Kids in Kyiv

15 May 2018

The summer holidays are very nearly here and that means it’s time to get ready because it’s that time of year again – the kids are coming home. Don’t worry, What’s On has you covered with this guide to activities for kids in the Ukrainian capital. So, sit down with your children, take their phones away, and read through this article to see what to do with your kiddos in Kyiv.

Attractions

Dream Island Jurassic Aqua Park
With a dinosaur theme and 24 km² of pools, slides, and rivers, Dream Town’s Aqua Park is one of the most popular places for kids in the city. There is a special kids area with slides, trampolines, and games like water polo and basketball. There is a spa area for the grown-ups to relax, or the family can soak up the sun when the roof is removed. They’ll also take care of birthday parties.
Cost: Children 140-210 UAH, Adults 190-270 UAH
Address: Obolonsky Pr 1b
Phone: +380 44 485 2111, +380 44 485 2112
Website: aqua.dreamtown.ua

Dream Town Mall’s Entertainment Area
Many of Kyiv’s most popular shopping centres were specifically built with family shopping experiences in mind and feature entertainment areas for kids, often even with supervision, allowing parents to have a more relaxing shopping experience. Dream Town Mall, located near Minska metro station, offers plenty of activities for kids. As well as the Aqua Park just mentioned, there’s Kyiv’s largest roller skating park, an ice rink, arcade, go-karts, bowling, a movie theatre, a shooting gallery, and even a zoo! Be sure to stop by the laboratory of the crazy professor! For younger children, there is a supervised play area.
Cost: Prices vary
Address: Obolonsky Pr 1b
Phone: +380 44 428 3611
Website: dreamtown.ua/en

Blockbuster Entertainment Centre
Another all-in-one entertainment complex to check out is the Blockbuster Entertainment Centre, located not far from the Pochaina (Petrivka) metro station and the Experimentanium centre (more on this later). With a cinema, go-karts, rope park, VR room, mirror labyrinth, bowling alley, rollerdrome, arcade, and upside-down house, there is something for every kid. Be sure to check out Kidlandia – City of Professions (on the next page), escape quest, and the Madagascar play area with animators. They’ll even clean your car for you while you’re inside with the kids!
Cost: Prices vary
Address: Stepan Bandera 34b
Phone: +380 44 498 3000
Website: blockbuster.ua

Hydropark
While this amusement park in the middle of the Dnipro River has seen better days, there is still plenty of activities to keep the young ones busy in the middle of summer. Created in the late 1960s, the 365-hectare park is home to beaches, water attractions, rides, restaurants, and boating clubs. Many of the beaches are themed and include one specifically for kids. Kids that love sports and walks in the outdoors will love the area. You can rent boats and kayaks, play tennis or badminton, join a game of football, or even try paintballing. Be sure to check out the Kyiv in Miniature exhibition, which has 48 of the city’s most famous landmarks in a miniature 1:33 scale (10-15 UAH entrance, free for kids under 8).
Cost: Prices vary
Address: On the Dolobetsk and Venice islands on the Dnipro River
Phone: +380 44 498 3000
Website: gidropark.org.ua

Children’s Railroad
One of the most popular activities in the Soviet Union and other communist countries, these relics offer your kids a warp back in time to another lifetime and culture. Found in many cities around Ukraine and in central and eastern Europe, Kyiv’s can be found in the lovely Syrecky Park near the Syrets metro station. These small railroads are unique in that children aged 9-15 are the drivers and engineers. Built in 1953, the highlight of this 10-minute 2.8-kilometre trip is the bridge 20 metres above ravine. Kids under six ride free!
Cost: Children: 11.25 UAH, Adults: 15.00 UAH
Address: Shamrylo 4
Phone: +380 44 458 4834
Website: dzd-ussr.ru/towns/kiev

