Hello to everyone. Today I greet you from " The Mother of Rus' Cities ". A romantic city on the banks of the Dnieper River. That is why Kyiv means " Coast House ". Sometimes called Kyiv, sometimes Kiev. Name it as you wish) Kiev is the largest city and the capital of Ukraine. It was always the city where I wanted to go to and finally, this year I was lucky.

In the blog, I will tell you a lot of about life, entertainment and prices in Kyiv. Some people read my blog to know the places to visit in Kyiv, some people read my blog to get acquainted with Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian cuisine. Some are just interested in prices. It does not matter, I have written a blog that will be useful to each of you 😉
But let's first get to know Kiev in the video below.
                                                                                                       Kyiv promotional video
I made a reservation for the hotel I will stay at Booking.com 3 days before my travel begins. The name was Lime Hotel and located a long distance from the city center. If possible, stay in a hotel near the center and reserve at least 10 days in advance to make it cheaper. We took 2 single bedrooms.
I arrived in Kyiv by plane with a friend. If you will come to Boryspil International Airport, the largest airport in Ukraine, you can go to the city center by taxi or bus. Both will be waiting for you at the exit of the airport 😎 Taxi prices are not expensive. But we decided to go by bus) I must say it also that, the bus will take you from the airport to the one of the nearest metro stations ( Kharkivska Metro Station ). You will be able to go quickly and easily from the subway to any place.
Bus fare from the airport to the Kharkivska Metro:         120 UAH ( about 5 $ ) per person
Find on map:               Boryspil International Airport
4-day hotel price:        3200 UAH ( about 130 $ ) for 2 person
Official web site:         Booking.com
Official web site:         Boryspil Airport, Kyiv

First of all, let me tell you simple and important information. When you arrive in Kiev, you will need a Ukraine number. You may need an online map, social networks or for other purposes. Of course, this varies according to your wishes. If you don't need it, don't buy. We bought a Sim card called Lifecell. Allows 20 GB of internet and 2000 minutes of domestic calls. Even when we left Kiev, we were thinking about how to finish the remaining 10 GB 😂
Ukraine's official currency is called UAH - Ukrainian Hryvnias     The symbol of UAH - ₴.
The other thing is to convert the money in your pocket into UAH. One of the biggest mistakes I made in Ukraine was converting more than half of the dollars I brought with me into UAH at the airport. When I reached the city center, I realized that I had lost 490 UAH :) ( About 20 $ ) Don't repeat the same mistake as me 😅 Exchange a small part of your money at the border and the rest in the city center. Because you may lose a large amount. If you want to know how much your own money is in exchange for UAH, below I will recommend you a very good site.
Currency converter:      https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/
Lifecell price:                150  UAH ( about 6 $ )

Let me say this first, Kiev is an old city. That is, it is not full of modern skyscrapers, as in the newly formed cities of the world. Of course, there are modern buildings, but there are more historical sites. In particular, it is a city full of churches, cathedrals, museums and historic buildings.There are more than 900 churches and cathedrals in Kiev. Maybe I will see so many churches and cathedrals in Rome 😅 Wherever you look in Kyiv, you will see greenery. The city is full of trees. But we went to Kyiv in the winter and unfortunately we couldn't see these:( According to me, the best season to go to Kyiv is summer or spring
Let's start our journey if you're ready!

Kontraktova Square

Here is one of the first places to see in Kiev. It is a cheerful square full of people both on summer days and on New Year's Eve. Music conserts and festivals are held every saturday and sunday in all the streets where this square intersects. You will see a Ferris Wheel near Kontraktova Square. Although gives a very nice look from the outside, I would not recommend you enter inside it. I tried, the landscape is not good. In general, Kontraktova Square is a fun square and definitely go there.
Ferris Wheel entrance price:      100 UAH ( about 4 $ ) for 1 adult person
Find on map:                 Kontraktova Square 

