15 Best Kyiv Tours & Experiences 2021

M

Alinka’s “Awful Kyiv” tour was the quirkiest tour I’ve ever taken. The weather “helped” us with a rain, but I’m used to it, and it could not spoil this very unusual walk. I did not have any expectations before the tour, I just wanted to experience something more than the guidebooks are recommending. And I got it – a feeling of living one day as a local (since I’ve booked 2 tours with Alinka, we spent quite some time together). I’ve got a chance to see how many contrasts Kyiv has to offer: just imagine seeing almost ruined wooden buildings (inhabited ones!) and super fancy penthouse right next to it, and then – a garbage dump, surrounded by strange yet beautiful graffities and amazing views of the city from this same garbage dump. Church that looks as a factory in Chernobyl, the radiotower built on the cemetery and so much more! I especially loved taking that old red tram and walking among buildings that Alinka funny called “inhumane architecture”. We finished our tour in the district full of bars, where I spent my last hours in Kyiv. Alinka showed me her favorite bar, and we were sitting there for some time talking like good old friends! Alinka even helped me calling cheap local taxi to deliver me to the airport. Thank you for a perfect last day of my trip! I’ll be back for more!

Reviewed by Maria / Airbnb • June 10, 2019

Awful Kyiv Walking Tour

B

Mezhyhirya Residence Tour

We toured the Viktor Yanukovych residence, also known as "the house of corruption" and had our collective minds blown. Our guide/driver arrived early, was intelligent, informative, and spoke perfect English. He was also well versed in US politics, which helped give context to our tour and made everything very present.

If you had seem the house on the news, be prepared that it's all so much worse in real life.

There is no way that we could have explored the expansive grounds, health club, house, etc. without a guide. And, hard to imagine a guide who was a better fit for our interests.

Reviewed by baltoellen / TripAdvisor • October 06, 2019

Mezhyhirya Residence "Musem of Corruption" Private Tour with Local Guide

H

An excellent experience

We headed to Chernobyl for a 1 day tour with Green tour, which was fantastic. Chernobyl as you can imagine was an amazing experience and I highly recommend using Green tour to do so. We was picked up promptly outside of our hotel in Kiev city centre. We were greeted by Konstantin and Jane, both of which were very knowledge and both are a credit to your service. They went above and beyond what was expected of them and gave us information of other things to do around Kiev. Both of them made the trip that little bit extra special.

Reviewed by Holly0707 / TripAdvisor • September 11, 2019

Chernobyl & Pripyat Small-Group Day Trip from Kyiv

S

Absolutely fantastic

We spent the day with Konstantinis. He was so informative and helpful, answering any questions we had throughout the day. His English was excellent. He really made the day a memorable one. He went out his way for every request we had.

The tour itself isn't cheap but it's good value as it lasted the whole day. It's a very eerie and incredible experience from start to finish and there was a lot more to it than I expected.

Reviewed by Steve P / TripAdvisor • May 19, 2019

Chernobyl & Pripyat Private Day Tour from Kyiv

Simply Awesome-The guide and the tour

If you want to tour churches, this is not the tour for you. Want military history, nope not for you either.
Do you want to see the real Ukraine, the real Kviv, Han this is the tour for you. We spent the day walking though the real Kviv most tourist never see. We spent time where the real Ukrainians live not just where the tour buses go. We saw the underbelly, we saw the beautiful graffiti, we saw amazing city views from high above the city.
The best part wasn’t even the tour itself, it was the guide. We talked we conversed, I learned about many different topics from an expert. We discussed politics, history, economics, jails, guns, art, how the youth live, how other lives. We talked about everything under the sun.
She was magical, we saw the rich and we saw the poor. Great tour but the guide was even better than the tour itself.
I cannot rate this high enough, 10 stars would barely scratch the surface. The guide is lovely, knowledgeable, fun, laid back and beautiful.
Towards the end of the tour she will show you a bunch of bars, restaurants and cafes and many other things that will turn your good trip into a great trip. 15 stars!!

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Reviewed by David • July 23, 2019

Awful Kyiv Walking Tour

Amazing local experience in Kiev

I decided to spend 4-5 days in Kiev from Sweden with my daughter and we did quite a few things including the usual sight-seeing and restaurants. Kiev is a nice city but what was very unexpected are how amazing the people are there. Snzezhana and her family were absolutely top notch in their hospitality and making us feel welcome for this quite unique experience which was a good takeaway. Simple home cooked Ukrainian food which my 9 year old daughter really enjoyed hopefully more than I did. ;-)

A great thing to do with kids or a couple or just alone ;-) Snzezhana speaks good English (and Ukrainian and Russian and some Spanish ;-) so never fear.

Her parents (her mum is the one teaching) are wonderful and looking forward to meeting them for egg painting class when I come back next!

Thank you very much!

Activity in Kyiv: Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class. Photo by Dinesh who visited that tour.

Image by Dinesh who visited Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class.

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Reviewed by Dinesh • November 04, 2017

Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class

My favourite part of Kiev!

