Yes, you can visit Chernobyl from Kyiv which was once the site of one of the greatest nuclear disasters in history, and it’s seriously spooky.
The Chernobyl disaster happened in 1986 in the former Soviet Union in the north of Ukraine.
A reactor exploded discharging radioactivity into the atmosphere and killing 37 people within a few days, as well as countless more victims in the future due to radioactive poisoning.
The area became unliveable and the 70,000 civilian residents of the nearby city of Pripyat were evacuated, as well as other settlements in the region.
Pripyat has since become an eerie ghost city.
There is a 30km exclusion zone around the whole area, but you can go there on short visits, and in the more dangerous areas you don’t stay that long.
Still visiting a nuclear disaster site is not exactly something you do every day.
Going on a tour to Chernobyl is one of the most interesting things you can do in the area around Kyiv.
There were a few nerves going on at times when the radioactive levels spiked on the Geiger counter though.
The Ghost City of Pripyat
Pripyat is a really haunting place as everything was left behind when the people evacuated.
The old school is littered with gas masks that are everywhere.
The whole place has fallen apart and left to rot.
Children’s books and hair combs are an acute reminded how fast the people left.
The indoor swimming pool is one of the more astonishing sites on the Chernobyl tour that you will see..
Time stood still.
In the sports hall there is nothing left.
More gas masks lying around.
The haunting fun fair area is where some of the most iconic pictures of the area come from..
Nature is taking over the city as trees and plants grow all around.
Children crossing.
Supermarket left with nothing.
Face mask.
Street art on walls shows signs of past happiness.
The Village Kindergarten
On the way to Pripyat, there is an abandoned village with a kindergarten. This was seriously saddening to visit seeing the children’s things lying around.
At the entrance to the kindergarten, there is a radioactive hotspot. Normal radiation readings would measure up to 0.3. There it reached up to 12!
The guide explains the radiation risks and how the area is becoming more ‘livable’ than before.
Believe it or not, people have come back to certain areas to try and live again.
Inside the kindergarten, you can see the young children beds.
The Soviet Radar Complex on The Chernobyl Tour
The Soviets had an early warning nuclear missile radar station nearby Chernobyl called Duga-1.
It’s 90 metres high and 250 metres wide and is seriously impressive to get up close to.
Nearby buildings still have Soviet paintings on.
This says something like “Soviets need you”!
The entrance area to the radar site.
The Chernobyl Tour From Kiev
The entrance sign to Chernobyl.
Visiting Chernobyl would fall under the category of “dark tourism“, but it does give a deep insight into one of the worst nuclear disasters in history (the most recent one being Fukushima in Japan) so it’s worth going to get a knowledge of that.
Taking a tour of Chernobyl and Pripyat should be high on your list when visiting Ukraine and Kyiv.
It’s a very unique and haunting experience to do.
I recommend using SafetyWing Travel Insurance for your trip, just in case, it’s best to be prepared.
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Wow, incredible photography. I’ve always found Chernobyl to be fascinating. How long do they let you stay in the area for the tour? I can’t believe people sneak in those abandoned buildings to sleep at night!
Thanks! It depends on what tour you take. I did the one day and stayed 7 hours in the 30km exclusion zone, but only short times in the main radioactive area. Pripyat and Chernobyl are safe enough. It’s only certain areas that you go to only for short time.
Great photos man, it feels like such a beautiful summer afternoon despite being this desolate abandoned place.
Cheers! Yeah if it wasn’t for the ghost city it could easily be a normal place…
Hi! Finally someone with similar interests! Keep up the good work! How much was the tour to Chernobyl? Are there any alternative ways than spending ~100USD p.P. for getting there?
Cheers!
Hey! Tour was around $100 and I didn’t see at the time another way. Maybe it has changed now.
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