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in Chernobyl

Exclusion Zonein Chernobyl, Ukraine

#5of 28 places to visitin Chernobyl

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14 things to doin Chernobyl

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The most contaminated with radiation area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was named a 30-kilometer exclusion zone.
Exclusion Zone, Chernobyl
After the Chernobyl disaster, residents within a radius of 30 kilometers from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated. The nuclear power plant, the city of Pripyat and several nearby settlements entered the exclusion zone. This area was most polluted by radiation, although a large area of ​​contaminated territories remained outside the exclusion zone. Only the workers serving the station were allowed to enter here, but only under the strict supervision of dosimetrist and with all the relevant documents.

Exclusion Zone. 10 km zonePhoto: Exclusion Zone. 10 km zone, © Alexander Postalovsky

Over time, the exclusion zone became a nature reserve for rare animals such as the bear, lynx, Przewalsky's horse, otter and muskrat. You can see wolves, foxes, hares and wild boars freely walking along the abandoned streets of Pripyat.

Wild animals in the exclusion zonePhoto: Wild animals in the exclusion zone

Now people come to the exclusion zone to settle in abandoned houses to work, either in the zone itself or nearby. Now more than 500 inhabitants live here. Every year thousands of tourists come here searching for exceptional adventures, historians searching for truth and even drug addicts - according to police reports, the exclusion zone is a popular place for cultivation of cannabis.

Things to do here 1

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#8See ghost houses in the exclusion zone in ChernobylSee ghost houses in the exclusion zoneDarina

The exclusion zone is the most contaminated area around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

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Exclusion Zone on the map

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Tours & excursions 3

#4Cruise on the ship to Chernobyl and PripyatCruise on the ship to Chernobyl and Pripyat

Get a sea of thrills from a boat trip to the lost world of a dead city.

UAH 335000/tour
#2One-day private tour (Chernobyl + Pripyat) from KievOne-day private tour (Chernobyl + Pripyat) from Kiev

One day in the Exclusion Zone and you will learn everything about this desolate tragical place.

UAH 1794+/person
#3Urgent one-day tour (Chernobyl + Pripyat) from KievUrgent one-day tour (Chernobyl + Pripyat) from Kiev

The most horrifying post apocalyptic picture of Chernobyl and Pripyat in one day

UAH 3999+/person

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Guest22 February 2025

More places to visit in Chernobyl

#7Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in ChernobylChernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

The Chernobyl disaster was the worst nuclear catastrophe in history. Now the deserted station is surrounded by Zone of Exclusion 30 kilometres radius.

#22Monument to the Chernobyl Liquidators in ChernobylMonument to the Chernobyl Liquidators

The memorial set up by the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster. Inscription says "To Those Who Saved the World".

#17Music school in ChernobylMusic school

This school is a true example of the post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the gloomy, dark, abandoned Pripyat ghost town.

#9Azure Swimming Pool in ChernobylAzure Swimming Pool

Before the catastrophe, Azure Swimming Pool was a very beautiful place. Here the townspeople and visitors of the city came to swim and relax.

#24Fire Station in ChernobylFire Station

The fire brigade left from here to eliminate the Chernobyl disaster in April, 26 1986. All ten members of that brigade died from radiation.

#26The Red Forrest in ChernobylThe Red Forrest

Trees in the forest became frighteningly red and their radioactive glow could be seen in the night, because of the radioactive substances ejection into the atmosphere.

#3Abandoned cargo port in ChernobylAbandoned cargo port

In an old godforsaken quiet pier, on the sandy bank of the river, only a few rusty old port cranes remind that there was once a new cargo port.

#14NPP observation deck in ChernobylNPP observation deck

You can see the sarcophagus, which is covering the fourth reactor, and the other parts of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant right from here.

#25Pripyat Sign in ChernobylPripyat Sign

At the entrance to Pripyat the impressive size sign with the name of the city is located. It looks like the monument, but for USSR it was too normal.

#20Prometheus cinema in ChernobylPrometheus cinema

Until April 1986, Pripyat Prometheus cinema was the most popular place for meetings and leisure activities by watching films and visiting inner canteen.

#2Chernobyl-2 or OTH-SW Duga Radar in ChernobylChernobyl-2 or OTH-SW Duga Radar

The over-the-horizon radar Duga or object Chernobyl-2 is the largest, most secret and grandiose object of the whole Soviet Union.

#13New Sarcophagus in ChernobylNew Sarcophagus

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant's fourth reactor is now saftly isolated by New Safe Confinement, covering the first sarcophagus - Shelter Object.

Photo credit © Jaroslav Popelka