1 History
2 Sightseeng
3 Where to stay
4 Night life
1 History
Archeological excavations show evidence of the first settlement on the territory of Kiev 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. Legend has it that at the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th centuries, three brothers, Kiy, Shchek and Khoriv, and their sister, Lybid, founded a town and names it after their elder brother Kiy, as "Kyiv".
The early settles of Kiev built their citadel on the steep right bank of the Dnipro river to protect themselves from marauding nomadic tribes. Later, Kiev`s Grand Princes built their palaces and churches on Starokievska hill, while artisans and merchants built their houses next to the wharf on the Dnipro. By the end of the 9th century, when the Kievska Rus princes united scattered Slavic tribes, Kiev was the political centre of the Eastern Slavs. Kiev maintained wide foreign and commercial trade links due to its position in the middle of trade routes between the Vikings and the Greeks.
Desyatynna church
Desyatynna church in Kiev (reconstruction) Kiev`s development accelerated durign the reign of Prince Volodymir the Great (980-1015). In 988, intent on strengthening his power on the broader international arena, Volodymir introduced Christiany as the official religion of the realm. At Vladimir Great in Kiev the first stone temple - "Desyatynna church" has been constructed. By the 11th century Kiev was one of the largest centers of civilization in the Christian World. Besides in those times the city totaled about 400 churches, 8 markets and more than 50 000 inhabitants. (For comparison: in same time in Novgorod, the second-largest city of Russia, was 30 000 inhabitants; in London, Hamburg and Gdansk - on 20 000). Kiev was among the most prospering craft and shopping centers of Europe.
After the death of the great Kiev`s Prince Vladimir Monomakh (1125). Kievska Rus became involved in a long period of feudal wars. Foreign powers were quick to take advantage of this situation. In the autumn of 1240, the Tatar-Mongols headed by Batiy Khan, captured Kiev after series of long and bloody battles. Kiev fell into a prolonged period of decline. The Tartar-Mongols ruled for almost a century. Despite foreign rule, Kiev retained its artisan, trade and cultural traditions and remained an important political, trade and cultural center. In the 14th century, the Kiev region became the cradle for the modern Ukrainian nation.
In the 15 th century Kiev was granted the "Magdenburg Rights", which permitted greater independence of the city in matters of international commerce.
Middle Ages
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Monument Bohdan Khmelnytsky The next time the world heard about Ukraine was during the period of the Cossack Republic - centered in the famed "Zaporizka Sich" Fortress - at the end of the 15th century. The long road to independence by the Ukrainian people began with Cossack military campaigns. In 1648-1654 Cossack armies, headed by Hetman (Ukrainian for Cossack leader) Bohdan Khmelnytsky waged several wars to liberate Ukraine.
Confronted by the armies of Polish and Lithuanian feudal lords, Bohdan Khmelnytsky sought the protection of the Russian Tsar in the Treaty of Pereyaslav.
Kreschatik street
Kiev. Kreschatik Unfortunately, as a result, Ukraine was plunged into a long period of domination by the Russian Empire. Despite such repression and severe Tsarist autocratic rule, Ukraine in the 17th and 18th centuries nonetheless managed to preserve and enjoy some of the richness of its political, economic, cultural, and religious development.
The Kyiv Mohyla Academy, founded by Metropolitan Petro Mohyla in the 17th century, became the first university in Eastern Europe. In that period, the Ukrainian people were among the most educated in the world and almost all were literate. Books were printed, philosophy was studied; music, literature and painting flourished. The first Constitution appeared in Ukraine during the Cossack period (1711).
Soviet Union
The destroyed Kreschatik street (1943)
The destroyed Kreschatik street (1943) In January 1918 when the Russian Empire fell, the independence of Ukraine was proclaimed and the Ukrainian National Republic was established. Mykhaylo Hrushevsky became the first President of Ukraine. But at that time Ukrainian statehood was not adequately defended. It is only recently that this became possible.
After the revolution of 1917 Vladimir Illyich Lenin and his Bolshevik Party seized power and expanded their sphere of control into Ukraine.
