The best way to get to know Kyiv is to walk it with a guide who knows the stories behind the facades. Kyiv has six walking tours: four evening walks through the center, a morning route through contemporary art and a Saturday walk at Pyrohiv. They differ in theme, pace and starting point, so we compare them to make choosing easier.
At a glance: six walks
- [Andriivskyi Descent and around](/tour/andriivskyi-uzviz-i-navkolo): 2.5 hours, meeting at 17:00 by St. Andrew’s Church. For a first look at Kyiv.
- [Kyiv Art Nouveau](/tour/kyivskyi-modern): 2.5 hours, meeting at 17:00 on Bessarabska Square. For architecture lovers.
- [Pechersk sights](/tour/pecherski-lokatsii): 2.5 hours, meeting at 17:00 by the House with Chimaeras. The government quarter and parks above the Dnipro.
- [Industrial Podil](/tour/promyslovyi-podil): 2.5 hours, meeting at 17:00 on Kyrylivska Street. For those who have already seen the center.
- [Artistic Kyiv](/tour/mystetskyi-kyiv-strit-art): 3 hours, meeting at 11:00 on Kontraktova Square. Street art and galleries.
- [Pyrohiv](/tour/pyrohiv-osin-skansen-vitriaky): 3 hours, meeting at 10:45 by the museum entrance. Windmills and wooden churches.
Andriivskyi Descent: a first look
If this is your first time in Kyiv, start with this walk. From St. Andrew’s Church at the top of the street, the route leads up Castle Hill, past the Museum of One Street and the Bulgakov House, and down to Kontraktova Square in Podil. The street is steep and cobbled, so flat shoes are a must. Tickets to the church and museums are paid separately on site, and the ideal group is up to 15 people.
Kyiv Art Nouveau and Pechersk: the architecture of the center
Kyiv Art Nouveau starts at the Bessarabskyi covered market and passes the apartment buildings of Khreshchatyk and nearby streets, the former Geneva Hotel, the House with Chimaeras and the Rykov apartment building. The route is entirely outdoors: you look at the facades while the guide talks about their architects and owners.
Pechersk sights begins at the House with Chimaeras. Then come Bankova Street, the Verkhovna Rada building, Mariinskyi Palace and the Park of Eternal Glory. Part of the route passes secure government sites, so access may be restricted on days of official events.
Kyiv Art Nouveau. Early 20th-century architecture from Horodecki to Ginzburg House
Next: Nov 13 at 17:00
2.5 hours
from400UAH
Pechersk sights. Mariinskyi Palace, the House with Chimaeras and the Park of Eternal Glory
Next: Nov 12 at 17:00
2.5 hours
from400UAHIndustrial Podil: for those who have seen the center
This walk follows Kyrylivska Street from 19th-century breweries to the site of Kyiv’s first central power station. Along the way are the former Richert brewery, the Podil brewery, the Lurie butter factory and the Fort cement plant. Most of these factories are working or mothballed, so you view them from the street without going inside. It is a good choice for a second or third visit to Kyiv, when the classic sights are already familiar.
Artistic Kyiv: from murals to galleries
The only morning walk in the center starts at 11:00 on Kontraktova Square. First comes Podil street art, then Mystetskyi Arsenal and PinchukArtCentre, where admission is free. Exhibitions change, and the guide adapts the story to the current show. The route is mostly on foot, with one short transfer, and admission to the Mystetskyi Arsenal exhibition is paid separately.
Pyrohiv: a village of all Ukraine inside the city
On Saturday at 10:45 the Pyrohiv walk meets by the main entrance of the open-air museum: three hours on foot, from 11:00 to 14:00, among windmills on the hills, wooden churches and Middle Dnipro farmsteads, along the Kalynivka stream and its ponds. The farmhouse interiors are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, which is why the walk runs on Saturday. Wear comfortable shoes for the hills and dirt paths.
Which one if…
- …it is your first time in Kyiv: Andriivskyi Descent.
- …architecture is your thing: Kyiv Art Nouveau, and Pechersk the next evening.
- …you want something unusual: Industrial Podil.
- …your evenings are busy: Artistic Kyiv in the morning or Pyrohiv on Saturday.
- …you have kids with you: Pyrohiv, with plenty of space and nature.
Good to know
- The walks include a guide, while museum and exhibition tickets are paid separately on site.
- The evening walks through the center last 2.5 hours, so in winter part of the route is after dark.
- Prices and the nearest dates are on the cards above.
Want to combine the walks with museums? See our 2-day Kyiv route and our guide to Kyiv museums with opening hours.
