The largest historic and technical museum in Eastern Europe is located right next to the Zhulyany Airport in Kyiv, Ukraine. The Oleg Antonov Museum was inaugurated in 2003 which marked the 100th anniversary of world Aviation and the National Aviation University’s 80th anniversary.
Kyiv boasts some of the best museums that the country has to offer with the National Museum of the History of Ukraine also being located in the major city. The aviation museum only had 33 items at the start and now the showcase has grown to more than 90. These are a collection of planes and drones that were used by the Soviet Air Force and independent Ukraine. A few of the items were also operated in civil aviation.
Highlights:
- Get to see some of the oldest aircraft
- Knowledgeable staff and guides that answer questions freely
- Great family-friendly guided tours
Know before you book:
- Does cost extra to enter the planes
- On some tour you will have to purchase your own and your tour guides entrance ticket
- Bad weather can affect your experience on the day
The Kyiv museum is Ukraine’s youngest, but also its largest historic museum of the country’s technical history. Other than planes, the museum houses samples of UAVs and air weapons. Both the location and planes have been provided by the Aviation University, which still gets used for educational props.
These planes have dated back to as early as 1917, with the Anatra Anansal being the oldest of the lot. Most of the planes that are found at the museum in Kyiv were made by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The collection of planes were made to carry any weapons or cargo and to go to war.
The museum sits on over 20 hectares of land and has so much to discover. Take a chance and walk inside these pieces of history and feel like you were there yourself. And if you look close enough, you could even see bullet holes in several of these aircraft. This Ukraine museum is a great place to visit if you love European history.
If you feel like venturing into more Ukrainian history, visit the nuclear power plant.
Ukraine State Aviation Museum Tour Prices 2024
The average ticket price for a tour of the aviation museum is around ₴1 500 (US$ 56,54). The lowest tour you will get is around ₴1 400 (US$ 52,77) with the maximum being around ₴2 600 (US$ 98,01). The factors that affect the tour price are the tour operator you choose, round-trip transportation, and the experience and knowledge of your guide.
Check out this list of tours and their prices:
Ukraine State Aviation Museum Tour Times
The Kyiv museum is only open six days per week, from Tuesday to Sunday. However, on Tuesdays, you won’t have access to any of the aircraft’s cabins.
The museum is open from 10:00 until 19:00 on those days but tickets can only be purchased before 18:00.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10:00 – 19:00 (No access to the cabins)
Wednesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 19:00 (All-access)
Best Time To Go To The Oleg Antonov Aviation Museum
Visiting Kyiv museums, especially the aviation museum, which is also outdoors, should be visited when the weather is just right. The best weather is during spring and summer but an early fall is also a good option.
If you want to miss their crowded seasons, consider visiting early spring-time or late summer-time. The best months to go considering all these factors would be April, May, June, September, and October.
Best Aircraft at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum
The museum has some of the most iconic aircraft and prototypes that were ever made or conceptualized. With that vast amount of military pieces, the standouts are certainly the MiG and Sukhoi jets that draw the most attention.
Their Ilyshun II-86 is also a big fan favorite, being that it is one of the prototypes of the four-engine widebody type. One of their most significant aircraft, the Tupelov 104 is also the first type of jet airliner in the USSR which was built in Kharkiv. There is plenty more to explore, especially all the helicopters, but we’ll leave that to you to discover.
Ukraine State Aviation Museum Options and Tours
Being such a major attraction, the Museum in Kyiv has a fair bit of tour options to choose from. The biggest difference between these tours is the tour guides and their languages. The following are the top Ukraine State Aviation Museum tours available.
Kyiv Aviation Museum Tour
Enjoy a three-hour-long tour of one of the most exclusive collections of aircraft in the world. Discover bombers, helicopters, airliners, jets, and much more. With hotel pick-up and drop-off included, you can spend part of your day admiring more than 70 aircraft available. All you need for this tour is a group of people that have the same admiration towards aviation museums.
What we liked: Round-trip transportation is included.
- Professional Guide
- Transportation
- Admission ticket
- Gratuities
Take a few hours out of your day and travel to one of the largest aviation museums in Ukraine. You’ll get the opportunity to examine numerous aircraft that were used in the Soviet era. Get the opportunity to enter the plane. And sit in the driver’s seat of some of the most historic jets and planes ever made.
Explore the historic section of the museum, where you can find even more pieces of history that have been kept for years and years. Get to see the Anatra Anasal and the Yak fighter, which were both used during the Second World War.
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Kyiv: 3-Hour Museum of Aviation Tour
Enjoy a transport included tour to the Oleg Antonov State Aviation Museum. This private guided tour does all the work for you. All you need to do is be ready and let your guide take you on an adventure to the aviation museum. Not only will you learn all about the aircraft, but you will also become more knowledgeable about the history of Soviet aviation.
What we liked: The tour time can be altered to suit you.
- Professional and Private Guide
- Transportation
- Food and drink
- Entrance fee for you and your guide
This private guided tour is perfect if you are traveling in a group, for a more personalized experience. Your guide will take you to all the most famous aircraft all around the museum and give you insight into their history. One of the highlights is viewing the anti-submarine plane, which at the time was the largest aircraft in the world.
The reasonably priced tour is a great option if you are a fan of aviation and the experienced guide adds that much more value to your experience. He will take you around everything, including the historical museum that holds more memorabilia from the Second World War.
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Private Tour of Museum of Aviation
Explore the Ukraine State Aviation Museum with an experienced guide dedicated to you. On this private tour, discover more than 90 different kinds of aircraft. Ranging from helicopters and fighter jets to the more noticeable passenger planes.
With round-trip transportation provided, you’ll get to experience aviation without losing your way.
What we liked: The private guide ensures you attention.
- Professional and Private Guide
- Transportation
- Food and drink
- Entrance fee for you and your guide
This aviation tour is exactly what you need for a big group with a private guide showing you around. The experienced guide will take you to see the best and most iconic aircraft that are housed by the museum. Take some time to explore every inch of the museum to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Get the chance to get onto one of the aircraft and compare it to how modern aircraft are today. The guide will also show you the more historic section of the museum where you can admire the older models of aircraft that were used years ago. And being a private tour, it’s a great way for aviation enthusiasts to ask as many questions as possible.
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Specification: Oleg Antonov – Ukraine State Aviation Museum
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Avital –
I'm glad I'm we took the organized tour. Was smooth, on time and enjoyable. Couldn't achieve the same result independently