Sophia Cathedral
Sophia Cathedral and monument Bohdan Khmelnytsky Ukraine experienced a brief period of independence when on January 22, 1918, the Ukrainian Central Rada (Council) formally issued a proclamation for Ukraine's independence. But shortly thereafter in 1919, the Ukrainian National Republic was defeated in a war against Polish expansionists and overrun once again.
Eventually, Bolshevik and Communist forces retook Ukrainian lands, and as a means to control the population, leader Josef Stalin caused the Great Famine of 1932-33 by forcibly collecting grain and deliberately starving to death nearly ten million people. Nazi Germany then began World War II and entered Kyiv in September 1941 razing the city. In November 1943, Soviet forces retook the city in fierce fighting and began their final domination of Ukraine for almost the next fifty years.
Independent Ukraine
On August, 24, 1991 the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine proclaims the Declaration of Independence. In a referendum held on December 1, 1991 the people of Ukraine endorsed independence and voted Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk as Ukraine's first ever democratically elected President. The United States recognized Ukraine's independence on December 25, 1991; and the first American Ambassador, Roman Popadiuk, arrived in Kyiv on June 8, 1992. On July, 10, 1994 in the second round of presidential elections Leonid Kravchuk loses to Leonid Kuchma who has been re-elected for the second term in 1999.
2 Sightseeng
KRESCHATIK Khreshchatyk is the central street of the city of Kyiv. It crosses the Starokyivsky and Pechersk administrative parts of the city connecting European and Bessarab Squares.
The area of what is now makes Khreshchatyk used to be a great valley with a tiny creek in it. From the North East the valley reached the Dnipro River and from the South East it went to the Lybid River. This area has been called on the plans as "Khreshchatyk Valley" so nowadays modern street has got its name from the old days. The creek was going by the very important trade road. In the end of the eighteenth century the part of the road from the Kinna Square, where horse markets used to take place (nowadays European Square), to Prorisana street started transforming into the street with buildings mostly on its right side. Then it became Khreshchatyk. In 1803 the buildings appeared on the left side of the road too. All of those buildings were private dwellings except for the one - the very first theatre in the city of Kyiv. It was constricted by architect A. Melensky (1802-1805). It is now the cultural and business center Ukrainian House. Now this street is Theatral. Khreshchatyk has got its definite outlines during the restructuring of Kyiv in 1837. In its implementation the street has been lengthened to the modern Bessarab Square and included three squares and has got the name Khreshchatyska.
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE The reconstruction works finished in 2002 on the square profoundly changed the city's image. During the reconstruction the Lyads'ky Gate was found right on the spot. It was the same gate which was assaulted by Batu Khan in the 13th century, having lost any hope to force his way through the Golden Gate. He managed to destroy the Gate enough to allow his numerous troops to break into the city. You will see the gate as a backdrop to fountains, which gather people around. If you have a chance, visit the underground entertainment center "Globus" right under the square, where you will be able to have a rest from the noisy and crowded street.
KIEV-PECHERS'KA LAVRA (THE CAVE MONASTERY)
Kiev-Pechers'rf Lavra (The Cave Monastery) The Kiev-Pechers'ka Lavra (The Cave Monastery) (Pechersk stands for pechery, that is" caves" which are to be found in its territory and which early monks used to live in, and Lavra is an honorific title given to a monastery of extra-size and religious importance) came into being in the eleventh century and for nine centuries its territory was expanding with new buildings being added to it through the centuries. The architectural complex of the Monastery the way it looks today is truly grandiose. On a sunny day one is almost dazzled by the reflections from the innumerable golden domes above churches and belfries. Most of the buildings in the Monastery date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and are excellent examples of Ukrainian Baroque style in architecture and there is only one church in the Monastery that has been preserved from the twelfth century with very few architectural changes introduced since then. The church sits above the main entrance gate of the Monastery and is consequently called Nadvratna - "the one above the gate". The full name of the church is Troitska Nadvratna Tserkva - "The Holy Trinity Church above the Gate. It is almost a miracle it has survived as the Monastery itself was throughout its history the object of so many enemy attacks, of devastating fires and of other crippling misfortunes.
