Second sign at entrance to ghost city Pripyat

Pripyat's famous entrance sign, bearing the city's name and the date "1970," has appeared in thousands of photos, video clips, and film scenes. But few people know that there were originally two such signs.

The second one stands away from the popular routes, on a different approach road into the city — the same concrete construction, the same founding date, but almost no tourists or selfies.

Quick Facts

What it is and why visit

The "Pripyat" sign is a monumental marker at the city entrance, displaying its name and founding year — 1970. The most famous version of this sign has long been a symbol of the ghost city and a must-stop on every tour. But several roads led into Pripyat, and there was more than one such "gateway."

The second sign is for those who want a less overexposed shot and a feel for the city without the crowds. Same Soviet modernist style, same concrete restraint — but the silence around it runs even deeper.

History

Pripyat was founded on February 4, 1970, almost simultaneously with the start of construction on the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The city was designed as a showcase of the Soviet "atomic future": young, clean, with an average resident age of around 26.

The entrance signs were part of that image. A concrete marker bearing the city's name in large letters and its founding date greeted everyone arriving. The "1970" date was no accident — it underlined that the city was the same age as the plant itself.

The city was born together with the plant and died together with it: from the first foundation stone in 1970 to the evacuation on April 27, 1986, only 16 years passed.

After the disaster, the signs remained standing — concrete outlasted both the people and the city. The most famous one became an icon, repaired and maintained for tourists. The second quietly grew over with brush, drawing far fewer camera lenses.

Legends and lore

A few stories have grown up around Pripyat's entrance signs.

1. The gateway you only pass through one way

Stalkers say the sign should be photographed on the way in, not on the way out — the idea being that "the city doesn't like having its back turned on it." It's a simple superstition, but plenty of people stick to it.

2. The date that outlived the city

One story goes that as long as "1970" remains legible on the sign, the city formally "lives on." It's a poetic invention, but the inscription really has become the thing that holds Pripyat's memory together, when everything else around it has been reduced to ruins.

What to see on site

The concrete sign itself. The city's name and the date "1970," in a distinctive Soviet typeface and shape. The best shot is from the road leading into the city.

The contrast with nature. Brush and young forest pressing right up against it show clearly how the zone is reclaiming traces of human presence.

Comparing the two signs. If your route allows it, it's worth seeing both signs and noticing just how different their "tourist fates" turned out to be.

How to get there

Important. This site is located within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. Independent entry is prohibited, and since 2022 access to the zone has been restricted for security reasons. Check the current visiting status before planning a trip.

With a tour. The signs are visited as part of a Pripyat itinerary: from Kyiv through the "Dytyatky" checkpoint and Chornobyl. Guides know where the lesser-known sign stands.

Finding it. The second sign is on a different approach road into the city, so ask your guide to add it to the route separately — it isn't always part of the standard program.

Traveler's checklist

• Permit and documents — required for entering the zone.
• Dosimeter — radiation levels along the road are mostly low, but it doesn't hurt to check.
• A camera with a good lens — the sign is photogenic in any weather.
• Warm clothing in autumn and winter — it's an exposed, windy spot.
• What NOT to do: climb on the sign, leave graffiti, or chip off pieces of concrete as "souvenirs."

Frequently asked questions

Why does Pripyat have two entrance signs?

Several roads led into the city, and entrance signs were placed on different approach routes. One became a tourist icon, while the other remained less known.

What does the date "1970" on the sign mean?

It marks Pripyat's founding year — February 4, 1970. The city was built at the same time as the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Is it safe to take photos by the sign?

Radiation levels near the sign are usually low. The key is to stay within an organized tour and not wander off the safe areas.

How can I see the second sign specifically?

Ask your guide to add it to the route separately — it's on a different approach road and isn't always included in the standard program.

The most famous sign collected all the fame and all the selfies. The second one quietly does the same job — holding onto the date that marked the start of a city that didn't live to see forty.

And maybe that's exactly why the feeling of "frozen time" is even stronger here: no line of cameras, just the sign, the forest, and the silence.