You're reading: Kyiv’s waters offer best way to beat the heat

The long hot days of a Ukrainian summer have finally arrived, and while this is a welcome change for most, on occasion it can get too hot to handle in Kyiv.

Luckily, Kyiv offers river beaches, places for boating and kayaking, and other water spots at which to cool off this summer. Kyiv Post tracked down the best of them.

Canoeing, kayaking

For the strong and sporty, canoeing and kayaking along the Dnipro give a great opportunity to admire the river’s picturesque banks, plus it gives people the chance to access some of the more secluded spots that are harder to get to by foot or car. There are several small islands to explore, with few other people around to take the best spots on the beaches.

The price for one hour of kayak rental varies from Hr 55 to Hr 115. Open Tue – Fri from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sat – Sun from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Hydropark kayak and canoe rental (Dolobetsky Island, north from Hydropark metro station across the Venetian Bridge.) For more information visit kayakcenter.com.ua.

Further north, at Druzhby Narodiv Park (access by car, or by public and private bus from Moskovsky Bridge) there is another spot offering kayaks and canoe for rent. The price for an hour is Hr 55 – 150. The price for a day’s rental is Hr 250 – 900. A deposit of Hr 500 in cash or a driver’s license is required.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more detailed information visit pohod.org.ua.

The Zenith sport camp on Trukhaniv Ostriv (1 Symona Petliury St., to the north of Hydropark, on the south end of the island, access by car from Moskovskiy Bridge or by the Pedestrian Bridge) has long served as a training camp to practice rowing, kayaking and canoeing. Today one can rent a canoe or kayak here for Hr 60 – 140 per hour. A passport or driver’s license plus a Hr 500 deposit are required.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more detailed information visit amigostour.kiev.ua.

Rowing, pedal boats

Boating or riding a pedal boat is one of the best ways to relax and enjoy the beauty of river nature. It is also a perfect pastime for lovers – it’s probably impossible to find a more romantic place in Kyiv than the waters of the majestic Dnipro River at sunset. Here are the most popular places to rent a boat or a pedal boat:

In summer, Obolonska Quay becomes Kyiv’s main water activities hub. Rowing and motor boats, pedal boats, and barges are available for rental from the Natalka sports club (7-9 Pryrichna St.). A driver’s license or passport is needed to rent a boat or a pedal boat. The price for one hour ride is Hr 40 – 100.

Obolonska Quay. Open daily from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

One can enjoy boating or riding on a pedal boat on one of the four boating ponds at Holosiyivky Park (87 Holosiyivsky Ave.). The price for an hour of rowing boat or pedal boat rental is Hr 40-50. Open daily from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m.

Holosiyivsky Park. Access by car (road E95), metro (Holosiyivska station).

Riding a river tram

Going on a cruise needn’t mean taking to the high seas, at least in Kyiv. One can use the Dnipro river trams, which serve both as a tourist attraction and transport. The river trams set off from Kyiv’s river station near Poshtova Ploshcha metro station, and offer picturesque views of both banks of the Dnipro. Cruises feature the beautiful buildings of Podil, the golden domes of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and the stunning Vydubychi Monastery. Trips to the mouth of the Desna, Kyiv Sea, or a standard one-hour Kyiv sightseeing are available by river tram. Tours cost Hr 120 – 250 and last from one hour to 3.5 hours.

Kyiv river station is located near Poshtova Ploshcha metro station, quay No. 10. Open on weekdays from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. and from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on weekends.

For more detailed information visit rpea.com.ua.

Yachting on the Dnipro

Those who like a bit more luxury can try yachting along the Dnipro River, with several Kyiv companies offering various classes of vessels to buy or rent. Whether it’s resting in solitude, fishing, or having a romantic dinner, popping the question, holding an unusual birthday party or throwing a wedding, a yacht is hard to beat. And while it can be pricey for larger vessels, the minimum rent for a small yacht in Kyiv is only Hr 250 per hour, so in Ukraine yachting is not just a sport for the well-off.

For instance, Rentflot Kyiv shipping company offers yachts, motor boats and cruisers for individual trips and big celebrations for up to 200 guests. The price of yacht rental varies between Hr 250 per hour to Hr 10,000 for a day. Motor cruiser rental is from Hr 400 – 5,000 per hour. The company also offers catering, live music and MC entertainment on its boats.

For more detailed information visit www.rentflot.ua.

Kyiv Yacht Center offers rental of sailing yachts for $35 -153 per hour, while the price for a motor yachts is $200 – 800 per hour. The company also offers its clients five different routes on river cruises, which include visiting the islands of the Dnipro and having picnics on them.

For more detailed information visit arenda-yaht.kiev.ua.