Points of interest

About Ukraine

About Kiev

Points of interest in Kiev

Museum of Historical Treasures in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

St. Sophia Cathedral

St. Sophia Cathedral is the world famous historical and architectural monument of the first half of the 11th century. Its name comes from the Greek word which means wisdom. Built under Yaroslav the Wise, the cathedral served as a social, political and cultural center of Kievan Rus.

Address: 24 Volodymyrska str.

Golden Gate

Golden Gate is the unique fortification monument that survived until nowadays. It was constructed in 1017?1024 and served as a main entrance to Kiev. Great tower with Annunciation Church delighted the city residents and terrified enemies with its inaccessibility. The name of the Golden Gate in Kiev reminds of a famous entrance to Constantinople.

Address: Golden Gate, Zoloti Vorota metro station.

Andriivskyi descent

Andriivskyi descent is one of the most famous streets in Kiev. In ancient days, it was the shortest way from the Upper Town to the Lower Town, Podil, where merchants and craftspeople used to live. It is one of the most beautiful streets in Kiev, which was mainly built up at the end of the 19th century. The street is famous for numerous architectural monuments and museums, two of which are especially worth seeing:

One Street Museum

The museum is devoted to the very street it is located in.

Address: 2b Andriivskyi descent.

Mikhail Bulgakov Museum

The museum to outstanding writer Mikhail Bulgakov, commonly called the Bulgakov House.

Address: 13 Andriivskyi descent.

St. Volodymyr Hill

It is one of the most famous Kiev landmarks. It is a green place with old pavilions offering picturesque views on the left bank of the Dnieper river. Young people come here to celebrate graduation from school and enjoy the first sunrise of their new life. It is also the place where just married couples arrive to make some photos.

Address: St. Volodymyr Hill Park.

Podil

Podil is an old district of Kiev, where craftsmen and fishermen used to live. The district was formed after the fire of 1811, when all the wooden constructions burnt down. Several slopes, including famous Andriivskyi descent, lead to Podil. The compositional center of Podil is Kontraktova square, where each house is interesting in its own way.

Address: Kontraktova Ploshchca metro station.

St. Volodymyr Cathedral

St. Volodymyr Cathedral is one of the most beautiful temples in Kiev. It was built in the 19th century to commemorate the 900th anniversary of Kievan Rus christianization. Russian Emperor Nicolas I approved the project of the cathedral and ordered to collect money all over the country. By 1859, more than 100,000 roubles were donated by people from different regions.

Address: 20 Taras Shevchenko blvd.

St. Cyril Church

The church was named in honor of Saint Cyril, one of the most eminent Orthodox saints. Cyril is also known as Slavonic apostle. Cyril and his brother Methodius preached the gospel in Moravia, the land from which Christianity spread to Ukrainian lands. Cyril and Methodius are considered to be the authors of the Cyrillic alphabet.

Address: 103 Kyrylivska str.

House with Chimeras

Immediately after construction, the House with Chimeras became surrounded with numerous legends. One of them says that the architect decided to construct the house after the death of his daughter who drowned in the Dnieper river. The architect went crazy and decided to decorate the house with the chimerical river inhabitants.

Address: 10 Bankova str.

Khreshchatyk

Khreshchatyk is the most famous and busiest street in Kiev. It is a wide boulevard with plenty of chestnut trees. It is hard to believe that a valley and a river surrounded by forest were at the very same place two centuries ago. Nowadays it stretches from European square to Besarabska square and contains trade buildings, bank departments and luxurious hotels.

Address: Khreshchatyk str.

Museum of Western and Oriental Art

The Museum of Art named after Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko was founded on the basis of their private collection. The museum is also known as the Museum of Western and Oriental Art. Now it keeps one of the best collections of foreign art in Ukraine. Since 1919, the number of exhibits has been 13 times increased, from 1,250 to nearly 17,000 artworks.

Address: 15 Tereshchenkivska str.

Russian Art Museum

The basis of the museum's collection was formed of the private collection of Ukrainian manufacturers’ family Tereshchenko. It reflects all the periods of Russian painting development from 12th century till nowadays in chronological order. A lot of works exhibited there are world art treasures.

Address: 9 Tereshchenkivska str.

State Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art

The State Museum of Ukrainian Decorative Folk Art has one of the largest collections of folk art in the FSU countries. The history of the museum's collection goes back to the late 19th century when a group of prominent Ukrainian and Russian cultural figures sponsored the foundation of Kiev Art, Industry and Science Museum.

Address: 21 Ivana Mazepy str.

National Art Museum of Ukraine

At the beginning of the history of the National Art Museum of Ukraine, there was hardly any concept of Ukrainian professional art. Ukraine was always famous for its national ethnographical applied art. The founders of the museum's collection decided to prove that this opinion was wrong and defined the list of main representatives of Ukrainian fine art.

Address: 6 Hrushevskoho str.

Museum of Cultural Heritage

The Museum of Cultural Heritage was opened on May 29, 1999. The works of those Ukrainian artists who have been compelled to live abroad are presented there. The museum's collection is exhibited in eight halls of the old restored house built at the turn of the 19th century.

Address: 40-B Moskovska str.