Petra Sahaidachnoho street

This street intersects with Kontraktova Square. If you came to Kontraktova Square already, you will see this street. Petra Sahaidachnoho, one of the normal streets on weekdays, turns into hell on weekends. Roads are closed and music is heard everywhere. It stretches from Kontraktova Square to the banks of the Dnieper river. The street is full of restaurants and pubs. You can also visit the roadside Photo Museum Illusion U Kyyevi. It is an interesting museum 😉
Official web site:     Photo Museum Illusion U Kyyevi
Find on map:          Petra Sahaidachnoho Street, Kyiv, Ukraine
Find on map:          Photo Museum Illusion U Kyyevi

Hydropark

2 reasons to go to Kyiv in the summer: Beach and Greenery.
If you have the opportunity, try to go to Kyiv in the summer. Otherwise, you will be deprived of such this paradise as we are. In this city, which is divided by the Dnieper River in two, I can say that the most visited places are in the west of the city. The Hydropark is located neither in the east nor in the west. It is located on an island in the very center of Kyiv and the Dnieper River. The island, which has a cold and calm in the winter, is becoming one of the most visited places by tourists in summer.
If you come to Hydropark, I recommend going to Park of Kyiv in Miniature. It is a park created in a scaled-down model of tourist attractions in Kyiv.
Entrance price to Kyiv in Miniature:       25 UAH
Official web site:             The Hydropark, Kiev, Ukraine
Official web site:             Park of Kyiv in Miniature
Find on map:                  The Hydropark, Kiev, Ukraine
Find on map:                  Park of Kyiv in Miniature

Trukhaniv island

Trukhaniv island is connected to other islands and to the western and eastern parts of the city by bridges. The island is completely surrounded by trees, which makes it an invaluable opportunity for those who want to have a picnic. On the island, where there is a lot of entertainment for young people, has a Mini-Aerodrom ( HeliTour ) , which gives a chance to see Kyiv from above by helicopter. The island opens its doors to you for Boat Tour over the Dnieper River.  If you come to Trukhaniv, I recommend going to X-Park. Don't leave Trukhaniv without going to the X-Park Sports and Entertainment Complex. The island, which has a calm and silentless in the winter, the summer season is more fun with parties, festivals, outdoor movie clubs. Combining all the sights of Kyiv, the island is one of the must-see places in Kyiv.
Since there are not many places to visit in the eastern part of Kyiv, I did not reserve a place for it on the blog. The only place in east I want to say is Comfort Town. A dazzling town with colorful buildings 🏢
Official web site:        X-Park, Kiev, Ukraine
Official web site:        Mini-Aerodrom, HeliTour

The National Museum of Folk Architecture

And now I will tell you the place you must see in Kiev. It is one of the most beautiful places in Kiev. The National Museum of Folk Architecture is an open-air museum covering a very large area. The museum is located in an area called Pyrohiv. When I ask the ticket seller about Pyrohiv, he told me something interesting about it. According to the seller, the second name of this museum is " Little Ukraine ". The reason for its name is that the museum is divided into sectors, each representing the folk architecture and life of a specific Ukrainian region. This region is called both Pyrohiv and Pirogov. The ticket seller explained the reason why to me. He said that in the Pyrohiv region, pies were very popular at that time. In Ukrainian, the pie means " Pirog ". The name Pirogovo is also taken from here.
How about a delicious barbecue for lunch? 😋 We ate a very tasty meal at a very reasonable price :) Barbecuing man showed us 6 varieties of food. Roast beef, roast chicken, roast mutton, roast pork, roast mushrooms and roast potatoes. But when I left from there, there was only one thing on my mind - The service provided to me. The Ukrainian service is completely different 😍
Entrance price for Pyrohiv ( Museum ):     50 UAH ( about 2 $ ) for 1 audlt person
Lunch in Pyrohiv:          105 UAH ( About 4,3 $ ) per person ( Drinks included )
Official web site:    www.Pyrohiv.com 
Find on map:         The National Museum of Folk Architecture ( Pyrohiv ) 

Vozdvizhenka Street

Vozdvizhenka street became one of my 3 favorite places in Kyiv. The other two were Andriivs'kyi Descent and Pyrohiv. Don't let this name sound like an ordinary street name to you, because this place is really very charming. When Kyiv residents are asked about places to visit in Kyiv, they will most likely say Kreshatik Street, Independence Square or the banks of the Dnieper River. But Very few people will advise you to see this street first. My personal opinion is that Vozdvizhenka Street is the most attractive in Kyiv. The uniqueness of this street is the miracle that stretches with its colorful buildings and harmonizes with other streets. As you walk down this street, you will feel Europe. It is one of the must-see places in Kyiv.
Find on map:             Vozdvizhenka Street, Kyiv, Ukraine

Andriivs'kyi Descent, also known as Andrevski Spusk, is the most popular tourist destination in Kiev. 

