Tour guides Ukraine > Kyiv

5 ideas for guided tours in Kyiv

• Andriivskyi Descent

  

  The legend of this charming sloping street dates back to the Apostle Andrew, who is said to have climbed it to plant a cross at the top, declaring, “A great city will stand on this site.”

  In ancient times, it was the quickest route from the port, where craftsmen lived, to the upper town with its administrative buildings. Stretching 750 meters, the cobbled Andriyivskyy Uzviz winds between Starokyivska Hora (Kyiv’s Old Hill) and Podil (the lower town), where it ends at Kontraktova Square.

  This street is arguably the most picturesque in the Ukrainian capital. You’ll find cafés, art galleries, amateur painters, and vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs. At the top of the hill stands the striking St. Andrew’s Church, a gleaming 18th-century Baroque monument with brilliant blue and gold accents.

• Kyiv Pechersk Lavra

  

  The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a monastery founded in the mid-11th century on the right bank of the Dnieper. It became a major spiritual center of the Orthodox world, attracting vast pilgrimages until 1917. The golden domes crowning its churches are visible from afar, making it one of Kyiv’s most important landmarks.

  The complex is divided into two parts:

  – The Upper Lavra: the visit begins behind an 8-meter-thick defensive wall. Inside, you’ll discover numerous monuments, including the bell tower and the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Church of the Trinity-over-the-Gate with its beautiful frescoes, as well as the Museum of Ukrainian Treasures and the more unusual Mykola Syadristy Museum, dedicated to the world’s most famous micro-artist, who created astonishingly precise miniature works of art.

  – The Lower Lavra: dotted with caves where the first monks made their homes. These catacombs hold the mummified remains of 123 monks, many of whom are recognized as saints.

• Saint Sophia Cathedral

  

  In the heart of Kyiv, Saint Sophia’s Cathedral stands out with its green and gold domes glittering in the sun. Behind the white walls, thousand-year-old frescoes and mosaics slowly reveal themselves, as if the stone had kept the memory of the first Kyivan princes.

  Inside, the vast space is striking — massive columns, painted ceilings, faces faded by time yet still watching. You move quietly, each step echoing in a place that feels contemplative, even with other visitors around.

  Just a few streets away, the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery lights up the hill with its blue facades, while the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra sinks into the shadow of its cave crypts. These sites seem to speak to each other — one all shining light, the other deep, resonant silence.

• Independence Square

  

  Maidan Nezalezhnosti (as it’s called in Ukrainian) is the symbol of the Orange Revolution, which took place at the end of 2004 after disputed election results — a movement during which, sadly, many protesters lost their lives.

  The square, located north of Khreshchatyk, the main avenue of the Ukrainian capital, features monumental Soviet-style architecture. Set slightly back from the road, it’s a pleasant place for a walk and to get a feel for local culture. The esplanade is surrounded by elegant 19th-century villas.

  At its center stands a white marble fountain commemorating the country’s break from the USSR in 1991. Independence Square is still lively today, and if you’re in the mood for shopping, the sprawling Globus Mall with its three levels of stores is right there to welcome you.

• A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden

  

  This historic botanical garden dates back to 1839, and its current name honors Alexander Fomin, a renowned Soviet botanist who directed it at the beginning of the last century.

  Located in Kyiv’s historic center, just next to Universytet metro station, it offers travelers a rare chance to take a deep breath and rest far from the bustle of the city. The park is home to the largest plant collection in Eastern Europe, with nearly 10,000 species spread across 22 hectares.

  Visitors to the Fomin Botanical Garden can also admire the world’s largest greenhouse, which houses some of the tallest palms in Eurasia.