This summer’s options for outdoor swimming have been limited by the authorities’ decision to close all official beaches in Kyiv, saying that the low quality of water poses a danger to health.
But as summer enters its final month, there are plenty of other places to enjoy any sun we get in outdoor pools, clean lakes or, if the weather lets us down, at huge indoor aqua parks.
If you go to a pool or aqua park, you mustn’t forget a health certificate from your dermatologist, slip on shoes and a swimming cap.
Swimming pools:
Yunist
Yunist isn’t just a swimming pool, but a whole complex with a gym, sauna and solarium.
There are two pools – a 50-meter outdoor swimming pool with five lanes and a 25-meter indoor pool. There are special groups for children and classes in water aerobics.
Not only does Yunist offer the largest outdoor pool, it’s also the warmest at 27 C, even in winter.
For all this relative luxury, the high price shouldn’t be much of a surprise, at Hr 65-75 for 45 minutes, depending when you visit.
To visit this pool you should make a payment in any bank in Kyiv using a form printed off its website.
Yunist, 7 Bastionna Str., metro Druzhby Narodiv, http://openpool.kiev.ua/, www.swimming-pool.vitava.com.ua/kiev/basein-yunost.php
5 Element
This is a huge sport complex where, alongside an outdoor pool, you can find everything from a gym to a beauty room. The downside for swimmers is that you have to buy a club card, which gives you access not only to the pools but also to all of the services in center.
The club has four pools: a 25-meter indoor pool with four lanes, a pool for children, an outdoor hydro-massage pool with sea-salt and an outdoor summer pool, which you can also relax beside if you want to work on your tan.
Right before you start your trainings or visiting the pool, you’ll get full diagnostics in the center, they will create your own training program.
5 Element, 29 Elektrykiv Str., metro Kontraktova Ploshcha, http://5el.com.ua/services/bassein/
Lakes:
Although Telbin lake beach – the only official sandy lake beach in Kyiv– has been closed by authorities, there are few lakes in Kyiv that are still considered safe.
The biggest lake in Kyiv, Almazne, is not recommended for those who want to swim, as the water hasn’t been tested, but many people swim there anyway.
Ministersky Lake
This lake is the ideal spot for those who want to hang out with friends in the countryside. And it’s convenient even if you don’t have a car.
The lake there is deep and clean, there are even few sandy beaches, everything else is just a wild beach, where you can kick back right on the grass under a tree.
The place is picturesque, but sometimes scenic view can be ruined by private houses with high fences that have appeared recently.
The infrastructure is rather bad, so you should bring everything with you. There are only a few places where you can buy water or beer, and there are no toilets.
You can often meet fishermen there– another hint that water in the lake is clean. The beaches are clean, too, and there are not many people there on weekdays.
How to get there: From Minska metro station take bus 99 or marshrutka 172 to the Mayorova stop; from Heroiv Dnipra metro station take any marshrutka that goes to Vyshhorod and get off at the Ministersky Lake stop.
Verbne Lake
This lake is situated in a few minutes from Petrivka metro station, and surrounded by greenery, so you can spend hot summer days just walking along the shores of the lake.
There’s no sandy beach here, and there’s a lot of garbage and bottles, but it’s still a favorite of students and young people.
The water here is clean, but you might not like to get in when there are a lot of people splashing around, as the mud rises from the bottom.
One big plus here is that there are a lot of places to have a snack or just buy a bottle of water.
How to get there: From Petrivka metro station, take a marshrutka to Moskovsky Prospect.
Almazne Lake
This is the biggest lake in Kyiv, and a lot of people like to spend summer ays here, even though there’s no official beach. The lake is surrounded with the pine forest, and some people say the nature here is among the most beautiful in Kyiv.
Beside the lake, you’ll find people relaxing in different ways, be it fishing or cycling.
There’s a lot of rubbish on the bank of the lake, but the water seems to be clean at first sight. People on different forums say that the main indicator of clean water is that crayfish inhabit the lake.
But you may change your mind about swimming if you catch a glimpse on the shore of the lake of Lisove cemetery and decide it’s better just to enjoy the picturesque views.
How to get there: From Chernihivska metro station, take marshrutka 416, 419, 418, 236, 434 or 414 to the Kraynya Street stop, then walk for 20 minutes to reach the lake.
Located outside of Kyiv, Terminal water park has a wave pool and water slides. You can even drink beer and eat pizza at a poolside bar. (Courtesy)
Aqua parks:
If August doesn’t bring any sunshine, you can still have swimming fun at indoor aqua parks, which offer a wide range of entertainment alongside swimming.
Dream Island at Dream Town
This aqua park claims to be the biggest in the former Soviet Union, and is certainly packed with an impressive number of things to do: You can swim in one of five pools, ride down one of 14 water slides, or just rest in the lagoon which boasts an aqua bar.
There are plenty of places to relax, too, including an array of baths, saunas and a Jacuzzi.
Dream Town, Obolonsky prospekt 21-B, metro Minska or Obolon.
Aqua Park at Terminal:
It’s well known for its entertainment. It boasts a pool with waves, six slides, a jacuzzi and aspecial spa-zone for sauna- and bath-lovers.
There’s also a children’s zone specially designed with kids in mind.
http://aquapark-terminal.com.ua/
316 Kyivska Str., Brovary (a Kyiv suburb), from Lisova metro station, take marshrutka 404 to the Terminal stop.
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