Shevchenko park Kyiv

This is a true Central Park of Kyiv. It's situated in the very center of the city, surrounded by lots of coffee shops and restaurants, museums, book shops, hotels etc. The park is right opposite the Shevchenko University and there is a Shevchenko monument on the grounds (not Andrey Shevchenko, the football player, but Taras - one of Ukraine's iconic poets) that's why the park bears the name of Shevchenko.

Street food carts, coffee cars, kid's playgrounds, segway and bikes for rent. In the summer time you can have a picnic on the grass or even get a tan on one of these chaise longues for rent. There are also lots of activities taking place: some festivals, concerts or dance contests.

A part of the park is designed especially for chess gamers, it has several tables with chessboards painted on it. These funny old guys have been playing chess there since forever, I like to watch them a lot. Also, I want to suggest a pancake spot outside Taras restaurant, near the playground. You definitely have to try a pancake with condensed milk! Yum!