10 REASONS to VISIT KYIV (Honest Guide)
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 тра 2024
- Your ultimate travel guide to Kyiv... well, sort of. Here are some of the reasons why to visit Kyiv and our tips on where to eat and what to see. You'll have an amazing time, trust me!
We've also been to Chernobyl and that was incredible experience... check out our vlog from there: • Inside Chernobyl & gho...
Special thanks to Visit Kyiv for inviting us! If you want more tips on what to do, check out their youtube channel: • Kyiv Guide: Top 20 pla...
Map with places we visited:
bit.ly/visitKyivHG
If you feel like checking out on our insta life, here are some links!
Janek: / janekrubes
Honza: / honzamikulka
our Instagram battle: / realhonestguide
Check out our facebook page here:
/ honestpragueguide
and let us know what would you like to see!
We hope you'll have an amazing time!
Thank you for your support!
Honza Mikulka & Janek Rubeš
Some things to note in Kyiv based on the 10 or so times I've visited in the last 2 years:
1) remember Ukraine is NOT (yet) in the EU or the Schengen area - so you may or may not need a visa. UK people don't though you may get asked that at passport control or suchlike. Also the land border between Ukraine and Poland can result in long waits depending on time/day and where you are crossing. Crossing on a Sunday is particularly bad.
2) EU roaming does not apply for phones. When I go to Kyiv from the UK I get charged £2 a minute for calls and £8 per *MEGABYTE* of data. Get yourself a cheap SIM from Kyivstar or another local company while you're there.
3) Finding someone in a shop/restaurant/bar who speaks English can be a bit hit and miss. Younger people tend to know a bit of english, older people usually none at all
4) As Janek mentions, tourism hasn't caught up with Kyiv yet in quite the same way as (say) Prague or Budapest - service can be...erratic and waitresses, hostel staff and such can be a bit surly by western standards. The food is excellent but don't rely on everyone in your group getting their food at the same time
5) there are very few party-type hostels in Kyiv. Maybe even just the one. Many hostels are more like boarding houses with semi-curfews and suchlike. A lot of them have a fair few locals looking for work or between apartments. If you're looking for a hostel place with a bar and more of a party atmosphere then Dream Hostel in Podil is possibly your only option. If you're just wanting somewhere to leave your gear when you go sightseeing, a good hostel can be as little as 5 euros a night. Just read the reviews carefully, especially if you want to check whether there's anyone there who speaks any english.
6) A lot of the nightclubs and bar have quite strict door policies. If they don't like the look of you, then you might as well walk away. Unfortunately in a few places people of a darker shade of skin might find it virtually impossible to get in. Kyiv is not quite the multi-cultural country as those further west. Attitudes from a few might come across as more...shall we say...old fashioned.
7) You can't take suitcases on the metro without buying a second ticket.
8) Wizzair and Ryanair are falling over themselves to do cheap flights from Kviv, Lviv, Kharkiv and Odessa - even if you can't get a direct flight from where you are it might be still viable to go via Poland, Budapast, Bratislava, Riga, Vilnius and a few other places. Many ukranians work in places like Poland so there are cheap fares - we're talking £10 for a one way ticket to Warsaw. That's AFTER taxes. I'm not kidding.
9) Kyiv has Uber. Would strongly recommend it. You can get a 20 minute journey for 2-3 euros.
10) Go to Palata no.6 - that's the bar where if you order certain drinks they set your head on fire. Kind of. Look it up here on UA-cam.
11) It's "Ukraine" - NEVER "the Ukraine". That's what the Soviets called it. Also get in the habit of spelling it "Kyiv" as opposed to "Kiev".
12) The place Janek showed you Lisova has a HUGE second hand clothes market. It consists of loads of stuff from the rest of europe that's been donated or given away. You will find literally anything from super-obscure football shirts to leather jackets. The good stuff is on the racks but more expensive, the stuff in not so good condition is in good piles but will never be more than about 30UAH per item. Though you might want to keep an eye out for fakes. Some areas of the market have stuff tagged with a price and different days have different discounts.
