Currently, traveling to Ukraine is complicated due to the lack of air travel, but you can still get there comfortably by land. Here are the most convenient routes to Ukraine, current entry rules, and important nuances you need to know before traveling

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Under martial law, foreign tourists continue to come to Ukraine. According to official information, more than 2.4 million foreigners entered the country in 2023 alone, including 5,608 citizens of Portugal. This year, the trend continues, people from abroad are coming to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. Considering that certain countries of the world have already relaxed the recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine, it is expected that the number of visitors will continue to grow.

Taking into account that currently traveling to Ukraine has certain features, in particular, the country's airspace is closed, and it is also necessary to observe certain safety rules, it is worth planning a trip to Ukraine in advance.

How to get to Ukraine from Portugal? 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 Portugal to the Ukrainian border + travel by land transport

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 from Portugal to these countries.

● Portugal – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Lisbon, Porto, Madeira and Faro. The price of the ticket starts from 55 euros. Available departures up to four times a day. Travel time is about 3 hours 55 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 Porto, Lisbon and Faro. The flight is operated by low-cost companies, so the price of the ticket starts from 30 euros. Travel time is about 3 hours 40 minutes.

  - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) only with a layover, usually in Warsaw or Munich. Travel duration from 6 hours. The price of the ticket is from 145 euros. The airport in Rzeszów is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

Poland and Ukraine have close rail and bus connections. Available ways of travel from Poland to Ukraine are collected in this article.

● Portugal – Moldova

You can get to Chisinau from Lisbon. The price of the ticket starts from 187 euros. Departure twice a week - on Wednesday and Saturday. Travel time is 4 hours and 15 minutes.

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.

● Portugal – Slovakia

You can fly from Portugal to Slovakia only with a stopover. The closest airports to the Ukrainian border are Košice and Poprad. The journey here will last about 10 hours and will cost from 190 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo (Transcarpathian region).

● Portugal – Hungary

You can fly to Budapest from Porto, Lisbon and Madeira. Travel time is 3 hours 40 minutes. Ticket price from 80 euros.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv.

● Portugal – Romania

Only connecting flights are available to Suceava. 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.

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

By bus from Portugal to Ukraine

The journey by bus from Portugal to Ukraine was quite long, but it has its advantages.

Most routes include a transfer, most often in Madrid. The duration of the trip is about 66 hours. The price of the ticket is 195 euros.

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 journey 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 Portugal 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.

By own car from Portugal to Ukraine

The distance from Lisbon to Kyiv is 4126.4 km. You need to go through many European countries (Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland). Approximate travel time - 39 hours. Such a trip, taking into account the price of gasoline, can cost from 420 to 1061 euros.

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.

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Rules of entry for citizens of Portugal to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of Portugal 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 apply for a long-term visa (type "D") at the embassy or consulate of Ukraine in Portugal. 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 Portugal in Ukraine:

- Address: 12 Ivana Fedorova Street, 4th floor, Kyiv, 01901.

- Telephone: (00380) 442 875 861 (office), (00380) 442 875 871 (consular department).

- Email: [email protected] (embassy), [email protected] (consular department).

- Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 09:00 - 13:00 | 14:30 - 17:30.

● 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.

Darya Rogova is the head of the Visit Ukraine insurance department

Feel confident during your stay in Ukraine. Take out an insurance policy from verified insurance agents on the Visit Ukraine portal. Reliable protection for your mail in just a few minutes.

Do you have additional questions? Contact the Visit Ukraine hotline (Telegram | WhatsApp).