Internet Cafes
As the cost of home internet services in Kiev and Ukraine has dropped, the need for dedicated internet cafes has fallen. Widespread use of laptops, PDA’s and mobile phones with internet access has further increased their demise.
Several internet cafes still exist in the city centre, for example at the Central Post Office on Independence Square, but most visitors find it more convenient to use wireless hotspots in more traditional bars, cafes, and restaurants.
McDonald’s – Free WiFi
Finding places in Kiev city centre can be difficult for first time visitors, especially since most street and business signs are written in Russian or Ukrainian. Fortunately, everybody recognises the logo of McDonald’s and the good news for travellers is that this global restaurant chain offers free wireless internet access.
Many of its restaurants in Kiev are located in the areas most frequented by tourists and close to Metro stations:
| Address | Near | Closest Metro | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Kreschatyk | Independence Square | Khreshchatyk | Right next to the Metro entrance. |
| 40/25 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho | National Opera House, St Volodymyr's Cathedral, Fomin Botanical Gardens | Universytet, Teatralna | One block up from the National Opera House. |
| 1/2 Sofiyivska Street | Independence Square | Maidan Nezalezhnosti | At the northern end of Independence Square. |
| 10 Borychiv Uzviz | Funicular Railway, Podil, Hotel Riviera, St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery | Poshtova Ploshcha | Right opposite the Podil entrance to the Funicular Railway and the Riviera Hotel. |
| 22 Chervonoarmiyska | Taras Shevchenko Park | Taras Shevchenko Park | Right next to the Metro station. |
WiFi – Other Restaurants, Bars, Hotels
Most restaurants, bars, hotels etc. in Kiev now offer public wireless internet access.
Mobile Internet
Internet access on mobile phones in Kiev and Ukraine is cheap and reliable. All the big mobile phone companies (Kyivstar, Life, MTS Ukraine, PEOPLEnet, Utel) offer a mobile internet service.
Prepaid SIM cards can be purchased from street vendors or mobile phone shops. There are literally thousands of outlets across the city and they are easy to spot. For foreigners the easiest option is just to pop into a shop and ask them to set you up. Most shops have a staff member that can speak some English and they are usually keen to help.
Mobile phone shops also sell USB modems for laptops.
I need to have internet access on my mobile phone while I am in Kiev? Can I set it up online before I go?
I don’t think so. Not unless you want to use your own provider and pay expensive roaming charges.
You’d need a local SIM card and I don’t think you can order them to be delivered to your country. I’d wait until you get to Kiev and then just buy one from a shop.
Shops selling phone cards are pretty much all over the city. You’ll see one sooner or later when walking around. Or if you want to plan, just go to the website of a provider such as Kyivstar or MTS Ukraine. They have English sections with a list of shops. Staff here will set your phone up when you buy a card and advise on the best package for your stay. They tend to be young and speak a little English.
You can also by internet/phone cards from street vendors. There’s nothing wrong with the cards but the vendors aren’t the most educated of folk and usually don’t speak English.
Is WiFi freely available in cafes and restaurants?
I’d say that most cafes, restaurants and bars in Kiev have wireless internet access these days, at least in the central areas. It’s free for customers. I can’t recall ever visiting somewhere that charged for it. I personally don’t like using it. Do a search on YouTube and you’ll see it is fairly simple to hack/impersonate a public WiFi network and steal somebody’s details. Ukraine is known for many things and one of them is that it is the home of some of the most prolific hackers in the world.
Broadband USB modems are also offered by PeopleNet and UMS. PeopleNet is a better bargain. But UMS offers better coverage and better speeds. Departures at Terminal B at Borispil offers free WiFi, which is actually quite fast.