What first springs to mind when you hear the name Kyiv?
Capital of Ukraine? You’re right, of course. Some might think of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, one of the worst nuclear accidents in history. If pop culture is your thing, Kyiv might mean the venue of the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest. Into politics? Perhaps the Orange Revolution of 2004 comes to mind? Images of the swollen, pockmarked face of former President Viktor Yushchenko after he suffered dioxin poisoning at the hands of political enemies? Or perhaps the beautiful former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko in her signature braids?
What to do in Kyiv
I’m here to see the unusual, beautiful golden domes. I only have a babysitter for a day and a half, so with only 24 hours in town, there’s no time to waste. After leaving my little overnight bag in the hotel, I immediately hit the city’s wide avenues, eagerly looking upwards.
Independence Square
My hotel is located right across the street from Maidan Nezalezhnosti, Independence Square. The heart of Kyiv is full of banks, shops, cafes and restaurants, pretty fountains, a waterfall even – and the tall Independence Column. Archangel Mikhail, Kyiv’s patron saint, looks out on his city from the top of his column, day and night.
One of the many fountains symbolise the founders of the city, the legendary Libed and her three brothers Kie, Schek and Horiv.
Ulitsa Khreshchatyk
Kyiv’s pretty main avenue is very busy. It’s pedestrianised during weekends, and traffic is even busier then, I’m told, as absolutely everyone is out walking. I don’t know – hopping between cars like a crazy game of Frogger, I find that hard to believe. Luckily, I discover an underpass.
The underpasses double as underground shopping centres, with a curious mix of hawkers selling cigarettes individually from camping tables, and high-end boutiques. In fact, the selection of luxuries is astonishing and ATMs are everywhere, despite this being one of Europe’s poorest countries.
Shevchenko Park
I wander (always looking up), past the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Shevchenko Park, full of joggers, chess players and people sitting on benches, reading books. I do a mental time travel, pretending it’s 1915. That young man sitting over there could well be the famous novelist Mikhail Bulgakov, author of The Master and Margarita, by many considered to be one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
St Sophia and St Michael
Rounding a corner, I glimpse my first golden dome between the chestnut trees. It’s St. Sophia. On UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites, this 11th-century cathedral has thirteen shining domes and a tall blue bell tower.
Just down a short street, the heavenly blue St Michael’s Cathedral is not as tall, but just as gorgeous—with bright, vivid murals and more golden domes.
I can’t decide which of the two cathedrals I prefer. Michael, the Archangel, Prince of the Seraphim – or Sophia, Priestess of Divine Wisdom.
Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – Monastery of the Caves
Early next morning I’m in the courtyard of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra – Monastery of the Caves. Golden domes abound! When the Cathedral of the Dormition was restored after having been “razed to the ground by an explosion of terrible force” in 1941, it took nine kilos of leaf gold to gild its domes and crosses, according to my book Kiev: Architecture History.
Entrance to the monastery is through Trinity Gate. From 1106, it’s adorned with images of saints and topped with a cross.
This is August, prime holiday season in Europe. Lavra is the principal sight in Kyiv; hordes will no doubt soon rush in. But for now, I’m the only one here, apart from five pigeons pecking on a sticky bun that has miraculously escaped the sweeper. The only sounds are the belfry’s chime, the fountains’ soft rustle and the wind whispering through the trees.
Like St Sophia, Caves is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I don’t know if UNESCO has rules about on-site ATMs, but this monastery has one immediately inside the entrance. It is tastefully hidden inside a room with an open door, yet impossible to miss.
A large compound, more than 11 hectares, this is very much a living monastery. Along the Upper Lavra, monks’ dormitories line the courtyard.
The heady scent of roses emanates from a small bed; elsewhere apple trees and sunflowers vie for space. Around every corner, another golden dome gleams in the early morning sunshine. A young man with a baby stroller negotiates his way down a steep street paved with ancient stone slabs, leading to Lower Lavra. Further down, the river Dnipro floats by lazily.
A green sign says KABA, and I’m soon drinking strong Ukrainian coffee by the Exhibition Hall, gazing at vendors laying out their wares: embroidered table clothes, blouses, souvenir icons and books are for sale. Apparently, there’s nothing wrong with doing business on holy grounds.
Suddenly, everything seems to wake up. The courtyard quickly fills up. I hear guides speaking in Russian, Portuguese and Dutch. All around, monks are working. One is painting window lattices, another washes a wall. Yet another is pruning a pink azalea whilst talking on his mobile. And yet another, exhausted from taking out the rubbish, plonks his large frame on a bench with an audible sigh.
