Known for its religious architecture, striking monuments and fascinating Eastern history, Kiev (Kyiv) straddles the Dnieper River dividing the Ukraine.
The country’s capital will host the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest from Tuesday May 9.
Visitors have already begun flooding in from all over the world to participate and spectate at the famous event.
To mark the occasion, Lonely Planet local Pavlo Fedykovych has revealed to Express.co.uk his top seven things to do in the charming city.
1. Visit Andriyivsky Uzviz
With its bohemian atmosphere and attractive hilly setting, this street has always been the home of Kyiv’s artists.
It’s lined with independent galleries and quirky workshops, making it the perfect place to pick up a handmade souvenir from one of the local artisans.
2. Try delicious Ukrainian cuisine
Ukrainian food is just as tasty as it is cheap. Try traditional varenyky (filled dumplings) or for a typical Kyiv urban snack, the perepichka (sausage in a fried bun). Kyivska Perepichka, a popular vendor outside Teatralna metro station is the best place to grab one of these.
3. Admire Art Nouveau architecture
Kyiv’s eclectic cityscape makes it a perfect destination for architecture lovers. On a single street, you can find baroque buildings next to Soviet-style apartment blocks, or elegant Art Nouveau palaces overlooking newly built skyscrapers.
4. Explore the City of Golden Domes
Kyiv’s splendid churches gave it the nickname ‘City of Golden Domes’. Two unmissable examples are the Kyevo-Pecherska Lavra monastery complex and the grand St Sophia’s Cathedral, both Unesco World Heritage sites.
You can spend days admiring the medieval frescoes and baroque facades.
5. Stroll along the river
Kyiv spreads along the wide Dnipro river, and its numerous islands offer a great range of outdoor activities.
Truhaniv island is the perfect spot for relaxing walks or cycling with beautiful river views.
During the summer, Hydropark becomes leisure central with sandy beaches, water activities and fancy bars.
6. Check out gigantic Soviet monuments
Kyiv was once the third-largest city of the Soviet Union, so it’s no wonder that colossal apartment blocks, socialist-realist frescoes and bizarre modernist buildings are found pretty much everywhere in the Ukrainian capital.
But there’s one structure you simply can’t miss: the enormous Rodina Mat (meaning ‘Motherland’) memorial, part of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. With a height of 102m, it’s a distinctive element of Kyiv’s skyline.
7. Enjoy the low costs
For visitors from the UK, Kyiv’s prices are fantastically cheap. For example, one metro ride will cost you about 0,15 euros, while opera tickets start from just one euro.
Food and accommodation costs are also much lower than in other parts of Europe which makes the Ukrainian capital a very tempting budget-friendly destination.
