One of the most popular questions is “What museums do you recommend to see in Kyiv”? Among others, the most popular are the museums on the open air. You can visit them all year round but the best time is from April to October. The most beautiful pictures are taken in spring with blooming flowers and in autumn with multicolored leaves. In the winter these museums have a special charm when it is snow and frost.

How much does it cost? The price is different in every museum, approximate from 3 to 5 Euros. Children get some discount. Students can get a discount to the museums (except Mezhygiria park) if they have a student card. Pay attention that there is an extra payment for taking photos or videos on a professional camera.

They propose museum guide’s services but English (German, French, Spanish) speaking ones are not always available. If you prefer a guided tour to the museum on the open air in Kyiv, it’s better to order it in advance. Here is the list of popular museums in Kyiv.

1. The museum of folk architecture and life in Pyrogovo

It is the biggest Skansen in Ukraine where you can see original peasant houses of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. The oldest wooden house dates back to 1587. It seems that history comes to life here. There are five wooden churches built in the 17-18th centuries that are still active now. The museum was founded in 1976. The scientists collected original houses and things from all over Ukraine. Six ethnographical regions are represented on the territory of 150 hectares. All exhibits are original. It’s hard to believe but people lived in such houses up to the 1950-1970s.

Some people who visit this museum say that it reminds their past. For example, one lady told: “For me, this is not a museum but my childhood. We lived in such a house but it was not easy for the parents and five children to survive in the small hut. Finally, the parents built the bigger house and we’ve got some privacy”. You can enjoy old houses, find out about the way of life, and take beautiful pictures. As the museum is very big, it is recommended to plan at least half of the day for a visit.    

Activities in Pyrogovo. Many folk festivals are held in the museum on holidays. You can participate in a master class of folk craftsmen or watch a concert. Where to eat in Pyrogovo? There are three restaurants of Ukrainian cuisine as well as shops with street food. Some people bring sandwiches and make a picnic on the grass. 

How to get to Pyrogovo? It’s better to take a taxi or private transfer. The public transport is not convenient because there is no direct bus from the city center. You have to use the metro and a bus. Visit of people with special needs. Pay attention that the territory is very big so it’s hard to walk for people having leg and bones diseases. It’s possible to go there in a wheelchair but public WC is not appropriate for people with special needs. In spring and summer, you can order an electric car with a driver. Driving by your car is extra payment.

2. Mamayeva Sloboda

The private ethnographical museum represents an old Ukrainian Cossack village. Some entrepreneurs and historians realized their idea to create a museum to show the Cossack lifestyle. The name of the museum originates from the name of the folklore character Cossack Mamay. Ukrainian Cossacks were warriors who formed a special way of life with many unique traditions. All houses are replica but you can find many original exhibits inside.

Activities. You can visit some folklore shows, listen to the choir, and participate in masterclasses. Where to eat in Mamayeva Sloboda? In the restaurant, you can taste such traditional dishes as borsch, salo (pork lard), varenyky (dumplings), and others.

How to get to Mamayeva Sloboda? It’s recommended to order a taxi or a private transfer. It takes 1,5 hours to get there by public transport. Visit of people with special needs. The territory is not big but it may be hard to walk for people having leg and bones diseases. It’s possible to go there in a wheelchair. There are no electric cars on the territory so you can go only on foot. Driving by your car is forbidden.

3. Aviation museum

It keeps a very big collection of passenger and transport planes built in USSR. Some of them look like toys compared to a modern technique. You can enter inside and see the interior of planes and helicopters.

Activities. In general, there are not many activities there except for big holidays. You can find out information on the website. Food. There are no cafes and restaurants on the territory of the museum. At the entrance, you can find only a small shop with beverages.

How to get to the Aviation museum? It’s better to take a taxi or a private transfer. It’s quite long to go there by public transport from the city center (1,5-2 hours). First, you have to go to the metro station and then take bus #220.  Visit of people with special needs. The territory is not very big but it may be hard to walk for people having leg and bone diseases. It’s possible to go there in a wheelchair. There are no electric cars on the territory so you can move only on foot. Driving by your own car is forbidden.

4. The museum “Kyiv and Ukraine in miniature”

This beautiful is located on the bank of the Dnipro river in the area of Hydropark, popular in summer. You can see many small sculptures of different buildings and statues.

Activities. You can find many beaches, cafes, restaurants, and water activities in the nearby area. Food. There are no cafes and restaurants in the museum. But you can find many options nearby.

How to get to the museum “Kyiv and Ukraine in miniature”? It’s better to take a taxi. If you would like to go by public transport, you can get to the “Hydropark” metro station and then go on foot for about 15-20 minutes through the park. Pay attention, that there are not many people in the park except in summer. So it’s not recommended to go on foot alone in autumn and winter. Visit of people with special needs. It’s possible to go there in a wheelchair but public WC is not appropriate for people with special needs.

5. Mezhygiria Park

The residence of the Ukrainian ex-president Viktor Yanukovych is one of the most popular destination in Kyiv. He lived here from 2008 to February 2014 and run away to Russia after Euro-Maidan Revolution (2013-2014). Some volunteers managed to preserve a house and a very beautiful park on the banks of the Kyivan Sea. Now the public organization keeps maintenance of a big area of 140 square km. You can visit Honka, the living house,  and see how the ex-President lived. Once a tourist said: “I feel like in a movie about mafia”.

Activities. You can find many things to do in Mezhygiria, for example, visit Honka house, the museum of vintage cars, a dog center, a farm, a zoo, a restaurant, bikes, electric cars. Most people come here to enjoy an amazing park.  Where to eat in Mezhygiria? There is a restaurant of Ukrainian cuisine as well as many shops with street food (coffee, tea, beverages, sandwiches, hot dogs, and ice cream).

How to get to Mezhygiria? It’s better to take a taxi or order a private transfer. It’s quite difficult to go to Mezhygiria by public transport. It may take more than two hours from the city center. First, you can go to “Heroiv Dnipra” metro station, and then find a bus called “Mezhygiria”. It departs on a special schedule but sometimes they can cancel this route.  Visit of people with special needs. The territory is very big so it may be hard to walk for people having leg and bone diseases. It’s possible to go there in a wheelchair. There are electric cars on the territory. Driving by your car is forbidden.

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