You can visit Chernobyl on a guided tour.
Reactor number four
The explosive reactor that caused the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant can be seen from the nearest distance of about a hundred meters. On top of the reactor is a 108-meter-high, ice rink-like shell, completed in 2016, which is scheduled to last for the next hundred years.
The best view of the reactor and the enclosure is obtained by climbing the roof of the 16-storey house on Heroes Street in Stalingrad. The roof also has great views across the city of Pripyat. Before climbing, it is worth noting that the house is in poor condition. There are no railings in the stairwells and the elevator shafts yawn open. However, the scenery is stunning.
Cooling channel of the fourth reactor
In the immediate vicinity of the reactor is an old cooling channel. The channel is no longer in use, but it is still alive. Namely, a huge flock of fish lives in the canal. The largest catfish resemble a shark in size and are several meters long.
Unfinished cooling tower
At the time of the Chernobyl accident, reactors number five and six were under construction at the nuclear power plant. You can visit the inside of the cooling tower of the fifth reactor, which is in the middle. There’s great acoustics inside, so it’s worth screaming a few times there.
Fish farm
A fish and mink farm has been abandoned near the power plant. Fish farms are invaded by vegetation, but the wetland attracts a wide variety of birds. On the refinery side, the equipment has been rusted.
Amusement park
Pripyat City Amusement Park is the most photographed and famous destination in the Chernobyl region. The Ferris wheel, which never had time to be introduced, as well as collision cars often come to mind first when talking about Chernobyl. There are other equipment in the amusement park. In addition, in the area you can see wildlife such as the famous fox of Chernobyl.
School number three
There were several schools in the city of Pripyat. School number three is certainly the most photographed because of the gas masks hanging on the floors. Gas masks are said to have been brought in later, but they are still a stopping sight.
The closed courtyard of the school has not been cleaned of radioactive soil. It still radiates strongly, so you shouldn’t go there.
Swimming Hall
The swimming pool was built for the recreational use of nuclear power plant workers. The dilapidated swimming tower still stands in place by the pool. Graffiti has been painted on the edges of the pool over time and debris has accumulated on the bottom. However, you can walk along the edges to both ends of the pool.
Hospital
Pripjat Hospital and Mortuary are the most emotional places in the area. Especially the room with small beds for newborns is touching. The hospital also has a lot of other equipment, some of which unfortunately seems to have been brought in later.
After the accident, nuclear power plant workers were brought to the hospital for treatment. Their heavily radiated clothing is buried in the hospital furnace. There are areas in the hospital where there is still strong radiation. Follow and listen to the guide as you move around the hospital area.
Nursery
The abandoned nursery of the abandoned kindergarten, as well as the scattered toys and books scattered around the creek, are one of the most photographed destinations in the Chernobyl region. In the nursery, the stagnation of time to the 1980s feels stronger than in other locations.
Port
In the port, ships are gradually rusting and sinking into the water. There is also one fresher looking ship, which, however, has also been abandoned. If you like to take a closer look at the ships, you will have to cross a bouncy bridge and clam in the bush.
Red forest
The red forest is an area of about four square kilometers near the power plant. The strongest fallout from the accident hit this forest and as a result of the radioactive radiation the trees turned reddish in hue. The forest has been cleared, but it is still one of the most heavily polluted areas.
Despite its contamination, the forest is home to a wide variety of animals. There are estimated to be about 400 different animal species in the Chernobyl area, some of which had disappeared before the accident. Due to the lack of human activity, the animals have returned to the area. The tourist can spot foxes and wolves, among other things.
Fukushima Monument
The city of Chernobyl is home to a memorial to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident. The same tragic fate unites the Japanese and the Ukrainians, as there have been two of the most devastating nuclear accidents in history.
Church
There is a beautiful church still operating in the city of Chernobyl. The churchyard can be visited at any time, but the interior is not always open.
The only shop and bar in the village
There is one small shop in the town of Chernobyl, with the only bar in the village. Drinks are picked up at the counter and enjoyed at a few small tables behind curtains. You can buy a few souvenirs and a cold drink from the shop. Shopping is an experience in itself, as the service is still Soviet-era.
Returnees with their dwellings
A small number of returnees who have returned to their homes live in the Chernobyl region. Most of these residents are elderly and live in very rudimentary cottages. They live their lives and cultivate the land in the same way as before the accident.
Some tour operators take groups to visit the returnees ’home. Often, during the visit, tourists collect a small voluntary “grant fee” for residents.
THE BEST OF CHERNOBYLI
The Abandoned Ferris Wheel is one of the most famous landmarks in the region.
The best attractions
- Amusement park
- Climbing and views from the roof of the apartment building to Pripjat
- Nursery
- Swimming Hall
- Hospital