Despite active military operations, there are no restrictions on entry to Ukraine for foreigners, but travel can be complicated due to closed airspace. Read more about the most convenient routes from Europe to Ukraine and current border crossing rules in this article

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 visit Ukraine even despite the hostilities. Most often, foreigners come to Ukraine for personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions.

However, in conditions of closed airspace, traveling to Ukraine has its own characteristics. Also, during the journey, it is necessary to follow certain safety rules.

How to get to Ukraine from Europe? What border crossing rules are relevant? Useful information for those planning a trip to Ukraine is collected in our material.

Step 1 – Flight to the Ukrainian border

Residents of countries that do not border Ukraine can fly to one of the countries that share a border with Ukraine (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania or Moldova) for the most comfortable trip. The average duration of such a flight from any European city is 2 hours. The closest airports to the Ukrainian border are:

- Poland – Rzeszow-Jaszno International Airport, Rzeszow (Rzeszow), Lublin Airport.

- Moldova – Chisinau International Airport.

- Romania – Stefan the Great Airport in Suceava.

- Hungary – Debrecen Airport.

- Slovakia – Košice International Airport.

Read more about the European airports closest to the Ukrainian border in this article.

Step 2 – Travel from the intermediate hub to Ukraine by land transport

After arriving at the intermediate point, you can continue your journey to Ukraine by land transport - by train, bus or car. We will tell you in detail about each of these methods below.

Route from Poland to Ukraine

Ukraine and Poland have a common border and a correspondingly developed transport connection.

- By car

The following border crossing points operate on the Polish-Ukrainian border: Yagodyn - Dorohusk, Ustyluh - Zosin, Kraków - Korchów, Shegyny - Medyka, Rawa-Ruska - Hrebenny, Smilnytsia - Krotsenko, Hrushiv - Budomierz and Uhryniv - Dolgobychów.

The smallest queues are usually at the checkpoints: Dorohusk, Krotsenko, Budomierz. You can check the waiting time at the checkpoints with Poland for entry into Ukraine by clicking on the link.

- By bus

The bus transportation market is represented by a large number of companies. Routes depart from many Polish cities and go to most Ukrainian regions.

Examples of direct bus routes from Poland to Ukraine:

- Warsaw – Kyiv, route: Warsaw – Lublin – Lutsk – Rivne – Zhytomyr – Kyiv.

- Warsaw – Lviv – Ternopil – Khmelnytskyi – Vinnytsia – Uman – Odessa.

- Warsaw – Lublin – Lviv.

- Katowice – Kyiv, route: Katowice – Krakow – Lviv – Ternopil – Khmelnytskyi – Vinnytsia – Uman – Kyiv.

- Szczecin – Kyiv, route: Szczecin – Poznan – Lodz – Warsaw – Lublin – Lutsk – Rivne – Zhytomyr – Kyiv.

- Szczecin – Kyiv, via Poznan – Lodz – Warsaw – Lublin – Lutsk – Rivne – Zhytomyr.

- Wroclaw – Opole – Katowice – Krakow – Lviv – Ternopil – Khmelnytskyi – Vinnytsia – Uman – Kyiv.

- By train

Currently, the countries are connected by 13 railway routes from three cities in Poland - Warsaw, Chełm and Przemyśl, the most popular routes are the following:

1. Train Warsaw-Kyiv. Average travel time - 19 hours 16 minutes.

2. Train Warsaw - Lviv. Average travel time - 9 hours 30 minutes.

3. Train Chełm-Kyiv-Kharkiv. Average travel time - 14 hours 1 minute (Kyiv) and 22 hours 11 minutes (Kharkiv).

4. Train Przemyśl-Lviv-Kyiv. Average travel time - 2 hours 53 minutes (Lviv) and 10 hours 29 minutes (Kyiv).

5. Train Przemyśl-Dnipro-Zaporizhzhya. Average travel time - 19 hours 16 minutes (Dnipro) and 21 hours 24 minutes (Zaporizhzhya).

