent)- the shortest route between the aristocratic Upper Town and the tradesmen's town, Podil. Your Kiev guide suggests you to go back to Khreschatyk street and take a metro ride to "Pochtovaya Square" station. Right by the metro exit you will see the funicular (cable car) station. Take a short (about two minutes) ride and enjoy a magnificent panorama of Kiev and the Dnipro River that uncovers from the funicular.

Andriyivsky Uzviz starts right behind the Historical Museum located at 2, Vladymyrskaya st. Open daily from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. Wednesday - day off. Phone: 228-65-45.

At the very top of Andriyivsky Descent you will see St. Andrew's Cathedral. From the Cathedral a steep Andriyivsky Descent runs down to Podil. The street has some special spirit. It lined with galleries, antiques stores and artist studios in late 19th-century brick buildings. The street is usually crowded. Especially on weekends.

From the early morning numerous artists hang their pictures, sculptures, souvenirs on the walls, arrange them on the shelves or just on the lawns. You can watch improvised performances given by actors, musicians, poets or other people posing for artists. Certainly there are a lot of talented people over there.

Halfway down the street is the house where a Russian novelist and playwright Mikhail Bulgakov grew up. It is now the Mikhail Bulgakov museum. Bulgakov's best known novels are "The Master and Margarita", "The White Guard", "Heart of a Dog".

Our downtown Kiev excursion is over. You worked hard during the day and deserved a good rest at some pleasant outdoor place if the weather is fine. If the weather’s poor, Kiev has a lot of activities to offer: theaters, concert halls, night clubs, restaurants, and etc.

This page took you through many interesting places. But as I mentioned at the beginning of this short Kiev guide, the city has extremely reach historical and cultural past. You have to spend days in Kiev to visit at least the most interesting part of it. You will find more pages added as I built this site.

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