Under martial law, Ukrainian borders are open to foreign visitors, and there are no restrictions on entering the country. However, you can only get to Ukraine by land transport, because the country's airspace is closed. Considering the complexity of the route, it is worth planning the trip in advance. Find out how to get to Ukraine from Latvia and what rules for crossing the border are relevant this year

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

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Ukrainian borders are open to foreign visitors. Tourists continue to come to Ukraine even in spite of hostilities. According to official sources, more than 2.4 million foreigners entered the country in 2023 alone, including 9,853 Latvian citizens.

This trend continues in 2024. Most often, foreigners come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. The countries of the world are gradually softening the recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine, however, in the conditions of closed airspace, traveling to the country has its own characteristics. It is also necessary to observe certain safety rules during the trip.

How to get to Ukraine from Latvia? 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 Latvia 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 from Latvia to these countries.

Latvia – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Riga. Ticket price from 20 euros. Travel time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. The cheapest flights are operated by Ryanair.

- Krakow is one of the closest Polish airports to the Ukrainian border, where flights from Riga are made. Ticket price from 30 euros. Travel time – 1 hour 40 minutes. Departure at 09:05, arrival in Krakow at 09:45.

 - You can also fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) on a direct flight from Riga, departures are available twice a week - on Monday and Friday. Travel time from 1 hour 35 minutes. Ticket price from 65 euros. The airport in Rzeszów is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, it is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

The detailed route from Poland to Ukraine is here.

Latvia - Moldova

There are flights to Chisinau airport from Riga, but three times a week - on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Ticket price from 130 euros. Travel time is 2 hours 30 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 a direct train from Chisinau to Kyiv. Bus transfers to Odessa are also available.

Latvia - Slovakia

You can fly from Latvia to the Slovak airport Košice, which is closest to the Ukrainian border, only with transfers. Available flights from Riga. The duration of such a trip is from 4 to 9 hours. Ticket price from 90 euros.

From Kosice you can reach Chopa and Mukachevo. In more detail, we have already told how to get to Ukraine from Slovakia.

Latvia - Hungary

There are direct flights to Budapest from Riga. Travel time is about 1 hour 55 minutes, ticket price from 80 euros. Departure three times a week - on Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

There is a direct train from Budapest to Kyiv. A detailed route from Hungary to Ukraine is also available on our website.

Latvia - Romania

There is a direct flight from Riga to Bucharest four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Travel time is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Only connecting flights are available to Suceava. 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.

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 bus from Latvia to Ukraine

The best way to get from Latvia to Ukraine without a car is by bus, the journey will take about 27 hours and will cost 65-95 euros. From Riga you can get to Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil and Lviv.

- The bus departs from Riga Bus Station, Pragas iela 1.

- Arrival in Kyiv: "Vydubychi" bus station, Naberezhno-Pecherska road, 10A.

- Arrival in Lviv: central bus station "Lviv", address: str. Stryyska, 109.

Carriers offer comfortable passenger buses with a capacity of up to 90 seats. The bus cabin is equipped with soft seats, a toilet and an automatic climate control system, a large luggage compartment, Wi-Fi, which allows you to travel comfortably.

Where to buy bus tickets from Latvia 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 Latvia to Ukraine

The distance from the capital of Latvia - Riga to Lviv is 1150 km, and the duration of the trip in your own car - 13 hours without stops, to Kyiv is 1700 km and 19 hours on the road. The route will pass through Lithuania and Poland. Such a trip, taking into account gasoline prices, can cost from 230 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. Also, if you plan to stay in Ukraine for 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 an insurance policy. To take care of the comprehensive protection of your car in war conditions, purchase a Mini CASCO policy - this is a voluntary car insurance that covers damages not only in the event of a road accident, but also in the case of passive risks of war.

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

Entry rules for citizens of Latvia to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of Latvia 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 study in Ukraine, then before traveling you need to apply for a long-term visa (type "D") at the Ukrainian embassy or consulate in Latvia. 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 input 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 travel operators is collected on our portal. 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.

● 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 specialists on our website.

● Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Ukraine

- Address: 6B Ivana Mazepy St., 01901, Kyiv, Ukraine

- Phone: +380 44 4907030 +380 44 4907037 (Consular/ Visa Department)

- Fax: +380 44 4907035

- Email mail: [email protected] [email protected] (Consular/ Visa Department).

● 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 – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

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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