Kiev, the largest city in Ukraine, is also one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. Founded in the 5th century, it has seen many empires come and go, from the Mongols to the Poles to the Cossacks to the Russians and the Soviet Union. All of these empires have left their mark on the city of Kiev, and if you’re interested in history, you’ll be beside yourself here.

By far one of the most interesting cultural landmarks in Kiev is the Pechersk Lavra. A cave monastery at the heart of the city, the golden domes above it dominate the skyline. It is a complex of exquisite churches, an academy, a seminary, and the famous four-tiered Great Lavra Belltower.  The upper monastery is structured like a museum, with religious relics dating back to the 11th century.

It is the lower monastery, however, that is the most fascinating. Owned by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, these caves are working halls of worship, connected by narrow underground corridors. Tombs, chapels, and hermitages are the order of the day down here, and each discovery is cooler than the next. Due to the religious nature of the monument, it is important to be as quiet and respectful as possible, as pilgrims consider the lower Lavra caves sacred. Women are required to wear skirts and must cover their hair.

For history buffs and people interested in the Communist history of Kiev and the Ukraine, the Museum of the Great Patriotic War is a must-see. Occupying nearly twenty five acres on the majestic hill overlooking the Dneiper river, it is part museum and part stirring monument to the fallen heroes of the 1941-1945 struggle against Germany. The two-hundred-foot-tall “Mother Motherland” statue towers over a concrete memorial, which contains the names of thousands of fallen soldiers. Perhaps the best museum of Soviet military history in the world, the Great Patriotic War museum contains historical military hardware, weapons, actual battle maps, and hundreds of unique, original photographs from the front lines.

Once you’ve gotten through the beautiful and moving religious and historical landmarks of Kiev, you’ll probably want a bit of something to eat. Ukrainian cuisine consists of sweet breads, potatoes, borscht, and lots of meat. Also desserts. No matter where you go, the meat is likely to be cooked to perfection, hearty and rich enough to withstand the cold winters. If you’re around for Christian celebrations such as Easter or Christmas, be sure to try special breads like Paska, Babka (a sweet raisin bread), and the braided Kolach and Korovai loaves.

Some great places to check out are Shynok in the Pechersk district for a traditional Ukrainian dining experience, O’Panas for great mushroom blinis (a sort of pancake-thing made from potatoes), or CCCP, a Soviet-themed restaurant right by the War Museum. Try the Uzvar traditional non-alcoholic drink here made from dried apples, pears and prunes.

Some of the more popular bars in town are Art Club 44 (at Khreschatyk 44) for live music, Orech (Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya 126) for the best selection of local beer, and Antresol (T. Shevchenko 2) for coffee drinkers in need of WiFi. For those seeking hard-pumping nightlife, check out Bar Fidel (Grushevskogo 4B) for moshing, crowd-surfing and dancing until five in the morning.

By the way, beer costs the same as sparkling water in Kiev, so don’t worry about your alcohol needs. The Ukrainians are serious about their beer, and serious about having a good time!

(Images courtesy of panoramas, anaroza, panoramas, dmok, steve, ezioman, panoramas, panoramas, panoramas, panoramas, dnevill, kooklanekookla)

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