Ukraine Transport

Air
Kyiv is connected with most of the major European cities and a handful in North America. Most international flights arrive at the small Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, about 40kms southeast of the city centre. There is also an airport at Lviv, about 8kms west of its centre, which has international connections with Warsaw, Prague, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and Chicago. Odessa's airport is about 12kms southwest of downtown, and mainly caters to flights to and from Vienna and Moscow. Ukraine International Airlines and Aerosviot are the country’s two main carriers, but most of the other big airlines are also represented in Kyiv’s airport.

Boryspil International Airport is home to one small and unremarkable terminal which has a currency exchange kiosk and ATMs as well as souvenir and duty-free shops. An information desk is located in the Arrivals area which can assist with airport and tourist information. Boryspil Airport is about 40kms from downtown Kyiv. Catching an Atass bus is the usual way to get from the airport into town. Buses depart from the terminal to the city centre every 30 minutes throughout the day. The trip into town takes around one hour and buses let you off at the central railway station. Taxis are also available at the airport.

Rail
Ukraine is well-connected to the rest of Europe and Russia via trains. Over 22,000kms of track cover the country, linking nearly every town. The main long-distance train stations can be found in Kyiv and Lviv. Regular daily services connects these cities with Moscow and a number of other large European destinations. The Fast Trains are the quickest and most modern trains available and are inexpensive by UK standards. The trip from Kyiv to Moscow takes 10 hours, 30 minutes. Lviv also has regular rail connections to most of the major European and Russian cities. If you are travelling in an overnight train, don’t leave your compartment unattended, as theft is common.

You will need to have a visa ready when you reach the Ukraine border, but otherwise it’s a fairly straightforward procedure. The Kyiv train station has been remodelled in recent years, and can be found in front of the Vokzalna metro station on the western edge of downtown. The arrival and departure signs are in Ukrainian and English. The advance ticket office is a five minute walk from the station next to the Hotel Express. Tickets can also be bought from an ATM-style machine in the central station, but you need to read Cyrillic to ensure to get the right ticket.

Bus
Ukraine is not one of the easiest countries to enter by land, but buses run regularly from as far away as the United Kingdom. A handful of private bus companies operate daily services from Moscow to Karkiv. National Express runs a regularly scheduled coach service from the UK into Ukraine and other regional cities. Most long-distance coaches arrive at Kyiv first. From there you can catch connecting buses to smaller cities. The central bus station in Kyiv is located in the city centre.

Car
Travelling to Ukraine by car is only for the adventurous and hardy. Border crossings can be found at Chop, Mostiska and Uzhgorod, but visas must be arranged in advance and indicate the point of entry. A road tax must be paid upon crossing the border. Outside of the major urban areas, the roads in Ukraine are often poorly lit and in bad condition. Petrol stations and repair garages are more common now than they were in the past, but supplies are usually limited and insurance can often be difficult to obtain. Cash is normally required at petrol stations.

Sea
Ukraine is well-connected to other regional Black Sea cities and even parts of the Mediterranean by ferry. Odessa and Yalta are the two main port towns on the Black Sea where you can catch a boat to Istanbul, Georgia, and Sochi and Novorossiysk in the Russian Federation. Several companies also offer Black Sea cruises around the Crimean peninsula. A car ferry operates between Kerch and the Russian ports of Anapa, Temryuk and Novorossiysk. Where the Black Sea ends, the Dnipro River takes over. Kyiv is the most northerly passenger port in Ukraine. Sitting along the Dnipro River, Kyiv is the typical starting or finishing point for river cruises. Boats sail regularly between May and the middle of October.

Air
Domestic flights in Ukraine use Zhulyany Airport, which is located 12kms west of downtown Kyiv. Regular flights run between Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities such as Odessa and Lviv. But most Ukrainians prefer the train to get around the country, as it is much less expensive and more reliable in the winter than airplanes. Aerosvit is one of the main domestic carriers serving all of the main routes.

Metro
The metro in Kyiv is clean, reliable and easy to use if you can read Cyrillic. Even if you can’t, every visit to Kyiv should include a ride on the wonderful metro system. The triangular route design is a typical ex-Soviet system with three lines which all meet in the city centre at Freedom Square. The metro network is almost entirely underground, except when crossing the Dnipro River. The trains run from 06:00 until midnight on all three lines. Fares are unbelievably cheap.

Rail
Travelling between any major Ukrainian city is best done by train. They are cheap and reliable and can often provide a convenient night’s journey. Trains are also considered the most reliable form of transportation during the winter months. Aircraft often get grounded and roads can become hazardous in the snow and ice. You can get virtually anywhere in the country from the Kyiv train station, which is in front of the Vokzalna metro station.

Bus
If you have more time on your hands, you can take a bus to even the smallest town in Ukraine. The train still remains a better choice for getting between major cities, but the bus is best for shorter trips not served by rail. Autolux is the main private coach company. They have comfortable and modern buses at reasonable rates. The state-run buses, on the other hand, can be a nightmare. You can buy your tickets directly from the driver or at the kiosk in the station.

Car
It is possible to rent a car in Ukraine and this is becoming more popular as the roads and services improve. In general, however, driving conditions in Ukraine are not the safest or easiest in Europe. Outside of any urban area, the roads are poorly lit and often damaged. An international driving license is necessary to rent a car.

Taxi
Taxis are readily available all over the country and are especially popular in the bigger cities. To hail a cab, simply put out your hand and a car will stop. Sometimes the driver is not an official taxi operator, but rather an enterprising local looking for some extra cash. These private taxis are quite common and if you want to use one, they are fairly safe. Meters are rarely used in Ukraine, so always settle on the fare before getting into the taxi. It is also common to hire taxi drivers for long-distance destinations.

Sea and Lake
Cruises along the Black Sea are very popular and can be booked through any travel agent or tour operator. The most common cruise routes run between Kyiv, Odessa and Sevastapol. Boats are a great way to travel between coastal cities.