Hotels, restaurants and attractions in Kiev, Ukraine

GETTING THERE

Kiev is best enjoyed once the weather starts turning milder in the spring. KLM and Lufthansa offer one-stop flights out of Washington Dulles starting at about $800 round-trip in March. U.S. citizens do not need a visa. Getting from the airport to the city is a hefty taxi ride. Hawkers will ask outlandish amounts, but if you negotiate you should be able to get a ride for $20-$25 (160-200 hryvnia).

GETTING AROUND

Central Kiev is walkable. Most things are no more than 20 minutes from the main square, Maidan Nezalezhnosti, or Independence Square. There's a good Metro system (20 cents a ride). You should be able to get a taxi to any place in the center of the city for about $5 (40 hryvnia), but if you flag down a cab on the street, negotiate the fare before you get in.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel Lybid, Peremohy 1, 011-380-44-236-0063, http://hotellybid.com.ua. A five-minute cab ride from the heart of the city. Doubles from $115.

Khreschatyk Hotel, Khreschatyk Street 14, 011-380-44-596-8000, http://www.khreschatik.kiev.ua. Slightly down at the heels, but a great location on the main drag. Doubles from $108.

Sunflower B&B Hotel, Kostelnaya 9-41, 011-380-44-279-3846, http://www.sunflowerhotel.kiev.ua. A few steps from the central square. Rooms from $135.

WHERE TO EAT

Volkonsky Cafe and Bakery, 5 Khreschatyk Passage, 011-380-44-270-5996. Perfect for a light lunch or coffee and a pastry. Entrees $10-$16.

Tike, Sagaydachnogo 31A, 011-380-44-417-4062. This Turkish restaurant near the river is not cheap, but the food is great. Main dishes, $10-$15.

Varenichnaya, 28 Esplanadnaya St., 011-380-44-287-1539. This is the place to get varenyky-- dumplings stuffed with meat, mushroom, vegetables or cheese -- perhaps the signature Ukrainian dish. Save room for the sour cherry ("vishna") varenyky for dessert. Entrees $5-$11.