Must See Ukraine - Kyiv

Founded in the 5th century, Kyiv is the mother city of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus. All three descend from Kyivan Rus, the Slavic super-state that existed from the 9th to the 11th centuries. Kyiv has survived Mongol invasions, devastating fires, communist urban planning and the destruction of WWII.

The Old Town is concentrated around the northeastern end of vulitsya Volodymyrska and contains a number of Kyiv's historic landmarks. The main attraction is the 11th century St Sophia Cathedral, the city's oldest standing church, which contains some of the country's greatest mosaics and frescoes.

Charming Andriyivsky vzviz winds north from old town to the base of the Podil district, the historic merchants' quarter and river port. A few blocks to the northwest of Podil is the fascinating Chernobyl Museum, chilling for the fact that it happened only 100km (62mi) to the north.