I’ve had my eye on a trip to Ukraine for a while. With lots of history, great food, and the fact that they don’t use the Euro, there were lots of reasons for visiting this wonderful country.

 

Arriving in Style

We flew in via Frankfurt on Lufthansa and had access to the Non-Schengen Air Canada and Senator lounges. Although the Schengen lounges at FRA are quite nice, I’ve found the Non-Schengen ones to be a little quieter and a bit nicer, as they generally cater to more expensive long-haul flights.

We grabbed a hearty breakfast with proper Canadian maple syrup at the Air Canada lounge and then headed over to the Senator Lounge for drinks at their bar before boarding.

 

First Sights

After landing, we ordered and Uber to our hotel. Kiev looked a bit dreary at first, but the city began to look a lot more appealing as we neared our hotel.

We stayed at the Aloft Kiev for only 80 euro per night. Since my stay, the hotel has changed owners and is now the Sky Loft by Rixwell.

As I was settling in, I saw a beautiful double rainbow outside my window.

For dinner, we took the hotel’s recommendation and headed across the street to a restaurant named Barvy.

The pictures probably speak for themselves, but the food and drink were really good. We tried to keep things as traditional as possible and each ordered borscht, along with a Ukrainian chicken dish and a cake recommended by our friendly waiter.

After dinner, we walked off some of those calories and explored the downtown area. After a certain hour, the city closes off the main street, so it’s perfect for a leisurely walk.

 

 

 

Exploring More

Although everything was easily walkable for the most part, I of course, had to check out the Kiev Metro system.

One of my favorite sights to see was Saint Sophia’s Cathedral. The climb to the top of the bell tower was not for the faint of heart!

Nearby was St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, also a beautiful sight.

A short Uber ride away was the Friendship of Nations Arch, which featured a beautiful view of the river below.

Also nearby was the Motherland Monument, a 335 foot stainless steel statue built in 1981.

Another highly rated spot downtown was Rebernia, a charming restaurant with surprisingly inexpensive racks of ribs. Make sure you arrive well before you think you’ll be hungry, as it’s a long, long wait to get a table. Fortunately, there’s a wine bar attached to the restaurant, so you can have a drink or three while you wait. But seriously. Go here!

On our last afternoon, we had to see what the food was like at a Ukrainian McDonald’s. I can’t remember what was on the burger, but it was quite good. The fries were also a nice change from what they serve in the USA.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed Kiev and I look forward to coming back to explore more of Ukraine. The people were nice, the food was delicious, and there was a lot to see.

Next up, a review of our trip to Chernobyl and Pripyat.

Thanks for reading!

-Matt