(the next ones were added about a day later)
13) I'm probably asking for trouble adding this - If you're a single guy using tinder or suchlike in Kyiv, expect plenty of matches - however while girls in Ukraine are almost uniformly stunning, you will encounter a number of hookers. That said, they will make it very plain that money needs to change hands very early in the conversation. If a girl asks you to go on viber/whatsapp within a couple of messages, expect the first message on there to be a price list. There are also a few girls who, while not hookers per se, will require money/gifts for their time/company. If/when you do get a date on there with someone who isn't the type mentioned earlier, don't expect to be going back to her place at the end of the night just because you're from the west and have a bit of cash - attitudes are more....traditional over in Ukraine. Go steaming in looking for someone for a one night stand and you'll be quickly called a sex tourist. You will find a lot more ladies looking for a long-term relationship than wanting to hook up. Oh and the gentleman always buys dinner :P
14) Kyiv. Is. Safe. Don't let your local press tell you that Ukraine is "war torn" or some shite. The conflict in the Donbass is like 600-700km away from the capital. If you were in london and a bomb went off in Berlin, would you dive for cover? Exactly. You will see soldiers in the streets of Kyiv, but only in the sense they are travelling to and from places rather than on duty. Besides that and a few more army recuitment or "support our troops" style posters around, you'd never know anything was going on. That said - DO NOT travel to the Donbass region. If you want a bit of danger, go visit Chernobyl.
Aside from the usual warnings that apply when abroad like being aware when using an ATM or being on public transport, walking the streets of the city day or night should go without a hitch.
15) Be careful crossing the road - drivers in Kyiv often take red lights as more of a suggestion rather than an instruction.
This should be pinned. :P Very good explanation and information.
I aggree with you! Im half Ukrainian and half Finn. I speak Russian and understand Ukrainian. One more information is that Kyiv is half Ukrainian and half Russian speaking area. Every sign you see in streets or what you hear metro is in Ukrainian but people around you speak Russian. Sometimes people mix those languages and sometimes question in Ukrainian answered in Russian and its normal. But its not political its more practical reason.
But have to say number 3) its good to learn some Ukrainian and Russian words. People don't know English. Its also good thing becouse it pushes mass tourism away atm.
7) Suitcases in metro and double ticket. Thats definitely sounds cheating. I had last 10 years everytime big suitcase with me. There is allways bigger gate for bigger stuff or wheel chair(yes funny becouse they even dont have any lift there). Who knows maybe Im wrong and they only let me in everytime with suitcase becouse I speak language. Or maybe paying extra is some new thing. Anyways for me it sounds absolutely tourist cheating/trap
9) ůber is good but if you know language there is other cheaper apps and sometimes normal taxis only 1€ or less.
12)Around the country no matter are you in market place or in mall they have sometimes reals and fakes in same shop. For example underground mall Globus in Maidan they have many shoe shops where you can find fake Nike/Adidas and real ones at the same shop. Be careful if it matters
Jayfive276 this was very informative. I live in the Las Vegas and have always wanted to visit this lovely city. Thanks for the info about the hostel and clubs and everything. I'll be sure to read tbis again one day before I head to Ukraine.
BUDMO , hopefully I did that right .
Cheers
Great tips, visiting soon thanks!
Jayfive276, nice tips. But regarding the food. There're significant issues with compliance of sanitary rules in amost all of cafes or restaurants. Even in expensive ones. I don't even want to mention about street-food sale points like "Shawarma" (Doner) and similar - it's total disaster. Can't say that you'll definitely die after tasting this, it's rather the matter of disgust.
About drivers: althought the speed limit in the city is 50 km/h, it's not a surprise to see people driving 80-100 on the streets (and more on the avenues - up to 200 km/h at the night). They don't respect red lights. When crossing the road look above: if you see the green arrow (allows turning right on red light but after giving the priority to pedestrians and cars from "green" direction) - be sure they'll treat it as "green light" and may hit you and run away. They same is regarding crosswalks without lights - you need to have the combination of impudence and prudence to cross the street. So, start walking but be ready to stop or retire at any moment. This is often complicated by cars paked just before and on the crosswalk - so, drivers can't see you're going to cross the street.
May Ukraine and Kyiv be restored someday soon.
Definitely looks like a place worth visiting. I was quite impressed from what I saw.
