Despite the occasional rain or even snow shower, the weather keeps getting warmer, and as usual, the first days of spring send a thrill through all the Kyivans who have endured the seemingly endless winter and are craving fresh air and warm sun. Glimpsing the sunlit street from our window incites us to get outside and enjoy the season. As one of the greenest cities in the world, Kyiv provides plenty of ways to take advantage of the first spring days.

Down in the park

In Kyiv, as in any other European city, the park is universally understood as a place to relax in the fresh air, walk your dog, spend time with your family, date or friends, or simply sit on a bench by yourself and read. Finding one of Kyiv’s many parks to suit your mood should not be too difficult.

Holosiyevsky Park is not only the biggest city park, not too far from the city center, but simply a green picturesque space. Stretching all the way to Pyrohovo, the park, with its hilly forest and calm lake, provides a great setting for picnics, while the winding paths are great for cycling and hiking. Park Slavy near Arsenalna metro is smaller and less “wild” but just as pleasant for strolling or walking your dog. The benches on the side of the park that overlook the green hills are great for basking in the sun and enjoying the view of the river and the left bank, while the occasional chiming of the church bells from nearby Pecherska Lavra adds special charm to the place. Another famous park near a church is Volodymyrska Hirka, right by Mykhaylivska Ploshcha. Located on a hill overlooking the Dnipro, the park is a popular place any time of year with its paved paths, beautiful flowerbeds, stone sculptures, children’s playground and a big pavilion where you can have a beer and a snack while enjoying the beautiful view.  

The most popular spot for relaxing down by the river is certainly Hydropark – an entire entertainment zone, generally considered low-brow with its many shashlik bars and small eateries humming with cheesy pop-music. However, you will also find a few high-grade restaurants there: Mlyn stands right on the water with a big open terrace – a favorite with various embassies who often choose it for official receptions and celebrations, and Sun City Slavutych – a restaurant, club and beach complex all in one.

Hydropark also has plenty of other options for relaxing with friends or family – an amusement park, many beaches, venues for outdoor sports such as table-tennis, and “Fregat,” an outfit that rents boats and catamarans for Hr 10 per hour daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Mlyn (9V Brovarsky Prospect, 516-5728)

Sun City Slavutych (Hydropark, 451-6585)

 

Into the wild

The idea that the zoo is a place only fit for kids is a common misconception. Even though you feel you’ve been there a thousand times and nothing can really surprise or amuse you anymore, the Kyiv Zoo is first a great big park, and the presence of animals just makes your walk more exciting. Plenty of small cafes and booths that sell drinks and ice cream make the zoo a perfect place for an exotic stroll.

Two other big parks are set away from the bustle of the city and are great options for when you feel the need to get away from “civilization” without going too far. Trukhaniv Island is today no more a patch of “wild nature” than it was ten years ago but it’s still a favorite with many Kyivans when it comes to outdoor activities. Just cross the pedestrian bridge not far from Poshtova Ploshcha and you’ll find yourself in a cozy park with nice paved paths that run among the trees, beaches and a few cafes. Everything you need for recreation is on this island, plus the comfortable feeling of isolation (even though you can still hear the cars on the other side of the river).

Druzhbi Narodiv Park extends along the banks of the Desyonka River, providing plenty of space for barbecues, picnics, camping and even canoeing. It’s also a great place for bikers who like to go into the wild within the city limits. You can stop at one of the closer beaches, explore the “deep woods” to find a secluded place for your picnic or simply stroll among the greenery, getting farther away from the noise of the traffic.

If you don’t mind spending some time on the road, you can spend a whole day at Pushcha Voditsa – a small village northwest of Kyiv. Its woods are full of paths and lanes, and with eight lakes on its territory, it makes a perfect spot for a picnic or barbecue. There is a tram that runs from Kontraktova Ploshcha to Pushcha Voditsa, but the whole journey will take over an hour, so if you’re not feeling adventurous, just take a car.

Kyiv Zoo (32 Peremohy prosp., 241-7769, www.zoo.kiev.ua)

 

Biking in the city

For those who prefer active recreation, what could be more enjoyable on a sunny day than a bike ride? Consider any of the locations listed above or just explore the city – take a few friends, a snack and of course the bike – and hit the road.

