KyivCapital
Ukraine · Country profile
Kyiv is the ancient capital of Ukraine, a green city of the golden domes, the broad chestnut boulevards and the river that has sustained it for more than a millennium. The old town climbs the hill of the historic centre, with the gate of the Golden, the cathedrals of the Saint Sophia and the Saint Michael, and the great monastery complex of the Pechersk, while the modern city spreads the parks, the museums and the lively restaurant and cafe districts of the recent generation. The war and its hardship have left their mark, but the city’s cultural life, its famous nightlife before the invasion and its stubborn, warm humanity continue to hold it together. Among the most important cities of the Slavic world, Kyiv is a place of deep history and deep feeling.
About Kyiv
Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. The city's documented population is around 2,960,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) and Ukrainian is spoken; the dialling code is +380.
The Golden Domes, the Chestnut Boulevards and the River
Kyiv is a grand, green, deeply historic capital on the Dnipro, and its old town, its golden-domed monasteries and its broad boulevards give it a scale that matches any of the great Slavic cities. The city is walkable in its centre, the metro is deep and efficient, and the culture, the cafes and the nightlife have made it legendary. The security situation has to be checked before any visit, and the traveller should weigh the practical realities carefully. For those who do come, the rewards are the golden cathedrals, the riverfront, the museums and the extraordinary warmth of the city’s people, who keep the everyday life of a capital going through the hardest of circumstances.
Security, Seasons and the Hours of the Old Town
The security situation changes, and the current official advice of the travel authorities must be the first and the last word on any visit. The city works on the hryvnia, cards are accepted widely and the English is spoken less than in the west, so a translation app helps. The metro is the fastest way around and doubles as a public shelter in the current circumstances. The cathedrals and the museums have their own hours and their dress codes, and the attractions of the old town are the essential walking loop. In the seasons, the spring and the early autumn are the most pleasant for the outdoor life of the city. Check the local guidance closely, stay flexible and travel with the care the times demand.
The Metro, the Cobbled Descent and the Riverbanks of the City
The old town, from the Saint Sophia to the Pechersk monastery, is the essential walk, and the heights of the Dnipro give the views over the river and the left bank. The great gate of the Golden and the churches of the Michael and the Andrew steeple and its market of the souvenir lane frame the historic centre. The metro of the city, with its deep, grand stations, is the most impressive in the region. The Andriyivsky descent, the crooked cobbled market street of the old town, is the traditional souvenir and art walk of the city. The riverside parks, the island beaches and the long, leafy boulevards of the green city hold the local life, and the food, the varenyky and the borscht, carries the Ukrainian table. It is a city of dignity, of history and of an extraordinary endurance.
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- Country
- Ukraine
- Population
- 2,960,000
- Capital
- Kyiv
- Region
- Europe
- Currency
- Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH)
- Languages
- Ukrainian
- Calling code
- +380
- Country code
- UA
Frequently asked questions
Is Kyiv the capital of Ukraine?
Yes — Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine.
What currency do I need in Kyiv?
The local currency is the Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH). Languages spoken in Ukraine include Ukrainian.
What is the dialling code for Ukraine?
The international dialling code for Ukraine is +380.
Flying out of Kyiv? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.