In 2024, there will be no restrictions on entry into Ukraine for foreigners. However, the closed air space makes travel difficult, so the route should be planned in more detail. Find out how to get to Ukraine from the Netherlands and which border crossing rules are currently relevant

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

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Under martial law, foreign tourists continue to come to Ukraine. According to official information, 8,787 citizens of the Netherlands entered Ukraine in 2023, in total, more than 2.4 million foreigners visited the country.

In 2024, this trend will continue, foreigners will continue to come to Ukraine on personal visits, on trips and as part of volunteer missions. Also, world powers are gradually softening recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine. For example, Great Britain has already allowed, if necessary, to visit certain Ukrainian regions. Governments in other countries around the world are also expected to lift restrictions.

However, taking into account the closed airspace, a trip to Ukraine has its own characteristics. It is also necessary to observe certain safety rules during the trip.

How to get to Ukraine from the Netherlands? 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 the Netherlands 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 Netherlands.

📍 Netherlands - Poland

— Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Amsterdam and Eindhoven. The price of a ticket is from 30 to 300 euros. Travel time is about 1 hour 55 minutes. Departure from Amsterdam is possible several times a day at 10:30, 14:00 and 17:00.

— Krakow is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, with direct flights from Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Ticket price from 40 euros. Travel time – 1 hour 50 minutes. In general, several airlines fly here, including the popular low-cost carriers Wizz Air and Ryanair.

— You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) only with a transfer, usually in Warsaw. Flights also depart from Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Travel time from 4 hours. Ticket price from 90 euros. The airport in Rzeszów is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, it is located 172 km from Lviv (Ukraine).

You can also fly directly from the Netherlands to Katowice and Wroclaw.

Detailed route from Poland to Ukraine in this article.

📍 Netherlands - Moldova

There is a direct flight from Amsterdam to Chisinau airport from the Netherlands, but only twice a week (on Wednesday and Saturday). Departure time on Wednesday is 3:30 p.m., arrival is 7:30 p.m., Saturday is 2:40 p.m., arrival is 6:25 p.m. Ticket price from 140 euros.

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.

📍 Netherlands - Slovakia

A direct flight from the Netherlands to Slovakia is carried out from Eindhoven airport, the flight arrives to the Slovak capital Bratislava. Departure three times a week - on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday. Departure time is 12:40, 16:45 and 19:45 (depending on the day of the week). The duration of the trip is 1 hour 45 minutes.

You can fly to Kosice or Poprad only with a transfer. Such a trip will last about 4 hours and will cost from 80 euros.

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

📍 Netherlands - Hungary

You can fly to Debrecen, the Hungarian airport closest to the Ukrainian border, from Eindhoven on a direct flight twice a week (on Thursday and Sunday). Ticket price from 69 euros.

There are direct flights to Budapest from Amsterdam and Eindhoven. Travel time is about 2 hours, ticket price from 60 euros.

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

📍 Netherlands - Romania

There are only connecting flights to Suceava, usually in London. The price of the ticket is from 90 euros, the duration of the trip is from 5 hours and 30 minutes.

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 train from the Netherlands to Ukraine

There is no direct train between Amsterdam and Kyiv, but you can arrive with a transfer following the route:

Amsterdam (Netherlands) – Vienna (Austria) – Kyiv (Ukraine)

1. There is a direct night train from Brussels to Vienna, departure at 19:16, arrival the next day at 10:13.

Ticket price from 70 euros.

2. Then the route continues by train: Vienna – Budapest-Keleti – Kyiv.

Departure from Vienna at 16:42, arrival at an intermediate station in Hungary at 19:40, final stop in Kyiv at 16:12.

The price of the ticket is approximately 90 euros.

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.

By bus from the Netherlands to Ukraine

Buses mostly depart from Amsterdam and Eindhoven and arrive in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa. The ticket price ranges from 130 to 190 euros.

You can also get to Ukraine with transfers. Such a trip takes an average of 35 hours and costs from 85 to 140 euros.

Traveling by bus has its advantages, in particular, the tourist does not have to change several types of transport.

Where to buy bus tickets from the Netherlands 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 Netherlands to Ukraine

Many tourists prefer to travel by their own car. The distance from Amsterdam to Kyiv is about 2,000 km, which, on average, can be covered in 20 hours. Such a trip, taking into account the price of gasoline, can cost from 375 to 550 euros. The route will pass through Germany and Poland.

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 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 Netherlands to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of the Netherlands 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 Netherlands. 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 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 Netherlands in Ukraine:

- Address: Kontraktova ploshcha, 7, Kyiv, 04070

- Phone: +38 044 490 8200;

- Working hours: Mon-Fri: 09.00 - 13.00, 14.00 - 17.00.

- Mail: [email protected].

- Official website: netherlandsandyou.nl.

● 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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