It’s time to see the main attraction, the Caves – a necropolis for the saints of the ancient state of Kievan Rus. People have come to the Caves on pilgrimages for more than 1,000 years. In one of the churches above the caves, people are queuing to receive blessings or advice from two grey-haired monks in black robes and beards. They look quite patriarchal. I spot the young father once more, now carrying his sleeping child, patiently awaiting his turn in the queue.
Without warning, the locks of heaven open and I’m pelted with rain. People don’t seem to mind much; some dig out umbrellas, but most just get on with their business. Everywhere, people are making the sign of the cross and kissing relics. To enter the churches, women have to cover their heads, while men, curiously, have to uncover theirs.
Inside yet another church, people are buying candles and donning black robes. Perhaps this is the mysterious caves, at last? I latch on to a Russian group. My Russian is limited, so I just tag along, doing what everyone else does. Briefly, I wonder why everyone (including me) buys two candles. Then I get it. Descending the narrow stairway to the caves, a candle is extinguished by a rush of air. I keep lighting one with the other.
The narrow, white-washed catacombs feels serene. Along the walls are mummified monks in glass caskets, dressed in green and gold robes. Mostly just the robes are visible, but here and there, a mummified hand protrudes, darkened by the years.
Others have more reverent errands. Teenagers, loud and playful on the outside, now humbly kiss the relics. One woman kneels before a casket, kissing it and muttering a prayer. As the tunnels are rather narrow, about 1 ½ metres wide, the rest of us wait patiently while she completes her ritual. No one seems to mind. To my surprise, I don’t either.
St Andrew’s Descent
Andriyivski uzviz means St. Andrew’s Descent, indicating how this quaint, twist-and-turn cobblestone street should be negotiated. There’s even a funicular so you don’t have to do St. Andrew’s Ascent. My advice is to wear trainers, but Ukrainian girls wouldn’t give two red cents for that piece of good sense. It looks rather strange to watch them wobble down the cobbles in 7-inch heels. On the other hand, I don’t see anyone falling.
The Descent has often been equated with Montmartre in Paris. It’s certainly a charming street, old and picturesque, filled with galleries, cafés and museums, including the house of Mikhail Bulgakov. Also, the Descent has its own museum, the quaintly named Museum of One Street. But the stunning St. Andrew’s Cathedral is the chef d’oeuvre.
Artists sell their work. Street vendors peddle matroshkas and various wooden artefacts, Che Guevara T-shirts and much more. Halfway down, I stop at the cosy Chumatskiy Dvir and have a delicious grilled forest-mushroom sandwich. A café cat stretches languidly on a chair, not caring one bit about my attempts to get her attention. When I get up to leave, she tags along.
Before coming to Kyiv, I heard stories of assorted scams, attempted robberies and various other horrors. Well, I never felt unsafe and I’m not even particularly vigilant, as my friends will attest. Nothing bad happened to me. In fact, just the opposite. After I left a cafe, a teenage boy came running after me, handing back my wallet which I had stupidly left behind.
Towards the bottom of St Andrew’s Descent
So that was my time in Kyiv. 24 hours well spent, I think.
What else?
Kyiv has much more to offer, of course. Flights can be had for next to nothing, so chances are I’ll come back for a closer look at the Ukrainian capital. If I do, this is what I want to explore:
- The House with Chimeras, for a look at interesting architecture and freaky sculptures
- Vladimirskaya Gorka, a park with old pavilions, believed to be a spiritual place with magic at work
- The art museums (both the Ukrainian and the Russian one), and the war museum
- The Kyiv Opera and Ballet Theatre
I would also like to get out of town and visit Babiy Yar, a ravine where 60,000 people were executed during World War II, and of course Chernobyl.
If I bring my daughters, I will probably also check out the Children’s Railway, an educational remnant of the country’s Soviet past. It’s not a model, but a narrow gauge railway for real train travel. This is where teenagers learnt the professions of the railway. Today, it’s more of an entertaining outing, I expect. Children (9 – 15) still work as train drivers and conductors.

Kyiv: Saint-Sophia Cathedral and related monastic buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here are more UNESCO World Heritage sites I have visited around the world.
I never knew Kiev had so much to offer. And those goldes domes are amazing.
I’m really liking all those buildings with the eminent Russian influenced architecture. The golden domes must have been quite a sight for you! Kiev was not a destination I would have even thought about, but now it certainly seems appealing with a lot of potential.
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You’re always in such interesting places! I love how the buildings are so colorful
Wonderful overview of Kiev, and great photos! You’ve inspired me to add this to our list of must-see places for our next year of traveling. 🙂
You really do have the most distinctive itineraries of anyone I know. Very interesting insight here into somewhere completely unknown to me.
