Museum of Folk Architecture and Life

Situated around 12 km south of Kiev, this open-air museum is one of the best in Ukraine. Seven villages are scattered around the large grounds, each representing a different region of the country. Visitors are free to wander in and around windmills, peasant huts, churches and barns.

During the summer, craftsmen work here and sell pottery, carvings and other items. The restaurants here rank amongst the best places to eat shashlyk.

Reviews / Comments / Additional Information

Scotty

I liked this a lot. Cheap and great fun for anyone and for families. Learn the history of Kiev and the Ukraine. I learned how to throw knifes. Downside is it is only open in the summer.

Rebecca Kein

We visited this village. It was amazing to see the beauty and artistry of these villages. I was disappointed, because you are not allowed to take pictures inside of the structures. However, it is interesting to see how people lived so long ago. I think we would have gotten more out of our visit if we had an English speaking guide. Also, I think a guide would of prevented some embarrassing moments such as walking into a house for staff only and being yelled at for trying to take pictures inside the houses.
One thing we liked was the friendly dogs and cats that greeted us here. (Most strays in Ukraine shy away or cringe in fear as you approach.)
I would recommend going during Spring or Summer. We went in October, and it looked like they were doing a lot of repairs to the cobble streets and roofs. Also, we didn't find many crafts for sale. Also, none of the restaurants were open. (Maybe they open later in the day? We left about one o'clock in the afternoon.) We were hoping to get a taste of the yummy food. Instead we settled for snack bar stands.