How to visit Chernobyl?
What’s it like to visit the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident? Read on and find out how to visit Chernobyl, what to see, and what not to see and do! Exploring Chernobyl can be a rewarding experience for those interested in history, but please show respect as it is still a place of tragedy.
In the early hours of April 26th 1986 during a late-night safety test, the number 4 reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded.
The blast sent radioactive dust high into the atmosphere and across much of Europe. It remains the worst nuclear accident of all time in terms of casualties and environmental impact.
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How did the accident happen?
Staff at the Chernobyl NPP were conducting a series of safety tests to ensure that if power was lost, the cooling pumps would continue to do their job with the backup generators.
A major problem was that there was a gap of about 75 seconds between losing power and the backups starting. During this gap, the reactor overheated to a critical level and a build-up of steam led to the reactor exploding.
Where is Chernobyl?
Chernobyl is 90km North of Ukraine’s capital Kiev, very close to the border with Belarus. The exclusion zone stretches for 30km around the reactor.
Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is located 2.5km (1.5 miles) from the abandoned city of Pripyat.
Can you visit Chernobyl Without a Guide?
There are many people who would like to visit Chernobyl without a guide, thanks in part to the game S.T.A.L.K.E.R which has popularised sneaking around in the exclusion zone. However, this is highly illegal. If you did want to attempt such a feat, then the best way would be to have a local “fixer”, preferably someone who has done it before.
As well as being illegal, it is also very dangerous to visit Chernobyl without a guide for obvious reasons. And, to do so without a Geiger counter would be foolish in the extreme. There are plenty of amazing guided tours to the exclusion zone from day trips to multi-day trips.
So, can you visit Chernobyl without a guide? Yes, it’s possible. Do we recommend it? Absolutely not (for legal reasons, not because we are party-poopers)!
How much does a Chernobul Tour Cost?
Day trips start from around €90 ($100) per person for a group tour.
Private tours cost from €200 to €500
I paid €500 for a two-day tour with two people in 2018.
What is Includeed in a Chernobyl Tour?
Most Chernobyl day trips will include the following:
- English-speaking tour guide
- Transport to and from Kiev
- Chernobyl Town
- The Duga Radar Station
- Pripyat (hospital, school, amusement park)
- A Visit to Reactor Number 4
Multiday tour will include additions such as lunch at the power-plant canteen, St Elijah church (the only operational church in the exclusion zone), abandoned villages, cooling tower and more.
Is Exploring Chernobyl Safe?
Provided you go with a tour guide and follow their advice then exploring Chernobyl is perfectly safe.
The amount of radiation you will be exposed to is approximately the same as a trans-Atlantic flight, or two chest x-rays. For more information on radiation see the UK government’s page on ionizing radiation.
However, there are plenty of areas within the exclusion zones that are still highly radioactive and off-limits. These areas are well signposted and you will also have a Geiger counter with you to measure radiation levels.
Safety Tips for exploring Chernobyl
- Wear sturdy footwear, preferably boots
- Keep exposed skin to a minimum by wearing trousers and long sleeves
- Do not touch or pick up anything in the exclusion zone
- Wash all clothes and shoes thoroughly after your visit
- Ensure you have adequate Travel Insurance as accidents can happen anywhere
Is exploring Chernobyl Ethical?
Chernobyl is the site of a catastrophic accident in which many people died. The exact number is not known, but the International Atomic Energy Agency estimates that the death toll is approximately 4,000 people who died as a direct result of the accident.
Only 2 people died in the initial explosion with another 4 being killed as a result of a helicopter crash. A further 29 people died within months of the accident from acute radiation syndrome.
However, the worst was still to come as 600,00 ‘liquidators’ (soldiers and volunteers sent in to decontaminate the site), would be exposed to doses of radiation that would lead to thyroid problems, cancers, leukemia and so forth.
Due to the delayed evacuation of nearby Pripyat and other towns and villages in the area, many residents, especially children due to their susceptibility to radiation, would go on to develop health problems as a result of the accident.
With the above in mind, it’s important to respect the place as the site of a disaster that had a huge impact on both people and the environment. If you would like to help those affected by the disaster you can donate to the Chernobyl Children’s Fund.
What is there to see when exploring Chernobyl?
The Duga Radar Station
Hidden deep in the forest a few km from Chernobyl is the rusting remains of one of the cold war’s most closely guarded secrets; the Duga Radar Station. Measuring 150m tall by 700m long, it’s hard to imagine being able to hide such a giant structure as it raises it’s metallic tentacles above the forest, but hidden it is.
