Kiev is a place of big statements – a city of glittering golden church spires and gargantuan Soviet-era tower blocks, set along the banks of the Dnipro River. It has a fair few must-sees, mostly related to the glorious Kyivan Rus past, as well as both charming and disturbingly eclectic architecture. But its main asset is its residents – a merry, tongue-in-cheek and perfectly bilingual lot, who act as one when their freedoms are threatened.

What to do in Kiev for 24h to 48h? 

Places of Interest

Kyevo-Pecherska Lavra

Tourists and Orthodox pilgrims alike flock to the Lavra. Set on 28 hectares of grassy hills above the Dnipro River, the monastery’s cluster of gold-domed churches is a feast for the eyes, the hoard of Scythian gold rivals that of the Hermitage in St Petersburg, and the underground labyrinths lined with mummified monks are exotic and intriguing.

St Sophia’s Cathedral

The interior is the most astounding aspect of Kyiv’s oldest standing church. Many of the mosaics and frescoes are original, dating back to 1017–31. While equally attractive, the building’s gold domes and 76m-tall wedding-cake bell tower are 18th-century baroque additions.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Popularly known as Maidan, the square was the site of pro-independence protests in the 1990s and the Orange Revolution in 2004. But all of that was eclipsed by the Revolution of Dignity in the winter of 2013–14, when the square was transformed into an urban guerrilla camp besieged by government forces. Makeshift memorials to fallen revolutionaries on vul Instytutska serve as a sombre reminder.

St Michael’s Monastery

Looking from St Sophia’s past the Bohdan Khmelnytsky statue, it’s impossible to ignore the gold-domed blue church at the other end of proyizd Volodymyrsky. This is St Michael’s Gold-Domed Monastery, named after Kyiv’s patron saint. As the impossibly shiny cupolas imply, this is a fresh (2001) copy of the original St Michael’s (1108), which was torn down by the Soviets in 1937.

Pinchuk Art Centre

The rotating exhibits at this world-class gallery feature elite names in the world of European contemporary art and design, all financed by billionaire mogul Viktor Pinchuk.

Central Botanical Gardens

The gardens’ fastidiously manicured grounds are criss-crossed by a network of paths leading to hidden viewpoints and churches frozen in time.The botanical gardens are tricky to reach by public transport. Take trolleybus 14 or bus 62 from Pecherska metro to the final stop.

Where to Eat?

Olive

Cost is 150 – 200 UAH
What you should try: Grilled Meals, Osso Buco, Saltimbocca, Pizza with Peaches and Veal and Ravioli

Kafka

Cost is  100 – 150 UAH
What you should try: Coffee 🙂

Imbyr

Cost is 100 – 150 UAH
What you should try: Spinach Cream Soup, Deruny (traditional potato pancakes), Tomato Chutney

GoodMan

Cost is  300 – 600 UAH
What you should try: You should definitely try out there steak.  Well, Ceasar Salad and local Borshch are also delicious.

L’entrecote

Cost is  100 – 150 UAH
What you should try: Smart Menu makes your choice easier! Take their beef, and fries

Where to Shop?

Globus

Globus, located at Independence Square, is one of the best places in the Ukrainian capital to go clothes shopping! There are 192 shops on three levels – two of which are underground. You will find all your favourite brands here; Adidas, MEXX, Esprit, Motor Jeans, Polo Garage, Cacharel, Colin’s and Tommy Hilfiger. There are also shoe shops, jewellery, lingerie, and perfumery outlets.

Mandarin Plaza

The seven-level Mandarin Plaza shopping centre is conveniently located close to the city centre, in the Bessarabs’kyi district. The Plaza features numerous stores, offering goods of every kind. Boutiques – those sanctuaries of high fashion – feature the latest creations by the world’s best known designers. A club for children makes it a great place to shop with kids.

Bilshovyk

Bilshovyk offers shoppers an abundance of stores and boutiques as well as numerous entertainment possibilities such as restaurants, cafes, bowling, ice skating, an arcade, and a children’s play land.

Go Clubbing in Kiev!

Closer

One of the most popular art clubs among metropolitan hipsters. Here you can be delighted with the sounds of good music without pop tunes. Always. More over foreign jazz bands well-known in some close circles are the frequent guests here.