Kiev

Is Kiev Dangerous?

Overall NO - not more than any other big city. No one in Kiev talks about the war with Russia from a few years ago anymore, and we have never been in an uncomfortable situation ourselves. The economic situation in Ukraine is below average compared to European standards. The average income for working class people is 150 - 250 EUR a month. So, as a foreigner you are indeed "wealthy to them". And yes, that means it will be very easy for you guys to have a lot of fun for a small amount of money. But please, do not disrespect the locals by showing off how much you have, or make them feel less. Although the country in general is poor, you really won't be able to tell by the way the city looks. At least in the city centre. When you go to the outer suburbs and drive in from the airport, you will see many big apartment blocks that you might consider a bit run down. But walking around in the centre, everything looks nice and clean. There are plenty of shops, shopping centres, bars and restaurants. The quality of cafes and bars in the city centre is really high. Great food, drinks, service and prices. You may have read in online forums that you should be careful about pick pocketing. Like in every big city this can happen but we have never had this experience.

Prices in Kiev

The prices in Kiev at times can seem ridiculous. There is no other place in Europe or close to Europe, where you are able to get drunk or party for so little money. There are a lot of rich people in Kiev, and therefore also a lot of fancy bars and clubs. But even there, the prices are still reasonable. The only thing that is as expensive as in central Europe is the shopping with items such as clothing, watches & perfumes etc. But, if you go to mostly student bars, prices are super cheap. For example Palata Nr 6, our favourite place to kick off the night (more in the nightlife section). You can get chicken fillet with side dishes for 2 EUR, a variety of steaks (mixed grill) with potatoes and vegetables for 4 EUR. Bottles of vodka start from 4 EUR for a local Ukrainian vodka & imported bottles like Finlandia cost around 20 EUR. Local draft beers don't even come close to 1 EUR. 5cl vodka shots from 0,6 EUR. Guys, if you don't want to spend a lot, you really don't have to in Kiev. If you go to the standard clubs, cocktails or vodka mixed drinks will cost you from 2 - 4 EUR maximum.

Flights

We offer flight booking services from all destinations to Ukraine. Boryspil International Airport (KBP), 29 km east of Kiev, is the country’s largest airport serving all intercontinental flights and the majority of international flights. There are generally good connections from all major European cities to Kiev & RyanAir will begin operating regular (x 3 flights per week) routes from November 2017 onwards. If you would like flights added to your Travel with the Boys Package contact us at [email protected] or select the Additional Flights Required section of your booking request form.

Transfer

We offer a range of different airport transfer options from the airport to your accommodation in Kiev. All transfer cars & vans are 2012 - 2016 models and of high quality. We also offer Limousine pick up service for VIP or Bachelor Trip groups. Getting around Kiev has become even easier with Uber now available in Ukraine. Download the App for great prices & service! A local SIM card in Ukraine costs 4 EUR & includes 5GB data so we highly recommend this for Google Maps, Uber, Tinder or any other dating App. This can also be arranged for you on arrival!

Kiev like all major cities in Europe offers all accommodation types from 5 star luxury hotels to budget hostel options. The only difference is you get huge value for money in Ukraine & can generally afford to take a higher quality hotel or apartment! For that reason we generally recommend for all packages to stay at Partner Guest House in Kiev as the quality of the apartments are great & the location is perfect to suit all groups. If for some reason you would like an alternative or Partner Guest House is unavailable we have recommended some other great options for your stay in Kiev.

Cafes

Kiev offers a great selection of high quality cafes & restaurants perfect for breakfast, lunch or enjoying an afternoon drink. Majority of cafes we recommend have modern interiors & popular with both the local & tourist crowd in Kiev. Check out some of the highly rated venues below, find a style that suits your individual taste & you won't be disappointed.

Restaurants

In the city centre of Kiev it is possible to find different cuisines from all around the world. Not only are the majority of restaurants very cheap but they offer great quality food and friendly customer service too. We have hand selected a few of our favourites in Kiev from local traditional menus to typical European style restaurants. With the prices so affordable there is no reason why you shouldn't eat at a nice restaurant every night during your stay!

