Last updated on December 18, 2023.

While exploring Kyiv, I walked to the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex. It’s a huge stadium located in the city center.

Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex

Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex is the official home of the Ukrainian national football team, the unofficial home of Dynamo Kyiv, and where the Euro 2012 Final was held. It’s the second largest stadium in Eastern Europe with seating for over 70,000.

Dynamo Kyiv logo logo at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv logo

The stadium opened in 1923 and once had a capacity of over 100,000. It has been renovated a few times, most recently between 2008 and 2011. In addition to football matches, the stadium also hosts concerts. It’s located on Troitska Square.

Troitska Square in Kyiv, Ukraine
Troitska Square

 

Dynamo Kyiv Museum

The Dynamo Kyiv Museum is attached to the official team store and admission is free (as of September 2020). It was all in Ukrainian, but I speak football so I managed to get by.

Team store and museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Team store and museum
Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv Museum
Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv Museum

The museum features photos and stories of a few famous players I noticed, such as Andriy Shevchenko and Oleg Blokhin.

Andriy Shevchenko display in the Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Andriy Shevchenko display
Oleg Blokhin display in the Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Oleg Blokhin display

There were also several interesting looking trophies on display, including the 1974-75 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv Museum
Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv Museum
1974-75 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in the Dynamo Kyiv Museum at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
1974-75 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup

 

Stadium Tours

As I was leaving the museum I noticed there were stadium tours. The next one was in 2 hours, so I took a long lunch break before the tour. I returned to the stadium just in time. Tours for adults are ₴100 (as of September 2019) and run Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends (except for event days) at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. My tour lasted about 45 minutes and was done in Russian and English.

 

Olympic Court

The tour started outside the stadium where the guide gathered everyone and gave a quick introduction. We then entered the stadium through the Olympic Court, which is an atrium with a glass ceiling. Special events are held in this hall.

Olympic Court at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Olympic Court
Olympic Court at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Olympic Court

 

Gallery

Next, we were taken to a room used as a gallery. There were several paintings of players on the wall, each one signed by the player depicted. There was also a model of the stadium.

Gallery at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Gallery
Painting in the Gallery at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Painting in the Gallery
Painting in the Gallery at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Painting in the Gallery
Stadium model in the gallery at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Stadium model

 

Press Room

From there, we walked through the corridors to the press room, where players and coaches are interviewed after the game. The room has a turf surface and players also use it for training.

Corridor at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Corridor
Press room at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Press room

 

Locker Room

The team locker room is attached to the press room. The players’ jerseys were neatly hung up for the next game.

Dynamo Kyiv locker room at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv locker room
Dynamo Kyiv locker room at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Dynamo Kyiv locker room

A jacuzzi, showers, and the trainer’s tables were also in the locker room.

Jacuzzi
Showers
Trainer’s room

 

The Field

From there, it was through the tunnel and onto the field. It was quite dramatic to walk onto the pitch in such an enormous stadium.

Tunnel at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Tunnel
Tunnel at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Tunnel
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kiev, Ukraine
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex

While we were only allowed to walk to the edge of the track and touch the field, we were given the opportunity to sit on the benches to see what the stadium looks like from that perspective.

Bench at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Bench
Bench at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Bench
The field at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
The field

 

VIP Section

The last part of the tour was to have a seat near the VIP section and admire the view and the roof. The views were excellent from these seats, and I ended up having a good laugh with an animated Russian guy who was the life of the tour.

Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex
Roof at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Roof
Crazy Russian guy at Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv, Ukraine
Crazy Russian guy

 

Game Day

While seeing the stadium from a insider’s perspective was great, I had to go to a game to get the full experience. After the tour was over, I bought a ticket for a game a few days later to watch Dynamo Kyiv play Illichivets Mariupol.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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