... Hotels in Kiev, Ukraine

City Information

Overview of the city

The city of Kiev is a capital of Ukraine. Known as the Mother City for all Eastern Slavic peoples, Kiev is one of the oldest towns in Europe.
The largest city of Ukraine, it is a major industrial, transportation, and cultural center. Among its leading manufactures are machinery, machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, processed food, textiles, clothing, forest products, and printed materials. The city also serves as the market for an agricultural region producing grain, fruit, sugar beets, and other commodities.
A beautiful city with many parks and historical structures, Kiev is built mostly on hills overlooking the Dniper River. The old section of the city, on the right bank of the river, includes hills surmounted by churches and the ruins of ancient castles and fortifications. The newer quarters, on the left bank, were mostly built after World War ²² ended in 1945. The city is served by a subway system.
Ukraine has diplomatic relations with over 135 countries and close to 60 diplomatic missions are established in Kiev. News correspondents, business representatives, and students from all over the world reside in Kiev, and the flow of foreign tourists and official delegations is heavy year round.
Kiev has a big-city atmosphere, more cosmopolitan than any other does in the country, but within its urban sprawl, gracious testaments to its tumultuous history can still be found.
According to the legend recorded by Nestor the Chronicler, a city was founded by three brothers Kyi, Shchek and Horyv and their sister Lybid on the right bank of the Dnipro River. It was named Kiev in honor of the eldest brother, Kyi. Kievans love and cherish the history of their city, a city of priceless monuments of history and culture, a city of big events and outstanding people.
A spirit of some special hospitality can be felt in Kiev. No matter who you may be, a tourist, traveler or businessman from a foreign country, we know that you will leave a piece of your heart in out city. And upon a return visit you will fell yourself not as a guest but almost a Kievan, to whom everything is so familiar and at the same time new. You will want to return again and again. Every guest will find something to his liking in Kiev.

Commerce and Industry

Once called the Breadbasket of Europe, Ukraine is rich in natural resources. This includes excellent agricultural land and a substantial industrial base consisting of coal and mineral resources, and aerospace and chemical industries. Despite this wealth of resources, the Ukrainian economy has suffered badly since the nation’s independence in 1991. All sectors of industry have experienced major production declines.
Ukraine has the agricultural potential to achieve prosperity. It has the world’s largest sugar-beet crops, huge grain and potato resources and some of the richest soil on earth.
Despite severe economical crisis that effected industrial plants the city of Kiev enjoys the leading position among most industrial districts in Ukraine.
The major goals of industrial policy in Kiev are stabilization of operation of the main enterprises, support of the competitive production. The highest share of small enterprises is held by trade and public meals.
By the end of 2002 there were 20 exchanges, 90 commercial banks, 103 insurance companies, 260 investment companies and funds, 411 audit and consulting firms operating in the city.
Kiev has economic relationships with 132 countries of the world. Business contacts with European countries are under development as well; the biggest part of imported products comes from European countries.
Investments from the USA, Germany, Great Britain have the highest specific weight. Foreign investments into Ukraine are mainly targeted into domestic trade (31.1%), finances, credit, insurance (23.5%), and construction (5.8%).

Kiev Statistics

Population: 2,630,400, including: Children and youth under 17 22.2%
Adults 77.8%

Ethnic mix: Ukrainians 72.5 %
Russians 20.9%
Jews 3.9%
Byelorussians 1%

Religion: 85%of Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians
10% are Catholic of Byzantine rite
3% are Protestants (mainly Baptists)
1,3% are of the Jewish faith

Social structure of the city population:
Blue collar and white collar workers33.4%
Students 44.2%
Retired 21.4%

Birth rate: 9.03 births/ 1,000 population
Death rate: 16.48 deaths/ 1,000 population

The number of cultural institutions:
Libraries 251
Exhibition halls 29
Theaters 34
Movie theaters 35
Houses of culture 400
Clubs 41
Educational institutions 49
Secondary schools 410
Technical schools 46
Boarding schools 13
Handicapped children’s orphanages 7
Nursing homes and homes for disabled 7

Time zone: GMT+2 (The country shifts to summertime at midnight on the first Sunday in April by setting the clocks ahead by one hour. On the last Sunday in October the clock are set back again).

