Old Kyiv, a historic city symbolising the era of Yaroslav the Wise, is thought to have been destroyed during the Mongol invasion led by Batu Khan in 1240.

Founded on Old Kyiv Hill (Starokievsky Holm), the city developed in contrast to the Lower City, Podil. It is believed to have originated from the ancient settlement of Kyi around the beginning of the 6th century. In the 9th and 10th centuries, it covered a mere 2 hectares (4.9 acres), primarily on the western part of Old Kyiv Hill. Today, this location is home to the National Historical Museum of Ukraine.

It is thought that the first fortifications were built during the reign of Volodymyr the Great, leading to the creation of the city of Volodymyr, which spanned 12 hectares (30 acres). However, by the time of Yaroslav the Wise in 1037, the Upper City had expanded to cover 80-98 hectares (200-240 acres). Yaroslav's city included monasteries such as the Sophia Monastery, as well as the monasteries of Saint George and Saint Irina. Additionally, it encompassed the city of Izyaslav, situated around the Saint Michael's Golden Dome Monastery, and the Kopyrev End.

Podil is a historic area of Kyiv, with its name meaning "situated downwards." Located by the Dnipro River, it was once the trading and crafting centre of the city.

After obtaining Magdeburg rights in the 15th century, a rathaus was built in Kyiv's main square of Podil, which later became the Kyiv magistrate. In the same square during the 17th century, the famous Kyiv-Mohyla Academy was established as the first higher educational institution for the East Slavic peoples.

For a long time, there was a concept of reducing Podil's role and its architectural heritage in the city's history. During the 1930s, with the Soviet occupation of Kyiv, many Old Rus monuments and landmarks were demolished. Podil was considered a suburb, dirty and uncomfortable for living, and an area that didn't deserve any attention.Despite this, Podil retains civil and ecclesiastical architecture from the 17th to 19th centuries. Ensembles of different epochs and styles co-exist here, including picturesque Ukrainian Baroque, Russian classicism, eclecticism, and modernism.

Pechersk is one of the oldest historical areas in Kyiv. The most widely accepted theory regarding the origin of its name is that it is derived from the word "cave" - "pechera" in the ancient Rus language - and is linked to the caves of the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery.

From the 12th century, Pechersk expanded and became more populous. In the 18th century, the territory of Lavra grew and transformed into a fortress. A century later, Pechersk evolved into an aristocratic quarter and is now the administrative centre of Kyiv, housing numerous government buildings.

The first fortifications are believed to have been built during the reign of Volodymyr the Great, leading to the creation of the city of Volodymyr, which spanned 12 hectares (30 acres). However, by the time of Yaroslav the Wise in 1037, the Upper City had expanded to cover 80-98 hectares (200-240 acres). Yaroslav's city comprised monasteries such as the Sophia Monastery, as well as the monasteries of Saint George and Saint Irina. Additionally, it included the city of Izyaslav, situated around the Saint Michael's Golden Dome Monastery, and the Kopyrev End.