Ukraine's borders remain open despite martial law, and in 2023, more than 2.4 million foreigners visited the country, including 22,472 Czech citizens. Find out how to get to Ukraine from the Czech Republic and what entry rules are relevant in 2024

Take care of reliable insurance for safe entry and stay in Ukraine

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Even despite the imposed martial law, the borders of Ukraine are open, including for foreigners. According to official information over 2.4 million foreigners entered Ukraine in 2023, among which 22,472 persons were citizens of the Czech Republic.

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 the Czech Republic? What rules for entering Ukraine are relevant in 2024? Useful information for those planning a trip this year is collected in our material.

Flight from the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic.

● Czech Republic - Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Ostrava and Prague. The price of the ticket starts from 90 euros. Daily departures available. Travel time is about 1 hour and 10 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 Prague. Departure three times a week - Monday, Thursday, Saturday. The price of the ticket starts from 40 euros. The travel time is about 1 hour and 10 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.

● Czech Republic - Moldova

You can get to Chisinau from the Czech Republic on a direct flight from Prague. The price of the ticket starts from 400 euros. Travel time - 2 hours. Departure at 09:10 or 11:20.

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. Convenient travel routes from Moldova to Ukraine at the link.

● Czech Republic - Slovakia

The countries are connected by a direct flight from Prague to Košice, the airport closest to the Ukrainian border. The travel time is 1 hour and 10 minutes, the ticket price is from 30 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo. More details in this article.

● Czech Republic – Hungary

You can fly to Budapest from Prague. The flight is operated daily by Ryanair. Travel time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. Ticket price from 30 euros. Departure at 06:00.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv. Detailed route from Hungary to Ukraine by link.

● Czech Republic – Romania

Only connecting flights are available to Suceava. Departure is from Prague. The price of the ticket is from 150 euros, the duration of the trip is 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.

Also, Prague and Bucharest are connected by a direct flight, which operates four times a week - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Ticket price from 120 euros. The detailed route from Romania to Ukraine is here.

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

By train from the Czech Republic to Ukraine

1. Between Prague and Mukachevo, the train Prague - Košice - Mukachevo runs.

- Departure from Prague at 22:13, arrival at an intermediate station in Slovakia at 08:33, final stop in Mukachevo at 14:04.

2. You can also get to Ukraine with a transfer in Przemyśl:

- RJ 1023, Prague-Przemyśl, departure at 21:56, arrival in Przemyśl at 07:43.

- Further, the route can be continued by train 706 IC+, Przemyśl - Kyiv, departure at 09:35, arrival in the Ukrainian capital at 19:57.

3. Another convenient route – with a transfer in Chop:

- Train RJ 1021 leaves Prague at 21:52 and arrives in Chop at 12:03.

- The next stage is a train across Ukraine: 346, Chop-Chernivtsi (via Mukachevo, Stryi, Ivano-Frankivsk) - departure from Chop at 12:03, arrival in Chernivtsi at 21:32. 60, Chop-Kyiv (via Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia) - departure at 14:24, arrival in Kyiv at 07:47.

Where to buy train tickets from the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic to Ukraine

The Czech Republic 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:

- REGABUS. Buses of this company depart from Plzeň, Prague, Brno and Olomouc and will take passengers to Chernivtsi, Snyatin, Kolomyia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kalush, Dolyna, Stryi, Lviv, Rahov, Tyachevo, Khust, Irshava, Mukachevo and Uzhhorod.

- East Express (Musil Tour). With this carrier, Ukrainians and foreigners will be able to travel from Prague, Plzeň and other cities to the central and eastern regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporozhye and Odesa. Buses depart several times a day.

- DMD GROUP transports passengers to three western regions of Ukraine: Lviv region, Ivano-Frankivsk region and Transcarpathia. In the Czech Republic, buses stop in large cities (Prague, Brno) and in smaller towns.

- Heb and Cherkasy are connected by the SVD Trans company.

- You can get from Prague to Kyiv by TransTempo buses.

- FlixBus does not have a direct Prague-Kyiv connection, but there are offers with a transfer.

Where to buy bus tickets from the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic to Ukraine

The distance from the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, to Kyiv is 1,400 km. The route will pass through 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.

Rules of entry for citizens of the Czech Republic to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of the Czech Republic 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 duration of your stay exceeds 90 days or you plan to work or get an education in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to issue a long-term visa (type "D") at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate in the Czech Republic. 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 Czech Republic in Ukraine:

- Address: Kyiv, str. Yaroslaviv Val, 34a, 01901.

- Phone: +38 044 272 68 00

- E-Mail: [email protected]

● 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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