Although access to Ukraine for foreigners has become somewhat more difficult due to the ongoing war, Ukraine continues to attract tourists with its rich cultural heritage, fascinating nature, and reasonable prices. Find out how much it costs for a tourist to visit Ukraine today and how best to do it

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

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What expenses should a tourist consider when traveling in Ukraine? How to properly plan and calculate a trip to Ukraine? What should you take care of in advance? Let's analyze the two most visited cities in Ukraine by foreigners - Kyiv and Lviv.

How to get to Ukraine?

Due to martial law, there are currently no direct flights from other countries to Ukraine. However, Ukraine has convenient land transportation links with many European countries. Thus, it is possible to enter the country through Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Moldova, or Romania.

The most popular route is to enter Lviv via Poland. From Lviv, you can travel to Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine.

Land transportation to Ukraine from neighboring countries

If you are traveling to Ukraine from Poland, the most convenient option is to take a bus or train.

Bus Warsaw - Lviv: $25-40 (1,000-1,600 UAH). The trip lasts about 8 hours.

Train Warsaw - Lviv: $30-50 (1,200-2,000 UAH). The journey takes about 7 hours.

Land transportation from Lviv to Kyiv

Trains and buses are also considered a convenient and economical way to travel in Ukraine.

Train Lviv - Kyiv: $15-25 (600-1,000 UAH). Travel time is about 6 hours.

Bus Lviv - Kyiv: $10-20 (400-800 UAH). The journey takes 8-9 hours.

You can get from Budapest to Lviv by bus for $40-60 (1,600-2,400 UAH). Travel time: 10-12 hours.

How to get to Ukraine by car from Europe

Traveling by car from Poland or Germany, across the border with the western regions of Ukraine is a popular route. Such a trip can cost $150-300 (6,000-12,000 UAH), depending on fuel costs and tolls in Europe. But the main advantage of traveling to Ukraine by car, say, from Poland, is convenience and freedom of movement.

Please note! There is a separate turnkey travel program for Polish tourists in Ukraine .

Slovakia is also an easy entry point to Ukraine, especially for tourists from Central Europe. The main border crossing point is Uzhhorod-Vysne Nemecke, so tourists find themselves in the famous Transcarpathian regional center. The distance from the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, to Uzhhorod is about 400 km, which can be covered in 4-5 hours. If you plan to travel from Bratislava, fuel costs will be approximately $100-150 (4,000-6,000 UAH).

Theroute through Romania is ideal for tourists from the Balkan region or those who plan to visit the southern parts of Ukraine, in particular the Odesa region.

Find out what to see on the way from Odesa to Kyiv in a special material by Visit Ukraine

The main crossing points from Romania to Ukraine

Porubne-Siret is the main checkpoint on the border with Romania, which connects Chernivtsi region with Suceava county.

Dyakovo-Halmeu is the second largest checkpoint between Ukraine and Romania, through which you can get to Zakarpattia.

Traveling by car from Bucharest to Chernivtsi will take about 6-7 hours, and fuel costs will be about $70-100 (2,800-4,100 UAH).

How to get to Ukraine from the US and Canada

Due to the war in Ukraine, direct flights from the United States and Canada to Ukrainian cities are temporarily suspended. However, tourists from these countries can arrive in Ukraine via transit countries by taking flights to the nearest European cities and then continue their journey to Ukraine by land.

Flights from the US to Europe. The most convenient transit points to get to Ukraine are cities in Ukraine's neighboring countries, such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, described above. US travelers can choose from several flight options to purchase tickets in advance:

New York - Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines)

Ticket price: $500-900 (20,500-36,900 UAH) one way, depending on the season and airline.

Flight time: approximately 8-10 hours.

New York - Budapest (American Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa):

Ticket price: $600-1,000 (24,600-41,000 UAH).

Flight time: about 9 hours.

New York - Bucharest (Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM):

Ticket price: $700-1,200 (28,700-49,200 UAH).

Flight time: approximately 10-11 hours.

Flights from Canada to Europe. For Canadian citizens, there are also convenient transit flights through European capitals.

Toronto - Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada):

Ticket price: $600-1,000 (24,600-41,000 UAH).

Flight time: 8-9 hours.

Toronto - Budapest (Air Canada, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines):

Ticket price: $700-1,200 (28,700-49,200 UAH).

Flight time: 8-10 hours.

Toronto - Bucharest (Lufthansa, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines):

Ticket price: $800-1,300 (32,800-53,300 UAH).

Flight time: 9-11 hours.

You can conveniently buy tickets online on the Visit Ukraine portal . We offer 24/7 booking of train, bus, or plane tickets between cities in Europe and the world.

We wrote in detail about crossing the border between Moldova and Ukraine in our previous article.

Earlier, we also wrote about the most convenient way to get to Ukraine from Greece

How much does it cost to live in Ukraine?

The cost of living in Ukraine remains one of the most affordable in Europe. Ukraine offers housing options to suit all preferences, from many budget square meters to apartments in comfortable hotels.

Prices for accommodation in Kyiv hotels:

3-4 star hotels: $50-100 per night (2,000-4,100 UAH).

Apartments (Airbnb): $40-80 per night (1,600-3,200 UAH).

