BootsnAll Travel Community

Food

For cheap eats in Kyiv (and all the cool kids say "Kyiv" not "Kiev") stick with the cafeteria-style restaurants. They not only offer you a wide selection so that you can sample many different Ukrainian meals, but they're very cheap. A meal of soup, main dish, side dish, large beer and desert should run you about $5.00.

There are several chains to pick from. The signs will all be in Cyrillic, but I'll try to transliterate: Drova, Domashnya Kukhnya, and Puzata Khata.

All keep an eye out for the occasional street kiosk selling baked goods. These are also cheap and general safe to eat. If the kiosk is busy the food is probably pretty fresh.

Drinking

Everyone in Kyiv drinks. Despite the stereotype, beer is the beverage of choice these days, not vodka. However, both are extremely cheap and sold at kiosks on every block. A large bottle of beer will run under one U.S. dollar. A bottle of local vodka about $4-5. Try the local honey pepper vodka for something different.

Sitting in a park with your friends and drinking beer is a big past time during the summer. Bring your guitar along and you're set for the day.

Kvass is also a popular drink in the former Soviet Union. You'll see large, generally yellow, vats along the street with vendors selling the lightly alcoholic drink made from fermented bread. It'll set you about less than a dollar.

Sights

Kyiv is a city of beautiful, golden-domed Orthodox churches. Most of them have large squares in front which you can wander and take as many photographs as you want. St. Sofia is now a museum and there is a small charge (less than a dollar) to enter the grounds. Each building inside has a seperate, but cheap entrance fee. St. Michael's is still a working church so it is free to enter, but you must be respectful and be aware of services going on.

The Bird Market is actually much more than just birds. From dogs of every type to kittens, pigs, chickens, fish, and turtles, this giant pet market is great to wander and spend an hour in. Just be careful you don't end up walking away with a Doberman puppy like we did or it doesn't qualify as free and cheap.

Maidan Square is the heart of the city and where the Orange Revolution took place in 2004. Wander around and look for buildings still decorated with the occasional star or hammer and sickle. Watch out for con men who'll drop their wallet in front of you and then accuse of you of theft when you pick it up and hand it to them.

That's it for now. I'll add more as I think of it or if anyone has any particular topics of interest.

thanks so much, very helpful!

I only made it to Lviv last trip. Hope to get to Kyiv soon.

I agree...quite helpful. I'm planing on making Kiev and other parts of Ukraine part of my RTW trip. If you think of anything else to add, I'd definitely be interested in reading it.

thanks for the great post. I'm heading to Kiev with my brother from 22-26 November, I'm guessing the parks won't be full of people, being cold and all. Any recommendations that are different during this time of year?

Hi Nebratu,

You're right. As the weather has turned colder (quite a bit colder), the parks have started to empty out. This will be my first winter here myself so I'm not really an expert on all the cold weather activities yet.

You could check out a museum or one of the endless little cafes and whole in the wall pubs. There is always theater, art galleries, and music as well. The theater will more than likely be in Ukrainian or Russian, but it would still be interesting if you're in to that sort of thing.

I'll try to think of more cold weather ideas and post them soon.

My suggestions


Food

As far as cheap fast food goes Fornetti is a must in Kiev. The small baked pastries filled with everything from apricots to beef are available at stands throughout the city and the cute little oven may become a good friend of yours quickly. The pastries are sold in 100 gram increments in Ukraine (about 1/4 pound) and they should set you back about a buck.


Shopping

Ask around about which markets are cheapest for what you are buying.


Sights

Visit the Kiev Water Museum located near the Friendship Arch.

The opera is extremelly cheap. In June, was able to buy tickets at the Opera House just minutes before the show. I'm sure it will be a bit busier when you're there but I don't think it's quite peak season yet. You can buy tickets at booths around the city, but that was way too confusing for me. I recommend just going straight to the Opera House to the little office to the left of the main entrance.

If you're flying in, they should hand out a "What's Going On" guide (In English) on the plane, which will have schedules for all types of shows and events that week. I'm sure you can pick them up around the city too.

So what would you recomend for cheap places to sleep?

To sleep, ideally you befriend some sweet Ukrainians and stay in their housing block. If that doesn't work out too fast (try couchsurfing.com and hospitality club) then you should probably go for a local Youth Hotel. (The hostels are hideously overpriced averaging about $25 a night not to mention disgusting.) This one on Hostelz.com looks ok. Also on Hostelz.com you will find some apartment services at reasonable prices.

Skobb -

Going to be in Kiev next week!!! Any suggestions on a place to stay and things to do????

Thanks!!!!

Hi Brooke,

I'm not sure when next week you'll be here, but most of the nice hotels are all booked. There are some VIPs from the States coming to town and consuming all of my time.

