Travel to Ukraine

Flying to Ukraine

The national carrier is Ukraine International Airlines (www.flyuia.com), whose routes include direct flights from the UK and the USA. British Airways (www.ba.com) also operates direct flights from the UK to Ukraine. Prices tend to be higher in July and August.

Major airports are: Kiev Boryspil International Airport and Lviv Danylo Halitskyi International Airport.

Flight times:

To Kiev: from London - 3 hours 15 minutes: New York - 9 hours.

Departure tax:

None.

Airport guides

Airport Code: KBP. Location: The airport is located 30 km (19 miles) east of central Kiev. Money: There are banks, a bureaux de change and ATMs in terminals B and D. Read more

Airport Code: LWO. Location: The airport is located 6km (4 miles) southwest of central Lviv. Money: ATM service and a bureau de change are located in the public area of the terminal on the ground... Read more

Other airports in Ukraine

Boryspil International Airport

Airport Code: KBP. Location: Most international flights arrive and depart through terminal B, 40km (25 miles) east of Kiev. Website: http://www.kbp.aero/en/. Public transport description: Atass (tel: (044) 281 7367) buses run cheap and efficient services from terminal B around the clock to shuttle passengers between Boryspil and the Central Railway terminal. Journey times should be around one hour. Taxi desks are located to the left of the main entrance of B terminal and are open 24 hours a day. If you wish to prebook try Etalon (tel: (044) 501 5501) or Taxi FM (tel: (044) 502 0502).

Travel by rail

Ukraine's railways link most towns and cities within the republic and further links extend from Kiev to all other CIS member states. The main stations are Kiev and Lviv, with regular daily services connecting these stations with Moscow. There are international trains to many other major European cities although trains north to the Baltic countries pass through Belarus and require a transit visa.

If travelling from the UK, the easiest route is via Eurostar to Brussels, ICE train to Cologne, overnight sleeper from Cologne to Warsaw, and overnight sleeper from Warsaw to Kiev. Fast 'firmeny' trains are the most rapid, modern and comfortable trains. Tickets are cheap by UK standards. If travelling by overnight train, do not leave the compartment unattended.

Timetables for trains to Ukraine, as well as approximate fares, are available in English at www.poezda.net. InterRail or Eurail passes are not valid in Ukraine.

Getting to Ukraine by boat

Main ports: Ilyichevsk, Izmail and Odessa.

Ukrferry (tel: +380 482 344 059; www.ukrferry.com) operates ferries from Ilyichevsk to Poti and Batumi, Georgia; from Ilyichevsk to Varna, Bulgaria; from Ilyichevsk to Haydarpasa, Turkey; and from Ilyichevsk to Constantza, Romania.

Ferries run by Gess Tur between Sevastopol and Istanbul, Turkey are currently suspended.

Cruise ships:

Several companies offer Black Sea cruises around the Crimean peninsula.




Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.