Boat Tours in Kiev, along the Dnieper River

Kiev has had a long historic connection to the River Dnieper and there is no better way to view the city from a relaxing boat tour. This guide will provide details of the most popular boat tours in Kiev and include prices, departure times and useful tourist tips. Please note: as with all services in Kiev things rapidly change and these details were correct in the summer 2015. At the end of the guide are details of the Aqua party boat tours which are great fun!

There are several places in Kiev where the boats depart. The most easily accessible by metro are the River Port (10 min walk from Pochtovaya Ploshchad metro station of the Blue line) and the mooring near the Dnepr metro station (Red line). Embarkation begins 1 hour before the departure time. Admission of children younger than 6 is free and a 50 % discount is provided for children up to 12.

The Dnieper River of Kiev

The "Kiev Panorama" 1 and 1.5-hour boat tours allow time to admire the fascinating scenery of the Right and the Left Bank of Kiev. Sights include the stunning domes of Kiev-Pechersl Lavra, the beautiful Vudybetsky Monastery, the magnificent St. Andrew’s Church and the Magdeburg Rights Column. These Kiev Panorama boat tours depart every day from 10:00 to 19:00 and cost 100 hrn (4 Euros) for the 1-hour tour and 120 hrn (5 Euros) for the 1.5 hour tour. A 50 % discount is given to children aged 7-14 years. The boats depart every hour, but usually wait until they are filled or leave earlier if there is the demand.

There are two longer boat trips on Saturday and Sunday, the tour lasts 3 hours or 4 hours and leave at 13:00 and 15:00. These cruises are fascinating as they follow the Dnieper River upstream to the Kiev Reservoir, which is often referred to as the Kiev Sea. To reach the Kiev Sea the tour boat enters massive locks, which lift the boats up by 7-8 meters and hold back the vast amounts of water with huge iron doors. During this journey you will enjoy varied beautiful landscapes of the Dnieper hills and the tour is highly recommended as an alternative activity while in Kiev.The ticket price for this longer boat trip is 220 hrn (9 Euros) and 259 hrn (11 Euros).

There are several private companies, which offer various private boat tours and cruises along the Dnieper river. In most cases, however, the tour should be booked beforehand.

You may also make a fantastic trip on a double-decked boat to Mezhygorie, the former private residence of V.Yanukovych. This former property of the fourth president of Ukraine is now considered as the Museum of Corruption or Kitsch. The journey takes 7 hours. The boat departs on Saturdays and Sundays from mooring N 7 of the River Port. The price of tickets that may be purchased on boat is 300 hrn (about 13 Euros) and 150 hrn (about 6,5 Euros) for adult/children aged 7-14 years, respectively. Embarkation begins at 10:00 and the boat departs at 11:00. There is a bar on the boat, besides you may take some food/beverages with you. Arrival in Mezhygorie at 13:00. Entrance fee is 50 hrn (2 Euros) per person. Embarkation and departure at 16:00. The boat returns at the mooring N 7 at 18:00.

You may go for a short (1 hour) journey from the mooring (the nearest to the Metro ridge) located in 5 min walk from the Dnepr metro station. On Saturdays and Sundays the boats depart every hour from 11:00 to 21:00, in other days – when there are 20-25 passengers on the boat. The price of adult ticket is 100 hrn (4 Euros), the ticket for children aged 7-14 years costs 50 hrn (about 2 Euros). There is a bar on the boat. Besides, you may order a shashlick at the mooring (70 hrn/3 Euros), which will be barbecued and brought before the departure.

Every day beginning from 19:00 the aqua-parties (disco) are organized (1 hour and a half; price 120 hrn/5 Euros), which are extremely popular among young people. On Saturdays and Sundays (and sometimes on holidays) a 2-hour journey to the estuary of the Desna River is organized with departures at 12:00 (ticket price is 100 hrn/4 Euros) and 17:00 (ticket price is 120 hrn/5 Euros). On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays you may make a long 4 hour journey to the Kiev Sea. The boat departs at 16:00. Adult/children ticket costs 220 hrn (about 10 Euros)/110 hrn (about 5 Euros). The tickets are purchased on boat.