As the capital of formerly Soviet Ukraine, the city of Kiev (or Kyiv) is the hyper kid on the Ukrainian playground. Beyond the casino-lined downtown plazas that blossom off of Kreschatik Street, the city still carries the dusty, broken sidewalk stigma of a country steering slowly away from corruption

. But Kiev is nonetheless a very stroll-friendly city. Summer and early fall are the best times to go, unless you don’t mind thawing your face and fingers every 10 minutes in front of a steaming bowl of borsch at random restaurants along the way, or ducking down into the palatial and pricey underground malls with entrances in certain metro stations. If nothing else, absolutely do not miss Andrevski Spusk, or St. Andrew’s Way, in the oldest part of the city, Podol. This winding cobblestone lane is straddled by lively, local artists selling their wares, a highly unique assortment of arts and crafts not to be found in other parts of the city. Along the way you can stop at any of the charming cafés, and once you reach the top, you arrive at St. Andrews Church, with its deeply ornate interior and perfect vantage point over the city.