Under martial law, Ukrainian borders are open to foreign visitors, and there are no restrictions on entering the country. However, the airspace in the state is closed, so you can get here only by land transport. Considering the complexity of the route, it is worth planning the trip in advance. Find out how to get to Ukraine from Finland and what border crossing rules 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 2,863 Finnish citizens. Taking into account that world powers are gradually easing recommendations for their citizens regarding trips to Ukraine, in particular, Great Britain has already allowed, if necessary, to visit certain regions of the country, in 2024 the number of tourists will increase.

However, in closed airspace, traveling to Ukraine has its own characteristics. It is also necessary to observe certain safety rules during the trip.

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

Finland – Poland

- Warsaw can be reached by direct flight from Helsinki. Ticket price from 25 euros. Travel time is about 1 hour 45 minutes. Daily departure (2-3 flights per day).

- Krakow is the closest Polish airport to the Ukrainian border, with direct flights from Helsinki. Ticket price from 80 euros. Travel time - 2 hours.

 - You can fly to Rzeszów (Ryaszów) only with a transfer, usually in Warsaw. Flights also depart from Helsinki. 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 Finland to Gdansk and Wroclaw.

Detailed route from Poland to Ukraine in this article.

Finland – Moldova

There are flights to Chisinau airport from Finland only with transfers, usually in Riga or Istanbul. Ticket price from 120 euros. Travel time is 5 hours.

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.

Finland - Slovakia

You can fly from Finland to Slovakia (Bratislava, Košice, Poprad) only with transfers, sometimes even with several, usually in Warsaw, Bergamo or London. The duration of such a trip is about 12 hours. Ticket price from 150 euros.

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

Finland – Hungary

There is a direct flight to Budapest from Helsinki. Travel time is about 2 hours 20 minutes, ticket price from 145 euros. Departure every day. 

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

Finland – Romania

There are only connecting flights to Suceava, usually in London. Ticket price from 150 euros, trip duration from 5 hours 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 bus from Finland to Ukraine

Buses mostly depart from Helsinki and arrive in Lviv, Kyiv and other cities. The ticket price ranges from 130 to 190 euros. Several flights per day are available, with a journey time of 34 hours.

You can also get to Ukraine with transfers. Such a trip takes an average of 40 hours.

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 Finland 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 Finland to Ukraine

The distance from the capital of Finland - Helsinki to Lviv is almost 1500 km, and the duration of the trip in your own car - 15-16 hours without stops. The journey to Kyiv will be longer by 6 hours or 550 kilometers. Such a trip, taking into account gasoline prices, can cost from 300 to 450 euros.

The route will include a ferry crossing. You need to go through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania 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.

Entry rules for citizens of Finland to Ukraine in 2024

● Visa is not required. Citizens of Finland 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 Finland. 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 Finland in Ukraine:

- Address: 01054, Kyiv, str. Streletska, 14

- E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

- Web: Official website of the Embassy of Finland in Ukraine.

● 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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