11 December
Visiting Kiev (Kyiv)
Kyiv is the city where the modern and the ancient make excellent opportunities for historical and aesthetic exploration. However, before you visit this fabulous city, take your time to figure out at least two questions: where you will spend your nights and how you are going to get around the place.
Let us consider selecting an accommodation. Start by considering your budget and personal preference, you could either choose to rent a room in a Kiev hotel, or rent an apartment. Count the stars on Kiev hotels to evaluate the comfort you require and the price you can afford.
The Ukrainian capital has a number of luxury hotels. There are virtually dozens of less luxurious Kiev accommodation opportunities. A five star hotel will be approximately $400-850 per night, 4 stars will cost $150-$500, 3 star hotels will cost you about $70-300, 2 stars will be from $50 to 120 and small and one star hotels cost around 25-100 per night.
There are as well a couple of hostels in Kiev for youth. In a regular hostel you will find unpretentious but clean accommodation facilities and some beds in one and the same room.
In case you are looking for an opportunity to save some buck, you can rent an apartment. Instead of a small hotel room for about $90-150 you could get a luxury flat in the city center. Single room cheep flats can be found for less than $50. Many companies that give for rent such Kyiv apartments might as well meet you when you arrive. It would be much safer to book the apartment at least a couple of days in advance.
If you are pressed for money or would like to have something more extreme, you could rent sleeping space in a train. There is a train depot not far from the train station ?Karavaevy dachi? where you may rent a compartment for about $15. Attempt the option at your own risk.
Surely few people come to Kyiv to spend their time indoors. The megalopolis provides many wonderful places of interest if you can find your way around. There's nothing to worry about, though. The system of public transport is fairly decent.
The most convenient way to move around is Kiev taxis. the driver will take you from the airport to your hotel or apartment for less than $35. Generally, for a visitor from the European Union or the US, the Ukrainian taxis should be quite inexpensive. It is easy to taxi Kiev around. Nevertheless, if you do not plan on using only taxis in Kyiv, the city offers lots of transportation options.
First of all, it is the metro that covers most of the city. It is very convenient when you have to travel large distances during hot hours with huge traffic jams on the roads. Second, there are buses, trolley busses and trams. These types of transport are quite cheep: you pay a fixed amount to drive any distance. However, they don't have a schedule of passage. Next, you can travel afoot or use Kiev's special transport - funicular that escalates the bank of Dnieper River. And finally, you can just use your feet.
Come to Kyiv. This city has got plenty of sights to impress a curious visitor.