There are very few tourists who leaves Kyiv without seeing Andriivs'kyi Descent. The most beautiful part of this area is the architecture, which, athough ancient, still looks very attractive. The area, where art exhibitions are held every Sunday, is crowded, mostly on Saturdays and Sundays. As you walk along the road from Andriivs'kyi, you will see places selling gifts. I was interested in prices. If you'll buy a lot of things, do not from here. Otherwise you will lose a lot of money. At the end of the blog, I wrote more about places to shop.
When you come to Andriivs'kyi Descent, don't forget to visit the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. From here it is pleasure to see the city from a bird's eye view.
Find on map:              Andriivs'kyi Descent, Kiev, Ukraine
Find on map:              National Museum of the History of Ukraine

Dnieper River banks and Poshtova Square

As you know, Kyiv has no access to any sea or ocean. For this reason, the Dnieper River, which runs through the center of Kyiv and divides Kiev in half, is very valuable for the people of Kyiv. One of the hand, it creates conditions for people to swim in the river, on the other hand, it gives the city a different beauty. Kiev is indebted to the Dnieper River for being such an attractive city. If you come to Kyiv in the summer, you can enjoy Ship and Yacht Tours on the Dnieper River. As you walk along the beach, you will also see The Pedestrian Bridge over the Dnipro. The bridge is one of the main symbols of Kyiv. Another place to be seen in this are is the Kyiv Funicular. I didn't try because there was no attractive places to see from the funicular in the winter:)
My most visited place in Kyiv in 4 days was Poshtova Square. Not because I love this square more than any other 😄 My favorite McDonald's in Kyiv was there 😍
I would like to talk to you about McDonald's prices. The approximate cost of those included in this menu is 75 UAH ( about 3 $ ) per person.  -  1 Cola 🍷, 1 Frie 🍟, 1 Burger 🍔 and sauces . The price may also vary as the food you eat here varies in size. The ones listed above are medium size.
Find on map:          Kyiv Funicular
Find on map:          Poshtova Square, Kyiv, Ukraine

The Motherland Monument

The statue of the Motherland is the number one symbol of Kyiv. There are two reasons to visit this monument, located in the south of Kyiv: To see War Museum & Sword-bearing statue and to get a chance to watch the city from this angle.
Official web site:        War Museum & sword-bearing statue
Find on map:            The Motherland Monument

Mariinsky Park

Mariinsky Park is a park that will meet you with a beautiful view in every season of year. But unfortunately we went at the most inconvenient time to there 😂. If you come to this park, come on when snow in winter, or come in spring, summer and early autumn. Because when we came here, we saw nothing but bare trees :). But it is really beautiful place!
I would like to add that the Mariinsky Palace and nearby Dynamo Stadium is located in this large park.
Find on map:     Mariinsky Park
Find on map:     Mariinsky Palace, Kyiv, Ukraine

Sofiyivska Church and Square

As I mentioned at the beginning of the blog, the city is full of churches. That is why, another nickname for Kyiv is " The city of churches and cathedrals ". Kiev is one of the cities with the most churches in the world, with more than 900 churches and cathedrals. You won't believe it, but I was seeing a church on almost every street which I walk 😱. People in Kyiv told me that most of them were built during the Soviet era. Of course, some of them are more attractive, bigger and more popular. I'll tell you the 3 most interesting and attractive churches in Kyiv. First of all, I would like to mention  St. Sophia's Church and Sofiyivska Square. I walked in this square both in the evening and in the afternoon and it has a really different landscape. People gather in Sofiyivska Square to celebrate special holidays. The second church to be seen in Kyiv is the Pechersk Lavra. The peculiarity of the Pechersk Lavra is that it consisted of caves. I considered this church to be an ordinary church and I did not enter. I have made a mistake:(  Another name of church is called Caves Monastery.
And finally St.Andrew's Church. The church is located in such a position in Andriivs'kyi Descent that it is impossible not to see its beauty. Another advantage of the church is that it is located on a hill, which is a perfect position to watch the city. The overseer demanded payment from us to watch the city. Ukrainians know how to make money from everything 😁💸
In addition, I would like to say Tserkva Mykoly Chudotvortsya ( St.Nicolas Wondermaker on The Water Church ). It is an attractive church built on water.
Official sites:           St. Sophias Church, Pechersk Lavra, St.Andrew's Church, Tserkva Mykoly Chudotvortsya