We recommend during any stay to maximise your local Kiev experience to try a range of different activities during the day that are unique & sometimes only possible in a country like Ukraine. Of course you can go bowling or go karting or paint ball but you can most likely do them back home too! We are taking about AK47 shooting, tank riding & traditional Ukrainian bath houses. We have included our favourites here.

Festivals

Kiev is hosting more & more festivals to cater for the demand from the local Ukrainian youth! On the back of Ukraine hosting Euro Vision 2017 in the capital of Kiev there are a few other festivals close to the city centre worth checking out in the summer months ahead.

Bars

Kiev features a lively bar scene with a huge variety of student bars to fancy cocktail bars. All recommended bars are in close proximity to the city centre & on most occasions easy enough to reach on foot or a very short Uber ride. We definitely recommend adding a Pub or Bar crawl to your package inclusions & be shown by our reps what Kiev truly has to offer.

Clubs

The club scene in Kiev rivals that of anywhere in Western Europe. The only difference is here you can party like a king at a fraction of the price. It is easily affordable to party at all the exclusive clubs in Kiev and if you are in a group we would recommend making a reservation at a top club while enjoying VIP/bottle service throughout the night. Here is really where the attractive locals come out to play!

Summerclubs

If you are visiting Kiev in the summer months from end of May until mid-September it is definitely worth checking out these summer clubs. They transform the city into fancy rooftop day clubs & vibrant open air beach clubs. Prices are relatively expensive but the quality of women & experience will more than make up for it. The three venues we have featured here will cover all tastes & if you are in a group then a reservation is recommended.

General prices in Kiev

• Borsch: 40 - 100 uah (2 - 4 EUR)
• Beer: 20 - 45 uah (1 - 2 EUR)
• Vodka 50 ml: 20 - 100 uah (1 - 4 EUR)
• Bottle of Vodka: 230 uah (9 EUR
• Coffee: 20 - 45 uah (1 - 2 EUR)

Transport

Ukraine is the cheapest country in Europe & accordingly Kiev is the cheapest European capital city. The subway costs only 4 uah, and for a meal it's unusual to pay more than $ 5. Taxis around the city cost no more than $ 3, and the driver is unlikely to fool the foreign tourist.

Lively night life

At night Kiev becomes truly impressive. The parties begin around midnight and last until the next day. There is a huge selection of pubs, bars, chic lounges and crazy nightclubs. Beer and vodka can be purchased for $1 - 2 and people are so friendly.

Open people

Ukrainians are practical and sincere people, they are much friendlier than residents of neighbouring countries.

Motherland

Having climbed to the top of Motherland, which is 102 meters, this will be the best city view of Kiev. The statue is very impressive and covers the panorama of the whole city. Not many people decide to climb to the very top, and to do this, you will need a personal guide. Only 15 minutes to climb up and you will feel like the master of the world!

Underground trading

Wherever you need to cross the street, you will stumble upon trading of all sorts of things in the underground passages! There you will find everything from food, electronic books, equipment, books, etc.

Cleanliness

Kiev is incredibly clean. Ukrainians care about the hygiene and cleanliness of their homes and do not throw garbage on the streets and take care of supporting the order around the city.

Old and new

Travelers are often pleasantly surprised at how the old and new style of architecture are combined in Kiev.

A few tips for those who are going to the capital of Ukraine:

• Be aware that not everywhere in the city is well equipped with signs for tourists and in most cases written in Ukrainian or Russian.
• Do not try to call a Ukrainian a Russian. And do not confuse Ukraine with Russia. Just never do it. Never.
• Learn the most common basic phrases in Ukrainian or Russian.
• Change dollars and euros at the currency exchange kiosks. This is much more profitable than withdrawing money from an ATM.
• Stay in the city centre, there are quite a lot of cheap hotels and hostels.