I know there are a few nice hostels in Kyiv although I haven't stayed at them. Do a google search for hostels in Kyiv and you should find them. I think there are 4-5 decent ones. There is one at 52 (or 54) Artem Street that is supposed to be decent and fairly large so you should be able to get in. It is also a good location.

If you're looking for a Western hotel though be prepared for exorbitant prices (like $600-900 exorbitant).

Good luck and feel free to PM me with any questions.

I haven't stayed in Kyiv for a couple of years, but in Odessa recently I got a nice room from one of the babushki that wait at the train station for travelers to arrive.

My train arrived in town in October in pouring rain at 6 am, but I was besieged by charming little old ladies, all wearing official credentials around their necks that show them as registered to accost you (in a nice way of course). Be careful in your choice, but these hosts are legitimate.

I thought one deal was promising, and went about 10 min walk to the flat. It was in terrible shape and I had to refuse, but there were no hard feelings. We both went back to the station, she looking for another customer, and I for another babushka.

I had better luck with my second choice: 5 minutes by tram from the town center, a nice room with TV and kitchen rights for $30 USD. My host and I shared tea and stories (I speak Russian but no Ukrainian), gave me tips on what to see around town, and she helped me get a cab to the airport when I left on a 7 am flight a few days later.

I gather the same arrangement is available in Kyiv. If you try this, before you leave to inspect, ask first how far to the apartment, on foot or by transit; what is the price; will you have the apartment or room to yourself; will you get your own key; and IS HOT WATER AVAILABLE. Not getting a key really isn't a showstopper, as many babushki are doing this to augment their meager pensions, and simply stay at home all day, and let you in/out as needed.

Make sure you get your host's name, address, and phone number written down. Even if you don't read Cyrillic, you can show the address if traveling by cab. This is a very comfortable alternative to the sky-high hotel rates in Kyiv (Odessa is also outrageous), and a great way to meet the locals.

quote:

Fornetti

we have them in Romania as well but they are not only LOADED with calories but not worth the money either [thought they are VERY cheap anyway]. a good way to save money though lol FYI Fornetti is a European Franchise which you'll find all over the ex-communist countries and they taste the same all over

quote:

Originally posted by skobb:
all the cool kids say "Kyiv" not "Kiev"

quote:

Киев, Украина

Has the Orange Revolution been reversed, and Ukraine returned to the Soviet fold?

quote:

Originally posted by SputnikLee:

quote:

Originally posted by skobb:
all the cool kids say "Kyiv" not "Kiev"

quote:

Киев, Украина

Has the Orange Revolution been reversed, and Ukraine returned to the Soviet fold?

Hey! I don't have Ukrainian enabled on my computer. Good catch though.

Ukraine has not yet returned to the Soviet fold despite the best efforts of some.

Ok, I left Kyiv yesterday (I'm in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan now!) and I can tell you that the hostels are few and they are very unlike those in the EU (or Guatemala for that matter!). I stayed at 2 different ones - the first one Yaroslav and it was just OK but there was no one there. There is no internet access, no matter what hostelworld says. There was no one there and I moved to the highly rated one on hostelworld and yeah watch out! The guy running it will drive you NUTS and there is NO privacy and NO CHAIRS TO SIT ON - you stood or sat on bed, but not if on the bottom bunk! The shower was broken, the beds hurt, and you can't even bring food back from the store to snack on. But, there were tons and tons of people in this little little flat (which I think is better than no people when traveling alone) and a wi-fi connection that was sporadically working. It's a toss up between the two, but after dealing with the guy for 2 days, i'd be prepared for solitude somewhere else.

quote:

Originally posted by Brooke vs. the World:
Ok, I left Kyiv yesterday (I'm in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan now!) and I can tell you that the hostels are few and they are very unlike those in the EU (or Guatemala for that matter!). I stayed at 2 different ones - the first one Yaroslav and it was just OK but there was no one there. There is no internet access, no matter what hostelworld says. There was no one there and I moved to the highly rated one on hostelworld and yeah watch out! The guy running it will drive you NUTS and there is NO privacy and NO CHAIRS TO SIT ON - you stood or sat on bed, but not if on the bottom bunk! The shower was broken, the beds hurt, and you can't even bring food back from the store to snack on. But, there were tons and tons of people in this little little flat (which I think is better than no people when traveling alone) and a wi-fi connection that was sporadically working. It's a toss up between the two, but after dealing with the guy for 2 days, i'd be prepared for solitude somewhere else.

That sounds pretty much like Kyiv. It can present a pretty picture, but once you scratch away the surface you find that things just don't quite work here yet. It is getting better though...slowly.