There are plenty of parks in and around Kiev. But this botanical garden is really worth visiting. Entrance fee 20 Hr, open from 8 AM to 8 PM in summer. Different gardens are shown. The most interesting ones include the Korean one, the rose and the flower gardens. Do not miss the church located in the park. It has amazing orthodoxe paintings. And do not miss either the fantastic monastery located north of the park.BEST THOUGH TIRING DAY TRIP SUGGESTION : start early morning at the botanical garden south entrance (main one), walk through it (2 good hours for going around), head for the northern part of it, walk down, reach the beautiful monastery below (near the noisy high way), visit it, then follow the high way, cross it when you see the amazing patriotic monument (looking like brazilian "Corcovado" from far away) on the massive hill on your right, walk up to it, visit (or not) the patriotic museum below the monument, spend a good hour around on the full site as there are plenty of things to see, continue up north and slowly reach Lavra. Count between 2 to 3 hours to visit the latter. In the end, going out from main entrance in Lavra, turn right and walk on this street before joining the beautiful large park hosting an obelisk and views on your right, walk through it, join the main street again walking 500 more meters to Arsenalna subway station, the deepest metro station (105 meters) in the world and go back to your hotel for a good sleep!
I love this place. Now, in spring, all the trees are in blossom - magnolias, apple-trees, lilacs, tulips, daffodils... So it's overcrowded, particularly when lilacs blossoms. But the park is beautiful in all seasons. Believe me, I know it, because I go there for jogging at least 2 times a week all year. The park is fairly big. You can run a 5 km lap, or choose any of shorter ways. There're lot of hills - steep and not very steep. And there's a relatively flat area too.Anyway, even if you are not a runner, come and enjoy nice flowers, fresh air and pleasant natural smells of the Botanical Garden. It's a popular romantic place too. And many people come with kids.By the way, there's a church on it's territory. And a Vydubichsky monastery is located just next to the park, in "lower" part of the park, closer to the Dnieper.
Great place to escape with kids from noisy city. Good playground. Nice views over the river. Usually they have some other events every week-ends. You can come with picnic and enjoy it with friends.
Visited the Botanical gardens twice and see the colours of spring flowers the lush green forest, views over Kiev , Lavra and spend time with my dearest friends just prior to leaving , a very special place for me.
If there is sunny skies outside and you really don't know where to go as there are not many places in Kyiv actually for a visit with your family - go to Grishko park and enjoy park layout with nature devoted to different parts of this and other countries: crimea, far east, carpathian mountains. Try to not mention poor quality of pavement just focus on nature, fresh air and beautiful landscapes. Park is almost downtown and easily reachable by car or taxi or trolleybus.
I think that spent there more than couple hours and even got tired of walking in the garden. There plenty of attractive venues and passes where one can keep walking throught the huge trees and flowerbeds.
Been there in 2009, spring time to see magnolias blooming as those are very rear in Ukraine. They were great of course, greenhouses were good too, the room with butterflies was a big fun for kids, my daughter saw the birth of a butterfly and was very excited about it. The rest of the territory is kind of chaotic, nothing much to see, we got lost a bit there. Comparing to the gardens I’ve seen later, that one is nothing special.
Huge park, not outstanding but a nice stroll if you take the $2 minibus ride for a 30 minute stroll. Beautiful winter trees
This place is very nice. Especialy during April-May when lilac flowers because there is a collection with more than 100 sorts of this plant. Moreover you will see typical vegetation for different zones of Ukraine (woods and grasslands).
It's a lovely place yet big and spacious, bring some food for the squirrels and make sure you find a spot from where Vidubitsky monastery can be seen. If you go in spring and lilacs bloom, it must be spellbinding. A bit far on foot from the nearest metro.