Chornobyl

Chornobyl (Ukrainian: Чорнобиль, Russian: Чернобыль) is a small city in Kyivska oblast, located approximately 130 km north of Kyiv, within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Before the 1986 nuclear disaster, it was a modest regional centre with a population of about 13,000, known for its agricultural trade and its historic Jewish community. The city dates back to the 12th century and was a significant Cossack and then Imperial Russian town. In April 1986, the explosion at Reactor No. 4 of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, located about 15 km northwest of the city, forced the permanent evacuation of Chornobyl and the surrounding area within a 30-km radius. Today, Chornobyl functions as the administrative centre of the Exclusion Zone, housing the offices that manage the zone, scientific research facilities, and accommodation for workers who maintain the site. It is accessible only through licensed guided tours, which have become increasingly popular since the 2019 HBO miniseries "Chernobyl."

By Plane

The nearest major airport is Boryspil (KBP), 150 km south (2.5 hours by taxi). Taxis are very expensive — most visitors book a tour from Kyiv that includes transport.

By Train

Chornobyl does not have a passenger railway station. The nearest station is in Slavutych, 40 km northeast.

By Car / Road

Chornobyl is accessible only via the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone checkpoint. Licensed tours from Kyiv depart daily. The journey from Kyiv takes about 2 hours (130 km). Private vehicles require a permit, which is difficult to obtain for individuals. Guided tours handle all permits and transport.

Within Chornobyl town, walking covers the main sites. Tours typically use minibuses to travel between locations within the Exclusion Zone. Photography is permitted, but drone use is strictly forbidden. Visitors must stay with their guide at all times and follow zone protocols.

• Chornobyl Town Centre — the abandoned administrative core of the city, including the Palace of Culture, the Hotel Polissia, and the town square, now slowly being reclaimed by nature.
• St. Elijah Church — a restored 19th-century wooden church in Chornobyl, one of the few buildings to have been maintained.
• Chornobyl Museum (National Museum of the Chornobyl Disaster) — located in the former fire station, this museum documents the disaster through artefacts, photographs, and personal accounts. Admission included in tour price.
• Monument to the Heroes of Chornobyl — a memorial in the town centre honouring the firefighters and liquidators.
• Monument to the Third Angel — a striking sculpture by Ukrainian artist Mykola Obeziuk located in the town centre.
• Chornobyl Radar (Duga-3) — the massive Soviet over-the-horizon radar array, about 10 km from Chornobyl. This is one of the most impressive Cold War relics in the zone.

The primary reason to visit Chornobyl is the guided tour of the Exclusion Zone (Zona Vidchuzhennia). Tours typically last 1–2 days and include:

• Visit to Reactor No. 4 — viewing the sarcophagus and the New Safe Confinement arch from a designated observation point (approximately 300 m away).
• Pripyat exploration — the abandoned ghost town 3 km from the power plant, frozen in Soviet 1986, with its iconic Ferris wheel, swimming pool, Palace of Culture, school, and hospital. This is the highlight of most tours.
• Duga-3 Radar visit — climbing part of the massive antenna structure.
• Village visits — abandoned villages like Zalissia, Kopachi (where buildings were buried), and others, with their haunting, empty houses and schools.
• Lunch in Chornobyl canteen — a surprisingly good meal in the workers' canteen in Chornobyl town.
• Radiation measurement — many tours provide dosimeters so visitors can measure radiation levels at different points.

• Chornobyl Canteen (Desyatka) — the workers' canteen in Chornobyl town serves breakfast and lunch to Exclusion Zone staff and tour groups. The food is simple but good — Ukrainian soups, main courses, and tea/coffee. Included in most tour packages.
• Pripyat Café — a café near the ferry crossing, used by some tour groups.

All drinking water in the Exclusion Zone is bottled — the tap water is contaminated. Tea and coffee are available at the canteen and at checkpoints.

• Exclusion Zone Accommodation — some multi-day tours include overnight stays in the workers' dormitories in Chornobyl town. Rooms are very basic (Soviet-era dormitory style). From 500–1,000 UAH per person per night.
• Hotel in Slavutych — for multi-day tours, some operators accommodate guests in Slavutych (40 km northeast) in better hotels. From 1,000 UAH per night.

The museum gift shop sells books, maps, and souvenirs related to the Chornobyl disaster. T-shirts and postcards are available from tour operators. The canteen has basic snacks and drinks. All other shops are abandoned.

• Pripyat (10 km northwest) — the abandoned ghost town, the most famous destination in the Exclusion Zone, included in all tours from Chornobyl
• Slavutych (40 km northeast, 1 hour) — the modern city built for Chornobyl workers after the disaster, with unique Soviet architectural heritage
• Kyiv (130 km south, 2 hours) — the capital, where tours typically begin and end
• Chernihiv (120 km east, 2 hours) — an ancient city with UNESCO-listed cathedrals