Going Out in Kiev

Bars
John Bull Pub, vul. Saksaganskoho36, open: noon-last customer. This corny reproduction of an American country music bar somehow manages to fit well in Kiev. That may have to do with the often excellent live bands playing country, jazz and blues music, and the reasonably priced beer and tequila. Good place for western businessmen in search of Slavic cowgirls.
O’Brien’s Irish Pub, vul. Mykhailivska 17a, open: 8 a.m.-2 a.m. This is the first authentic Irish pub that has arrived to Kiev. Being open since 1997 and offering a choice of food and drink at reasonable prices, it is recognized as one of the best meeting-places in Kiev
The Wall, pl. Besarabska 2, open: 10 a.m.-2 a.m. You may never suspect that there is a cozy bar placed just in the heart of the city, in Besarabsky Market. This bar has vaulted ceiling, old stone work walls decorated with funny pictures, good lighting, digital TV, and friendly service. You can order dishes and drinks of both Ukrainian and European origin.

Casinos
Gabriella, vul. Khreshchatyk1/2, open: 24 hours. Located in the downtown Kiev on Yevropeyska Square (Dnipro hotel), Gabriella casino offers six tables for playing roulette, black jack and poker.
Salute-International, vul. Sichnevoho Povstannya 11a, open: 24 hours. The big casino will attract you with its friendly atmosphere. The bar here is furnished with the comfortable sofas where you can relax for a while and then return to any of 6 tables that are waiting for you all day long. Each week a raffle is held here.

Clubs
Dynamo Lux, vul. Hrushevskoho 3, open: 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Kiev’s oldest avant-garde club. Boasting a 50-year tradition, Dynamo Lux offers first-class entertainment service, including one of the best discos and great shows in town.
River Palace, Naberezhna shosse, next to the Dnipro metro station, open: 3 p.m.-7 a.m. Well-known as a Kiev’s top entertainment spot, River Palace boasting a lively casino, a fantastic night cub, great fun bar, and “Le Jardin” restaurant, offering real French cuisine and the best value for money in Kiev. Enjoy live music in the bar or restaurant, or dance to the latest hits in the nightclub.


Restaurants
Hutorok, vul. Naberezhno-Khreshchatitska, pier 1, open: noon-1 a.m. This is a floating restaurant located on the Dnipro River, serving Ukrainian and European specialties. The restaurant has two levels, so there is enough room for all. The first level features the banquet hall. The house specialties include Vareniki, Holubtsi, Deruny, sausage, blood-pudding, and Beef in Cognal Sauce.

Kiev Culture

Music
Tchaicovsky State Conservatory, vul. Horodetskoho 1/3, tel. 229 0792, a frequent venue for concerts and music festivals. The repertoire features classical selections performed by professors and students of the National Music Academy.
House of Organ and Chamber Music, vul. Chervonoarmiyska 77, tel. 269 5678. House is a beautiful turn-of-the-century pseudo-gothic Cathedral, it is known for its wonderful classical music performances.
Philharmonic Society, Volodymyrsky Uzviz 2, tel. 229 6251. The city’s oldest concert organization features music by classical and modern composers of chamber, instrumental and choir music.

Dance
Taras Shevchenko National Opera and Ballet Theater, vul. Volodymyrska 50, tel. 224 7165, 229 1169.
The National Opera of Ukraine was built in 1919 and has since been beautifully restored. During the opera season many classics are performed - from the traditional Ukrainian opera "Taras Bulba" to Verdi's "La Traviata". The National Opera is home to a very good opera company, a ballet company of considerable talent, and expansive repertoire.

Theater
Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, ploshcha Ivana Franka 3, tel. 229 5991. It’s the theater of High Style, which repertoir consists of the pieces of the world dramatic art and national heritage that in turn creates the conditions for development and search of the new ways of the art expression. On the playbill of the theater are the names of William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov, Michael Bulgakov and Lesya Ukrainka.
Lesya Ukrainka Russia Drama Theater, vul. Bohdana Khmelnytskoho 5, tel. 224 9063, 224 4223. This is one of the oldest theatres of Ukraine that is traditionally glorified by the actors, art directors and artists. The theater is well known abroad, it successfully was on tour in the cities of Israel, Germany and Poland. In the active repertoir of the theater are about 30 titles. If you want to rest, to laugh safely buy tickets to “The Flea in the Ear”, “The Bank Clerks”.

