Bessarabska Square

Plaza Central Kyiv square featuring historic indoor market

Central Kyiv square anchored by the covered Bessarabsky Market; visitors pass through for market stalls, produce, and proximity to Khreshchatyk and city-center walking routes.

Main image

Bessarabska Square is a central city square in Kyiv, Ukraine, noted for its covered market and for its role as a junction of major central streets. The square takes its name from the historical Bessarabia region.

The square’s dominant feature is the covered Bessarabsky Market, a low-market hall offering food stalls and vendors; the surrounding area includes shops, cafés and city thoroughfares. It functions as a busy urban node linking shopping streets and transit routes.

The square developed as a commercial hub in central Kyiv during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has retained its market function since that period, with the market building forming the square’s architectural focus.

Bessarabska Square sits in central Kyiv at the meeting point of several major streets, forming part of the commercial heart of the city.

  • Bessarabsky Market: The covered Bessarabsky Market building sits on the square and is the best-known feature for food stalls, vendors and early 20th-century commercial architecture.
  • Central access: The square occupies a central position in Kyiv and links major streets and pedestrian routes through the city centre, making it a convenient meeting and transit point.
Bessarabska Square
Bessarabska Square, central Kyiv
50.4422, 30.5206
Open year-round
Free (public square/market area)

How to Get to Bessarabska Square #

Bessarabska Square (Bessarabskiy Rynok) sits in central Kyiv at the southern end of Khreshchatyk street next to the Bessarabsky Market. The nearest metro is Khreshchatyk station on the Sviatoshynsko-Brovarska (red) line - the square is about a 2-5 minute walk from the station. The area is also served by numerous surface buses, marshrutkas and trams along Khreshchatyk, so arriving by public transport into central Kyiv and walking a few minutes to the square is straightforward.

Tips for Visiting Bessarabska Square #

  • Visit Bessarabska Square in the morning to see the busy indoor Bessarabsky Market at its liveliest - vendors and fresh stalls are best early in the day before tourist footfall rises.
  • Don't just pass the square: step inside the covered market to sample local produce and traditional Kyiv foodstalls, which many visitors overlook while photographing the exterior.

Best Time to Visit Bessarabska Square #

Best visited late spring through early autumn (May-September) for mild weather and the most active, pleasant atmosphere in the square.

Summer
June-August · 18-28°C
Warm weather and long daylight make it a busy, lively city-square experience.
Spring/Autumn
April-May & September-October · 8-18°C
Mild temperatures and fewer crowds-good for strolling and nearby sightseeing.
Winter
November-March · -5-5°C
Cold conditions with shorter daylight; outdoor activity is reduced and layers are needed.

Weather & Climate near Bessarabska Square #

Climate

Bessarabska Square's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -7°C to 25°C. Moderate rainfall (632 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 57 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
AugustJuneJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
38°
Warmest Month
-34°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of -1°C and lows of -7°C. Moderate rainfall (41 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

37 Poor

Comfort

-4°
Feels Like Freezing
-4°C
Temperature
-7° -1°
94%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

41 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.4h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

37 Poor

Comfort

-3°
Feels Like Freezing
-3°C
Temperature
-6°
92%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

37 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.9h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

36 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.4
UV Index
Low
11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

47 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
13.6h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
10° 21°
71%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

56 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.3
UV Index
High
15.3h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Regular rainfall (83 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
14° 24°
69%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

83 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
16.2h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 25°C and lows of 15°C. The wettest month with 89 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
15° 25°
66%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

89 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
15.7h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

81 Excellent

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
14° 24°
61%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

60 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
14.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (51 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
10° 19°
67%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

51 mm
Rainfall
2.2 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
12.5h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (36 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

61 Good

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

36 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.6h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

43 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°
89%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

50 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.8h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 0°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

35 Poor

Comfort

-2°
Feels Like Freezing
-2°C
Temperature
-4°
94%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.0
UV Index
Low
7.9h daylight

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