If you don’t own a bike yet you have two options: either buy it or rent it. You can start your shopping with online research or visit local stores, most of which have their own websites. Sites like www.velokiev.com (the online presence of the Velolux store) and www.trekbikes.com.ua offer an assortment of bike brands with descriptions of performance attributes and prices for each model, as well as the addresses of the shops where you can buy them. Bikes such as Kelly’s, Gary Fisher and Trek are sorted by type – road, racing, mountain, touring, triathlon, etc. Prices can range from Hr 3,115 for a Navigator bike by Trek to Hr 23,395 for a Fat Possum by Gary Fisher.

Velostyle offers a range of bikes by Kelly’s, Gary Fisher, Merida and Trek and a nice selection of accessories. Bike Champion carries mountain bikes by such manufacturers as Pioneer, Hawk Hill, Bobcat and Bolinas and even has a workshop for bike repairs. Sporting goods shop Sport Site carries medium-priced bikes by Bergamont from Hr 517 and Wheeler from Hr 800. 

However, if you’re not ready to commit to buying a bike, you can rent one at Veloprokat – a convenient rental outfit with an English-language website. The bikes for rent – mostly Kelly’s, Gary Fisher and Trek – cost Hr 150 for a whole work week (from Monday to Friday) and Hr 120 for a weekend (Friday to Sunday). You’ll have to leave an important document such as driver’s license or university diploma or Hr 1,000 as a deposit. Also keep in mind that the store is only open on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., so plan your trip and reserve a bike in advance. 

Velostyle (26 Bazhana, 331-8232, www.velostyle.kiev.ua)

Bike Champion (1/12 Mate Zalki, 237-5273, www.bikechampion.com.ua)

Sport Site (63 Chervonoarmiyska, 287-0524, www.msport.com.ua)

Veloux (20 Zemlyachky,459-0945, www.velokiev.com)

Veloprokat (6/31 Nahirna, 461-4450, www.veloprokat.kiev.ua)

 

Barbecue party

If just walking, biking and hiking is not enough for you to truly appreciate a warm spring day, what you need is to have a real open-air party. And no such party is complete without grilling meat over an open fire. For Ukrainians, this means roasting shashlik, but even they are already catching on to the American tradition of barbecue.

There are a few places in town where you can go to buy barbecue equipment.

Sport & Tourism has a decent selection of everything you might need, and at a reasonable price. There are various grills from Hr 160 – both covered and uncovered; skewers for hotdogs, sausages and shashlik from Hr 18; coolers of all sizes; camp stoves; collapsible chairs and many more items that may come in handy for you party.  Adrenalin has an impressive selection of camp stoves (from Hr 125) and universal camp stove cylinders, as well as folding chairs, coolers and other items. Ibis, a chain of sports and hunting stores, offers a nice selection of barbeque grills and all sorts of camping gear, such as thermoses, camp stoves and cylinders.

Once you’re stocked with barbecue equipment, it’s time for the second part of your party shopping: things easier to come by but by no means less necessary – charcoal, disposable plates, napkins and most importantly, meat. Unfortunately not every supermarket in town will meet all your needs under one roof, so we suggest a few stores that have it all.

Velyka Kyshenya offers plenty of products for your grilling party – charcoal, nice cuts of meat and fresh produce to go with it, as well as paper plates, cups, napkins, etc. The most central and conveniently located supermarket – Furshet at Mandarin Plaza – is also the best grocery store in town. Apart from international delicacies, the supermarket offers charcoal and firewood, all kinds of meat and deli items, disposable dinnerware, re-sealable containers, a great assortment of breads from Furshet’s own bakery and an impressive selection of beer and wine.

MegaMarket by the Petrivka metro is less central (there is another one at 50 Horkoho) – but there’s no reason why you can’t make a stop there if you’re going by car. Just drive into its large parking lot and go shopping for everything from charcoal and firewood to disposable plates, grilling utensils, fresh vegetables, bread and certainly meat. The store is right next to a gas station where you can fill up your tank before setting out for your chosen destination. Have a good time and bon appetit!

Sport & Tourism/Tovary dlya Sportu i Turismu (28 Lesi Ukrayinky, 286-7818)

Adrenalin (33/30 Chornovola, 236-9859)

Ibis (7 Druzhby Narodiv, 268-3782)

Velyka Kyschenya (57 Zaliznychne Shose, 539-0915)

Furshet (Mandarin Plaza, 230-9522)

MegaMarket (6 Mokosvky porp., 531-3974; 50 Horkoho, 248-7387)
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by Alexandra Matoshko, Kyiv Post Staff Writer