Shevchenko Park sounds like the perfect place to wander aimlessly, one of my favorite travel activities 🙂
Your list of the things that Kiev brings to mind is great. It was like a pageant of history walking past.
My first thought after thinking that I would like to go there – is how expensive is it?
@David – It wasn’t very expensive at all. Eastern European prices (and not like Prague, which isn’t that inexpensive anymore, but more like the Baltic states). There’s a budget airline – WizzAir which flies from Oslo for a pittance. I just checked their site and it appears they also fly from London (Luton) for around GBP 50 one way.
Thanks for your lovely comments everyone 🙂 Kiev is absolutely worth visiting! And I’m fairly certain other parts of the Ukraine is as well. Like Odessa. And Yalta on the Crimean peninsula.
Wow! Kiev looks fascinating — and the gold on those buildings doesn’t look real.
The churches are stunning, would love to visit someday soon!
I had no idea Kiev was this amazing! Thank you for including all those pictures – wonderful architecture!
Really enjoyed following in your footsteps through Kiev. I’ve never even considered visiting, but I will now.
Wow, Kiev looks beautiful!
That’s pretty strange how there are ATMs everywhere! I love the golden domes and architecture. I had no idea churches in Kiev would have such architectural interest.
What a great rundown of what you can accomplish in 24 hours. I LOVE your pictures of the golden domes – they’re just as I imagined. Wish I could hop a flight and explore for a day without extreme jet jag. I’m loving your blog.
[…] Ukraine Sophie presents What to do in Kiev posted at Sophie’s World, saying, “What first springs to mind when you hear the name […]
This is a good comprehensive list Sophie. I like that somebody was nice enough to return your wallet. That rarely happens nowadays.
Great post, Sophie! I have always been curious about Kiev. Your photos and writing make me want to visit!
The first thing that comes to my mind is that I need to go there, esp after reading your post! Have a good weekend!
I love the architecture. The Cathedral of the Dormition is gorgeous. What a great city to explore.
Ukraine’s quite an unusual destination. Beautifully described and shown. I hope I can make it there someday 🙂
I’d also love for you to share your Kiev experience on our offbeat travel community on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/NotYourUsualTravel
@Shivya – Ooh, sounds like an interesting group, right up my alley. I’ll have a look now 🙂
Looks like an interesting place 🙂
Nice photos and a nice introduction to a place I’ve never been. I love the architecture, as well.
Jason
Great city, great architecture, and great review 😉 Definitely I must visit it!
I’m so glad you wrote this beautiful article about Kiev. I was just there last fall and it was hard to find information before I went. Wish I had read this then. I thought Kiev was a beautiful city.
The Ukraine has always fascinated me. Just wanted to say thanks for this very informative and entertaining article.
The architecture is amazing!
Great city, interesting architecture as someone already spoke!
Greetings from Ukraine! Kiev is one of the best cities in Ukraine. There are really a lot of things to do in Kiev. Ukraine is in need in such a good promotion like your post. Thank you.
@AdorableLand – Happy to help. I really enjoyed visiting Kiev 🙂
Wonderful architecture and history, and obviously so much to see and do in general for traveller and photographers. Speaking of photography, you have some very beautiful images here!
Thanks, Andrew. Kyiv was surprisingly interesting (surprising, because I didn’t know any better) – and well worth a much longer stay.
Beautiful photos.
I always go to “branded” destinations. Paris and Rome, in Europe. Of course they are beautiful cities, but there must be many beautiful cities and landscapes which are not on the typical tourist routes.
Everything looks so pristine and well cared for.
Beautiful
Great post about Kiev, thanks!
A small adjustment: it’s just “Ukraine”, unless you usually write “The Norway” of course.
Noted 🙂
Hello! So delighted to find your blog and a post about an off the beaten path destination. Photos and descriptions are great. Those churches are stunning. Headed there soon for a week for the elections and hope I have time to see some sights. Last time I was there was in 1990 as a Russian student and only remember the caves and monastery. Surely they’ve cleaned up the city since then. Can you respond to this with your food experience?
Thanks, Michelle 🙂
My brief visit to Kiev was not exactly of the culinary kind, and it’s been a few years, so I’m afraid I’m no good when it comes to Ukrainian food.
Hello Anne! I searched the internet for information about the Hundertwasser House in New Zealand found nothing but a post about toilet brought to your blog !. since I live in Kiev, then wondered what was written about my city, thanks for inspiring travelers to come and see the city and thanks for an interesting blog. :)The next time gladly drive you by car to airport
Thanks for your kind words, Nadya. I really enjoyed Kyiv – and there’s heaps more of Ukraine I’d like to see.