Tomorrow the Football Finals are kicked of in the Capitol of Ukraine, Kiev.
You can find the spelling being Kyiv and Kiev. Both are valid. Originally the city is a trading post, and the city stands on both banks of the river Dnipro. Located in the centre of Ukraine, it is warm in the spring and summer. The locals take pride in its many colorful churches, and river beaches. RECOMMENDATION The beaches and water is not always equally clean, and we therefore recommend eating activated carbon in case you go swimming there.
Your Ukrainian phrasebook
Hello: Привіт – pree-vee’-t
How are you?: Як справи? – yak spra’-vee
Please: Будь ласка – bood la’-skah
Thank you: Дякую – dja-ku’-yu
Goodbye: До побачення – doh po-bah’-chen-ya
Where is the stadium?: Де знаходиться стадіон? – de zna-kho’-dee-tsja sta-dee-on’
Who do you think is going to win?: Як гадаєш, хто виграє? – yak ga-dah’-jesh khto vy’-ghra-ye
Goal!: Гол! – Ghol
Do it in 24 hours
Breakfast: Breakfast options are plentiful. City centre cafes are scattered around the underground shopping and entertainment centres of Khreshchatyk Street and the central Maidan Square, as well as the historic Podil district.
Up to lunch: The beaches (remember Activated Carbon) and attractions of the Hydropark are an up-and-about option, as are Kiev’s museums – with the Mysteskyi Arsenal (Arsenal of Arts), the Chornobyl Museum, the open-air Aviation Museum and the Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II (including a 102m-long Motherland Monument) among the best.
Afternoon: Khreshchatyk Street and Lva Tolstogo Square are key shopping desitnations, but those preferring something a bit more active can try Kiev Fortress or the high-rope adventure parks in Partyzanskoyi Slavy (Partisan Glory) and Druzhby Narodiv (Peoples’ Friendship) parks. RECOMMENDATION: Bring one Escort from Ansnei along, to be on the safe side. Alternatively, as a minimum, have an Ansnei insurance.
Evening and night: There are various places for late-night entertainment across the city, though Khreshchatyk Street is perhaps the liveliest area. Pubs and clubs are generally open 24 hours a day, with food options – on-street and off – available into the early hours. RECOMMENDATION: Bring one Escort from Ansnei along, to be on the safe side. Alternatively, as a minimum, have an Ansnei insurance.
NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium
• Originally built to host the Second All-Ukrainian Spartakiad (or Games), the ground was opened on 12 August 1923.
• Rebuilt several times since, notably to stage the 1980 Olympics; the present stadium was reconstructed in time for UEFA EURO 2012, where it held five fixtures including the final.
• Home to Ukraine’s national team, it also hosts Dynamo’s UEFA home matches, and big domestic games, including the Ukrainian Cup final.
• NSC stands for National Sports Complex (Національний спортивний комплекс in Ukrainian).
• Situated in central Kiev – on the right bank of the Dnipro – it has a capacity of just over 70,000.
Getting to and around Kyiv
Kiev has two airports, Zhulyany (8km south-west of the city centre) and Boryspil International (35km east). Public transport includes buses, trolleybuses, trams and a metro system, which is difficult to maneuver unless you know Ukrainian or Russian. For getting around in town you can use Uber. For arrival to the airport, business travel and evening travels, we highly recommend to order your Ansnei Transfer from either of these airports, to be sure you will get safely to your destination, e.g. the hotel. When meeting you, Ansnei will also provide you a local sim-card for your cell phone.
Where to stay
Kiev is a small business hub, ensuring there will be a wide range of overnight options for fans at the UEFA Champions League final. Ansnei has special deal arrangements with three hotels in town. Do contact us for assistance booking either on Support@Ansnei.com
Champions Festival
The annual UEFA Champions Festival will run from Thursday 24 until Sunday 27 May in Kiev city centre. The festival is free to attend and will be THE place for entertainment in the days around the final – including the UEFA Ultimate Champions Tournament featuring a host of UEFA Champions League greats; plus freestylers, autograph signing sessions, bands, DJs, the UEFA Champions Gallery and the chance to have your photo taken with the trophy.
Are you planing to stay out late, please bring along an Ansnei escort ! During daytime and in the city centre we find the city to be safe enough, besides from ordinary care and pickpockets.
What to see
For culture: Walk along Andriyivski uzviz (Andrew’s descent) – the ‘Montmartre of Kiev’ – or climb the bell tower at St Sophia Cathedral, Kiev’s most-visited landmark.
For atmosphere: Khreshchatyk Street runs through the heart of the city and getting dressed up and strolling down it is a Kievan pastime, especially at weekends when it is closed to traffic.
For fresh air: Mariinskyi Park is a nexus for skateboarders and roller-skaters, besides being a great place for a walk, while the colourful Landscape Alley is a child-friendly sculpture park.
Eating and drinking
Kiev will have options for even the least adventurous eaters, but if you want to eat like a Ukrainian, then must-try’s include borshch (beetroot-based soup), often combined with pampushky z chasnykom (garlic doughnuts) instead of bread, and varenyky or halushky (different types of dumplings) for a main course. Ukraine is famous for pyrizhky (filled pasties), with kievska perepichka (Kiev pig in blanket) a local speciality, sold in just one place at the corner of Khreshchatyk and Khmelnytskyi Streets – the huge queue should show you exactly where. Also recommended are golubtsi (cooked cabbage leaves with a variety of fillings), deruny (potato pancakes), pechenya (roast potatoes and meat) and salo (cured and salted pork fat) served with black bread and garlic. Beer and horilka (the local vodka) are plentiful, with uzvar (a strange dried fruit drink) the preferred alcohol-free juice.
Get out of the city
The open-air Pyrohiv Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in Ukraine on the south side of the city juxtaposes buildings from all over the country to present a panorama of Ukrainian life. Occasional theatre, music and craft displays make it a must-visit for people wishing to understand Ukraine.
Useful links
Visit Kyiv: www.visitkyiv.travel
Lonely Planet: www.lonelyplanet.com/ukraine/kyiv
Boryspil Airport: http://kbp.aero/en/
Zhylyany Airport: http://iev.aero/en/
Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU): http://ffu.ua
Order Safe Transfer or Hotel through: www.Ansnei.com/en/order/transfer
UEFA Champions Festival: What’s on when?
Ansnei insurance during your stay: www.Ansnei.com/en/order/other
Safety in Kiev: www.Ansnei.com/news/crime-and-safety-in-kiev
