Ukraine » Shopping in Kiev

Recovering from the Soviet past, Kiev is becoming a capital city of European standard with all the attributes (such as large shopping and recreation centres, boutiques and top brands shops) peculiar to large cities.

The inestimable advantage of any supermarket is a convenience of many departments gathered under one roof that allows you to save your precious time and buy all products you need at once. Citizens of the Ukrainian capital were given an opportunity to enjoy the convenience of modern supermarkets of European and American standards just few years ago, in the late 1990s. So far there are about 55 supermarkets in Kiev, among which one should mention Billa, Furshet, Mega Market and Silpo.

Today the Ukrainian capital boasts a plenty of souvenir and gift shops, most of which are situated in the centre of Kiev, in Shevchenka Boulevard, Kreschatik Street, Krasnoarmeyskaya Street and other places of tourist attention. One of the most popular places to buy souvenirs is Andreevsky Spusk, where you are sure to find something to your taste. Either a hand-made traditional article or soviet memorabilia will remind you of visiting generous and hospitable Ukraine.

Many tourists, leaving Ukraine, take as souvenirs bottles of vodka and gorilka, which is a Ukrainian variant of vodka. That is quite logical, as these strong drinks have been always treated as well-known symbols of Slavonic culture. Nowadays you can buy high-quality beverages in many department stores, shopping centres, and grocery and liquor stores of Kiev.