Perfect for a romantic date, family weekend and friends’ time, skating is a universal winter entertainment, and Kyiv offers a bunch of options to enjoy it.
As it keeps freezing in the Ukrainian capital, it’s about the perfect time to grab a pair of skates and try outside ice rinks. Those not willing to freeze outside can still enjoy skating at many indoor rinks.
The Kyiv Post has picked some of the best skating spots in the city this winter.
VDNH
Every winter Kyiv’s exhibition center VDNH puts up Winter Land, an entertainment park with numerous activities for children and adults, and one of them is an outside ice rink for skating. Decorated with Christmas adornments and atmospheric lights, the spot is a popular winter destination among Kyiv citizens. There, visitors can rent skates or bring their own and enjoy skating unlimited time for Hr 110 if paid with a card and Hr 130 if paid in cash. VDNH offers regular skates with a range of sizes from 24 to 48, which will fit both adults and children from around two years old. The entrance for children under 4 and orphans is free.
After skating, the attendees can take a break and treat themselves to hot drinks and street food and later try riding the slides on tubes, climbing at the rope park and riding various attractions.
Prices: unlimited skating with own or rented skates — Hr 110–130.
VDNH. 1 Akademika Hlushkova Ave. Until Jan. 13. 10 a. m. — 10 p. m. Jan. 14 — March 10. Mon-Fri. 12–10 p. m. Sat-Sun. 10 a. m. — 10 p. m.
Kontraktova Square
One of the main winter holidays locations in Kyiv this year is Kontraktova Square, where visitors can take a Ferris wheel to enjoy the city view, ride the slides, taste street food and drinks and buy souvenirs. Apart from that, the square holds an outside ice rink located right by the Kyiv Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theater for Children and Youth. There, the attendees can rent a pair of skates for Hr 50. Skating for half an hour will cost Hr 50, while the unlimited time is Hr 100. Those who want to use their own skates can only take the unlimited time option paying Hr 100.
The visitors that are making their first steps in skating can use an instructor’s assistance for Hr 50. The spot has skates of sizes 22–47 fitting children from around one year and adults. After skating at the lighted ice rink, Kyiv citizens and guests can proceed to further entertainment at the Kontraktova Square or take a walk along the Petra Sahaidachnoho Street to have a look at artsy light installations.
Prices: skates rent — Hr 50, 30 minutes — Hr 50, unlimited — Hr 100. Unlimited for students, retirees, children with disabilities of first and second groups, children of veterans and police officers.
Kontraktova Square. 2 Mezhyhirska St. Until Jan. 19. 10 a. m. — 10 p. m.
Taras Shevchenko Park
The Ferrero Ukraine company, which produces Raffaello candies, has set up an outside ice rink in the middle of the Taras Shevchenko Park located in the city center. The circle rink is labeled with the Raffaello logos and is made in its brand colors, white and red, however, it is also decorated with various winter and romantic adornments creating a fairy atmosphere of an icy lake hidden in the thick of trees.
The rink offers skates of sizes 25–47 and doesn’t allow visitors to use their own skates. The entrance to the rink is free, yet the visitors will have to leave an ID or Hr 300 as a deposit in order to use the spot’s skates. Apart from that, the attendees can take pictures at the photo zones and try hot drinks right by the ice rink.
Prices: free.
Taras Shevchenko Park. Tarasa Shevchenka Blvd. Until Jan. 14. 11 a. m. — 9:30 p. m.
Children and adults enjoy skating on the ice rink at Taras Shevchenko Park in Kyiv on Dec. 31, 2018. Entry to the ice rink is free, and it will be open until Jan. 14, 2019. (Volodymyr Petrov)
Ice Arena at Kosmopolit
Ice Arena ice rink is located inside the Kosmpolit shopping and entertainment center. The place is open every day from early morning till late at night. Big and spacious, the rink is perfect for those confidently gliding the ice. The newbies, however, can take a 45-minute individual lesson with a teacher for Hr 150 to improve their skating skills.
Ice Arena offers 10 one-hour skating sessions every day starting with the first one at 8 a. m. and the last one at 9:30 p. m. From Monday through Friday an adult ticket for one session costs Hr 70 in the morning, Hr 80–90 in the day time and Hr 90–110 in the evening. On weekends and official holidays, the price for adults is Hr 110 at any time. Tickets for children with the height under 150 centimeters cost Hr 70 on Monday-Friday and Hr 80 on weekends and holidays. The tickets cover skates rent and one hour of skating. Ice Arena has both figure and hockey skates of sizes 25–49 with the smallest one fitting 2-year-olds. And those who want to use their own skates will have to pay the same price.
Prices: adults — Hr 70–110, children under 150-centimeters-high — Hr 70–80.
Ice Arena at Kosmopolit. 6 Vadyma Hetmana St. 8–12 a. m. Check sessions time at www.trc-cosmopolite.com/rozvagacat/lodova-arena
Ice Rink at Dream Town
Another ice rink located at Dream Town shopping and entertainment center, despite its indoor location, maintains the winter holidays mood with snowy trees and snowdrift decorations. The spacious arena, which can hold up to 120 visitors, is perfect for big companies and family recreation. The place is open from early morning with the first session starting at 8 a. m. and ending with the last session at 10:30 p. m. The rink offers skates of sizes 27–49 with the smallest ones fitting three-year-olds.
And the place has some of the cheapest prices in the city. The visitors are able to use their own skates, however, the price remains the same as the one including skates rent. Adult tickets for a one-hour session on working days cost Hr 30–50 depending on the time of the day and Hr 50–80 on weekends. Tickets for children under 13 and retirees will have to pay Hr 45–50. The visitors of the ice rink at Dream Town can take a 45-minute lesson with an instructor for Hr 100, as well as rent protective equipment for Hr 10.
Prices: adult — Hr 30–80, children under 13 and retirees — Hr 45–50.
Ice Rink at Dream Town. 1B Obolonskyi Ave. 8 a. m. — 11:30 p. m. Check sessions time at www.dreamtown.ua/ru/entertainment/items/2