GOLDEN GATE
GOLDEN GATE 1017-1024, is located just outside the sybway station "Zoloti Vorota".
Of the few remaining fortifications from the times of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054), the Golden Gate is the most remarkable. IN 1983 the ruins of the Golden Gate, built as a defensive structure, were restored to their present condition. The same year, the Golden Gate Museum was opened. The ground floor contains exhibits relating to the history of old Kiev. The halls display armaments used by the ancient Kievites and other excavations from the site of the Golden Gate. The balconies of the museum offer a panoramic view of Kiev.
Address: 40A, Vladimirskaya str.
Open: from May till October
Hours: 10am - 5pm
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH - ANDRIYIVSKY UZVIZ (ANDREW`S DESENT)
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH
In the year 1744 the Russian Empress Elizabeth was visiting the home-land of her favorite Alexey Rozumovsky and decided to build her summer residence here. She herself laid the first symbolic brick of the new palace and church. A famous Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelly supervised the construction. Now the church-museum catches the eye of the visitors straight away. Its beauty and the aura of history make the place a must for visitors.
Andreevsky Uzviz, at No.23
ANDRIYIVSKY UZVIZ (ANDREW`S DESENT)
Andriyivsky Uzviz was the shortest way from the Upper city to Podil. The name was known from 18 the century. In 1753 was built St. Andrew's Church (B.F. Rastrelli). By the legend, in times immemorial, there was the sea where the Dnipro River flows now. When St. Andrew came to Kiev and erected the cross on the hill where now St. Andrew's Church stands, the sea drained away. But a part of it remained and hid under the hill. When later the church was built there, a stream opened under the altar. That is why there are no bells at St. Andrew's Church, as with the first bell stroke water would awaken and flood not only Kyiv but the entire territory of the left bank of the Dnipro. Main structure executed in the 90s of the 19 century and at the beginning of the 20 century. Rebuilt as before is the place of exhibition - sale of paintings and folk creative works in the open air. Andriyivsky Uzviz is called Kyiv's Monmartre. If you go there on any day of the year, regardless of weather, you will see quite a few artists showing their pictures, hung on the walls and fences, applied- and decorative-art artists displaying their wares right on the sidewalk or on little stands - rings, brooches, necklaces, embroidered shirts, earthenware of most unusual shapes and forms, curious creations made of wood and other materials, to red banners sporting various slogans, uniforms, medals, coins and other paraphernalia of the defunct regime.
Here you find yourself in an atmosphere of the late 19th-20th century with comfortable and cozy little cafes, small shops. The sights is the house №13 where Mikhail Bulgakov lived, the author of "Master and Margaret" of the world fame. The house is now Bulgakov's museum. The other museum of the Uzviz is quite a unique one being a museum of the street in which it is situated. It traces the Uzviz history in pictures, photographs and other things from the earliest times down to the present day. Along the street, there are much picture galleries and artistic salons.
ST.SOPHIA CATHEDRAL
ST.SOPHIA CATHEDRAL Was built in the first half of the 11th century to commemorate the victory over the Pecheneg tribe. Here you will see portraits painted by unknown painters of the past, will be able to read frescoes on the walls (the 11th century) - people's requests to God, great mosaics (some of them were so unique, that they were stolen by Nazis during the Second world war and are preserved in German museums now). The cathedral preserves a sarcophagus with the remains of Prince Volodymyr. St Sophia is rightfully considered as the treasure of Ukraine and is protected by UNESCO.
Open: daily 10 am - 5.30 pm
Wednesday - 10 am - 4.30 pm
expect Thursday
Address: 24 Vladimirskaya str.
