In 2024, there are no restrictions on entry to Ukraine for foreigners. However, the closed airspace makes traveling more difficult, so you should plan your route in more detail. Find out more about how to get to Ukraine from Austria and the current border crossing rules

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Even despite the imposed martial law, the borders of Ukraine are open, including for foreigners. According to official information provided by the State Border Service at the request of Visit Ukraine, over 2.4 million foreigners entered Ukraine in 2023, including 5,658 Austrian citizens.

In 2024, the trend continues, foreigners continue to come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. Also, world powers are gradually easing recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine. In particular, Great Britain has already allowed, if necessary, to visit certain regions of the country. Governments in other countries around the world are also expected to lift restrictions.

However, currently traveling to Ukraine has its own peculiarities, in particular, the country's airspace is closed, and it is also necessary to observe certain safety rules.

How to get to Ukraine from Austria? What rules for entering Ukraine are relevant in 2024? Useful information for those planning a trip this year is collected in our material.

Air flight from Austria to the Ukrainian border + train/bus

The most convenient and fastest way to get to Ukraine is to fly to one of the airports in Europe, which is located near the Ukrainian border, and from there continue the journey by land transport - by train or bus.

Ukraine borders Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. There are many direct flights to these countries from Austria.

● Austria – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Vienna. The price of the ticket starts from 15 euros. Departures are available at 13:10 and 21:25. Travel time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

- Krakow is one of the closest Polish airports to the Ukrainian border. The distance from Krakow to Lviv is 328 km. You can get here by direct flight from Vienna. Departure several times a day, the flight is performed by both low-cost companies and large European air carriers. The price of the ticket starts from 40 euros. The travel time is about 1 hour 20 minutes.

  - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) only with a transfer, most often in Warsaw. Travel duration from 4 hours. The price of the ticket is from 80 euros. The airport in Rzeszów is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

Detailed route from Poland to Ukraine in this article.

● Austria – Moldova

You can get from Austria to Chisinau on a direct flight from Vienna. However, keep in mind that the price of the ticket is quite high, from 400 euros. Travel time – 1 hour 40 minutes. Departure at 10:10.

The distance to the Ukrainian border from Chisinau is 130 km - Palanka checkpoint (Odesa region). The nearest large Ukrainian city: Odesa. Tourists planning a trip to the southern regions of Ukraine should choose a flight to Chisinau airport. There is also a direct train from Chisinau to Kyiv.

● Austria – Slovakia

The countries are connected by flights with transfers, most often in Warsaw. You should fly to Košice or Poprad - the closest airports to the Ukrainian border. Such a trip will last from 4 hours and will cost from 120 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo.

● Austria – Hungary

You can fly to Budapest from Vienna. The flight is operated by Austrian Airlines. Travel time 1 hour 35 minutes. Ticket price from 200 euros. Departure three times a day - at 09:55, 13:40 and 21:20.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.

● Austria – Romania

Only connecting flights are available to Suceava. Departure is from Vienna. Ticket price from 150 euros, trip duration from 5 hours.

You can easily get to Chernivtsi from Suceava, there is a daily bus from the bus station, the journey to Chernivtsi takes 2-3 hours.

Pay attention! If you plan to buy tickets for the near future, the prices may be much higher.

By train from Austria to Ukraine

Between Vienna and Kyiv there is a direct train Vienna - Budapest-Keleti - Kyiv.

Departure from Vienna at 16:42, arrival at an intermediate station in Hungary at 19:40, final stop in Kyiv at 16:12.

The price of the ticket is approximately 90 euros.

Is it worth going by train from Austria to Ukraine?

Advantages of traveling by rail from Austria to Ukraine:

1. The fastest way to cross the border - customs clearance takes about 2-2.5 hours.

2. Comfort - thanks to a comfortable seat, the passenger will be able to rest during the trip.

Where to buy train tickets from Austria to Ukraine?

Tickets for most Ukrzaliznytsia flights from Poland can be bought online on the official website of Ukrzaliznytsia, in the mobile application and through official chatbots.

Tickets go on sale at 08:00 20 days before the flight. Returned tickets appear on the website 1-2 days before departure.

By bus from Austria to Ukraine

Austria and Ukraine have a close bus connection. The bus transportation market is represented by a large number of companies, from experienced carriers with a large fleet to industry newcomers.

Buses depart not only from the Austrian capital. There are also regular direct flights to Ukraine from Graz, Linz and Salzburg, which go to most Ukrainian regions.

The trip by bus from Vienna to Lviv will take an average of 20 hours, to Odesa - about 30 hours, to Kyiv - 25 hours.

