The absence of air travel reduces the number of options for getting to Ukraine. At the same time, the country's land borders are open, so we have prepared convenient routes to enter Ukraine from Switzerland

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Most people consider summer to be the best time to travel. Ukrainians who have settled in Switzerland use their vacation to visit relatives and friends. Foreigners want to explore the most visited places in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian border, despite the imposed martial law, works normally. There are no bans or restrictions on entering Ukraine. However, the airspace in Ukraine is closed, this restriction significantly complicates travel to Ukraine.

How to come to Ukraine from Switzerland? We have collected the most convenient routes for you.

Travel route from Switzerland to Ukraine

Flight + train/bus

Most travelers prefer the most convenient travel route: fly to one of the airports in Europe, which is located near the Ukrainian border, and from there continue the journey to the chosen Ukrainian city by bus or train.

● Switzerland is connected by direct flights with various cities in Poland:

- Basel-Krakow, departure at 10:00, 13:35 and 18:45. Travel time 1 hour 50 minutes. The price of the ticket is about 90 euros. The distance from Krakow to Lviv is 328 km.

- Basel-Warsaw - a direct flight from the low-cost airline Wizzair departs at 3:30 p.m. Travel time 1 hour 50 minutes. Ticket price from 50 euros.

- You can also fly from Geneva to Wroclaw, Lublin, Katowice with a transfer.

- There is also an airport in Rzeszów (Poland), 172 km from Lviv. It is quite close to Ukraine, but few airlines fly here. You can fly here from most cities in Switzerland only with a transfer.

● You can also fly to Hungary from Switzerland. Wizzair operates a direct flight from Basel to Budapest. Travel time 1 hour 40 minutes. The price of the ticket is about 60 euros.

● You can fly to Chisinau (Moldova) from Zurich and Basel with a transfer. Such a trip will last about 8 hours. The ticket costs within 200 euros.

● Popular low-cost airlines Wizz Air and Ryanair fly to Bratislava (Slovakia). However, travel from Switzerland is possible only with a transfer.

By rail from Europe to Ukraine

Ukraine is connected by direct rail to many European cities:

- from Warsaw you can get to Kyiv,

- from Przemyśl to Kyiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia,

- from Khelm - to Kyiv and Kharkiv,

- a direct train goes to Kyiv from Budapest, Vienna and Chisinau,

- from Kosice in Slovakia you can reach Chop and Mukachevo.

Read the schedule of trains running between Ukraine and European countries at the link.

By bus from Switzerland to Ukraine

Switzerland and Ukraine are connected by many bus routes.

- from Basel you can reach Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava and Kharkiv. The average price of a ticket is 150 euros. Travel time is about 28 hours.

- there are direct routes from Zurich to Lviv and Kyiv.

See the schedule and book tickets via the link.

From Switzerland to Ukraine by own car

Many people prefer to travel in their own car. The distance from Zurich to Lviv is 1,500 km. Estimated travel time is 15 hours. Foreigners can freely enter Ukraine in their own cars. However, there are certain rules and tips to follow when traveling.

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How can a Ukrainian leave Switzerland without losing protection?

Refugees who have found refuge in Switzerland must notify SEM and EVAM before leaving the country.

Departure to Ukraine is allowed, but you must notify EVAM about your trip and specify the period of stay and the purpose of the trip as clearly as possible. This rule applies to all Ukrainians, even those who do not receive social assistance in Switzerland. It is worth noting that the cantonal authorities must have clear information about the period of your stay outside Switzerland and the reasons for leaving.

The authorities consider each case separately, so if a Ukrainian has good reasons for a long stay abroad (study, business trip), then such a term can be agreed upon.

For the period of stay abroad, the provision of social assistance to holders of "S status" is temporarily suspended.

List of documents for entry into Ukraine for citizens of Switzerland

You do not need a visa if you are staying in Ukraine for up to 90 days. List of documents for visa-free entry for Swiss citizens:

● valid foreign passport;

● health insurance policy;

● confirmation of the purpose of the planned stay – hotel reservations, apartment rental contracts, tourist vouchers, tickets for seminars, exhibitions, fairs, invitations from companies and organizations, etc.;

● availability of sufficient financial support for the entire period of the planned stay ($45 per person for each day of stay in Ukraine).

Important! If a decision of an authorized state body of Ukraine prohibiting entry into Ukraine has been approved for a person, then such a tourist will be denied border crossing.

Also, read about cases when a foreigner can be refused entry to Ukraine in our material.

Since July 1, the rules for crossing the border in Ukraine have been simplified, because all covid restrictions and quarantine measures have been canceled in the country. Details at the link.

Do Swiss citizens need insurance to enter Ukraine?

To enter Ukraine, a foreigner must have a health insurance policy. However, it is important to consider additional risks when traveling through the country under martial law. Military risk insurance can cover losses in the event of an accident due to acts of war or terrorism, outpatient treatment and hospitalization, and emergency care.

There are not many insurance companies that offer coverage for risks related to hostilities and war. Order reliable protection on the VisitUkraine portal.

Search for housing in Ukraine

Tourists can stay in Ukraine in one of the accommodation facilities. When booking accommodation, pay attention to the availability of nearby shelters. During vacation, a tourist can stay in a hotel with different stars, a hostel, rent an apartment or rest in a guest house.

You can book accommodation for the selected dates using the link.

Legal support in Ukraine for Swiss citizens

Citizens of Switzerland have the right to enter Ukraine without a visa. However, for a longer stay in Ukraine, work or study, it is necessary to issue a visa. Tourists from Switzerland who are in Ukraine can seek advice from a highly qualified lawyer on various issues: support of a lawyer in Ukraine, advice on legal aspects of entering Ukraine, help with document preparation, etc.

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 Tickets - book bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

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

Visit Ukraine Hotels - book hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch - choose patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

Cooperation - cooperation and advertising integrations with Visit Ukraine and Visit World projects.