ST.VLADIMIR`S CATHEDRAL
ST.MICHAEL`S MONASTERY
ST.MICHAEL`S MONASTERY The Archangel Michael is considered to be the patron of Kyiv. Perhaps that is why the recently restored St. Michael's Monastery of the Golden Roof is especially dear to Kyivans. Its beauty makes an unforgettable impression. This religious complex is situated just opposite Sophia Cathedral and seems to reign on the steep bank of the Dnipro in all its glory. This precious Kyivan relic, sky-blue in color, with its golden glitter of cupolas and vividly decorated arches, rich services and wonderful choirs, is matchless in the delicacy and splendor of its architecture and decoration. The entire complex - from the perfectly planned territory of the monastery to the tolling of the bells (you can strike the bell if you ascend to the top floor of the bell-tower) - is a model of taste and refined aestheticism. MUSEUM OF FOLK ARCHITECTURE
MUSEUM OF FOLK ARCHITECTURE Entrance fee $1.00; $10.00 per person for English-speaking guide. Located in the outskirts of Kyiv, this open air museum takes you through Ukraine's history as you walk through the original homes of the past which have been moved here from all corners of Ukraine and restored. Traditional Ukrainian costume and ceramics are on exhibit. The open-air museum is set on 150 hectares of picturesque terrain on the southwestern outskirts of Kyiv. It was founded in the late 1960's, and in 1976 it was opened to the public. To date, the museum has over 200 structures moved here from various regions of the Ukraine or econstructed on the spot. The museum has some 40,000 ethnographic exhibits, including folk costumes, fabrics, embroidery, carpets, ceramics, articles of metal, wood, glassware, musical nstruments, paintings, tools, household articles and the like. These objects are exhibited both inside the cottages and other farm buildings and in the permanent exhibition hallsMARIINSKIY PALACE
MARIINSKIY PALACE Mariinsky Palace, which was built in the middle of the 18 century by V.Rastrelli in the baroque style, was intended to echo Versailes in miniature. During the last war it was badly damaged but was reconstructed, and is now a part of the Supreme Rada's premises. In 1936, the government moved into Pechersk and redeveloped many of of old estates: the grandiose building of the Council of Peoples' Commisars. This huge building, now occupied by the Cabinet of Ministers, was designed by the architects Ivan Fomin and Pavel Abrosimov in the Soviet neoclassical style.
Some years later, premises for the Ukrainian Supreme Council were built on an empty place across the road in the design by Vladimir Zabolotny.
3 Where to stay
Popular hotels in Kiev
Hotel Adria
The 3-star Adria Hotel is perfectly situated on the left bank of the picturesque Dnepr River and occupies 2 floors in the Tourist Hotel building. In the vicinity of the hotel there are the International Exhibition Center, restaurants, night clubs and shopping venues. The windows of the hotel open onto the golden domes of ancient churches.
The Adria Hotel is 12 km from the city center. The Livoberezhna metro station (15 minutes to center) and bus station are near the hotel. The Borispol International Airport is 30 km away from the hotel; the Central Railway Station is 17 km away.
The Adria Hotel features the combination of modern well-equipped rooms, high quality service and affordable prices.
Hotel Premier Palace
The Premier Palace Hotel is a unique hotel, situated in the very heart of Kiev, the ancient capital of Ukraine. It takes just few steps to walk to the main street of Kiev-city - Kreshatik, the Golden Gates, the National University, the National Opera. Here in the historical central part of Kiev business and cultural life is concentrated.
The Premier Palace Hotel was originally built on the edge of the 19th - 20th centuries. The windows of the hotel offer a wonderful view over the gorgeous golden domes of Kiev`s churches. The hotel both reflects the past and is a step into the future at the same time. The hotel has been entirely reconstructed in the past years, and today it fully complies with the world standards.Spacious comfortable rooms equipped with the newest facilities, excellent service, exquisite menu and a wide range of additional services await the guests of the hotel.
Hotel Slavutych
The Slavutich Hotel is a 16-storied building in the shape of an open book. It is situated on the left bank of the river Dnepr on the man-made Rusanovsky Island and surrounded by beautiful canals and green trees. The Old Slavic name of this river - Slavutich - gave name to the hotel. The hotel`s windows provide a superb view of the golden-domed Kiev-Pechiorskaya Lavra.
The Slavutich offers its guests an excellent location in a peaceful part of Kiev for their business, leisure and meeting needs. The Slavutich is very popular with the visitors and participants of the International Expocenter for being rather close to it (10-minute walk).
