Kyiv

Kyiv (Kyiv), the capital of Ukraine, is one of Eastern Europe's most magnificent cities — a place of golden-domed Orthodox churches, wide Soviet-era boulevards, steep wooded valleys and a profound historical depth that stretches back more than 1,500 years. The city has been the subject of much international attention since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, but remains a city of extraordinary cultural richness and determined civic identity. The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Cave Monastery) is one of the most sacred sites in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and a Unesco World Heritage site — the underground catacombs contain the mummified remains of monks, and the golden domes above create a skyline of extraordinary beauty. The Saint Sophia Cathedral, also Unesco-listed, contains 11th-century Byzantine mosaics and frescoes of extraordinary quality. The Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) is the civic and symbolic heart of the city, site of the Orange Revolution (2004) and Euromaidan protests (2013–14). Andriyivskyy Descent, a winding cobblestone street leading from St. Andrew's Church down to Podil (the lower city), is lined with artists, antique dealers and street performers. The Podil neighbourhood along the Dnipro River is increasingly vibrant for restaurants and bars. Ukrainian cuisine — borscht, varenyky (dumplings), chicken Kyiv (a local invention here) — is excellent. Always check the current travel situation before planning a visit.