Feofaniya Park

There are 2 beautiful places to visit in the south of Kyiv: Pyrohiv and Feofaniya 🏞
I would recommend you to visit Feofaniya Park, especially in spring and summer. I do not want to write long about parks. I'll say the names of some of the most beautiful. If you went to Kyiv before the trees withered, there is Fomin Botanical Garden at the exit of the University subway station. You can visit, if you want. In addition, MM Hryshko National Botanical Garden. If you come to The Motherland Monument, you will see the MM Hryshko Botanical Garden.
Official web site:         Feofaniya Park
Official web site:         MM Gryshko Botanical Garden

Khreshchatyk Street

According to me there are 2 most beautiful streets in Kyiv: Vozdvizhenka and Khreschatyk
Both are different streets from each other. A distinctive feature of Khreschatyk Street is the closure of highways every Sunday and then the festivals that began. According to me this street can be considered the Champs-Elysees in Kyiv city). The right and left sides of the street are full of restaurants, shops and cafes. The street, which is about 1,5 km long, connects the two beautiful sides of the city. An interesting street where you can walk without getting bored.
Note: Many famous places in Kyiv are served by the subway. There is also the Khreschatyk metro for this street. By the way, if you exit the Zoloti Varota subway, you can see the Golden Gate. It is one of the tourist attractions of Kyiv.
Find on map:          Khreschatyk street, Kyiv, Ukraine

Another major symbol of Kyiv - Independence Square and Sculpture Archangel Michael.

You can find this square in 5-10 minutes as soon as you start walking in Khreschatyk street. The name of this place, which you see on the back of the picture, is The Independence Square. After the night lighting, the scenery here is really beautiful. The statue of Michael is on the other side of the road ( You can't see in the picture ). Opposite to Independence Square.
If you remember, I had likened Khreschatyk street to the Champs-Elyees. As you know, there is the Arc de Triomphe on Champs-Elysees Avenue and you can tell, "if you say rightly, show us the Arc de Triomphe in Kyiv ". I have found the answer to this too 😂 If you see statue of Archangel Michael, you will see it too. Because the statue was erected on the arch. Not exactly the same but very similar)). Great place for friends who want to take pictures 😉 In addition, go to the top of the Globus Mall there and look at Kyiv from such an angle. It was a really beautiful sight)
Note:   I did not share the places to travel in sequence. So, don't think that the places I share at the end of the blog are uninteresting. This is not true at all. Even, Khreschatyk Street and Independence Square are two of the 10 tourist attractions in Kyiv. Believe me, every place I mention on the blog is a must-see in Kyiv 😉
Find on map:          Independence Square, Kyiv, Ukraine
Find on map:          Sculpture Archangel Michael, Kyiv

Friendship of Nations Arch

The monument was built on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Soviet Union and the 1500th anniversary of the city of Kyiv. It is statue of a Russian and a Ukrainian worker which holding bronze. The monument connects Mariinsky Park, Khreschatyk Street and Poshtova Square ( via the Pedestrian-Cycling Bridge ) at one point. Friendship of Nations Arch is one of the best places to watch Kiev.
Find on map:           Friendship of Nations Arch
Find on map:             Pedestrian-cycling bridge