To get to the radar station you must first pass two checkpoints and then drive down an old track through the forest for what seems like an eternity. It’s not until you are almost upon the thing that this colossal edifice reveals itself. It’s a very eerie place as the structure creaks now and again from high up and radioactive warning signs warn of entering the surrounding forest.
Decrepit outbuildings covered in vegetation lie behind the metal structure and it’s possible to enter these and walk around. Inside the dark buildings the walls and ceilings are crumbling. Shadows rear out of the dark like nefarious beings trying to claw at you. Dusty books and other detritus line the floors, and I challenge anyone to walk through without feeling the hairs prick up on the back of your neck.
Exploring Chernobyl Town
Chernobyl itself if is a small town with abandoned houses, a convenience store, restaurant/bar, a small museum and the only functioning church in the exclusion zone. There is a monument to the firefighters who first attended the scene and tried to battle the blaze in the reactor.
A small park displays road signs removed from the exclusion zone that make a path to some commemorative sculptures.
The museum in Chernobyl is just two rooms and not as interesting as the dedicated museum in Kiev.
The town may seem busier than one would expect as workers live here on 6-week rotation. That’s right, people still work at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant!
Pripyat – A real life ghost town
Unlike “busy” Chernobyl, Pripyat is a true ghost town (city actually). The city was built in 1970 to house NPP workers and their families.
The population when the disaster struck was about 50,000 people. Pripyat was considered a golden posting and the modern city was a sought-after place to live in the former Soviet Union due to its recreational facilities and relatively high standard of living.
If you are lucky, your tour guide will take you up to the top of one of the abandoned apartment buildings for a bird’s eye view of Pripyat over to the reactor and the Duga Radar Station.
It’s incredible to see the city enveloped by the encroaching forest and an eerie place to watch the sun rise.
There are many interesting places to visit within Pripyat including the hospital, school, palace of culture and amusement park.
Sadly, the park was due to open a few days after the accident and never echoed with the happy voices of families enjoying a day out. The rusting yellow Ferris wheel is an iconic image associated with Chernobyl.
Exploring Chernobyl Reactor Number 4
It’s possible to make a stop near the reactor which is now contained beneath a new sarcophagus that was completed in 2012. There is a memorial outside but the authorities are very strict about where you can take pictures here as it’s still a very sensitive area.
The wild dogs of Chernobyl
When visiting Chernobyl, it is impossible to miss the hundreds of wild dogs that roam the overgrown streets and forests. These dogs are the descendants of family pets left behind after the evacuation and are very docile and friendly. However, it is not recommended to get to close as they will more than likely be carrying radioactive dust particles.
Places you should definitely not (and cannot) visit at Chernobyl
Vehicle Graveyard at Rassorva
Rassorva is home to thousands of rusting vehicles that were used in the clean-up operation. From soviet hind helicopters to trucks and earth moving equipment.
The Red Forest
When the roof blew from reactor number 4, a huge amount of contaminated material flew up into the atmosphere.
It was then transported by the wind a few kilometers onto what is now known as the red forest. Although the original site had been cleared, new trees have replaced the old and it is still one of the most radioactive areas with the exclusion zone.
The Elephants Foot
This mass of melted corium is like the medusa; one look at it is enough to send you to the next world. Standing in the presence of the elephant’s foot for 300 seconds will see you dead within 2 days.
Not that there is any way to get to this deadly molten mess as it’s located under the reactor floor which itself is covered by a giant steel sarcophagus.
More information and further reading
Chernobyl: 01:23:40 is a fascinating account of what happened on the night of 25th/26th April 1986. The 2006 documentary The Battle of Chernobyl gives you a look at everything that went wrong and led to the disaster.
Exploring Chernobyl – How to Go
Our partners at Get Your Guide offer a wide range of Chernobyl guided tours, from day to multi-day trips and starting at under €90 per person!
Still not convinced? Have a look at these 10 incredible photos to inspire your visit!
Conclusion
Exploring Chernobyl on one of the many Chernobyl guided tours is a truly fascinating experience. For anyone interested in Soviet history or dark tourism, a visit to the exclusion zone is an absolute must!
Read my other articles about Chernobyl
About the author:
Steve Rohan is a writer from Essex, England. He has traveled to over 60 countries, lived in Armenia, China and Hong Kong, and is now living the digital nomad life on the road.
Steve prefers “slow travel” and has covered much of the world by train, bus and boat. He has been interviewed multiple times by the BBC and recently featured in the documentary Scariest Places in the World. See the About page for more info.
Where I am now: Yerevan, Armenia 🇦🇲
Is it common to see many tourists there? Or maybe only a few?
I was there for 2 days and only saw maybe 2 or 3 other people the whole time. That was before the brilliant Chernobyl television series so I expect there might be more now.