The second day was very tiring for us because we visit a great number of places.

St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery

Our first stop was St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery. It’s really worth visiting there when you’re in the city. On a sunny day, the golden roof really is glistening in the sun and the blue walls stand out prominently against the greyness of the surrounding area. Outside the surrounding wall, there’s a nice square where you can sit and watch the world go by, with loads of impressive and other ornate buildings. There were a number of locals selling stuff outside the entrance in the wall but fortunately, they weren’t bothersome at all so don’t let it put you off. Once within the walls, there’s a real sense of calm. There are plenty of benches to sit on and a nice walk around the grounds. There are also some other old buildings next to the main cathedral and a small ‘orchard’ which is pleasant in the sun.

Friendship of Nations Arch – Skypark

We continued with the Friendship of Nations Arch. It has spectacular views of the city and Dnieper River. It is an amazing architectural creation that has been decorating Khreshchaty Park since 1982. The monument inside the park was built in honor of the reunification of Russia and Ukraine and contains three pictorial elements – a huge arch shaped like a rainbow, sculptural compositions in bronze depicting workers, and granite sculptures of a fragment from scenes of the legendary Pereyaslavskaya Rada.

Dnieper River Boat Tour

Kiev River Port is very close to the Friendship of Nations Arch. So we could walk there and joined a book tour. We enjoyed an almost one-hour boat cruise on wide and mighty, claimed to be the 4th largest river in Europe. The starting point is the same for all boats anchored at a picturesque place. We had a chance to see the live scenery of the road on one side and sort of beatch on the other side with black water. The cool wind gave a refreshing and charming effect.

Andriyivskyy Street and St. Andrew’s Church

Our next stop was Kontraktova Square to make shopping and eat our launch at Puzata Hata that is also very famous place in Kiev. We also tasted delicious Lviv Handmade Chocolate. Later on, we moved on to Andriyivskyy Street to see the local sellers and St. Andrew’s Church. Andriyivskyy Street was the most famous street in Kiev drops down the sharp slope from the Upper Town to the Podil quarter on the Dnieper. At the top, St Andrew’s Church is in an opulent Baroque style and dates to the middle of the 18th century. You can catch a funicular up from Podil, or inch your way up the cobblestone street if you’re feeling fresh. The architect was Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, an Italian who made his name in Russia and the Baltic, designing the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. From there make your way down through a neighborhood known as the “Montmartre of Kyiv”, not just because of the steep topography but also the arty ambiance and evocative 19th-century architecture. There are plenty of chic cafes to call in at, and stalls by the street sell paintings in summer.

Arsenalna Metro Station (2nd Deepest Metro Station in the World)

While we turned back to Independence Square, it was almost evening. However, we did not stop and moved on. Our last stop was Arsenalna Metro Station and Mariyinsky Palace. Arsenalna Metro Station is the second deepest metro station in the world with 346 feet or 105.5 meters. For your information, the world’s deepest subway system is said to be the Pyongyang Metro in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which has tracks more than 110 meters underground. When you visit Kiev it’s worth the trip down to Arsenalna. Mariyinsky Palace is very close to the station. Therefore we visited it too and took some photos.