Andriivskyi Descent and around. Castle Hill, the Bulgakov House and Podil at the foot of the hill

2.5 hours · Meet at 17:00
Kyiv, St. Andrew’s Church (top of the Descent)
St. Andrew’s Church above Podil at dawn
St. Andrew’s Church on Andriivskyi Descent
A view from Castle Hill over the rooftops of Andriivskyi Descent
The Bulgakov House Museum on Andriivskyi Descent
Podil and the Dnipro at dawn
St. Andrew’s Church above Podil at dawnSt. Andrew’s Church on Andriivskyi DescentA view from Castle Hill over the rooftops of Andriivskyi DescentThe Bulgakov House Museum on Andriivskyi DescentPodil and the Dnipro at dawn

Andriivskyi Descent is the best-known street of old Kyiv. It runs down from Rastrelli’s baroque St. Andrew’s Church to Kontraktova Square in Podil. The route follows this slope and steps a little aside – to Castle Hill and the house where Mikhail Bulgakov lived.

Why go

  • See the only building by architect Rastrelli that survives in Kyiv – St. Andrew’s Church at the top of the Descent
  • Hear the legends of Castle Hill, one of the most mysterious heights of old Kyiv
  • See the Bulgakov House, which the writer later described in his novel “The White Guard”
  • Walk the whole historic Descent, from the baroque church on the hill to merchant Podil below
  • Finish at Kontraktova Square, Podil’s trading heart for centuries

Route

Starting point:
St. Andrew’s Church
Meet at 17:00 at the top of the Descent
St. Andrew’s Church
The only Rastrelli building that survives in Kyiv
Museum admission is a separate ticket, not included in the price
Castle Hill (Kyselivka)
Legends of the caves and underground passages of ancient Kyiv
One Street Museum
A private collection on the history of Andriivskyi Descent itself
Museum admission is a separate ticket
Bulgakov House Museum
The Bulgakov family lived here in 1906–1919
Kontraktova Square
Podil’s historic trading center
Kontraktova Square
Expected to finish around 19:30

Good to know

What’s included
The price covers only the FantoTravel guide. Admission to St. Andrew’s Church, the One Street Museum and the Bulgakov Museum is paid separately on site.
Footwear
The Descent is steep and cobbled – we recommend comfortable flat shoes.
Group
The ideal group size is up to 15 people.
Tour language
The tour is conducted in Ukrainian.

We start at the top of the Descent, by St. Andrew’s Church – the only building by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli that survives in Kyiv. From there the street winds downhill past old houses, art galleries and souvenir stalls that have made it famous among locals and visitors for decades. Along the way you will see Castle Hill (Kyselivka), one of Kyiv’s most mysterious heights, wrapped in legends of caves and underground passages. A separate stop is house No. 13, where the Bulgakov family lived in 1906–1919 and where his museum is today: the writer later described this very house in his novel “The White Guard” as No. 7 on the fictional Alekseevsky Descent. The route ends at Kontraktova Square, the heart of ancient Podil, where the Descent meets a market square with centuries of trading history.

Schedule

Wed
Nov 11
17:00
15 seats left

Organized by: FantoTravel · Guide: Shevchuk Taras Olehovych

Places on this tour

St. Andrew’s Church Museum. Rastrelli’s masterpiece where the Apostle Andrew foretold a great city

St. Andrew’s Church Museum. Rastrelli’s masterpiece where the Apostle Andrew foretold a great city

23 Andriivskyi Descent, Kyiv

from20UAH
One Street Museum. The world’s only museum about the history of a single street

One Street Museum. The world’s only museum about the history of a single street

2-B Andriivskyi Descent, Kyiv

from200UAH