KIEV PARKS RATING

When May comes, Kiev begins to blossom with thousands of lilacs, maples, chestnuts, apples and cherries. The air is filled with fragrance and you can walk by hours in Kiev parks. Here are a few descriptions and Advance-Tour rating of Kiev parks and gardens, where you can walk, sit and take photos enjoying spring.

*****

Mariyinskiy Park and Vatutin Park
Near Metro station Khreschatik (exit up to Institutskaya St.) or Arsenalna

This beautiful city park was formerly known as the Tsar Garden. This is a formal garden laid out in front of the Mariyinskiy Palace with fountains and statues. It has a wonderful view of Kiev’s left bank and Dnepr. It’s a nice relaxing place to stroll or to sit and enjoy the beautiful trees. Many newly-weds come to this park to take photos in their happy day of life.

*****

National Botanical Garden
Timiryazevskaya 1, Metro Station Druzby Narodov

The garden is located on the banks of the Dnipro. This is a large and pleasant park with interesting flowers and plants on display and lovely views over the golden domes of the Holy Trinity (St. Yonah’s) Monastery and the next Vydubitsky Monastery, down to the Dnipro. This garden is particularly famous for the displays of lilacs in spring (early May) . There are some open spaces and benches for picnics, as well as attractions for children by the entrance (bouncy slide, cars for hire etc.). In early spring you can enjoy azaleas in the park’s greenhouse.

****

Spivoche Pole
up from the Lavra, near War History Museum

The top section of the park is headed up by the 72m high statue of Mother Russia. Officially known as Rodina-Mat and it is made of titanium.The park has open air museum of Soviet military equipment and tanks that children love to climb on. It is landscaped in granite with massive statues commemorating the war and on the weekends patriotic songs from that time play through loudspeakers. And also there are sweeping views of the Dnepr.

If you head down the slope towards the Dnipro, there are quiet areas with gold-domed churches. This is a fantastic spot for sledging or skiing in winter. At the bottom is an open-air theatre, originally called the Spivoche Pole (Singing Ground), where open-air concerts are sometimes held in summer. In the beginning of autumn there are beautiful flowers exhibitions at Spivoche Pole.

****

The Central Recreation Park
Vladimirskiy Spusk 2

The park stretches along the river Dnepro all the way from the Mikhailovskiy Monastery and Cathedral to the Motherland statue and nearly reaches the Botanical Gardens. It consists of several parks.

Vladimirskaya Gorka
Metro Station Poshtova Ploshad

This is the section behind the Mikhailovskiy Monastery from where you have wonderful views of the Dnepro. You can reach from Podol using the funicular coming up.

Khreshatyk Gardens
Metro Station Maidan Nezavisimosti

Historically there was a merchant’s garden with a summer theatre – the stage was demolished in the 70’s to construct 1982 the enormous arch of People’s Friendship demonstrating the friendship between Russians and Ukrainians. You find there a sightseeing platform from which you have nice views over Podil and the Dnepro. You can continue along the Petrovskaya Avenue to the metal pedestrians bridge known as the Kissing bridge.

****

Slava Park
Metro Station Arsenalnaya

Just below the Lavra, this park contains the eternal flame commemorating the dead of the Great Patriotic War WWII. As tradition it is a popular place for the wedding photos with the panoramic views over the Dnepro.There are steps and paths down the slopes to an excellent kid’s playground. If you continue down the slopes you can walk under the Lavra and up to the next park on the other side (History of the Great patriotic War).

****

Taras Shevchenko Park
Metro Station Universitet

A pleasant green park in front of the red Shevchenko University building. There is a restaurant O’Panas with ladies selling pancakes outside in summer, an excellent playground and car rides for kids, some pleasant places to sit and area where chess-players gather to play. Don’t miss in spring to enjoy smell of blossoming flowers.

****

Holosiyivsky Park
South of MetroStation Lybidskaya, 40-letie Oktyabrya Ave.

It is one of the largest parks in Kiev,measuring 150 hectares.There are four lakes, a sport complex, a funfair and a museum of the work and life of Ukrainian poet Maxim Rylsky.

***

Hydropark
Hydropark Metro Station

It is situated in the Predmostnaya Slobodka, there used to be a settlement here known as the “Venice of Kiev”and which was burnt by the Nazis. Now it is a public recreation area with attractions, number of bars and cafes, two restaurants, fast food stalls. In summer there are beaches, with boat rental, volleyball, badminton and tennis.

***

Zoo
Pobedy Ave. 32, Metro Politekhnichny Institut

The zoo occupies almost 40 ha and was founded in 1908. There is a fairly modern amusement park, with a big wheel and roller coaster, lots of cafes, restaurants as well as a touching zoo where children can feed farmyard animals, including pigs, goats, chickens and ducks.

***

Old Botanical Garden
Kominterna 1, Metro Station Universitet

This garden is located just behind the Red Building of Schevchenko University. It is a shady and pleasant place to wander but a little run down. There are about 10 000 kinds of plants in the garden including the biggest collection of cactus in The CIS. It has a new children playground.

**

Pushcha-Vodytsa Park

Situated on the northern edge of the city. It’s great place for a picnic, quiet walk and cross country skiing. Also has a resort “Dzherelo” with nice rooms, swimming pool, sauna and cafeteria. For reservation call 431 83 98. Historic Kiev Tram for hire - You can hire a renovated, historic Kiev tram by the hour for parties or outing to Pushcha Vodytsia. It leaves Kontraktova Square in Podil for a nice hour long trip. The interior is all wood and it has an open front and back, it has a room up to 26 people. Tel for booking- 468 20 36, address Frunze 132.

**

Askoldova Mohyla
Metro Station Arsenalnaya

Askold was an early Christian, who was a local ruler of Kiev killed in 882 according to a legend. His burial place is known as Askold’s Grave and many notable Kievians were buried in the cemetery nearby. However, this was destroyed by the Soviets in the 30’s and the church was turned into a park pavilion. This St. Mykola church has been recently restored.

(c) Preparing this article we used the information from Go2Kiev web-site.

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