All the best to all Ukrainian people. With love from Prague. :*
Jan In love with prague! Really want to move there in the future! With love from Israel from an Ukrainian😘
Same
I am so sad that I am not able to visit the beautiful city of Kyiv :(
Hopefully in the future!
Sláva Ukrajině, z Čech! Красиве місто, брати. :)
Motorák Дякую! Ви Чехи найкрщі! Thank you! You Czechs are awsome
Děkuji moc brát!
Hrdinům Sláva!
Thanks bro
Дякую. Прага теж прекрасне мiсто
Big love to the people of Ukraine x
I love Kiev where I studied for 7 years. ❤️ from Nepal 🇳🇵
Kyiv
Went to Kiev. Beautiful city . Amazing people. Great history. Hello from Israel.
London is the capital of great Britain 😂
Kyiv, not kiev
@@user-yn9pj1vb9i it's Kiev in english... you don't see english speakers call Germany "Deutschland"
@@mkgzt no. In the USA, recently renamed kiev in Kyiv
@@mkgzt it's the same as Peking was renamed to Beijing and Bombay to Mumbai. The correct version should have been Kyiv from the start.
Love Ukrainian brothers from Romania💜🇷🇴🇨🇿🇺🇦
Bukovina and Dakia it's Ukraine
Resprayy ❤️❤️❤️
I was just in Romania it was so chill
Greetings from Cernăuți, love you too ♥
I loved Kyiv. I was there for Eurovision in 2017 but I also did a lot of sight-seeing. People were very friendly, the food was great and it was one of the cheapest holidays ever. I'd love to return someday.
Kiev in English
@@louisecorchevolle9241 no. Kyiv is correct
I was in Kyiv last year for 2 weeks during Eurovision and I totally agree it's amazing city: cheap city and great food and beer!
Me too visited Kyiv for Eurovision! Both the show and city was amazing
Since it's cheap do you call it trash?
Kyivska Perepichka..
Sounds quite funny in Serbian.
The beauty of Slavic languages! :)
Vladimir Spasojević Hahahaha I was waiting for the “ti materina” when him say that too
Thank you for showing our beautiful city through your eyes! The recommendations are legit.
I have visited 4 times in a years time and I must say .... I absolutely love Kiev .... and I keep going .... its so beautiful and amazing .... Well done Janek.... Loved your video and lots of love from United Kingdom..... slava Ukraine
i would recommend you to use the word Kyiv instead of Kiev, cause Kiev is what Russians call it and Kyiv is the Ukrainian name. A lot of Ukrainians might not care, but it`s nice seeing foreigners use the word Kyiv, at least for me...
Can I ask something please...... why there is so much hate for Russians by Ukrainians ?
@Tima - Do you also hate Russian People personally ?
@Tima very good thinking. Honestly I hate politics... however I feel Ukraine has now become a battlefield for USA and Russia ... they just manipulating and implementing their own agenda's. Donbas in Ukraine, South Osetia in Georgia, Karabakh in Armenia, Transnistria in Moldova.... Its sad.
@Tima ... No I didn't mean physical army from USA... I meant the proxy war.
I think you did Kyiv very proud. I'm going back next year....well done you two. ..
no dont go back!!!!
Wow. This is THE best Kyiv guide I’ve ever seen. Great work!
absolutely right
KIEV In English
Thank you Czech bro, welcome to Ukraineeeeee🇺🇦🇺🇦
Ya boi
Impressive that "Dva pyva, buď laska" translates almost perfectly into Czech as a request for two beers, so much so that I didn't notice it was Ukrainian until the end of the video. Thought it was just kind of a weird phrasing or something. The more you know!
Czech language is very similar to Ukrainian
Yes bro = tak brate = так брате )
Omg I’ve been watching your channel for a while and have just discovered you made this video of the beautiful capital of my country 💙💛 this has warmed my heart so much
Definitely checking that city out ! Much love from Houston,USA 🤝
i am a Ukrainian girl:) Thank you! They would love Texas rangers there!:):)
V B ❤️❤️❤️
Come to Kiev to participate in the Nazi torchlight procession!
Come to Kiev to participate in the Nazi torchlight procession!
Next stop, Lviv?
