The Kiev Funicular links the district of Podil to the Upper Town or city centre. It is one of only two funicular railways in Ukraine (the other is in Odessa).
The ride is short but fun and should be on every tourist’s itinerary. We suggest you take a walk down the beautiful Andrew’s Descent, have a look around Podil, and then ride the Funicular to visit the impressive St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.
There are ticket offices at both ends of the railway. You will need to purchase a small token to put into the turnstile. The fare is just 1.5 UAH.
Whichever direction you choose to travel, sit at the lower end of the train for great views of the Dnipro river.
Facts
- The Kiev Funicular opened in 1905 and was originally named the St Michael’s Mechanical.
- It was renamed in the 1930s after the Soviet authorities destroyed St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.
- There are two cars. The track splits into two half-way up the hill, allowing them to pass each other.
- The ascending car is pulled by the hill by a cable pulley system. It powered by an electric motor in the upper station, assisted by the weight of the descending car.
- The trip lasts around 2½ minutes.
- Over 10,000 passengers ride the railway each day.
- Poshtova Ploshcha Metro Station is right next to the lower station.
Map
Map showing location of Kiev Funicular.
Click here for a detailed map showing all points of interest.
Details
Kiev Funicular
Address
Kiev Funicular
Kiev
Kiev Oblast
Ukraine
Stella-Maria Thomas says
It’s still a very cheap way of getting up and down the steep incline between Podil and the upper town but you don’t need to buy a token anymore. There are gates marked with Visa and Mastercard signs, and you can use contactless payment. Just press your card on the pad and the light will go green and beep you through. Easy.
Marcus says
This is the best way to travel to and from Podil. The fare is a bargain. If this was the US it would cost a few dollars but here it is just the equivalent of a few cents. The journey was a nice experience and Podil is a great district with plenty of things to see and do.
DS says
The train was very old and of Soviet design. It travelled quite slowly. The journey takes a couple of minutes. It was better than walking up the hill though.