Did I feel safe? Mostly yes, but with caution. Air raid alerts happen, and you need to stay updated. People go on with life, but the war is still real. I felt safe during the day in central areas, especially with locals around. Things to do / skip: Do: – Walk around Podil, Andriyivskyy Descent, and Mariinsky Park – Visit St. Sophia’s Cathedral and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra – Check out local bookshops and cozy cafés – Try a banya (Ukrainian sauna) for a unique experience Skip: – Expensive tourist traps (some souvenir shops and “photo spots” near Maidan) – Overpriced tours that don’t offer local insight Food / restaurants: – Milk Bar — perfect brunch and desserts – Puzata Hata — budget-friendly Ukrainian classics – Hum:Hum — great hummus spot in Podil – Veterano Pizza — owned by war vets, with a mission – Also: get syrnyky and varenyky at any good local cafe Budget: I spent around $25–35/day comfortably (including food, transport, and entrance tickets). Cafés were affordable. Street food & bakeries were cheap and tasty. Accommodation: I stayed in a cozy apartment in Podil (Airbnb). Safe, quiet, and well-located. You can also find nice hostels or hotels in the city center. Getting around: Very easy! The metro is fast, cheap, and clean (and it doubles as a bomb shelter). Uber/Bolt are cheap and safe. Locals were helpful when I needed directions. Itinerary (4 days): Day 1: City center walk – Maidan, Khreshchatyk, and Saint Sophia Day 2: Podil exploration + Dnipro river views + sunset from Volodymyrska Hill Day 3: Pechersk Lavra, WWII Museum, and Motherland Monument Day 4: Coffee, street art, shopping, and relaxing in a park
Posted: June 8, 2025Based on 38 local experiences
Based on 38 local experiences
Elizabeth
If you are listening to the city's administration's recommendations and warnings during the air raid alerts - you will be safe most of the times. Seek shelter, do not take the war danger lightly. In terms of overall safety - the crime level is not high, it's mostly safe to walk around (just remember be home during the curfew - from 12 pm to 5 am). The public transport is OK, metro is very convenient.
Posted: June 4, 2025Dasha
Kyiv is quite safe, especially during the day. But it does depend on your location. There are different districts, and the central ones could be considered the safest, as there is the biggest amount of people there. But in the centre you do need to be careful of pickpocketers and scammers, so beware and don't take anything from anyone on the street, unless you want to pay for it (especially in Khreshchatyk). I wouldn't recommend visiting any other district, as a tourist can get lost very easily there. And they are less safe for anyone who doesn't live there. But overall I don't think it is that dangerous, you just need to be cautious like anywhere in the world.
Posted: June 1, 2025