On The Edge Lviv is awesome !! 6 months living there, by far is my favorite City in the world!!
Lviv is really really great but very similar to Czech cities due to the common herritage, so I wouldnt expect the HONEST GUIDE guys to rush there.
@@f4ust85 but I think there are probably also some tourist traps, because meanwhile Lviv is well known
@@louisecorchevolle9241 😂😂😂 what a bull shit
Lwow not Lviv
Please make more videos about different cities in Europe as Warsaw Dresden Vienna etc
Provocateur Vienna isn't dangerous at all
Cabro Howl Yeah, you're completly right :)
This park in front of the Prague main station is actually the most dangerous place in Prague and I walk daily past the park to a work, nothing ever happened to me.
In Vienna there are shady districts you don't want to pass during night but the city itself USED to be much cleaner (austrian mentality vs czech mentality).
That is not a fair comparison at all.
You will find tourist traps in every popular tourist city, Vienna is still less popular and more of a Business / culture city than the mass tourism / historic city.
Anyway, I like Vienna a lot but as I said, it's way more developed city with nicer infrastructure etc., but Prague is a unique gem in the world.
Cabro Howl both are safe and very similar cities. Prague and Vienna are essentially sister cities, shared history and they look extremely similar as well, buildings, streets, architecture. Vienna is still a bit richer but not that much. Communism is the only thing the two cities do not have in common
Czechs and Ukrainians are brothers 🇨🇿🇺🇦❤️
Come to Kiev to participate in the Nazi torchlight procession!
@@globalpower6967 for this you would better to visit russia - the center of fascism and nazism. And may be you'll manage to see the new Hitler - mister putin aka "Huylo", as Ukrainians call him (dick head in English)
Call me Olo thank you so much Czech brothers 🇺🇦🇨🇿♥️
Since when? !!🤨🤨
Конечно
I'm from Kherson, and it's also Ukraine and i LOVE Kyiv, Really, it's very big and totaly awesome city!
I'm so happy that you visited my country - and, maybe, if you wanna visit Ukraine again - I will show you how cool my city too. Because Ukraine is full of really cool places! And what about Kherson... We have forest, desert, sea and a lot of old buildings here! :)
And thank you for your videos, my mom will visit Prague this week, and those video very useful, and I visited Prague twice and also love this city (and Brno)
Хайола Кавада I am Czech and I know a lady from Kherson who broke my heart :D
Хайола Кавада yes! Kherson very nice and beautiful city!👍
we did stay one night in Kherson on the way from Odessa to Kyev(to see 'desert' nearby)- with all respect, Kherson is just another soviet city built as a 'warehouse for the workforce'- terrible soviet 'architecture' and city layout....(I am talking just about architecture you see there)..
its so sad to see cities like that all over former SU.
......anyway, loved Ukraine, had a great time- but these 'soviet' cities -horrible
letecmig it's a pity, but you're right - we have too much common with Soviet architecture in our cities...
Я з Херсону, параша нодосрана, хоча будівлі часів Романових гарні
Thanks so much guys! I'm going to Kyiv in 2 weeks and I was thinking how ideal it would be if Honest Guides made a video on the city. I'm even more excited now!
Think I need to add Kyiv to my wish list this looks great and you seam to be having a great time ! Got to be one of my fav video you have done outside the Czech republic! I am from the UK but love Prague try to get there once a year . Love city breaks starting to tick places of the list but it keeps getting longer. Lol
Veronica Rains is da best ! :)
Finally I can watch this video 🤗 Greetings from the guy from the plane to Kyiv 🖐️
i love your Ukrainian! It sounds great and almost without any accent)
Except for the fact that he calls it "kee-ev" when in Ukrainian it's called "keev"
I fell in love with this city, and I can't wait to go back! I must admit, I wasn't expecting much before I arrived, and I have never been so wrong. So many historical buildings, amazing (and quite affordable) food, lovely and friendly people... Kyiv is a hidden gem, and it definitely deserves more tourists.
Slavs love to lie!
As Czechs we should honour our friends from Ukraine! Thank you!
PanRasputanek dekuji cesi!:)
Povaha Cheham vid Ukraincya! Djakuyu!
