KYIV, Ukraine, November 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Known travel
website TripAdvisor announced
its Travelers' Choice 2012, naming
Ukrainian Kyiv the top destination on the rise among the cities of
The Old World. Ukrainian capital placed third in the world's top
ten rating. It was preceded by Argentina's top beach resort Mar del Plata and the South American largest
city Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"Having survived the Mongol Empire, WWII, Chernobyl, and Soviet
rule, Kyiv is the proud capital of
the Ukraine", TripAdvisor
describes the city. The website highlights Kyiv's theaters, museums, religious sites,
modern buildings and ancient ruins as major attractions. Two of the
World Heritage Sites are located in the city - the Cave Monastery,
founded in 1015, and Saint Sophia Cathedral, founded in 1037.
There are 267 things to do in Kyiv, according to the rating. In addition to
28 shopping hot spots and rich night life, there are nearly 200
attractions across the city, including the renowned Opera House,
War Museum topped by the massive Motherland Statue, two botanic
gardens, numerous Orthodox churches, and examples of architecture
of many cultural and historical eras - starting from the
11th century and ending with latest developments of
modern architecture.
The destinations were picked based on the positive traveler
feedback, number of clicks and "want to go" pins on the website in
the past year, explains USA
Today. Mar del Plata, number one
on the list, has "ten miles of sandy beaches" to get itself to the
top of travel ratings. Sao Paulo -
the world's second destination on the rise - seduces with multiple
diners offering cuisine from culture all around the world. The city
is also known for multinational art and "crazy-good" shopping.
Other cities that made it on the list are port Montevideo in Uruguay, Australian Perth - an isolated
retreat with yet vivid nightlife, and Mexico City, as well as Australian port Hobart
and another Mexican city Guadalajara. Russian capital Moscow and Italian Turin conclude the top
ten.
Notably, in June 2012, The
New York Times named Kyiv one of Europe's most vibrant 21st century
cities. "With a thriving contemporary art scene, a new generation
of chefs taking innovative approaches to Ukrainian cuisine, and a
delirious dance-til-dawn night life, Kyiv… is a weekend magnet",
wrote Finn Olaf-Jones for the
America's famous daily.