Help my husband will be traveling to Kiev in June. My problem is its hard to find info on that place. We will be in meetings during the day with evenings available. Is it safe for me & another wife to travel by ourselves during the day? Does anyone have recommendations what to do? Any day trips? Any info would be great. Thanks.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Perhaps someone who has been there will weigh in. In the meantime, go to www.lonelyplanet.com and search for Ukraine. They also publish a travel guide for Ukraine.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1600 posts
We were there last summer (family of 4). We traveled about using public transportation. Like most of Europe - found it absolutely safe. Lots to see especially the churches and the monastery (Larva Percha). Walk down Andrew's Descent, visit the water parks on the banks of Dnipro river, gaze at the Rodina Mat statue (representing the motherland).
I suggest a couple of resources.
Lonely Planet has a new version (2009) of their Ukraine guidebook which has all the details. Your local public library may have it (mine does) or you can buy it easily.
Look up the wikitravel website to get some good info
Download the free guidebook from inyourpocket (these guides can't be beat since it is updated frequently and has the most local info)
http://www.inyourpocket.com/ukraine/kyiv
Do note that you won't find any signs in English or Latin script - so go prepared to decipher the Cyrillic alphabet - you will need this if you want to take the metro. Also, don't expect folks to speak English.
One interesting tidbit - The Kyiv (Kiev) metro has some of the world's deepest underground metro stations.
Posted by
Larmor, France
12 posts
It's expensive and fairly tacky. There will be lots of ladies of highly questionable behaviour in your hotel at night. Most likely no one will speak English. Most people are rude.
Lavra is an amazing place..and the city itself is beautiful. Don't get your hopes up though, it is a funky place.