Thanks bro
Thank you! I Was in Prague 2 weeks ago
Kyiv and Prague are my favourite cities 🇺🇦🇨🇿
Thank you, I ❤ Prague!
Thank you for video. It is so nice!
Kyiv is beautiful!
OKSANA, tochno tak. Kiev krasivij gorod, no i sama znaesh, najboljshaja chast Kieva postroena v sovetskie vremena.
A nacionalisti govorjat, eto byli uzhasnie vremena. No, kto unichtozhil Kiev 1941 do 1943 god? Gitlerovci, oni eto sdelali. A gorod iz poroha, kto postroil?
The Honest Guide makes me wanna get up and travel the world, great videos, you bring it so well. Keep it up!
Děkuji moc for such positive video about Kyiv!
I love this video! Love the way you guys filmed it and what you tell in it and your attitude in general. Such a pleasure to watch. Greetings from Kyiv! :)
P.S. Huge respect for spelling the name of the city correctly :D
Honza & Janek, I started watching your videos before I went on erasmus study exchange in Prague in 2016. Your videos about Prague has helped me so much back then. Now 3 years later seeing you guys doing all these travel VLOG's makes me really exciting. So much to catch up
Just found this honest guide channel and I love it keep up the good work 🤙🏽🔥
Kiev seems to be a beautiful city
Great video guys. As always!
This is a fabulous video. It was fun to watch but most informative. I really appreciate you putting this video together. Great job.
Thank you, guys! This is the best video about my city so far! 💚
Added on my bucket list!
I'm from Kyiv! These places are very familiar to me! Thank you for visiting and your video!
Kiev lear English
Awesome. Looks fascinating. Love to kyiv from India 🤗👍
Beautiful:) Watched all your videos before going to Prague...and watched this one once back from Kyiv. You have done a great job showing my home city. I even did not know a couple of bars as not living there anymore. Thanks
I want to visit Ukraine one day, the land of my ancestors! Greetings from Brazil!
You did a good job promoting. Kyiv is so wonderful
Janek and Honza! Thanks a lot for the fantastic video about Kyiv!
I have to say you have quickly turned into one of my favourite youtubers. I like your style, especially in confronting scammers. Visiting Kiev at the end of August so I'm hoping you'll put out more videos about it :) Cheers keep it up!
Been there 4 times the last year just love it
*nice to see u doing guide for kyiv*
congratulations, you made us wanna visit kyiv! great video as always!
Thanks for the guide. I checked out a lot of these places and stopped at Puzata Hata for lunch after a long day. Great food and got to try Borscht for the first time
Thank you for such positive review!
4:57 "ty vole no way" :D :D :D best
Literally the best tourist guide video I've ever seen! very informative, I will be visiting every single place you recommended!
Very nice overview! Kyiv is a city with a soul and one of my favourite's in the world! :)
💖💖💖 Prague and Kyiv are my favorite cities😍😍😍
On one side, i'd love to see the city growing economically. On the other hand though, I loved how untouched the city felt. The world (and tourism) would be better if tourists at least tried to blend into the local cultures instead of becoming dead giveaways.
I live in Kyiv and I really loved your video❤️ Thank you so much for sharing your experience there:)
Amaaaaazing video about our city. Thank you!
Дякуємо за цей ролик!
which camera and lenses have you used to shoot this video ? very well shot :)
Thanks so much for making this video! I miss kyiv already. Sharing this with my friends.
thanks man, you are the best!
did the metro trains look familiar? they looked like what Prague had/has
suddenly i am interested in Kiev!
Good job! Kyiv is now on my bucket list...