6. Train Przemysl-Kiev-Odesa. Average travel time - 12 hours 32 minutes (Kiev) and 17 hours 53 minutes (Odesa).

For the schedule and prices for train tickets from Poland to Ukraine, see our previous article.

Detailed route from Poland to Ukraine here.

Travel from Moldova to Ukraine

The distance to the Ukrainian border from Chisinau airport is 130 km - the Palanka checkpoint (Odesa region). The nearest large Ukrainian city is Odesa.

A flight to Chisinau airport is worth choosing for tourists planning a trip to the southern regions of Ukraine, as this route will be the most convenient.

- By car

You can cross the Ukrainian-Moldovan border by car through the following checkpoints: Mamalyga - Kryva, Sokyriani - Ocnytsia, Rossoshany - Brycheni, Kelmenci - Larga.

You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Moldova for entry into Ukraine at the link.

- Buses

There are many bus routes from Moldova to Ukraine. They depart from the following cities: Chisinau, Orhei (Orhei), Edinet, Balti and arrive in Odessa, Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv. You can get to Odessa in 3 hours and 30 minutes. The longest journey to Kharkiv is about 18 hours.

- Train

Ukraine and Moldova have a railway connection. Currently, there is 1 flight between the states:

№351/352 “Kyiv - Chisinau - Kyiv” runs on even and odd numbers: departure from Kyiv at 17:05, arrival at 11:30. Departure from Chisinau at 17:34, arrival in Kyiv at 12:05.

More about traveling from Moldova to Ukraine in our previous material.

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Route from Hungary to Ukraine

- Car

The distance from Budapest to Kyiv will be 1150 km. The estimated travel time is 14 hours. Such a trip, taking into account gasoline prices, can cost from 200 to 290 euros.

The following border crossings operate on the Hungarian-Ukrainian border: Záhony – Tisza (Chop), Lonja – Dzvinkove, Barabás – Kosino, Beregszúran – Luzánka and Tisábech – Výlok.

The longest queues are usually at the Tisza crossing point.

You can check the waiting time at the crossing points with Hungary for entry into Ukraine at the link.

- Bus

Budapest – Kyiv, in general, departures are available almost every two hours. The direct route departs at 21:30 and arrives in Kyiv at 20:55. You can also get there with a transfer. Travel time from 26 to 33 hours.

Budapest – Lviv, departure at 08:50, arrival in Lviv at 22:30, travel time – 12 hours 40 minutes.

Budapest - Uzhgorod, direct flight is available three times a day at 08:50, 21:30 and 22:30, travel time - 8 hours.

You can also find tickets to Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Mukachevo, Stryi, Delyatyna and other cities of Ukraine.

- Train

Ukraine and Hungary are constantly expanding their railway connection. Currently, the following flights operate between the states:

Budapest - Mukachevo: departure at 13:04, arrival at 00:24;

Debrecen-Mukachevo: departure at 16:34, arrival at 00:24;

Záhony-Chop: departure at 19:40, arrival at 00:24.

A detailed route from Hungary to Ukraine is also available on our website.

Route from Slovakia to Ukraine

- Car

The distance between Bratislava and Kyiv is about 1300 km, which, on average, can be covered in 14 hours. Such a trip, taking into account gasoline prices, can cost from 170 to 250 euros.

There are three checkpoints on the Slovak-Ukrainian border:

- Ublya - Maly Berezny: pass for vehicles and pedestrians;

- Vyšné Nimetske - Uzhhorod: pass for vehicles;

- Velke Slemente - Maly Selmenty: pass for pedestrians and cyclists.

All checkpoints, except Velke Slemente, operate 24 hours a day. Velke Slemente is open from 09:00 to 21:00.

The longest queues are usually at the Uzhhorod checkpoint. You can check the status of queues at checkpoints between Slovakia and Ukraine online at the link.

- Bus

From Slovakia, buses to Ukraine depart from Košice, Prešov, Poprad, Žilina, Trnava and go to most Ukrainian regions (Kyiv, Lviv, Poltava, Rivne, Zakarpattia, Kharkiv).

