Kiev On a Budget
Kiev, Ukraine
The climate in Kiev is humid continental and the warmest months are between June and August when the average temperature can range from 13 to 25 degrees Celsius. The winter months between December and February have an average temperature that ranges from -5 to -1 degrees Celsius. You can expect snow on the ground between mid November and the end of March.
Sights
There are many museums, restaurants, and sights in the area that are worth checking out. Khreschatyk Street is the main entertainment street through the middle of town. It sometimes closes to vehicular traffic on weekends and you can often see street performers or musicians along it. It's a great place for some people watching and a nice spot to take in every day life in Kiev.Popular sights in Kiev include Kiev Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia's Cathedral, St. Michael's Golden Domed Monastery, and Motherland Statue and War Memorials, among many others. Popular museums include the Chornobyl Museum, the open air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, and the State Aviation Museum.
Neighborhoods
Administratively, Kiev is divided into raions, or districts. The reions include Darnytsia, Desna, Dnipro, Holosiiv, Obolon, Pechersk, Podil, Shevchenko, Solomianka, and Sviatoshyn.Informally, the city is divided into the Right Bank and the Left Bank by the Dnieper River. The islands in the river belong to the left bank raions. The oldest parts of the city are found on the Right Bank, or western side of the river. This is also where you'll find most of the city's businesses and governmental institutions. The Left Bank, or eastern side of the river, is mostly residential. There are some large green areas as well.
Activities
There are many different activities that you can enjoy in Kiev. These include visiting Hidropark Island, walking around Podil and people watching on Kreshchatyk. It's also interesting to visit an Orthodox Church while you're in town.There are also two water parks in town. Dream town aqua park is on the left bank of the city and is one of the biggest indoor water parks in Europe. Aqua park Terminal is a large water park with plenty of slides and pools, including a wave pool.
Food and Dining
Eating out can be very cheap in Kiev, particularly by European standards. It is best to avoid places that cater specifically to tourists. Popular dishes you should try while you're in town include borscht, chebureki, chicken Kiev, and Mlyntzi. You can also find plenty of delicious, cheap baked goods around town.Budget restaurant options around town include fast food chains such as Domashnia kukhnia, Mister Snack, Two Geese, and Olivie. In addition to traditional Ukrainian food, you can also find Mexican, Italian, and even sushi around town.
Transportation
Kiev can be somewhat overwhelming to western tourists because many of the signs are in Cyrillic script and few locals speak much English. The metro is one of the best ways to get around the city. It is clean and fast and relatively easy to navigate. There are three lines, each of which goes through the city center. As recently as 2012, many of the signs and maps have names written in English to assist foreign travelers.Buses and trolleybuses can be caught at any of the marked stops. They can be crowded, particularly during rush hours, so you may have to push your way on. Also available are route taxis that travel specific routes. You can wave these buses down from their stops and you pay the driver directly. You have to tell the driver when you reach your stop.
There are also two types of taxis in Kiev; official company taxis and gypsy cabs. Gypsy cabs are unmarked vehicles that will offer you a ride. Make sure you negotiate the price hard. Prices can vary dramatically depending on the day, weather, traffic conditions, and, of course, your negotiating skills. You can wave down official taxis or call them by phone. You can usually reach someone who speaks English on the phone.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.