Very soon, on October 23 and 24, the capital city of Ukraine, Kyiv, will welcome guests from all over the world coming here to participate in the biggest running event of 2021 – the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021.
Last year was a tough challenge for all of us. We couldn’t see each other at the start lines because of the pandemic and closed borders, but we are genuinely happy that this year we can #runtogether.
On October 23-24 we will meet in the Race Village, warm up, hear the start gun and run down the streets of Kyiv with thousands of other runners. The 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021 will become an adventure to remember.
We have prepared for you the answers to the most common questions related to Kyiv Marathon. They will help you finalize your plans for this fall and plan your upcoming trip to the capital of Ukraine.
What is the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021?
Kyiv Marathon is the largest running event in Ukraine.
This year WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON is celebrating its 12th anniversary. The event will include 4.2 km, 10 km, 21.0975 km and 42.195 km races, as well as free children’s races. You can choose any course you like.
Although they say that Kyiv is a city on seven hills, you should not worry. This year, the organizers took every effort to keep the running routes as leveled as possible. Thus, on the marathon course, the overall elevation gain has decreased by 199 m compared to last year and now comes to 463 m.
Why should you participate in the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021?
There are many reasons to join the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021.
First of all, Kyiv Marathon is a meeting we all have been longing for and it is a chance to finally experience wild emotions from an actual race. That’s what we really missed in 2020.
Secondly, Kyiv Marathon has a traditionally high level of organization. Registration, distribution of starter’s packages, luggage storage service, changing rooms, hydration and food stations along the route – all work like clockwork, and all misunderstandings and difficulties, if any, are resolved in no time.
Third, participation on any course of Kyiv Marathon is a chance to enjoy the panorama of Kyiv both during and after the run. According to AIMS measurer Lucia Kolić, who conducted certification of the marathon route, “she has not yet seen such a collection of landmarks on one route.” And indeed – the route runs past temples included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, a unique 102-meter “Motherland” statue, erected in Soviet times, Askold’s grave, that, according to the legend, is the final resting place of one of the first princes of Kyiv, the Golden Gates that almost a thousand years ago were the main gates of ancient Kyiv and many other sights.
Fourth, participation in the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021 is an opportunity to discover a new country. Ukraine is a relatively young state that officially gained its independence only in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But its history and culture date back over a thousand years. In the Middle Ages, there was a huge empire on the territory of Ukraine – Kyiv Rus, the capital of which was Kyiv, and present-day Ukraine is its rightful heir. For example, the modern coat of arms of Ukraine – the trident – was used by the princes of Kyiv in those ancient times. An interesting fact: the tomb of the French queen Anne de Kyiv is also decorated with a trident, because she was the daughter of prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kyiv. And there are many similar connections between Ukraine and European countries. Search, and you will find.
Fifth, you can add a new trophy to your collection. Kyiv Marathon usually has very beautiful medals.
Last but not least – 12th anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Therefore, the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021 is not only an opportunity to run your chosen course in the heart of Europe (by the way, the geographical center of Europe is located in Ukraine!), but also a great chance to become part of a great running holiday.
How to get to Ukraine?
Ukraine is located in the center of the European continent and borders Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus and Russia. Therefore, you can use different means of transportation to get to Kyiv.
By air. There are two airports in Kyiv, Boryspil and Zhuliany, cooperating with many world airlines. On average, the ticket to Kyiv and back will cost 100-150 euros.
Many low-costers also fly to Ukraine, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, Ernest Airlines, Aegean Air, AirBaltic, SkyUp and others, which can help you save money and fly to and from Ukraine for only 40-70 euros.
By the way, all participants of Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon will receive 20 Euro vouchers from Wizz Air that you can use for future trips.
By train. Residents of Austria, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Poland, Belarus, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania can travel to Kyiv by train. The cost of a train ticket is 20-70 euros one way.
By bus. You can take a bus to Kyiv from almost any country of the world. The cost of a ticket to Kyiv is highly dependent on the route and ranges from 15 to 120 euros one way, depending on the city of departure.
By car. Your own car will not limit you to a certain route, and you will be able to visit many sights of Ukraine on your way to Kyiv, for example, Chernivtsi University, also called “Ukrainian Hogwarts”, the picturesque Schönborn castle in the Carpathians, or Kamianets-Podilskyi fortress, which has repeatedly been used as a setting for historical films.
Petrol in Ukraine is relatively inexpensive – about 1 euro per liter of gas, which can also be an argument in favor of using your own vehicle. Your own car can be especially useful if you are coming to Ukraine as a group of runners: even if you choose to visit all the places of interest, you are likely to spend not more than 200 euros for gas in Ukraine. But do not forget to take into account the cost of gas needed for your travels outside of Ukraine.