- Train

“Mukachevo - Košice - Mukachevo” - runs daily: departure from Mukachevo at 14:45 and 18:16, arrival at 18:17 and 21:33. Departure from Košice at 08:46 and 11:46, arrival in Mukachevo at 14:04 and 16:53.

We have also already told you in more detail how to get to Ukraine from Slovakia.

Route from Romania to Ukraine

- Car

Many foreigners prefer to travel by their own car.

The following border crossing points operate on the Romanian-Ukrainian border: Diacove – Halmeu, Solotvino – Sighetu Marmației, Krasnoilsk – Vicovu de Sus, Porubne – Siret, Diacovci – Rakovec.

All checkpoints operate around the clock. The longest queues are usually at the Diacove checkpoint. You can check the waiting time at checkpoints with Romania for entry into Ukraine at the link.

- Bus

Chernivtsi has a fairly close bus connection with the border Romanian cities. The most popular are flights from Suceava. Several minibuses and buses run between the cities per day. Ticket prices start from 400 hryvnias.

Travel time is only 3 hours, because the distance between the cities is 80 km. In fact, travelers spend most of their time at the border.

Comfortable buses from Bucharest, Iasi, Suceava and many other Romanian cities arrive in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk and Uzhgorod.

From Suceava you can easily get to Chernivtsi, a bus runs daily from the bus station, the journey to Chernivtsi takes 2-3 hours.

A detailed route from Romania to Ukraine is here.

What is the best mode of transport to enter Ukraine?

1. Train

Traveling by rail has certain advantages:

- The fastest way to cross the border - passing through customs takes about 2-2.5 hours.

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

Also, in addition to border countries, Austria and the Czech Republic have rail connections with Ukraine.

- Train No. 749/149 "Kyiv - Vienna - Kyiv" - runs daily: departure from Kyiv at 12:06, arrival at 11:20. Departure from Vienna at 16:42, arrival in Kyiv at 16:50.

- Train No. 146/143 "Chop - Vienna - Chop" - runs daily: departure from Chop at 08:23, arrival at 17:20. Departure from Vienna at 10:42, arrival in Chop at 20:59.

- Train No. 715 "Kyiv - Prague - Kyiv" - runs with a transfer in Przemysl, Poland. Departure from Kyiv at 11:28, arrival at 20:20 - transfer - departure of the RJ 1000 train from Przemysl at 22:13, arrival in Prague at 06:37. On the return journey, departure from Prague at 21:56, arrival in Kyiv at 20:02 (you can buy a single ticket or two separate tickets for the journey).

- The train of the Czech carrier Regiojet “Chop - Prague - Chop” - runs daily: departure from Chop at 17:35, arrival at 05:46.Departure from Prague at 21:52, arrival in Chop at 10:35.

Where to buy train tickets to Ukraine?

Tickets for most Ukrzaliznytsia flights from abroad 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.

Find the schedule and prices for train tickets to Ukraine in our previous article.

2. Bus

Traveling by bus has its advantages, in particular, the tourist does not have to change several modes of transport. In addition, flights depart not only from border countries, but also from most European cities.

Where to buy bus tickets 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.

3. Car

Traveling by car certainly gives maximum freedom, because you are not limited by any schedule, and you can also take the maximum number of things with you.

The only obstacle is the border. To avoid long waits at the crossing point, give preference to travel 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 and until Sunday, the number of people wishing to cross the border is increasing, which increases the load on the checkpoints.

In addition, we draw your attention to the fact that despite the fact that the checkpoints are open 24 hours a day, a curfew is in effect on the territory of Ukraine due to martial law.

Rules for entering Ukraine by car for foreigners

A foreigner is allowed to enter Ukraine by his own car, but it can be used exclusively for his own needs. Foreign citizens can drive in Ukraine by cars with foreign license plates for up to one year. 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 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 voluntary car insurance that covers losses not only in the event of an accident, but also in the event of passive risks of war.

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

In general, if you have a choice, choose train travel, as it has a number of significant advantages, including the ability to reach your destination without queues and transfers, which provides the opportunity to travel in more comfortable conditions without stress.

Entry rules for European citizens to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Europeans 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 the country of residence 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.

● 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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