Film
The International Film Festival held in Kiev during the last week of October is a recent tradition that’s bringing exposure to a swag of young, upcoming Ukrainian film directors. Yuriy Ilyenko and Ivan Hrabovsky are two of the better-established names.

Getting Around

Public Transport
The metro in Kiev is the most reliable and least crowded public transport. Plastic metro tokens are bought at the metro stations – go to the ticket window near the downstairs entrance.
Trolleys and buses tend to be crammed tight with people but are a good and cheap way to travel around Kiev. Tickets are ridiculously cheap (a few cents at most). You can buy them at most bus-stop kiosks and sometimes from the driver of trams only. There's usually a small sign near each bus or trolley stop with the vehicle numbers and sometimes times. A stands for bus or bus stop, T stands for a tram or a tram stop, Tp stands for a trolleys or trolley stop and M stands for metro.
Also there are private minibus companies that serve practically the same routs. For the price of 1 – 2 hryvnyas (20 – 40 cents) you will get a faster and more comfortable ride.

Taxis
Although you can order a taxi by dialing 0-58, there is little need. Private cars and taxis swarm the city streets. To hail a car, simply put out your hand and a car will stop. Private cars, meaning cars driven by locals who sometimes act as taxi drivers, cost significantly less than official taxis. Be ware of getting into a private car with mote than one person already in it. Although this is the most common way besides public transport of getting a ride, be careful and use common sense. Most drivers do not speak English. Agree on a price beforehand.

Driving in the City
People in Ukraine drive on the right. Speed limits are generally 60 km/h (37 m/h) in the city, 90 km/h (56 m/h) in unpopulated areas, and 120 km/h (72 m/h) on the open highway.
It's a criminal offence to drive after consuming any alcohol at all. The usual way to establish the presence of alcohol in the blood is with a blood test, but apparently you can be deemed to be under the influence even without any test.
Parking in Kiev is as difficult as in any other major European city. To ensure the safety of you car, park in designated areas. A yellow sign, yellow paint on the kerb or a sign with a red ''X'' means ''no parking''. A diagonal red stripe indicates temporary parking only. State-owned parking lots are located all over the city and have varying prices depending on the location of the lot.

Car Rental
Cars can be rented with or without a driver, but it may cheaper to bargain with a taxi driver if you just want to go to one destination and back for a day trip. Car-rental prices depend on the type of car and whether you have a private driver. Sometimes the charge is by the km, sometimes by the hour, sometimes by the day – and there are always a few hidden taxes and fees.

Kiev Main Attractions

St Sophia Cathedral
St Sophia Cathedral, the city's oldest standing church, was built in 1017-31 in honor of Prince Yaroslav the Wise's victory over the Pechenegs, a rival tribe from the east. Sophia stands for wisdom in Greek. The cathedral bears a resemblance to Byzantine constructions, but there is no direct analogy. Soon the cathedral became not only the holy place, but also a very important political and cultural center. All ambassadorial receptions, crowning of the princes, signing of treaties were held in the church. The first school and library were also set up in the church.
Of great historical and artistic value are the frescoes and mosaics of St Sophia – the original ones of the 11th century. It's a state museum now and is used as a church on special festivals.

For a Whole Day
The Cave Monastery (Pecherska Lavra)
Founded in 1051, the Cave Monastery was Kievan Rus' first and for a long time most famous, monastery. Spread across wooden slopes above the Dnipro, it's a unique array of gold-domed churches, underground labyrinths lined with mummified monks, and elegant monastic buildings turned museums.
The monastery was Kievan Rus' intellectual center, producing chronicles and icons and training builders and artists. Wrecked by the Tatars in 1240, it went through a series of revivals before being mostly rebuilt in the 18th century Ukrainian Baroque style that we see today.

Important Numbers

Fire 01
Police 02
Ambulance service 03
Wreck gas 04
Information about hospitalized patients 003
Directory Assistance-Kiev 09
Pay Directory Assistance 009
Address Information Service 061
Train Schedule Information 005
Bus Station 265 0430
River Port 416 7535
Boryspil Airport 269 7243
Zhuliany Airport 272 1201
Taxi Service 058
Time 060
Telegrams 066
Pharmacy Information 067
CIS Telephone Operator/ Intercity Calls 071
Lost and Found 229 7844