Prices for accommodation in Lviv:

3-4 star hotels: $40-90 per night (1,600-3,600 UAH);

Apartments (Airbnb): $35-75 per night (1,400-3,000 UAH);

Important! When choosing hotels in Ukraine, you should pay attention to safety and proximity to shelters, especially in Kyiv.

You can choose the most suitable hotel in Ukraine on our portal.

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Public transportation and taxis in Ukraine

Public transportation in Ukraine remains an inexpensive and reliable way to get around, and taxis are a convenient choice for those who value speed and comfort.

Public transportation in Kyiv costs from $0.3-$0.6 per trip (12-25 UAH).

Please note! The Kyiv subway works as a shelter during alarms.

Taxis in Kyiv cost from $3 to $10 (120-400 UAH) per trip. Popular online taxi services are Uber and Bolt.

Public transportation in Lviv costs from $0.25-$0.5 (10-20 UAH) per trip.

Ataxi in Lviv will cost an average of $2 to $8 (80-320 UAH) per trip.

Food in Ukraine. Is it expensive?

Eating out in Ukraine is also affordable, with a wide range of options from budget cafes to mid-range and high-end restaurants.

Lunch in an inexpensive café in Kyiv will cost $5-10 (200-410 UAH).

Lunch at a mid-range restaurant in Kyiv will cost $20-40 (800-1,600 UAH). Kyiv is famous for its national cuisine, so don't miss the opportunity to try borsch, Kyiv cutlet, or Kyiv cake.

Lunch in an inexpensive cafe in Lviv will cost $4-8 (160-320 UAH). Lviv is famous for its coffee shops and dessert shops, where you can enjoy not only real coffee but also traditional Ukrainian dishes.

Lunch at a mid-range restaurant in Lviv will cost $15-35 (600-1,400 UAH).

However, the most economical option for eating out in Ukraine is to prepare your own meals, as food prices in Ukraine are among the cheapest in Europe.

Excursions around Ukraine

Even despite the constant threat of shelling, tourists have access to interesting excursions in both Kyiv and Lviv. Most often, they are organized in English or German for foreigners. It is important to pay attention to the safety of excursions and choose only safe routes with trusted guides.

Group tours of Kyiv or Lviv will cost from $20 to $50 (800-2,000 UAH) per person.

Individual tours will cost from $30-150 (1,200-6,000 UAH), depending on the route, duration, and options included.

In Kyiv, foreigners should definitely visit the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia Cathedral, and in Lviv, the Opera House and Rynok Square.

Leisure activities for foreigners in Ukraine

Due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, most entertainment venues and events in eastern Ukraine have been canceled until the end of martial law. However, in Kyiv and Lviv, tourists can still afford to have fun in safe places.

These include cinemas (with shelter). A movie ticket in Kyiv/Lviv costs $4-10 (160-410 UAH) on average. Some cinemas in the capital and Lviv have screenings in English.

To get around the cities of Ukraine in a convenient and environmentally friendly way, you can rent bicycles or electric scooters.

In Kyiv, prices for bicycle/e-scooter rental start at $3-$5 per hour (120-200 UAH).

Bicycles are also a particularly common mode of transportation in Lviv, where you can easily find rental shops and rent a bike for $3-$5 per hour (120-200 UAH).

One of themost interesting things to do in Kyiv is to look for unusual red sculptures in the capital.

Theaters and museums in Ukraine

Most concerts and theater events in Kyiv, if they take place, are held in places with shelters. A ticket to a performance or exhibition in a museum in the capital of Ukraine will cost only $5-20 (200-800 UAH).

Lviv's Opera House impresses with its architecture and repertoire, and is a favorite of European tourists.

You can find even more interesting excursions and simply wonderful locations in Ukraine on the Visit Ukraine website. The largest database of tours in Ukraine is at your service.

Additional expenses in Ukraine

In addition to the cost of tickets and fuel, there are additional costs to consider when traveling to Ukraine:

- Customs fees at the borders;

- Toll roads in EU countries (for example, in Poland and Hungary);

- Green card (car insurance for traveling to Ukraine);

Additional expenses include the purchase of souvenirs, outdoor activities, and unforeseen health-related expenses that can be avoided by taking out insurance in advance. This is especially true when visiting Ukraine during martial law, when security issues become a priority. To make your trip to Ukraine safe, comfortable and memorable, take out a special insurance policy with guaranteed compensation for military risks in a few minutes on the Visit Ukraine portal.

Please note! In Kyiv, at the bus station, there is our TIC (tourist information center) with a shop where tourists can not only buy souvenirs offline, but also consult on tourist issues.

Based on the above, a week-long trip to Ukraine (Kyiv or Lviv), including insurance, basic living expenses, transportation, food, and entertainment, will cost:

-For a tourist from Europe: $700-1,200 (28,700-49,200 UAH).

-For a tourist from the United States or Canada: $1,100-1,800 (45,100-73,800 UAH).

These figures may vary depending on your preferences and comfort level, but in general, a trip to Ukraine remains relatively affordable compared to other European countries, but no less impressive.

Just a reminder. There are proven ways to minimize risks and make your stay in Ukraine as safe and comfortable as possible.  

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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