The hotel is 22 km away from the Borispol International Airport and about the same distance from the center of Kiev with its main attractions. The distance from the Central Railway Station is 12 km. The closest metro station Levoberezhnaya is located about 10-minute bus ride away.
The high quality service and affordable prices make the hotel very popular with Kiev visitors.
Hotel Lybid
The Lybid Hotel, named after the sister of the legendary founders of Kiev, is located in the city center, on Peremohy Square. The hotel is in close proximity to Kiev`s major attractions, fine dining, shopping and entertainment venues. It is 1 km from the Central Railway Station and steps from the Ukraina supermarket and the circus.
The 17-storied building is individually designed and has three high-speed elevators for the guests` convenience. From the windows of the hotel the fascinating view of the city is revealed.
Built in 1970 and completely renovated in 1999-2002 the Lybid is glad to offer its guests the most modern technology and diverse facilities.
Hotel Dnipro
he prestigious four-star Dnipro Hotel is conveniently located in the center of the Ukrainian capital, on the main street of the city - Kreschatik. In the walking distance from the hotel one can find a variety of tourist attractions, places of cultural interest and shopping facilities of Kiev, including the Mariinsky Palace, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Sophia Cathedral, the Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra, the National Philharmonic Hall of Ukraine, the State Conservatory, the central department store of Kiev, the Metrograd and the Globus commercial centers and others.
The Dnipro Hotel can be easily reached from the Borispol International Airport (40 km) and the Central Railway Station (5 km) by taxi or public transport.
The Maidan Nezalezhnosty (Independence Square) metro station, located 100 meters from the hotel. The Kiev subway allows everyone to reach any part of the city quickly.
The popular Kiev River Boat Station is situated 1 km from the Dnipro Hotel, where the guests can get by a 15-minute walk along the most beautiful streets of the city, Vladimirsky Spusk and Pochtovaya Street.
Some of the rooms look out on the picturesque Dnepr River the hotel has been named after or on a splendid park, which is a favorite walking place of citizens and guests of Kiev.
The Dnipro Hotel is extremely popular with business and leisure travelers due to its longstanding traditions of hospitality, an extensive list of facilities and high standard of services.
Hotel Amarant Hotel
Hotel Hyatt Regency
ew five-star Hyatt Regency Kiev Hotel is located in the very center of Kiev, not far from Khreshchatik and Saint Sophia Cathedral. Many government offices, large business and entertainment centers, theaters, restaurants and shops are situated close to Hyatt Regency Kiev Hotel.
Hyatt Regency Kiev Hotel offers accommodation in 234 comfortable rooms (including 25 suites) with all modern amenities and wide range of hotel facilities, among them fitness center, swimming pool, Grill Asia restaurant and bar. Meeting facilities of Hyatt Regency Kiev Hotel include 8 meeting rooms, 3 board rooms and business center. Both business and tourist guests will appreciate high-qualified service and helpful multilingual staff of the hotel.
Hyatt Regency Kiev Hotel belongs to Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world`s premier hotel companies.
Hotel Opera
This boutique hotel makes its guests feel quite at home, even if home is far away.
Hotel Ramada Encore
Ramada Encore is the modern brand of the international Ramada hotels chain.
Ramada is a Spanish word meaning a shaded resting place.
Ramada brands: Ramada Plaza, Ramada Hotel, Ramada Encore, Ramada Hotel & Resort, Ramada Resort, Ramada Hotel & Suites.
Ramada Worldwide is one of the 17 brands in the Wyndham Hotel Group (WHG), one of the largest hotels chain worldwide boasting 7,190 hotels with 609,000 guest rooms located in 65 countries covering 6 continents.
Ramada Encore emerged into the market place as the world welcomed the naughties with open arms (not to mention slight trepidation about Y2K!). The budget sector was already growing rapidly, but there remained considerable opportunity for further expansion and a need for innovation and style. Encore was created to challenge this sector by delivering a daringly different and wicked experience. The key features such as Hub, the fabulous bathrooms, the wooden floors and bright colours offer a refreshing and vibrant environment to enjoy, entice, entertain and enthrall.
Our people have passion and our partners hit the right note. As Encore nears double digits in age, so do the number of hotels, with the brand set to grow exponentially in key locations.
