Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2014/Travel
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Bus / car edit
All highways in Ukraine are free, but only international roads are of decent quality.
We can recommend the following highways:
- Highway M07 for entering Ukraine from the Central Poland (that's the highway Warsaw - Kyiv);
- Highway M10 + Highway M06 for entering Ukraine from the Southern Poland (the fastest route from Krakow to Kyiv);
- Highway M06 for entering Ukraine from Hungary & Slovakia;
- Highway H03 + Highway M06 for entering Ukraine from Northern Romania (Rădăuți)
- Highway M15 + Highway M05 for entering Ukraine from Eastern Romania (Galați);
State bus services has poor international connection, so it's necessary to check the routes of private companies. Direct private bus services are avaiable between Kyiv and Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Warsaw, Krakow, Minsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg. Other CEE cities (most notably Bratislava and Chisinau) allow to travel either by two buses or bus + train.
Good sources of information about bus services are the following:
- Yandex Timetables (Ukrainian only)
- bus.com.ua (Ukrainian only)
- Ecolines (leading private bus company, multilingual)
Train edit
- Kyiv Pasazhyrskyi is the central railway station of Kyiv. Metro station Vokzalna (метро "Вокзальна") on the M1 line connects to the railway terminal. The terminal building straddles numerous railway tracks, and effectively comprises two separate buildings adjoined by a bridge. The building on the northern side (next to the metro station) is the main station. The building on the southern side is the south station with its own ticket office and hotel. Public transport stops on both sides of the railway. Buses and trolleybuses to the city centre depart from the main building, buses to the Boryspil and Zhulyany airports operate from the southern station.
The actual information will be provided once the new international schedule is published. We expect that it will happen soon, and there should be no significant changes. At the moment we have direct train connections with Chisinau, Bucharest, Sofia, Belgrade, Budapest, Bratislava, Prague, Warsaw, Minsk and other cities. All these routes should normally remain operational.
Approximate train ticket costs and time (source: Raildude, as of 19 November) in 2nd class. Due to changes in train schedules they are for information purposes only and are subject to change
| Cost (EUR) | Train | Timetable (to Kyiv) | Travel time (to Kyiv) | Timetable (from Kyiv) | Travel time (from Kyiv) | Status | |
| Belarus: Minsk | 125 € | 086 Minsk—Kyiv | Thursday 22:42 — Friday 07:51 | 10h09m | Sunday 21:19 — Monday 08:25 | 09h41m | Confirmed (Ukrainian price) |
| Bulgaria: Sofia | 260 € | 059/060 Sofia—Moscow | Wednesday 18:45 — Friday 09:13 | 38h28m | Sunday 20:10 —Tuesday 11:10 | 39h00m | Not confirmed: price for 4—7 December |
| Hungary: Budapest | 243 € | 015/016 Sofia—Moscow | Wednesday 17:40 — Thursday 20:03 | 25h23m | Monday 11:03 — Tuesday 10:50 | 24h47m | Not confirmed: price for 4—7 December |
| Moldova: Chisinau | 133 € | 047 Chisinau—Moscow | Thursday 11:45 — Friday 02:15 | 14h30m | Sunday 20:10 — Monday 23:02 | 27h52m | Confirmed |
| Poland: Warsaw (Centr.) | 201 € | 067 Warsaw—Kyiv | Thursday 16:45 — Friday 10:32 | 17h07m | Sunday 15:52 — Monday 08:01 | 17h09m | Confirmed |
| Romania: Bucharest | 184 € | 059/060 Sofia—Moscow | Thursday 06:00 — Friday 09:13 | 26h13m | Monday 09:11 — Monday 23:56 | 14h45m | Not confirmed: price for 4—7 December |
| Russia: Moscow | 155 € | 001/002 Moscow—Kyiv | Thursday 23:09 — Friday 07:32 | 9h23m | Sunday 20:25 — Monday 06:43 | 8h53m | Confirmed (Ukrainian price) |
| Russia: St. Petersburg | 225 € | 054 St. Petersburg—Kyiv | Thursday 16:20 — Friday 13:52 | 22h32m | Sunday 13:43 — Monday 12:25 | 21h42m | Confirmed (Ukrainian price) |
| Serbia: Belgrade | 256 € | 015/016 Belgrade—Moscow | Wednesday 06:45 — Thursday 20:03 | 35h18m | Monday 11:03 — Tuesday 20:50 | 34h47m | Not confirmed: price for 4—7 December |
| Slovakia: Bratislava | 220 € | 015/016 Bratislava—Moscow | Wednesday 13:55 — Thursday 20:03 | 29h08m | Monday 11:03 — Tuesday 14:05 | 28h02m | Not confirmed: price for 4—7 December |
Get in edit
The easiest way to travel from the train station to hotel is metro: Red line from Vokzalna to Khreshchatyk - directon east. The easiest way to travel from train station to venue is also metro: First Red line to Khreshchatyk and then switch to Blue line to Palats "Ukraina" - direction south, then there are around 200 m on feet. The other option is mini bus #539 - take off at the Laboratorna street and walk around 200 m.