The ticket price starts from 40 euros, which makes this travel option not only convenient, but also affordable for different categories of travelers.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by bus

Pros - due to the large number of bus routes, it is much easier to find a direct flight, which will allow you not to worry about a possible delay during a trip with a transfer. Also, you will not need to take out and carry heavy luggage around the stations.

However, it is impossible to predict how long border crossing checks will last. Therefore, arrival at the destination may be significantly delayed.

Where to buy bus tickets from Austria to Ukraine?

Choosing a proven service for buying tickets is one of the most important stages in organizing a trip. That is why thousands of travelers use the ticket purchase service on the Visit Ukraine portal.

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By own car from Austria to Ukraine

The distance from Vienna, the capital of Austria, to Kyiv is 1,320 km. The route will pass through the Czech Republic and Poland. Such a trip, taking into account the price of gasoline, can cost from 250 to 350 euros.

Importantly! The shortest queues are usually at Polish checkpoints: Dorogusk, Krotsenko, Budomezh. You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Poland to enter Ukraine by following the link. More details about the work of checkpoints in our material.

To avoid a long wait, prefer traveling at the beginning of the week. From Monday to Wednesday, passenger traffic is lower, and accordingly there are no long queues. Starting from Thursday evening until Sunday, the number of people willing to cross the border increases, which increases the load on checkpoints.

In addition, we draw your attention to the fact that, despite the fact that checkpoints are open 24 hours a day, there is a curfew on the territory of Ukraine due to the state of war.

Rules for entering Ukraine by car for foreigners

A foreigner is allowed to enter Ukraine in his own car, but he can use it only for his own needs. Foreign citizens can drive cars with foreign license plates in Ukraine for up to one year. If you plan to stay in Ukraine longer than two months, you need to contact the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for temporary car registration. After the expiration of the one-year period, the car with foreign license plates must leave Ukraine.

To enter Ukraine by car, you must have a Green Card insurance policy.

Detailed rules for traveling in Ukraine by car with foreign registration in this article.

Advantages and disadvantages of traveling by car

Traveling in your own car is usually convenient and comfortable, because you will not depend on the schedule, you can choose the departure time yourself and not be late for the flight. Also, the ability to stop anywhere and at any time will add to the comfort of the trip.

Another advantage is luggage, when traveling by car you can take as many things as your car can hold, but do not forget about customs restrictions.

The main disadvantage is that it is impossible to predict the time it will take to cross the border. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 5-8 hours, and sometimes more.

Rules of entry for Austrian citizens to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Austrian citizens have the right to stay in Ukraine without a visa for up to 90 days, if the purpose of the trip is tourism, visiting relatives, treatment, etc.

If the length of stay exceeds 90 days or you plan to work or study in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to issue a long-term visa (type "D") at the embassy or consulate of Ukraine in Austria. It is better to start the procedure at least 3 months before the planned trip.

● Entry into Ukraine is based on a valid foreign passport, which must have at least one blank page for the entry stamp.

Also, to cross the Ukrainian border, you must provide:

1. Health insurance policy.

2. Confirmation of the purpose of the trip: a notarized invitation from citizens of Ukraine (relatives, acquaintances, friends), travel vouchers, confirmation of accommodation reservations, invitations from companies or organizations, tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs, documents about treatment in medical facilities, etc.

3. Confirmation of financial support (cash, bank statement, check from an ATM, etc.) - proof that you have sufficient funds for the entire period of your planned stay in Ukraine or transit to a third country ($45 per person for each day of your stay in Ukraine ).

Importantly! Foreigners who have been banned from entering Ukraine by an authorized state body will not be able to cross the border. Read about who can be refused entry to Ukraine in our article.

Useful links for those planning a trip to Ukraine

● Booking a tour – if the purpose of the trip is tourism, be sure to search for a tour in advance. The largest database of routes from proven tourist operators is collected at the link. Depending on your interests, you can also plan an individual trip.

● Housing search – book hotels here. Rules for renting an apartment in Ukraine for foreigners in this article.

● Rent a car – to feel more mobile while traveling in Ukraine, we recommend renting a car. Detailed instructions at the link.

● Safety and insurance rules – safety rules must be strictly followed when traveling through Ukraine under martial law. In addition, make sure you have military risk insurance. About the benefits of the policy here.

● Legal support – in the conditions of martial law, certain rights of citizens may be limited, therefore, if you need the help of a lawyer while traveling in Ukraine, you can contact the specialists at the link.

● Contacts of the Embassy of the Republic of Austria in Ukraine:

- Address: str. 33 Ivana Franka St., Kyiv, Ukraine, 01901.

- Phone: +380 (44) 277 27 90

- E-Mail: kyjiw-ob(at)bmeia.gv.at

- Hours of operation: 9:00-17:00

● Souvenirs – stylish clothes and accessories in memory of Ukraine here.

We wish you a good trip!

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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 Legal advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;
Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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