Hotel Salute
TLocation.
Located in Kiev (Right Bank - West), Hotel Salute is close to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Kiev Monastery of the Caves, and Mariyinsky Palace. Also nearby are Mother Motherland Statue and Independence Square.
Hotel Features.
Dining options at this Kiev hotel include a restaurant and a coffee shop/café. A complimentary breakfast is served each morning. Wireless Internet access is complimentary in public areas. Additional amenities include laundry facilities, coffee/tea in the lobby, and 24-hour room service. For a surcharge, guests have access to a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request). The property has designated areas for smoking.
Guestrooms.
Rooms open to balconies. The 90 air-conditioned guestrooms at Hotel Salute include minibars and slippers. Guests can use the in-room complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access. Televisions are equipped with satellite channels. Bathrooms offer showers with rainfall showerheads, hair dryers, and complimentary toiletries. In addition, housekeeping is offered daily and amenities available on request include irons/ironing boards.
4 Night life
Club Forsage
We believe this is one of the best clubs in Kiev. On the right you can give this club a better rating if you believe this club belongs to the greatest clubs of Kiev's nightlife!
Club Cinema
International and Ukrainian DJ's play a mixture of drum and bass, raggae, and techno to a youthful crowd that cares more about the music than its image.
The Cinema Club is at the Hotel Slavutich on Kiev’s Left Bank.
We believe this is one of the best clubs in Kiev. On the right you can give this club a better rating if you believe this club belongs to the greatest clubs of Kiev's nightlife!
Club Xlib
We believe this is one of the best clubs in Kiev. On the right you can give this club a better rating if you believe this club belongs to the greatest clubs of Kiev's nightlife!
Shooters
If any club is going to give you a surprise or two during the night, it'll probably be Shooters before anywhere else in Kiev.
A cosmopolitan club with strict face control on the door and pleasant enough ticket girls, once inside. The cloakroom, lady is quite delightful!
After trying twice to get in earlier in the year it was a case of being 'third time lucky' and hence arriving by taxi and accompanied with a friend seemed to make all the difference.
The venue is split into three parts with a hookah bar downstairs covered with Moroccan style lanterns, rugs and cushions. The main dance floor on the first floor encompasses the oval shaped bar; whilst the floor for karaoke is up on second. Dancing on their only small platform next to the mixing deck is not balked at by the bouncers and jostling for space wasn't an issue during my visit, even when things got into full swing.
Whilst the club looks rather tired; it seems to keep up its reputation for its lively yet 'laid back-almost anything goes' atmosphere that seems to bring a mixed bag of clientele throughout the night.
Watch out for not being given change at the bar - it's notorious for that and was a victim of that myself on this particular occasion.
Cocktails float at around 66 Hryvnna (6 GBP approx) and entrance costs 100 Hv, although the Pina Colada seemed like more of a baby banana shake than anything else. Give those cocktails a miss and either stay on beer or go straight for the hard stuff!!!
Visited December 2013
"Sorry Babushka" is certainly the most popular, cheerful and innovative club in our country. The interior space of the club is a three-level complex, where each floor has its own concept of music, design, light and sound, which creates unique character of the club. Format of the club is absolutely free from stereotypes, and we are glad to see all of you at our parties.
I-floor - erotic intimate bar, where lovely dancers will help you to relax and to obtain an overdose of sexuality and pleasure.
II-floor - club-restaurant, where every day take place party in style of «DISCO 80-90». Also, here are four VIP-rooms for those who wish to to lay back and enjoy the companionship with their friends.
III-floor - the club area with a large stage, where popular artists and singers perform on Friday and Saturday.Here is a home for finest capital's events, concerts and presentations conducted by best anchors.
Our cheerful bartenders, professional guards and positive visitors guarantee best entertainment in Kiev.
Avalon
The entertaining complex "Avalon" has been founded in 2003. Under its roof are the vocal restaurant Pavlin, disco-club Azhur, lounge-bar and casinohave taken places. The complex philosophy consists that any visitor of an institution will necessarily find here the vacation spot with an excellent interior and irreproachable service.
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