Overview
Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe and is major historical, cultural, educational and scientific centre. Its official history dates back to the 5th century (although settlement on this location was present since much earlier) and throughout centuries Kyiv played an important role in establishing European civilisation in Eastern Europe. By late 9th century Kyiv became the capital of the first Ukrainian state known today as Kyivan Rus.
In the Middle Ages Kyivan Rus was conquered by the Mongols, and later Kyiv became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1654 Kyiv was liberated from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth by Cossack leader - Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
In 1775 it was annexed by the Russian Empire. The city remained under Moscowian rule, with brief, but uncertain, periods of independence in between 1918 and 1920. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Kyiv became the capital of independent Ukraine.
Today Kyiv understands its historical importance and role of the cradle of Eastern European civilization eagerly uncovering all the beauty of modern European capital with ancient heart.
Despite its large size, almost everything worth seeing is contained within the historical Pechersk and Podil neighbourhoods. Both are easily navigable on foot. Despite Pechersk was destroyed during the WWII and rebuild in the neo-classical style of post-war Stalinist architecture, there are survived several 19th-century streets build-up in Art-Nouveau striking architecture. Merchant Podil, in turn, boasts the charm of streets with low-rise buildings, and relatively untouched by development.
The best time to visit the Kyiv is, of course, during the famous Kyiv chestnut blossom in late April and May, when the days are sunny but not too hot. The autumn and winter months are another good time to come when there are smaller crowds.