Hidden Gems of Kyiv
Even if you’ve stayed in Kyiv for a long time and wondering what else is there left to see, there’s always a lot to unpack. The hidden gems can be often discovered only in the company of the local guide, who knows ins and outs. Luckily, Like a Local guide Yanna shows and tells everything about the city’s small wonders in a 3,5-hour walking tour.
The tour is mostly concentrated on the downtown part, namely the Zoloti Vorota metro station. You will discover the secrets of the Kyiv metro, see the oldest city fountain and the mini-monument to the Kyiv’s most recognized dish. Yanna also knows the best places to shop for souvenirs and try local cuisine.
Duration: 3,5 hours
Price: starting at €10 per person
Underground Kyiv Tour
While Paris lures in lovers of the underground with its famous catacombs, Kyiv has something else to offer. Nikolskaya and Askoldova underground tunnel systems hide the biggest underground waterfall and the wondrous stalactites, stalagmites and other formations. Nikolskaya, also called Mykilska, drain system is the oldest part of the capital’s draining system constructed way back in 1916. The guides carefully follow the intricate route of the complicated system with its own rules.
Askoldova system isn’t as old — built in the 1970s, it nevertheless astonishes with its depth of 33 meters. Another.Kiev company that organizes the tour notes that Nikolskaya system is good to visit during any season, while Askoldova is best to visit during the hot seasons as it lies lower.
You will be provided with necessary equipment like torches, gloves and rubber high boots to stay safe during the tour. Kyiv Underground Tour advises choosing other tours if you suffer from claustrophobia, lower back aches or heart diseases.
Duration: 1,5 - 2,5 hours depending on the location
Price: starting at €20 depending on the number of people
Kyiv Murals Walking Tour
It’s not hard to notice that Kyiv is slowly but surely becoming the city of murals. In the recent years, many local and international artists have decorated the tall walls in various city spots to make Kyiv even more beautiful. Like a Local guide offers a walking tour to marvel at more than 15 works of art. The list includes but isn’t limited to the portrait of Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka by Guido Van Helten, “Freedom” by a 3D street painting artist Alex Maksiov, “Ukrainian St. George” mural at the Landscape alley and many others.
Moreover, if you are particularly interested in some murals, you can inform the agency so they include it in the tour list. The local guide knows the background, history and meaning of each of them. The tour is available in English, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, and French.
Duration: 3 hours
Price: starting at €5 per person
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Jewish Kyiv
Usually, when one thinks about the Jewish diaspora in Ukraine, Odesa is the city that immediately comes to mind. However, Kyiv is just as rich when it comes to the sightseeing and Jewish heritage. Kiev Walking Tours company has a 2,5-hour tour that takes you through the memorable and historically important locations in the city.
The main focus of the tour is an exploration of Babi Yar, a site of massacres that took place in September 1941. The park near the ravine has been recently renovated: now there are numerous plaques that educate about the historical background of the site. The guides will also lead you to the biggest synagogues of Kyiv that astonish both with interior and exterior. The pickup and drop off are included in the price of the tour.
Duration: 2,5 hours
Price: €30 for 1 person, €20 each for 2-3 people, €15 each for 4-10 people
Behind the Scenes of the Opera
Many dwellers of Kyiv and guests of the capital visited the Kyiv Opera House. But how many can boast of visiting the backstage? Luckily, nowadays it’s quite possible. Kyiv Friendly Tours offers a walking tour that opens a veil on the secret inner world of the theater.
You will find out all secrets of ‘inner kitchen’ of the Opera House, starting from its history to how it functions nowadays. The guide will show and explain how stage decorations are made and stored, where artists wait for the call to go on stage and, of course, where the beautiful costumes are kept. The tour starting times are flexible.
Duration: 1 hour
Price: UAH 3200
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Underground River Klov
One more underground excursion from Another.Kiev, tour on the river Klov is only scheduled during the cold seasons. During wintertime when the temperature is below zero, roaming the ancient Kyiv tunnels is safe. The tour leads you to one of the most exciting places to visit in Kyiv - the underground world that lies under Khreshchatyk street with more than 15 kilometers of tunnels built starting from the middle of the 19th century.
Guests will have a chance to see three underground rivers Klov, Klovitsa and Khreshchatyk located about 3 kilometers beneath the earth. The guides advise to wear the most comfortable clothes, choose short and light coats in favor of the long ones. Those interested in photography and making great shots can take a tripod for the best pictures.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price: starting at €20 depending on the number of people
Aerial Tour of Podil
The title of this walking tour might sound perplexing but in fact, it’s easy as that. A popular tour agency Kraina Ua offers a cutting-edge tour that opens a 360 aerial view of Podil thanks to the drone flying over the numerous streets and houses. The drone transmits the image into the special glasses, which lets you see a live video of the Kyiv’s oldest neighborhood from the bird’s-eye view. Moreover, you can shift the camera’s focus to see more of what piques your interest.
The group members wear glasses in turns, but worry not – you can still watch the drone’s flight from the tablet while waiting for your turn. To make the tour more convenient, the maximum number of participants is 9 people. So far the excursion is available only in Russian and Ukrainian, so if you want to practice comprehension skills, the legends of Podil told by the guide will be a perfect opportunity to do that.
Duration: 1,5 hours
Price: UAH 295
Photo sources: Another.Kiev Facebook page, Bilanol, meunierd, Nazar Gonchar, hurricanehank / Shutterstock.com. All images belong to their rightful authors.
