Interesting places for family outdoor recreation, which can be reached from Kiev by public transport: editor's choice
From next week, Kiev and the region will "cover" with another lockdown. Not only schools and shopping centers will be closed for at least two weeks. Residents of the capital ordered access to the metro and minibuses. While you can, we advise you not to waste your time. We have selected five wonderful places near Kiev for a family picnic in nature. You can get there not only by car, but also by public transport. If Mezhyhirya, Pirogovo and Ukrainskoe Selo no longer impress you, read our selection, choose an interesting route and pack your backpacks for nature.
Arboretum "Alexandria"
In Alexandria Park, you can get lost among the picturesque landscapes (photo from the official site of the arboretum)
Where is: Kiev region., G. White Church, 13
How to get there: Minibuses to Bila Tserkva go from metro Vokzalnaya, metro Lybidskaya and metro Palace Ukraine. From the station in Bila Tserkva, take minibus number 13. Get off at the Pionerskaya stop.
Ticket prices: 25 UAH for an adult ticket (35 UAH for a bicycle) and 10 UAH for a child's ticket (20 UAH for a bicycle). Excursion in the park 150 UAH
What to see: Alexandria Arboretum is considered the largest park in Ukraine. Its total area is more than 200 hectares. A long time ago, this huge piece of territory was a gift from Hetman Branitsky to his wife Alexandra Engelhardt, after whom he was named. The park itself was designed at the end of the 18th century by the French architect Muffaut. The remains of the most beautiful bridges, colonnades and pavilions have survived to this day. Their appearance, of course, no longer shines with the former pathos, and the paint has peeled off long ago. But all these "architectural remains" fit so organically into the surrounding landscape that wedding photo sessions are often held in this park.
Simply walk in the park - a real pleasure. It is so large that it is easy to get lost there from prying eyes and be alone with the majestic nature. Therefore, prepare comfortable shoes for walking along the park paths. Please note that there are no kiosks or shops in Alexandria where you can buy snacks. So be sure to take food and water with you.
Quarry "High Stone"
Korostyshevsky canyons are ideal for a relaxing family vacation (photo from open sources)
Where is: Zhytomyr region., Korostshevsky district, with. Novogorodetskoe
How to get there: From metro Zhitomirskaya along the Zhytomyr highway, two stops by any minibus to the Dachnaya bus station. From there take a bus to Korostyshev or Zhitomir to get to the turn to the village. Novogorodetskoe. Further on foot 4 km.
Ticket prices: is free
What to see: Korostyshev quarries or, as they are also called, canyons were formed artificially. Once upon a time, granite was mined here. Over time, the mining sites were flooded with water, and now the amazing purity of the lake is splashing in the granite rocks. There are only three canyons in Korostyshev. Two of them are popular with locals and there are always quite a few people there. But the third (and this is the High Stone) is the farthest, and few reach it.
Meanwhile, here is simply a divine view. Sheer granite walls, in places up to 10 meters high, go into the clear lake water. The shores are covered with pine and birch trees, there is where to walk and where to sit for a picnic. According to tourists, this place is simply created for a relaxing family vacation. However, there is also a minus - there is an active granite quarry nearby, so it can be noisy at times. Also note that there are no stores at all. Therefore all supplies take with you.
Arboretum "Sofiyivka"
Sofiyivka in Uman is one of the most ennobled arboretums in the country (photo from open sources)
Where is: Cherkasy region, g. Uman, st. Kievskaya 12a
How to get there: You can get to Uman by bus from Kiev (go from the Vydubychi bus station to Vydubychi metro station). There are many routes from there to Sofievsky Park (1, 4, 9, 14, 17, 18, 22, 23 to the stop “Park“ Sofievka ”).
Ticket prices: adult ticket 100 UAH, child 50 UAH. Excursions for adults 65 UAH, for schoolchildren 40 UAH.
What to see: Sofiyivka Park is one of the most picturesque arboretums in Ukraine. It was built at the end of the 18th century by the Polish magnate Stanislav Potocki for his beloved Sofia. In the middle of the 19th century, the park passed to Nicholas 1, who presented it to his wife. Nikolai completed and refined Pototsky's legacy so that at that time the park bore the proud name "Tsaritsyn Garden". Since the times of the USSR, Sofiyivka has been considered a national reserve, and now it is under the jurisdiction of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
Yes, our times Sofiyivka reached almost unscathed, so here you can admire the beautiful architecture of the past. According to Potocki's idea, each part of the park should be dedicated to fragments from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. There are a lot of sculptures (beautifully restored), there is the underground river Styx, the Flora Pavilion, the Venetian Bridge, the "Snake" fountain, the House of Scientists' Creativity. Sofiyivka will really appeal to those who love "cultivated" nature - with alleys, benches, equipped approaches to the water and places for rest. However, in the depths, you can also get lost among the age-old trees. And even find exotic plants: tulip trees, cypresses, beeches and vines.
Cave "Geonaut"
Cave "Geonaut" will add a little extreme to your rest (photo from open sources)
Where is: Kiev region., Obukhov district, s. Hodosovka
How to get there: To Khodosovka there is a minibus # 738 from the Lybidskaya metro station. There you need to go to the cottage village "Golden Gate". In the ravine behind this village (the first turn behind the barrier) you can find a cave, the entrance to which is located at a height of 5 meters from the ground.
Ticket prices: is free
What to see: Geonaut is not the best place to stay with babies. But schoolchildren and adolescents will definitely be interested here. This is a natural cave that was formed by the action of water on the local rock. Its length is 60 meters, and it is divided into two halls. The first hall is quite large in size, you can walk freely in it and find two tunnels. The first tunnel leads into the second, a very small room - there you can only move on squats. The second tunnel leads to the top of the cave, but there you have to crawl along narrow paths in the literal sense of the word.
Holidays with a touch of extreme are generally relatively safe. Cavers say that getting lost or lost here is almost impossible. Even if you do not dare to wade through the tunnels, positive emotions and a slight surge of adrenaline are guaranteed to you. The only thing is, do not forget to stock up on flashlights. The cave is not illuminated, therefore, without a light source, it makes no sense to go there even during the day.
Granite pit
The granite pit in Korostyshev is an amazing natural monument (photo from open sources)
Where is: Kiev region., G. Boguslav, st. Korsunskaya, 48
How to get there: From the bus station "Vydubychi" (m. Vydubychi) buses run to Boguslav once an hour. From the city, you can reach the Granite Pit on foot: move from Yaroslav the Wise Square downstream of the Ros River.
Ticket prices: is free
What to see: If you were in the Korostyshev canyons and did not remain indifferent to them, there is another place near Kiev where picturesque granite rocks rise 10-12 meters above the water. This is a natural (unlike Korostyshev) granite outcrop, which, according to scientists, is 2 billion years old. The place is considered a natural landmark, and for good reason. Here you will see rocks of red and gray granite, between which the Ros river flows violently and with rapids. A granite "pit" is a deep "bath", an area formed by a river in layers of granite. There are several such "baths" here, they are all of different sizes.
Local residents call the Boguslavskoe granite outcrop a place of power. Here, among the prehistoric stones, you really feel some special spirit. Among the shortcomings - tourists note that the nature monument is very littered. Local residents and visitors do not hesitate to leave their autographs on the rocks, and the remains of a picnic under the rocks.
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