Ghost city of Pripyat

Pripyat is a city in northern Ukraine just a few miles from the border with neighbouring Belarus. Founded in 1970, it was named after the nearby Pripyat River.

pripyat city sign chernobyl — Pripyat city sign

The city was created as a settlement for workers at the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. By the time the evacuation of the city came on 27th April 1986, the population was around 49,000 inhabitants.

Of course people know about the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant distaster and assume that Chernobyl town may be the worst hit by the disaster but actually Pripyat was most effected by the radiation as it is only 2 miles / 3.5km north west of the destroyed reactor, and the bulk of released radition travelled northwards, whereas Chernobyl town is around 11 miles / 18 km south. Read about our visit to Chernobyl town here.

The abandoned city is now experiencing an increase in tourism thanks to the HBO/SKY TV series Chernobyl. We visited as part of an organised tour with www.tourkiev.com in 2013.

Here are images from the city of Pripyat including the iconic Ferris wheel which was put in place for May Day celebrations and never used as a result of the evacuation a few days before.

pripyat ukraine chernobyl disaster — housing block

Where

The easiest way to get there from outside Ukraine is to fly to Kiev (either Boryspil or Zhuliany airport) and take part in an organised tour, most of which depart from Kiev.

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