How to get to Ukraine from Sweden: convenient routes and border crossing rules
Ukraine's airspace is still closed, so to make your trip comfortable and fast, you need to plan your route in advance. Find out how easy it is to get to Ukraine from Sweden and what you need to cross the Ukrainian border
Many Ukrainians who received the status of temporary protection in Europe are planning a trip to Ukraine. There are various reasons for this - someone decided to spend a summer vacation or vacation in Ukraine, visit family and friends, pick up certain things or complete documents. Foreigners are also actively planning a trip to Ukraine, because there are a lot of interesting places in the country. Regardless of the purpose of the trip, anyone can enter Ukraine from Sweden.
The lack of air connections reduces the possible options to get to Ukraine. But the country's land borders are open, so we have prepared routes for entering Ukraine from Sweden.
It should be noted that more than 3 thousand tourists from Sweden visited Ukraine in the first half of 2023.
How to get from Sweden to Ukraine?
The fastest way (plane + train or bus)
Ukraine borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova. The airspace in these countries is open, so a tourist can fly to one of the European airports, which is located near the Ukrainian border, and from there continue the journey by ground transport.
Flight from Sweden
● Sweden-Poland - a direct Stockholm-Warsaw flight is operated by the well-known low-cost airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air. Several flight options are available - morning, noon and night. Travel time – 1 hour 45 minutes. Ticket price from 30 euros.
● Sweden-Slovakia - from Gothenburg you can fly to Kosice, Bratislava and Poprad, but this flight is possible only with a transfer. Average trip duration is about 6 hours. Ticket price from 90 euros.
● Sweden-Hungary – the Stockholm-Budapest flight operated by the Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is available. Travel time is 2 hours and 10 minutes. Ticket price from 50 euros.
● Sweden-Moldova - the Gothenburg (GOT) — Chisinau (KIV) flight is only available with a stopover in London or Vienna. The duration of the trip is about 7 hours. The price of the ticket is 300 euros.
From Sweden to Poland by ferry
You can also get from Sweden to Poland by ferry:
A) Stockholm / Nynashamn to Gdansk
The journey will begin with a train from Stockholm. Take the direct commuter train from Stockholm Central Station to Nynashamn (1:15 hours, €3). From Nynashamn (Sweden) will continue the route by ferry to Gdansk (Poland). Travel time by ferry is 18 hours. Ferry tickets cost from 69 EUR.
B) Istad to Svinouyst
Get to Istada by train. In Ystad, take a short walk from the train station to the ferry terminal. From Ystad (Sweden), continue your journey by ferry to Świnoujście (Poland). Ferry travel time is 5:30 hours. Ferry tickets cost from 34 EUR.
Direct trains to Ukraine from Europe
Ukraine is connected by direct rail to many European cities:
● Poland - from Warsaw you can reach Kyiv, from Przemyśl - to Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, from Chelm - to Kyiv and Kharkiv.
● Hungary - there is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.
● Austria - a direct train goes from Vienna to Kyiv.
● Moldova - a direct train goes from Chisinau to Kyiv.
● Slovakia - from Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo.
Read the schedule of trains running between Ukraine and European countries at the link.
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The route of the train journey from Sweden to Ukraine
Stockholm (Sweden) - Berlin (Germany) - Warsaw (Poland) - Kyiv (Ukraine)
1. Travel from Stockholm to Berlin by train. Travel time - 12 hours. The price of a train ticket starts from 49 EUR. Two travel options are available:
● From Stockholm to Berlin by night train Snälltåget. Travel time - 19 hours.
● Day train with a transfer in Copenhagen and Hamburg. The German railway Deutsche Bahn offers discounted tickets from 56 EUR. Travel time - 12 hours.
2. The trip from Berlin to Warsaw will take approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. There are at least four direct flights between Berlin and Warsaw.
3. There is one night train from Warsaw to Kyiv called "Kyiv Express", the journey time is 15 hours. Ticket price from 45 EUR.
Also available routes: Stockholm (Sweden) - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Berlin (Germany) - Warsaw (Poland) - Kyiv (Ukraine) and Stockholm (Sweden) - Gdansk (Poland) - Warsaw (Poland) - Kyiv (Ukraine).
From Sweden to Ukraine by bus
The Stockholm-Kyiv bus leaves Stockholm at 23:59 and arrives in Kyiv two days later, at 21:35. The total duration of the trip is about 50 hours. In Hamburg, travelers need to make a transfer. The price of the ticket is 240 euros.
From Sweden to Ukraine by own car
Many people prefer to travel in their own car. The distance from Stockholm to Lviv is 1,960 km. The route will include a ferry crossing. Estimated travel time is 23 hours. You can read in detail about the rules of travel in Ukraine by car with foreign registration at the link.
How can a Ukrainian leave Sweden and not lose protection?
Anyone who has received the status of temporary protection in Sweden can travel to Ukraine without hindrance. Before leaving, make sure that your residence permit is still valid, and if necessary, apply for its extension. The residence permit in Sweden is canceled for those Ukrainians who have been outside the country for more than 6 months. Citizens of Ukraine do not need to deregister with the migration service if they are going on a short trip.
Rules of entry to Ukraine for citizens of Sweden
Citizens of Sweden do not need to issue a visa to enter Ukraine if the duration of their trip is less than 90 days. In order to cross the border without obstacles, you must have the following list of documents:
● Valid foreign passport.
● Health insurance policy. It is also important to consider additional risks when traveling in Ukraine under martial law. Military risk insurance can cover losses in the event of an accident due to hostilities or acts of terrorism, outpatient treatment, hospitalization and emergency care.
● Confirmation of the purpose of the planned stay – hotel reservations, apartment rental contracts, travel vouchers, tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs, invitations from companies and organizations, etc.;
● Confirmation of sufficient financial support for the entire period of the planned stay ($45 per person for each day of stay in Ukraine).
As of July 1, all Covid-19 restrictions and quarantine measures have been canceled in Ukraine. Foreigners no longer need to provide proof of vaccination when crossing the border and wear a protective mask.
Legal support in Ukraine for Swedish citizens
Accompaniment by a lawyer in Ukraine, consultation on legal aspects of entry into Ukraine, assistance with the preparation of documents - this is only a small list of issues with which citizens of Sweden can turn to highly qualified lawyers in Ukraine. A traveler may need the services of a specialist at various stages of his journey through Ukraine. While in the country, it is important to follow the rules of migration legislation, also, be sure to contact a lawyer if your rights have been violated.
Photo: Reuters
We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine:
Visit Ukraine Insurance - safe travel in Ukraine (insurance covering military risks);
Visit Ukraine Tickets - book bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Tours - the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;
Visit Ukraine Hotels - book hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Merch - choose patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.
Cooperation - cooperation and advertising integrations with Visit Ukraine and Visit World projects.
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The simultaneous stay of visitors in the hotel lobby not more than one person per 10 square meters of serviceable area is allowed.
Persons can visit hotels and stay there (outside hotel room) only if they wear respirator or face mask (including homemade mask), so that the nose and mouth are covered.
Hotel guests are obliged to keep the 1.5 meters distance.
Online check-in making in advance is recommended to avoid queues at check-in to hotel.
Meals in hotels are provided through meals delivery service to rooms upon prior order or at hotel restaurants situated inside or in open areas, provided the distance of at least 1.5 meters between seats at adjacent tables.
Not more than 4 clients are allowed to stay at the table (excluding children under 14 years old). Unless these tables are separated by a special partition;
Self-serve is not allowed.