Chornobyl museum

There were 2 museums I visited in Kyiv:  Pharmacy museum and The National Museum of Folk Architecture.
I had told you about the second one ( Pyrohiv ) at the beginning of the blog. I came across the pharmacy museum on the way by chance. From the outside, it looks like a simple one-story house. I thought that maybe the inside can be beautiful and I entered to museum.I talked to the ticket seller for a while. I asked from the door to show me inside and got permission for that 😀 ( For free ). I did not see anything amazing in the museum. There were medicines in many glass jars there was nothing different. Whether you visit the museum or not is up to you
Note:   I don't remember the entrance fee to the pharmacy museum because I didn't pay. If I'm not mistaken, it was 100 UAH ( about 4 $ ).
I couldn't go to the Chornobyl Museum, which I shared in the picture, but a lot of people told me it was one of the best museums in Kyiv. If you don't know about the Chornobyl incident in Ukraine, you can watch the Chornobyl movie. It is one of the most horrific events in the history of the world. If I come to Kyiv for the second time, I will definitely come to see this museum.
Official web site:        Chornobyl Museum, Kyiv
Find on map:             Chornobyl museum, Kyiv
Find on map:             Pharmacy museum, Kyiv

Ocean Plaza

After seeing many places in Kyiv, I finally decided to visit shopping malls. First, I planned to go to the famous Ocean Mall in Kyiv🏬. The design of the mall from the inside is simple and there is not much in it in a different design. The aquarium inside the mall caught my attention more. Although not as big as the Aquarium in Dubai, it was big enough in this aquarium). According to me, the most distinctive feature of the mall is that it has a very large area.
I shared the videos I took at Ocean Mall on my Instagram account. You can watch from there if you want.
The second mall I visited in Kyiv was Globus Mall on Independence Square. The name of the shopping mall is associated with its appearance. Because the mall was in the shape of a globe. Don't be fooled by the fact that it looks very attractive from the outside, I went inside, it is the standard mall. There is nothing different. There is a walkway to the top of Globus Mall. It is a wonderful place to watch the city. Also at night, this place is a place of entertainment for young people)
In addition, I want to say a shopping center. You can include it in your plan. Dream Town 1 and Dream Town 2. Located close to each other. I will always regret for I did not go to there:(
Generally, gifts are expensive in Kyiv. If you remember, I told you not to buy a gift from Andriivs'kyi Descent. Because in a city where prices are already expensive, it makes no sense to buy the same gift from a more expensive place. As I mentioned in my Batumi blog, if you want to buy a lot of gifts, do not buy from the city center. You will lose a lot of money. My advise is to find Flea Markets in Kyiv. Flea Markets are great markets where you can always find everything you want at a cheap price. There are many Flea Markets in Kyiv. I chose the Lesnoy Flea Market near the Pochaina metro station. If you come to Pochaina metro, it is full of surrounding markets. You can also find second-hand products here. I saved a lot of money because I bought my things in these markets. We went to McDonald's for lunch. McDonald's is close to the subway ( Pochaina ).
Note:   I went to the market on Monday. Flea market was closed. About 10 shops were open at the grand Flea Market. The reason was that Monday was day off in Ukraine. I recommend you, if you want to come here, make a plan for days other than Monday 😉

If you look for shopping mall for casual brands: Skymall, Ocean Plaza, Gulliver and Dream Town.

If you look for shopping mall for luxury brands: Mandarin Plaza and Tsum 

If you want outlet:  Manufactura Outlet

If you look for shopping mall for Flea Market:    Lesnoy Flea Market

Official web site:             Ocean Plaza
Official web site:             Dream Town 
Official web site:             Globus Mall

