Tourist Guide To See The Best Places in Kyiv (Kiev) in One Day

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Kyiv is a very picturesque city that will give its guests a lot of impressions to remember. There are many historical places that well reflect the Ukrainian flavor. Kyiv, as well as many other Eastern European cities, is so big and special that it may seem an impossible mission to appreciate all the advantages and visit all the sights in one day. But in this article, you will find a mini-guide to the sights of the Ukrainian capital you can see in just one day.

What to See and Where to Start

Since you have one day to enjoy Kyiv, it is not a bad idea to do a walk tour around the main and historical sights. You will not believe it, but visiting the main attractions in one day is quite realistic. Below you will find the best travel plan for Kyiv.

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

The best starting point for sightseeing is at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, which is an ancient monastery in modern Ukraine. The monastery occupies more than 20 hectares, where many churches, bell towers, and other structures are located. Caves are open for visiting. Also for those who wish there is an opportunity to visit one of the museums that are located on the property.

One more great reason to visit this monastery is the incredible panoramic views from the observation deck. There you can enjoy a beautiful view of Kyiv and the picturesque Dnipro River.

Mariinsky Park

After a walk through the holy places, you can go to a cozy park where there is also an observation deck that offers incredibly breathtaking views of the Dnieper River and the left bank. This park is located near the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) which can be conveniently toured as well.  What is interesting is that locals call these parks a common name that connects the two parks into one. That is Mariinsky Park, so when you are advised to visit this place, be prepared to walk in two parks.

Wikimedia Commons by: Zeynel Cebeci

A walk along the alleys of the park will quietly lead you to another city park. In this park, you can see the famous Dynamo stadium. In the park, you can admire the monument of Eternal Love where there will be a bridge that connects the Mariinsky park with Khreshchaty Park.

Khreschatyk Street

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After a walk along the shady alleys of the park, you can easily get to the famous Khreschatyk street. The street starts from the square, where the main attraction is the Ukrainian house. It is extremely difficult to confuse this street with another since there will always be a lot of people on it. Often these are tourists. In addition to tourists, there are a lot of musicians, artists and various street performers. There are also many restaurants and shops where you can buy souvenirs and enjoy Ukrainian cuisine.

Maidan Nezalezhnosti

Surely, as a city guest, you shouldn’t miss the main square of this city. This place has become famous around the world in connection with the main events of the struggle for independence. There are several important monuments, sculptures, and fountains. By the by, in the underground part, there is an entertainment center where there are a lot of shops and food courts.

Saint Michael’s and Saint Sophia Cathedral

After a walk along Maidan Nezalezhnosti, it is very easy to get to Saint Michael’s Cathedral where there is a very beautiful monastery. Nearby you can see the Princess Olga monument. Note, this square is one of the oldest.

Then you can get to another ancient square, namely the Saint Sophia Cathedral. Here is the bell tower and a monument to Bogdan Khmelnitsky. In recent years, the main New Year tree of the country has been established on this square and various festive events have been held.

Andriyivsky Uzviz

After the beautiful views of cathedrals, you can go to an equally interesting and beautiful place. St. Andriyivsky Uzviz is a street museum. By the way, there is a museum of the writer Mikhail Bulgakov. In the open air, you will plunge into the Ukrainian surroundings with the help of souvenir shops where they sell themed souvenirs.

Incidentally, this place got its name from the church of the same name, which attracts with its Baroque architecture from 1754. This church is still open, so you can enjoy the beauty of architecture inside.

The Landscape Alley

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Then you can go to the landscape alley and relax in one of the thematic benches and take cool photos. It offers beautiful views of the historic district of the city called Podil. This place is loved by both tourists and locals. There is a fountain in the form of an elephant, a cat with a lot of legs, zebras, and other fabulous characters that are made of mosaics. Here you can also enjoy the music of street musicians and even get on the soap bubble show.

The Golden Gates

Flickr by:  Jorge Franganillo

The next must-visit object of our guide is the oldest defensive structure called the Golden Gates. This is one of the structures of Kievan Rus that has survived in our days. Tentatively, the construction date is 1037. For the time of existence, this gate was not subject to reconstruction or destruction. But even despite this, they have a very attractive look today, and also allow you to feel the full power of Kievan Rus. There is a square around this historic monument. Even though this is the city center, it is very quiet and calm here. There are also many cafes nearby where you can have a delicious lunch or enjoy a cup of coffee.

Botanical Garden

After completing a walkthrough historical places, you can go to a picturesque corner of the city and enjoy the nature of unusually Ukraine. This garden is one of the oldest botanical gardens not only in Kyiv but in Ukraine. The garden collection contains about nine thousand different species of flora. Entrance to the garden is free, and if you visit Kyiv in the springtime, you definitely need to go here. Magnolias will bloom during this period of the year.

The Final Words

One day for a trip is quite real and even enough to plunge into the flavor of the city. Of course, this is not the whole list of Kyiv attractions that would forever remain in your memory. But these places are considered to be the main attractions and a tour of them just fit in one day. But if you have the opportunity to stay in Kyiv for more than one day, then you will find even more amazing places and things what to do in Kyiv that will show it from different angles.

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About The Author:  Jamie Fry – Purposeful and promising author. At this moment he is working at writing services review companies, as Pick the writer and Writing Judge and enhances his blogging skills. Confidently goes to his goal. He has a talent for writing original content. The main conviction in his life: «To be the best in the field in which you are developing». Always in search of fresh ideas.