By far my favourite thing I did in Kiev! Snzezhana and her mother were so incredibly kind and sweet...it felt like being at home while away and travelling. Snzezhana picked my friend and myself up from our hostel and brought us to their apartment where we were greeted by her lovely parents. Her mom had made delicious home-made juice, I believe called kompot, which we sipped throughout our cooking class. We chatted and heard about life in Ukraine while learning to make delicious borscht and three different kinds of varenyky. I can't wait to show off my new cooking skills for my family at home! The best part was eating our creations...SO good! I can't recommend this trip enough! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Image by Bethany who visited Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class.

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Reviewed by Bethany • September 20, 2017

Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class

Fabulous personalised tour!

I got lucky and was the only person on this tour so I was able to personalise it a bit to what I was interested to know about. Katerina, the guide from Green Tours Ukraine, was wonderful - knowledgeable about Ukrainian history and a pleasure to spend hours wandering the city center with. She also provided me with a lot of advice for the rest of my time in Kiev, along with where to shop/buy gifts for people. Would highly recommend the company she works for to anyone looking for a good tour at a very reasonable price.

Reviewed by Sarah • June 13, 2017

Kyiv City Centre Small-Group Walking Tour

Yanna is so sweet!

It was my third time in Kyiv and this time I brought friends with me to Ukraine. We enjoyed the walk very much and even though I had done also another walking tour from Like A Local it was awesome that the two routes had very little in common. Yanna showed us some beautiful buildings, little statues of Kyiv symbols, took us to the cafe with best eclairs and shared her personal feelings and opinions about Ukraine and was flexible to finish a bit earlier when we got hungry. Thank you, Yanna, for a lovely day!

Image by Ülane who visited Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local.

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Reviewed by Ülane • October 15, 2019

Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local

A must do in Kyiv

By far one of the best decisions I made in Kyiv, was to have a tour with Alina. The unique knowledge that you will gain about the city of Kyiv and the hidden gems within it makes her tour absolutely worth every penny.

She is also a very pleasant, kind and intelligent girl, to the point that you forget that you are actually on a tour - she has that natural ability to make you feel welcome, and that you are in the company of a friend exploring the beautiful city of Kyiv.

Highly recommended to all!

Reviewed by Anwar • May 05, 2019

Kyiv Backyards Walking Tour with a Local Blogger

Alina is awesome

It’s not like a tour, but like meeting a friend in Kyiv who knows every little story behind buildings, monuments and murals, and who doesn’t rush to follow a schedule. We saw interesting street art, heard lots of stories of corrupted politicians (surprise!) and were impressed with the density of backyard bars, cafes and other establishments. Alina is sweet, thoughtful and flexible in any situation – even if it involves a 8,5mo baby :) and great tips for other things to see and do, including bars.

Image by Ülane who visited Kyiv Backyards Walking Tour with a Local Blogger.

Activity in Kyiv: Kyiv Backyards Walking Tour with a Local Blogger. Photo by Ülane who visited that tour.

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Reviewed by Ülane • November 02, 2018

Kyiv Backyards Walking Tour with a Local Blogger

Hidden Gems, the title of this tour fits !

Yanna speaks English fluently. She isn't pushy, knows how to handle in a perfect way with visitors to her city (what is generally called 'tourists').
After her tour I performed the walk mentioned in the Lonely Planet. Besides the starting point + about 300 metres + the end of her walk, nothing was common !
So I recommend to everyone visiting Kiev to book her walking tour !

Reviewed by Eric • August 01, 2018

Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local

MUST SEE in Kyiv - so much fun

Yanna is friendly and very knowledgeable. We walked around the central area for a good 4 hours, but she told these stories that really brought the city to life. After the tour you'll probably know a lot of interesting places that even the locals haven't heard of. This was a great way to spend my first day in Kyiv. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.

Image by Martin who visited Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local.

Activity in Kyiv: Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local. Photo by Martin who visited that tour.

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Reviewed by Martin • July 02, 2018

Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local

Fantastic!

My husband and I had such a great time in this cooking class. Snezhana picked us up and took us to her mother where we made borsch and varenyky. Wherever we travel we always try to find cooking classes, but this was the first time we had one in someone’s home. Thank you for a great time!

Reviewed by Anne • May 26, 2019

Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class

True hidden gems

I would like to thank Yanna for her fascinating stories on the old and modern history of Kiev. She is enthusiastic, mobile, intelligent person.
I am firmly suggest Yanna as a guide for her deep and factual knowledge and wish her all the best.
Oksana Soul

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Reviewed by Oksana • June 17, 2019

Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local

Great tour

The tour toook us theough the center of kiev. We did not know what to expect but we got very good information about the coty/its people and the history. She also tool us to see some shops and pointed us to restaurants/bars.

Image by Hans who visited Kyiv City Centre Small-Group Walking Tour.

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Reviewed by Hans • August 08, 2017

Kyiv City Centre Small-Group Walking Tour

Highly recommended

We had fun cooking borsch and varenyky in a typical Ukrainian apartment, guided by the Mom and the Daughter and supervised by Tobi.

Do not eat a couple of days before attending the class:-)

Reviewed by Priit • December 10, 2018

Ukrainian Borsch and Varenyky Cooking Class

Great Tour

We did the Hidden Gems Tour with Yanna and it was great. She showed us around the city, pointing out the not so obvious and provided us with a lot of information.

Reviewed by Kristin • June 16, 2019

Kyiv Hidden Gems Tour with a Local