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Since I was visiting Chernobyl, I knew none of my friends or family would want to come with me for obvious reasons. Once I confirmed that Chernobyl was relatively safe to visit, I also had to do my research on whether or not Kyiv was safe to visit as a solo female traveler.

I knew virtually nothing about Ukraine or Kyiv before I booked this trip. Once I started doing my research, I quickly came to realize that Kyiv is just like any other major European city. It’s very safe.

With that being said, you should still be aware of your surroundings and make sure you have an eye on your belongings at all times. That goes for any major city you visit.

Here are some extra tips for traveling to Kiev as a solo female traveler:

1. Invest in Anti-Theft Travel Gear

I did not feel unsafe in Kyiv at all but I did feel extra secure with my Pacsafe anti-theft backpack. I don’t have to worry about pickpockets sneaking up behind me while I carry my bag on my back with their innovative locks.

Another travel essential I take with me on all of my travels is my Bandolier. I also consider this an anti-theft travel item because it’s always around my neck in front of me and pickpockets cannot cut the gold chain.

This prevents you from putting your phone in your pocket and you can have it in front of you at all times. It’s also very handy when you’re looking at the map for directions.

2. Do Not Accept a Taxi Ride Inside the Airport from Hagglers

As soon as I arrived at the airport, there were several hagglers trying to get my attention and asking if I needed a cab. I told them I was not interested once but they came back a couple of times asking if I needed a taxi ride. I just kept on saying no and walked outside.

Right when you walk out of the airport, there is a line of taxis. There is a kiosk where you can order a taxi but more than likely a taxi driver will come out and offer you a ride which is exactly what happened to me.

Make sure you agree on a price before you get into the cab. The taxi ride should cost anywhere between 450 - 600 UAH.

3. Don’t Go Out Alone at Night

I never go out by myself alone at night in any foreign city. I just don’t feel comfortable doing it unless I have friends with me. People tend to get more rowdy and risky once they start drinking so I just avoid the situation altogether.

RELATED: 12 Things To Do in Kyiv

4. Utilize the Underpass When Crossing Major Streets

When following directions on Google Maps, you may wonder how to cross the streets in some locations. I was so confused in the beginning because I did not see any crosswalks or people crossing the streets.

It took me awhile to figure out that I had to go through an underpass to cross the major intersections. Some of the underpasses have little shops and food so you can do a little shopping or grab some snacks on the way to your destination.

5. Book a Tour with Levgenii

If you want some pictures of yourself in the city and have a friendly local show you some of the hidden gems of Kyiv, definitely book a tour with Levgenii.

He has been living in Kyiv all his life and shared lots of great information on Ukraine’s history and culture. He is awesome!

6. Try Some Ukrainian Food at Хурма

I definitely wanted to try some Ukrainian food and Хурма was the perfect place with English menus and friendly staff. I felt very comfortable eating here alone and didn’t feel intimidated like some other restaurants I came across that seemed like it was all in the Ukrainian language.

I especially liked that the menu was easy to read with big pictures. It’s located right by the Golden Gates Park.

Hope you’ll enjoy Kyiv as much as I did! It’s such a fun city to discover and I loved that the city is not overtaken by tourists…yet.