Kyiv Night Clubs

The place you see in the picture is the Caribbean Club. It is one of the 10 best clubs in Kyiv. The Caribbean Club hosts concerts until about 10 p.m. After 12 o'clock it operates as a night club. There weren't as many people as you can see in the picture when we came to club 😩 This is a situation where the club is full of people. We sat in the club for 1 hour. We hoped maybe it will be full. No Dice!
I asked the bartender why there were so few people here. Everything became clear after that. Because we had went to the club on Monday. Monday is day off in Ukraine. Few people go to bars this day of the week. I understood all this after talking to the bartender. The bartender also noted that the best day to go to bars and clubs in Kyiv is Friday.
The only club we went to in Kyiv was not the Caribbean. I went to a bar called Palata No 6.  It is located in a very difficult place. You may have a hard time finding it, but it's worth it. What distinguishes this place is that the waitresses serve as nurses and the bartenders serve as doctor. Everything used here is medical supplies. When I was there, there were 3 types of shots:  Injection shot, cocktail shot and Helmet Shot. The most interesting of these was Helmet Shot. I posted this show on instagram in my status. You can look if you want.
Note:    I went to Palata No.6 and Caribbean Club on the same day. Unfortunately, There were few people in both. Don't go to clubs, bars and Flea markets on mondays in Kyiv.
Admission to both bars is free: 
I want to talk to you about the prices in the bars. Let's start with the Caribbean Club. We drank 6 bottles of Heineken beer and we paid 358 UAH ( About 15 $ for 2 people ). Caribbean Club is a luxury and beautiful club, although the prices are a bit more expensive than other clubs.
Prices in Palata No 6 are more affordable. I paid 40 UAH ( About $ 1,6 ) for 2 glasses of beer.
Official web site:         Caribbean Club, Kyiv
Find on map:              Palata No 6, Kyiv
Find on map:              Caribbean Club, Kyiv

Ukrainian National Cuisine ( Crepes )

I will tell you a very sweet place. I was looking for a restaurant for dinner near my hotel. I came across a place called Kitchen Polly. The calmness and design impressed me. The purpose of my visit was to taste any dish of national cuisine on my last day in Ukraine. Unfortunately there was only Borscht from the Ukrainian national dishes.🍲 You may have never heard the name of this dish. It is a very tasty dish. Until then, I had never eaten Borscht with pork. It was a different experience for me.
After dinner I ate one of the most popular desserts in Kyiv. This is called Crepes. These crepes made of dough contained honey. If you want to eat crepes, do not eat it before or after a meal. Because it contains so much honey that it satisfies a person after the second crepes. Honey and ice cream give the best taste to dessert. This is a Ukrainian National Dessert and I highly recommend it 😉
I paid 572 UAH (About $ 24 for 2 people ) for 2 teas, 2 crepes, 2 different meals.
Kiev Cake, one of the national desserts of Ukraine, is a dessert with a different appearance and taste. There is a cafe called Aroma Kava near Independence Square. If you want, you can order this dessert there.
I paid 75 UAH ( About $ 3 ) for 1 tea and 1 Kiev Cake. Now you know the prices of restaurant and cafe prices. According to me not too expensive and not too cheap.
Be careful when sitting in restaurants on Khreschatyk street. The first day I came to Kyiv, I sat here in a Turkish restaurant. I paid $ 13 for 1 hamburger and 1 cola. Prices for restaurants and cafes are high because it is the central street of Kyiv.

Kyiv streets

 The transport system in Kyiv is old. Metro, buses and trams operate on the system of about 15-20 years ago. Kyiv is one of the least changed cities since Soviet times. If you come to the city, you will witness it. It is an excellent city to live in history.
Prices for buses, subways and trams in Kyiv:     8 UAH ( About $ 0,3 )
We traveled for 4 days. If you are going to travel in the summer, travel for 4 days. In winter, 3 days is enough.
Now I know the question you will ask me. How much did it cost in Kyiv? 
The cost of arrival in Kyiv from your country may different for everyone. Also we stayed at the hotel. You can rent a house or stay in a hostel. It is up to you increase or decrease costs.
The money I spent in Kyiv alone was about $ 159 ( Gift prices are not included ). I did not add the price of my plane ticket and the money I spent in my own country to this price. If you go to Kyiv in a very economical mode, you can travel there half of $ 159. There are 2 things that increase your expenses: Transportation cost and place where you are going to stay. For me, the plane ticket was cheap because I bought the ticket 4 months ago. If you do not have enough money, choose a hostel instead of a hotel. I want to say one last thing about Kyiv. Prices are not very cheap there. Not too expensive. In general, prices in Kyiv are normal 💰 So that I'm finishing my Kyiv blog. I hope my blog will be useful for you.
What do you think about Kyiv? Do you think it is worth seeing? Is it a cheap or expensive city for you? Please write your answers in the comments section😊  Your opinions are valuable to me