PLEASE, NOTICE! Ukraine has a visa-free regime with many countries. This means that you do not need a visa to take part in the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021. You can stay in Ukraine as a guest for 90 days without any problems!
Follow the link to find the list of countries whose citizens do not need an entry visa to Ukraine https://visaguide.world/europe/ukraine-visa/
Just in case, in order to avoid misunderstandings, check the entry conditions for citizens of your country on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. https://mfa.gov.ua/en/news/government-lifts-entry-restrictions-foreigners-travelling-or-through-ukraine
Where to stay in Kyiv?
There are many affordable lodging options in the city center. If you book it in advance, you can save a lot of money.
Average cost of housing per day for two people:
- 2 beds in a dormitory room in a hostel – 10 euros or more
- one-bedroom apartment in the city center – 15-40 euros
- double room in a three-star hotel – 30 euros or more
The organizers of Wizz Air Kyiv City Marathon have prepared a list of partner hotels in Kyiv, where participants of the event will be able to stay at reasonable prices https://kyivmarathon.org/prozhyvannya-v-kyyevi/
There is an extensive public transportation network in Kyiv – buses, trolleybuses, trams, shuttles and subways.The fare for all types of transport is about 0.3 euros.
Kyiv subway is not only a means of transportation – some stations are complete works of art. For example, Zoloti Vorota station is decorated with a colorful mosaic depicting ancient princes of Kyiv, Teatralna station has a unique 3D graffiti of the theater stage, and last year Osokorky station turned into a kind of contemporary art gallery: eight artists from different countries painted eight murals on the station walls.
You can also take a taxi in Kyiv. Uber, Uklon or Bolt taxis will take you from point A to point B for just 3.5-7 euros.
What to eat in Kyiv?
Kyiv is a great place to discover Ukrainian national cuisine. During your stay in Ukraine we recommend you to try:
- Borshch. A true taste of borshch can only be experienced in Ukraine. This is its special feature.
- Varenyky. Varenyky are pieces of dough stuffed with a variety of fillings. You can try the classic ones – with sauerkraut, hearty dumplings – with potatoes and mushrooms, tender ones – with sweet cheese, or juicy ones – with cherries or strawberries. You will definitely find something you like.
- Kyiv Cake. You can’t say you’ve been to Kyiv if you haven’t had a piece of Kyiv cake.
- Chicken Kyiv. Crunchy on the outside, juicy chicken and hot melted butter inside – this Ukrainian delicacy is definitely worth tasting!
It is worth noting that Kyiv has good prices for tourists. A cup of coffee in Kyiv costs about 1 euro, you can have breakfast at a cafe in Kyiv for 3-4 euros, and a dinner at a restaurant would cost you 8-10 euros per person.
What to see in Kyiv?
Kyiv is not a small city, and it is not easy to navigate in it without missing anything important. Therefore, we have prepared for you a list of what you must do in Kyiv.
- Run down one of the largest botanical gardens in Europe named after M. Hryshko.
- Get to Volodymyrska hill from the river station by means of a real time machine — funicular. It was launched in 1905 and to this day it takes people from the Dnipro embankment to the city center and back.
- Take a boat or yacht tour. You will discover incredible Kyiv water landscapes, and it is also very romantic.
- Take a walk around Andriiivskyi descent, where you can buy Ukrainian souvenirs and visit many museums.You can also drink a cup of fragrant tea in the house of Mikhail Bulgakov. By the way, this is where the famous writer wrote his well-known novel “Master and Margarita”.
- Visit NSC “Olimpiiskyi”, where the most important football matches and concerts of world stars such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna and others take place. It was at this stadium that for the first time in the history of modern Ukraine, presidential debates took place in a new format.
- See a real pagan worship site in the center of Lysa Mountain.This park is surrounded by legends and has the reputation of the most mysterious place in Kyiv. In the early twentieth century, political criminals of that time were executed on this mountain.
- Visit the “Ukraine in miniature” park.This is a unique place where you can see almost all the historical monuments of the country and be inspired for further travels in Ukraine.
- Enjoy Kyiv murals. In recent years, Kyiv has become a kind of Mecca for artists from all over the world, and huge paintings on the walls of apartment buildings have become one of the city’s trademarks. Currently, there are around 160 murals in various parts of Kyiv. You can view them all using the interactive map. http://kyivmural.com/en/index
And there are more charming locations in the Ukrainian capital city that should be discovered firsthand. Participation in Kyiv Marathon can turn into an incredible sporting adventure. It’s all up to you.
We would like to remind you that the 12th WIZZ AIR KYIV CITY MARATHON 2021 will be held on October 23-24, 2021. So hurry up to sign up for a great price and get a personalized race bib number! Choose your course and register on the Kyiv Marathon website https://kyivmarathon.org/
See you at Ukraine’s biggest running festival!
