Things to do in Kyiv (Kiev)
Get on your horse
At the Butenko Stable (tel: +380 67 219 4870; www.butenko-stable.com.ua) in Protsiv village, 52 km (32 miles) from Kyiv (Kiev), visitors can go horse riding in the forest, make excursions in horse-drawn carriages or take riding lessons. If you want to make a weekend of it, there’s a hotel just a 10-minute drive away.
Hit the saunas
Kyiv (Kiev) has several Russian and Finnish-style saunas and baths scattered around the city. Some are more luxurious than others, but all offer the opportunity for a good, rejuvenating rest. (tel: +380 44 249 9059; www.kiev.info) is a lush institution with plenty of amenities, including a swimming pool equipped with a hydro-massage system and a billiards room.
Put in some yards on the bike
Kyiv (Kiev) has good off-road trails on Tukhaniv Island, a small island in the Dnieper River accessible from the Park Pedestrian Bridge in Podil. Other cycling routes to explore include the numerous trails on Hydropark Island and the parks along the west bank of the Dnieper River. For bike hire, speak to Velo Prokat (tel +380 44 229 0270; www.veloprokat.kiev.ua).
Uncover the history of Ukraine in World War II
The National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War (www.warmuseum.kiev.ua) looks at the events of World War II from a patriotic perspective and is a sombre experience. It is one of the largest museums in Ukraine with over 300,000 exhibits, but it's the iconic 62m (203 ft) tall Motherland statue nearby that is it's most striking feature.
Visit the ghost town of Chernobyl
Set 134km (83.3 miles) north of Kyiv (Kiev) is Chernobyl, the town abandoned as a result of the nuclear power disaster in 1986. Several companies, such as Tour Kiev (tel: +380 44 279 3505; http://tourkiev.com) run tours of the town and others within the 30km (19 miles) exclusion zone. It’s a challenging experience, but one impossible to forget.
