What country welcomes more than 23 million international tourist arrivals every year, ahead of Turkey, Greece, Mexico, Thailand and Egypt? France for one, in addition to the obvious – Spain, the United States of America, Italy, China, the United Kingdom and Germany. But what about Ukraine? Believe it or not, Ukraine was #8 in international tourist arrivals in 2007, way in front of superb destinations like Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa and Japan.
With Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Romania, Moldova to the southwest and Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Ukraine is beautifully situated and a wonderful country to consider on your next trip. Kiev, one of the most historic capitals in Europe, is the nation’s crown jewel.
With a slew of remarkable landmarks and monuments in store and a history that dates back to the 5th century, Kiev is truly remarkable. Here are ten must-see attractions in the city of just under 3 million people.
Known as Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian National Opera House, the home of Kiev Opera is magnificent. Book a ticket to a performance, whether or not you appreciate opera. The architecture alone is worth the price of admission.
Built in the early 20th century, Kiev’s October Palace of Culture is part museum, part concert hall. The remarkable facility is a vital city landmark.
A fabulous mid-18th century Baroque masterpiece, Mariyinsky Palace is just adjacent to the Verkhovna Rada, or Parliament, of Ukraine. Fully restored since the 1980s, the elegant palace is worth a tour.
A UNESCO World Heritage Orthodox Christian cave monastery that dates back to the year 1015, Kiev Pechersk Lavra is one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.
6. Golden Gate
The mid-eleventh century medieval gateway known as Golden Gate, or Zoloti Vorota, provides Kiev with a brilliant remnant of the city’s ancient fortification walls.
The mother cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has a fantastic Neo-Byzantine facade, with many beautiful interior details. Completed in the late 19th century, St. Vladimir’s Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in all of Kiev.
Known as the Golden-Domed Monastery and still active after hundreds of years, St. Michael’s is a wonderful landmark in the superb Podil district of Kiev. With great views of the old merchant quarter of Kiev, the monastery takes religious architecture and design to new heights.
3. National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War
Though rife with propaganda, like most war monuments, the National Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (a long-winded title if ever there was one) is well worth a visit, if only to glean a greater understanding of the implicit, national Ukrainian identity. The World War II landmark has one impressive feature in the 62-meter tall Motherland statue, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
Though Kiev has numerous museums of high caliber, the State Historical Museum is perhaps the best place to get a sense of the city’s long and turbulent history. The building itself is not half bad to look at either.
Kiev’s crown jewel and grand UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most spectacular cathedrals in the world. Saint-Sophia Cathedral was an eleventh-century attempt to both honor and surpass the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, built some five-hundred years earlier. With a foundation laid in 1037, the ambitious project took two decades to complete and has been subject to many restoration efforts. Today, it stands apart as one of the world’s finest and grandest ecclesiastical landmarks.
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