Learning

Kidlandia – City of Professions
Want your kids to learn the value of making a dollar? Take them to Kidlandia – City of Professions at the Blockbuster Entertainment Centre. This sprawling complex is a country for children, with its own economy, laws, and currency. Children are given 30 ‘landes’ to begin their careers and can choose from any of over 100 professions to earn more. From firefighter or police officer to beautician or fitness instructor to pilot or model or cook, your child can earn while they learn! Landes can be spent on site at places like the gaming centre or deposited in the bank for a future visit. English-speakers will need a translator, but it’s a great place to bring a group for a birthday. The Kidsville Profession Centre (kidswill.com.ua) is much the same idea, with 100 jobs like working on a farm, at city hall, or even at a chocolate factory.
Cost: Children: 169-259 UAH, Adults: 98-115
Address: Stepan Bandera 34b
Phone: +380 44 498 4848
Website: kidlandia.ua

Experimentanium
Located just down the road from the Blockbuster Entertainment Centre is Experimentanium – Kyiv’s science centre. Opened in 2012, kids with an interest in science and hand’s-on activities will feel right at home among the 250 exhibits at Experientanium. Experiment by tossing a coin into a ‘black hole’, watch the birth of a tornado, create a zipper, or look into infinity! With a chemical laboratory, hall of optical illusions, a fun house, and several shows, there is something to do for everyone! Each exhibit explains how it works, so kids learn while they play. Exhibits are in Ukrainian, but there are English-speaking tour guides available to order. All kids under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: Children: 165-200 UAH, Adults 180-220 UAH
Address: Stepan Bandera 6
Phone: +38 0 96 477 9791, +380 99 256 7127, +380 44 383 7354
Website: experimentanium.com.ua

Planetarium
Do your kids look up at the sky and ask you what’s out there? Do they ask you about the constellations when you go camping? Kyiv’s Planetarium is just the place for them. The oldest and most prestigious in Ukraine, the Kyiv Planetarium is Europe’s second-largest and attracts 150 000 visitors each year. There are lots of scientific and technological exhibits, a place to play space hockey or fend off alien invaders, and the impressive 360° 320-seat theatre. Not only can you view the night sky of Kyiv, but you can visit places around the world – from the North Pole to the equator to Antarctica. Weekends offer spectacular star shows and movies on the dome screen. You can even enrol your children aged 5 to 14 in their School of Astronomy, which offers entertaining weekly astronomy classes. English classes are available.
Cost: 100-400 UAH
Address: Velyka Vasylkyvska 27/3
Phone: +380 44 458 4834
Website: dzd-ussr.ru/towns/kiev

Oceanarium
From the heights of the skies to the depths of the oceans, if your kids loved Finding Nemo or are big fans of our underwater friends, then Kyiv’s Oceanarium is just for them. Your adventure begins with a pirate taking you below-ground on a sunken ship where you can see king crabs and coral. There is an underwater tunnel that allows you to see all kinds of sea creatures like jellyfish, sea horses, and turtles. If you go at the right time, you can even watch the sharks feeding! There’s even a touch pool, where your younguns can play with starfish and stingrays. With plenty more exhibits, activities, and shows, there’s so much to keep the whole gang entertained.
Cost: Children (up to 13): 130 UAH, Adults 170 UAH
Address: Malishka 3
Phone: +380 44 50 7022
Website: oceanarium.kiev.ua/en

Workshops (Food, Chess, Dance, Art, etc.)
Whether your kids are into art, food, sports, dance, or games, it’s easy to find a workshop to suit every interest. Most workshops are offered in English, so no need to bring along a translator. Many are uniquely Ukrainian activities, so it’s a fun, hands-on way to teach your children about the country. Artistic children may want to try their hands at psyanka (Ukrainian egg) or petrykivka painting, while burgeoning chefs can learn to cook borshch or varenyky at Lihtaryk Art Studio (lihtaryk.com.ua/?lang=en).
Science and journalism clubs are available at the Palace for Youth (palace.kiev.ua), and some classes are offered in English. Ukraine boasts some of the best chess players in the world, so why not teach your Bobby Fischer the game while they’re still young? There are plenty of world-class private tutors available or you can look at Dom Masterclass (2015.dimmk.com/en/education/artsad/chess). More active kids can try ballet or Ukrainian dance at many different studios or pick up football or boxing at various sports schools. Equipment and facilities vary widely, so be sure to do your research.
Cost: Varies
Address: Varies
Phone: Varies
Website: See above