Kiev in English. Moskva in russia is Moscow in english
@@markkrivoshein9099 this I agree partly Ukraine geographically can only say they have the heritage of Kiev Rus although by quarrels and mongol invasion it could no stay in the today area. Ukrainian specially from the west want to create an identity that does not exist It is the sole country were 80% of people speaks language that a minority want to irradicate . They could easily if they were wise be a bilingual country with ukrainian language as afolklorish sign a little be like Belorussian to which is difficult to find a speaker. As Kiev is a russophone city every one says Kiev except the conductor of metro. It is silly but the so called ukrainian nationalists are full of hate. We can also admit that Victor Yanoukovitch was a poor leader ( when elected not promoted by Putin but by Gleb Pawlosky; that time able to make elected a Bear
@@markkrivoshein9099 It is true Staline did not at all forbid ukrainian he codified it as Kommissar of nationalities. You exaggerate Shevchenko masterpieces are a shining heritage heritage of humanity despite he wrote a lot in russian As also cultural heritage of Ukrainian Insurgent army in a joint venture with German Einsatzgruppen. sa was also was cultural heritage west ukrainian with guards in centers as Sobibor and Treblinka. Do not forget that also cultural ceremonies -unique in Europe- take place in Lvov to commemorate ukrainian Grenadier division SS Galizien. nowhere you will see such cultural event !!!
@@markkrivoshein9099 thank you I didn't
know
to book the flight on line it is Kiev
It was a true pleasure to be briefly featured in this great episode nearly 5 years ago already. Thank you Honza & Janek, for making this legendary gem.
Thanks a lot for introducing us to such a beautiful city... definitely gonna visit!
I live in Kyiv!! Great video!! I like to get that exact cake from Milk Bar, too!!
please in english Kiev
Hello from Poland 🇵🇱 🇺🇦
Thanks a lot for visiting my hometown. Your guide is great!
Best Kyiv video so far. Thank You!
Beautiful city.
Thank you for the video! Hyped to go
AWSOME VIDEO GUYS!! YOU NAILED IT!!! AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PUTTING ME IN 0:19
4.17 spotted georgian food...great video!
Georgian food is pretty popular in Ukraine
Oh now you are in Kyiv and I am in Prague :D we exchanged the cities. I went to Prague and saw your video in Kyiv.....
just booked our tickets from UK. can't wait.
Thanks! I'm from Kyiv, but now living in Berlin. It was pretty to see my city in this way and feel that i miss it so much
Привіт з України, так хочу повернутися до рідної столиці
wow, překvapko, thanks guys. additional thumps up to spelling right the capitals name:) Hope you enjoyed it there.
My native city. We are always glad to receive guests, we have something to surprise our friends. Welcome to Kyiv.
I loved this episode, Will definitely visit soon!
What a coincidence, I've been a loyal fan of Prague Honest guide from the start and I was just in Kiev 3 weeks ago visiting for the first time! I had really great adventure there. Yes, it's super cheap and Independence square is lovely... especially at night with the colored fountains. Strange , you didn't mention Arena City and many other cool bars around the city (?) Also, no mention of all the mind-boggling gorgeous girls walking around... hmm Janek, maybe you are gay :) Just razzing you, great video... keep up the great work! I'm in Lviv now (charming town) and my next destination is Odessa... I'm getting the full Ukrainian experience this year! YAY!!!
Doc Colour what a coincidence, I am from Ukriane, I watched Janek's videos, went to Prague,I am now there. Now I open UA-cam and I see Janek being jn Kyiv :D
That's pretty funny) Have a great time in Prague :D
Wow!
Hey man!:) Really nice format that makes video really interesting and kinda.. energized. Kyiv is a really beautiful city;)
Hell yes! So happy you guys covered my home town! :)
it’s so great to see your guide in ukraine ( kyiv). Waiting for you in lviv
Poignant watching this today for the first time! 💔
I feel like I am there! I visited Kyiv last year and loved it!! Absolutely underrated and unique. Love your video!
Awesome guide! Making me more excited to visit Kyiv soon!
Guys, that was an incredible video. Thanks very much that shown my country this way. Kiev is just a great city!
Awesome. Love to all Ukrainians!
I live in Kyiv and loved this guide, mainly because of your positive energy ;)
I am going to Kiev in November! Really looking forward to it!
There Metro Token costs 8 UAH? Been there in January, a Metro token was just 4 UAH. Maybe I should invest in Metro Token :)
Yep. Price was increased few weeks ago.
They change the color of the metro token each time after the price rise, you can not use the old ones
@@alexanderp1254 That's too bad but good to know. Thank you! 👍
Растет как биткоины
Great video, but you still didn't saw many great places in Kyiv) I hope you will make another episode)
Great job great content!! Keep it up
I have been to Kiev many times and loved it every time.