A healthy way to survive a cloudy cold day is with ski poles in hands. The Kyiv Post found some nearby ski tracks for those who don’t want to go far from Kyiv this winter.
Protasiv Yar
The ski complex Protasiv Yar is conveniently located close to downtown Kyiv. It was opened in 1998 and remains the most popular destination for local ski lovers.
Protasiv Yar also serves as a base for Ukrainian teams training for Olympic Games and hosts Ukrainian and international competitions in skiing and snowboarding. Four runs are available. The smallest is a 150 meter children track, the longest is a 500 meter professional one. Two ski lifts transport the skiers up the hills. On Saturday, the complex works throughout the night, with lifts operating until 4 a.m.
Protasiv Yar is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Mondays and holidays.
Price. Entrance is Hr 15, Hr 20 on weekends. A ski pass is Hr 4-15 per lift. Rental of skis and boots is Hr 120 for three hours, Hr 140 on weekends.
How to get there. From Olympiiska metro station, take bus 495, 450, or trolley bus 40 to the Protasiv Yar stop. From Vokzalna metro station, take bus 198 to the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery.
Holosiivo
Although the hills at Holosiivskyi Park have always been popular among skiers and snowboarders, it wasn’t until this winter that two ski runs opened there. The Holosiivo tracks are now equipped with a ski lift and snow-making cannons. The infrastructure here includes parking, a first aid center, shops, free Wi-Fi and even a hotel for 15 rooms that will open by the end of the season. Skiers and snowboarders have separate tracks. The runs are open for night skiing on Fridays and weekends.
Price. A ski pass is Hr 20 per lift, Hr 25 on weekends, Hr 120 per day. The rental price for a ski kit with boots ranges from Hr 45 to Hr 60. A passport or a driving license must be left as a deposit.
How to get there. The address is 8 Gen. Rodimtsev St. Take bus 212 from metro station Golosiyivska to the Second Corpus (Drugiy Korpus) stop.
Vyshgora
Even though it is located several kilometers away from the city, Vyshgora is often crowded. Ski tracks with jumps, rails, kickers, boxes attract experienced and adventurous skiers. The unquestionable advantage of the resort is the magnificent view on the waterfront of the Kyiv Reservoir. Another extraordinary detail is the old bobsled track where the Soviets coached their Olympic champions. The disadvantage of Vyshgora is a slow – and often crowded – ski lift.
Price. Ski pass is Hr 10-15 per lift, Hr 90 for a half-day on weekdays, Hr 120 for a half-day on weekends. Ski kit rent is Hr 50 (Hr 70 on weekends). A driver’s license, a car registration certificate or Hr 2,500-3,000 in cash is accepted as a deposit. Passports are not accepted.
How to get there. Take bus 397 from metro station Heroyiv Dnipra or Taras Shevchenko Square.
Vodyanyky
The Vodyanyky ski resort is located in Cherkasy Oblast, 200 kilometers away from Kyiv, a three-hour drive. It opened in 2008 and provides more than 2,000 meters of skiing tracks, a hotel, several restaurants, and a bathhouse with hot tubs. Vodyanyky is the best choice for those who want rest from the crowded tracks and plan a weekend getaway.
Price. A room for two in Vodyanyky is Hr 800-1,100. Ski pass for a day is Hr 360, Hr 420 on weekends and holidays. One lift is Hr 15-20. Half a day ticket is Hr 150-250. Ski kit rent is Hr 90-140, Hr 45-80 for kids. Snowboard rent is Hr 100-160.
How to get there. Three highways go from Kyiv to Voyanyky – Obukhiv, Zhashkiv, and Bila Tserkva highway.
