Travel to Ukraine

Flying to Ukraine

The national carrier is Ukraine International Airlines (www.flyuia.com), whose routes include direct flights from the UK and the USA. British Airways (www.ba.com) also operates direct flights from the UK to Ukraine. Prices tend to be higher in July and August.

Major airports are: Kiev Boryspil International Airport and Lviv Danylo Halitskyi International Airport.

Airport Guides

Flight times

To Kiev: from London - 3 hours 15 minutes: New York - 9 hours.

Departure tax

None.

Travelling to Ukraine by Rail

Ukraine's railways link most towns and cities within the republic and further links extend from Kiev to all other CIS member states. The main stations are Kiev and Lviv, with regular daily services connecting these stations with Moscow. There are international trains to many other major European cities although trains north to the Baltic countries pass through Belarus and require a transit visa.

If travelling from the UK, the easiest route is via Eurostar to Brussels, ICE train to Cologne, overnight sleeper from Cologne to Warsaw, and overnight sleeper from Warsaw to Kiev. Fast 'firmeny' trains are the most rapid, modern and comfortable trains. Tickets are cheap by UK standards. If travelling by overnight train, do not leave the compartment unattended.

Timetables for trains to Ukraine, as well as approximate fares, are available in English at www.poezda.net. InterRail or Eurail passes are not valid in Ukraine.

Driving to Ukraine

Getting to Ukraine by boat

Main ports: Ilyichevsk, Izmail and Odessa.

Ukrferry (tel: +380 482 344 059; www.ukrferry.com) operates ferries from Ilyichevsk to Poti and Batumi, Georgia; from Ilyichevsk to Varna, Bulgaria; from Ilyichevsk to Haydarpasa, Turkey; and from Ilyichevsk to Constantza, Romania.

Ferries run by Gess Tur between Sevastopol and Istanbul, Turkey are currently suspended.

Cruise ships

Several companies offer Black Sea cruises around the Crimean peninsula.