Sights in Kyiv

The top attractions for visitors coming to Kyiv Ukraine

Kyiv has a lot to offer. They say that the city has a soul and who ever visited and touched it leaves a piece of the heart here. Kyiv is ancient, but not old. It miraculously combines two seemingly incompatible things - past traditions and the energy of a young modern city.

The top sights in Kyiv

• Andrew's Descent (Аndriyivskyy Descent)
• Golden Gates of Kyiv (Zoloti vorota)
• House with Chimaeras Kyiv (Gorodetsky House)
• Museum of Wax Figures
• Pechersk Lavra (Kyiv Cave Monastery)
• Pyrohiv (Pirogovo)

The world record sights of Kyiv

If you intend to visit Kyiv you should know its most astonishing and world famous places and be sure to visit them. Here is a collection:

• The longest foot bridge in Europe - on Truhaniv Island
• The largest cinema in Europe - cinema "Kievan Rus"
• The most green of all major European cities
• The deepest subway station in Europe – Arsenalna
• The second highest tower in Europe (after Ostankino in Moscow) – Kyiv TV Tower (380 meters)
• The largest fire station in Europe – Obolonska Kyiv
• The only bridge in Europe which was built only by the method of welding – Paton’s bridge
• The first city in the world where the trolley was connected into the train
• The longest tram route among former Soviet countries - Puscha-Vodytsia
• The city in the former Russian Empire, where the first tram was launched

Of course Kyiv has a lot more to offer. A walk along the main street Khreshchatyk is always an experience. You can also feel the vibe of the city in 50 museums, 20 theatres and concert halls in the capital of Ukraine. Feel free to move on to the best tourist attractions in Kyiv, while we first dig into the past of the city on this page.

The History of Kyiv

The history actually begins 482, but it took until 862 for Kyiv to be mentioned in the "Primary Chronicle” (“Povest vremennykh let”), under the title "mother of Rus cities”, it is referred to as the cradle of the brothers of the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples. Kyiv, the capital of the highly powerful state was one of the centers where the old Slavic culture was born and formed, which is fascinating even in our time.

How Kyiv became its name

According to a legend, three brothers - Kyi, Schek, Khoryv and their sister Lybid founded the city on the slopes of the mighty Dnipro River and named it to the honor of their older brother Kyiv. Another legend tells about how the Apostle Andrew during his trip to the north blessed the slopes of the Dnipro and said that a great city would be built here with a famous name of God. For a long time, Kyiv remained a cultural, educational and political center of Kievan Rus.

The economy in Kyiv

Having survived the hard fate, it remains one of the largest industrial centers of the Ukraine. It represents almost all sectors of the economy – from the modern aviation industry to the traditional food industry. In 2009, GDP amounted to about 33 billion dollars (6th place among the cities of Central and Eastern Europe), GDP per capita was 12 300 dollars. Foreign direct investments exceeded 2.8 billion dollars; exports amounted to over 4 billion dollars. Almost 5.7% of Ukraine’s population lives here. Sector services including transport and communication, retail and wholesale, real estate, legal and financial services form the main sources of contribution to the economy of the capital. Today Kyiv is one of the most developed cities in Europe. The National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has 222 scientific organizations and institutions, with more than 200 employees that are academics whose achievements are known worldwide. For the first time the "Encyclopedia of Cybernetics” was created and published in Kyiv. We can definitely call the city a major transportation hub thanks to a large number of railway tracks and highways, airports and a river harbor. On 28th of April Kyiv together with 40 sister cities celebrate the International Day of related cities. 

The districts of Kyiv

The territory of capital is divided into 10 districts. Seven of them are located on the right bank of the Dnipro: Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Podilskyi, Pecherskyi, Obolonskyi, Holosiivskyi, and three on the left – Darnytskyi, Desnianskyi, Dniprovskyi. Interestingly, the names of some areas preserved since the old days. For example Shulyavka was a common interpretation of the unusual word Shelviv that formed from ancient Shelviv Borok and means an area of low growing trees and bushes of this type. Solomianka is a part of the city where many houses had straw roofs and settlers were mostly poor. Borshchahivka formed from the name of grass borschets. Zhulyany is an ancient settlement, which arose in the place where according to the legend the altar of the goddess Zhela was and accordingly was named Zhelan later. Darnytsia comes from the old words darne or darny (a gift). According to one version, this land was donated by someone in the period of Kievan Rus. Vynohradar is the territory which has been leased to gardeners for growing grapes at the beginning of 20th century. Obolon comes from the old Slavic words “obolon”, “bolon”, “bologna” - meaning low riverbank.

Population of Kyiv

Although no exact data about the real number of inhabitants exists, statisticians are trying to count its numbers based on consumed products. Their estimations are 4.13 million people, and with surrounding areas around 5.2 million people.

 
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