The Most Amazing Attractions & Places to Visit in Kiev

Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, is a beautiful city filled with Orthodox churches, monasteries and cool hang-out spots. Best of all, Kiev is not only one of the cheapest countries to live in Europe, but it is super budget-friendly for travellers too! Read on for a one-stop guide to the most amazing places to visit in Kiev.

WARNING: This post was created before the war in Ukraine. We are in no way promoting travel to Ukraine at this time, due to the ongoing conflict.

The best places to visit in Kiev

Pejzazna Alley

First up on our list of places to visit in Kiev is Pejzazna Alley. This cute little street is great for a stroll through a colourful mosaic wonderland. Whilst the alley is mostly for kids to play on the slides, it’s still fun for adults to admire the bizarre designs and quirky features. You will find a giant Alice In Wonderland play area, a wall with cat designs, and even benches decorated with mosaic tiles. Not only is this alley great for photo opportunities with life-size animal designs, but you will also have magnificent views over the Dniepr River.

St. Sophia’s Cathedral

Like when exploring Odesa, Kiev also has plenty of fascinating buildings to marvel at. St. Sophia’s Cathedral is a spectacular building that is a popular attraction for tourists. The cathedral dates back to 1037 and is Kiev’s oldest standing church. Inside the church, there are many tombs of several Ukrainian princes. What makes this church impressive is its 13 golden domes that will leave you in admiration. To go inside you must pay a small entrance fee. You can buy your ticket from the kiosk before entering the grounds.

St. Michael’s Monastery

St. Michael’s golden dome monastery is a famous site in Kiev. The blue walls and fascinating design with shiny new cupolas are something to be admired. The monastery was built in 2001 and is a copy of the original that was torn down by the Soviet Union in 1937.

Independence Square

Independence Square is a great place to hang out and get in touch with the locals. Parades and festivals often take place in the square as it’s in the heart of the city.

Kiev Pecherk Lavra

The Lavra is a complex of Orthodox Christian monasteries and caves. It’s considered the holiest ground in Ukraine as pilgrims regularly visit the site. For tourists, the complex is fascinating, and the designs of each monastery are outstanding. The grounds are well-kept and make for a nice stroll among the horse-chestnut trees. Whilst the Lavra is not free, it still makes it on the list of cheap things to do in Kiev because it only costs 30 UAH ($1.18) to enter the complex. However, you will need to pay extra should you want to go inside some of the museums.

Rodina Mat / Motherland Statue

The Motherland Statue is a 62-meter monument that represents how the Soviet Union became victorious in World War 2 after defeating Nazi Germany. If you want to delve deeper into war history, you can pop by the WW2 Ukrainian history museum, which is located on the grounds of the Motherland Statue. Aside from the statue and the museum, the park is a nice place to stroll around.

Chernobyl & Pripyat Ghost Town

A trip to Chernobyl from Kiev is not cheap in comparison to the other things on this list, but it is an absolute MUST when backpacking Ukraine! Plus you get a full day out, a chance to wander around a ghost town and indulge yourself in the history of the world’s biggest nuclear disaster. A trip to Kiev would not be complete without venturing out for a day trip (or even an overnight trip) to Chernobyl. Chernobyl is the place where a huge nuclear disaster took place in 1986. Subsequently, an entire town was abandoned and inhabitable for over 600 years.

Click here to search for tours to Chernobyl.

Where to stay in Kiev

Budget private room: Favor Sport Hotel – This hotel provides modern, clean rooms at budget prices. Perfect for those who want their own space.

Dorm life: Citrus Hostel – Super cheap dorm rooms! Surrounded by shops and metro stations, making it super easy and convenient to get around the city.

Have you been to the love tunnel yet? Find out how to make the trip to the magical love tunnel here.

Essential resources for travelling in Ukraine

Travel Insurance – No matter where you’re travelling to, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re covered for any accidents or losses. We spent days and weeks searching for insurance, but most insurers would not allow us to take out a policy as we were already abroad. Our personal choice is Safteywing. You can opt for automatic monthly payments, just like a subscription. More importantly, it is available in 180 countries and can be purchased whilst already travelling. There is no cap on the duration of travel.

Visa – Before you travel to any country, make sure to check if you need a visa. iVisa is a fantastic website that is super easy and quick to use. Just type in where you are from. and where you are going. to check if you need a visa. If you do, you can quickly make an application online.

Accommodation – Booking.com is our go-to when looking to pre-book accommodation online. Booking.com tend to almost always have the best rates and a FREE cancellation policy for most properties.

Overland transport – Our go-to website for overland transport is Bookaway. Bookaway offers multiple forms of transport, from buses, mini-vans, trains, and ferries. The routes on offer are extensive and certainly cover most of the backpacker trails. Bookaway works a little like Skyscanner but for overland transport. You will find plenty of transport options from a range of companies. All you simply need to do is book online and receive your ticket by email. The email will contain essential information, such as where the bus leaves from and departure and arrival times.

Tours & Activities – If you want to book tours and activities online, make sure to check out Get Your Guide. Get Your Guide takes the stress out of booking activities abroad. You will also find a range of benefits, such as skip-the-line passes, lunch included in your tours, and so much more.

Travel tips ebook -Before you head off on your adventure, make sure to download our free ebook. It has a whopping 109 budget travel tips to help you make your hard-earned cash go further. Click here to download your FREE ebook.

Planning to travel more in Europe? Check out how to explore Krakow cheaply!

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