Airplane edit
Kyiv has two airports:
- Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany) — IEV - International Airport Kyiv (serves mostly domestic routes and low cost companies);
- Boryspil International Airport — KBP - Boryspil International Airport (serves mostly foreign routes).
These airports have direct connection with many big cities of Eastern Europe. It is possible to reach Kyiv with one stopover from any middle international airport in Eastern Europe (with stopover in Istanbul, Moscow, Warsaw or Vienna).
Approximate air travel costs and time (source: Skyscanner, as of 19 November), for departure on 18 December and return trip on 21 December:
| Destination | Airfare (EUR) | Airlines | № of stopovers | Travel time | Notes |
| Albania: Tirana | 302 € | Turkish | 1 (Istanbul) | 10h05m | Return from Kyiv: 10:55 (9h55) or 21:15 (12h, night stopover) |
| Armenia: Yerevan | 215 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 2h45m | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:15 |
| Austria: Vienna | 255 € | LOT | 1 (Warsaw) | 5h10m | |
| 409€ | Ukraine International | Direct | 2h05m | ||
| Azerbaijan: Baku | 358 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 3h20m | Departure possible on 19 December: stopover in Minsk for arrival at 8:35, 6h travel, same time |
| Belarus: Minsk | 166 € | Belavia | Direct | 1h | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:35 |
| Bosnia: Sarajevo | 308 € | Turkish | 1 (Istanbul) | 9h50m | Return from Kyiv: 10:55 (9h50) or 21:15 (12h15, night stopover) |
| Bulgaria: Sofia | 232 € | Aeroflot | 1 (Moscow) | 6h30m | |
| 304 € | Turkish | 1 (Istanbul) | 10h10m | Return from Kyiv: 10:55 (9h50) or 21:15 (12h15, night stopover) | |
| Croatia: Zagreb | 278 € | Austrian | 1 (Vienna) | 3h15m | |
| Cyprus: Larnaka | 151 € | Wizz Air | Direct | 2h45m | |
| Czech Rep.: Prague | 180 € | Austrian | 1 (Vienna) | 4h05m | |
| 190 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 2h25m | ||
| Estonia: Tallinn | 214 € | Air Baltic | 1 (Riga) | 5h00m | |
| 244 € | Estonian | Direct | 1h45m | ||
| Georgia: Tbilisi | 137 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 2h45m | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:25 |
| Georgia: Kutaisi | 173 € | Wizz Air | Direct | 2h45m | Early morning departure on 21 December: no flight on 22 December |
| Greece: Athens | 147 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 2h40m | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:10 |
| Hungary: Budapest | 99 € | Wizz Air | Direct | 1h45m | |
| Kazakhstan: Astana | 310 € | Air Astana | 1 (Almaty) | 15h40m | Night stopovers in Almaty both ways |
| 394 € | Belavia | 1 (Minsk) | 8h20m | ||
| Kazakhstan: Almaty | 236 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 6h40m | Return on 22 December |
| 237 € | Air Astana | Direct | 5h20m | Late arrival on 19 December at 11:30 | |
| Kazakhstan: Karaganda | 361 € | Aeroflot | 1 (Moscow) | 7h15m | Arrival at 09:25, departure at 15:40 |
| Latvia: Riga | 273 € | Air Baltic | Direct | 1h50m | |
| Lithuania: Vilnius | 101 € | Ukrainian International | Direct | 1h20m | Early morning departure on 21 December |
| Macedonia: Skopje | 295 € | Turkish | 1 (Istanbul) | 10h05m | Return from Kyiv: 10:55 (9h55) or 21:15 (12h, night stopover) |
| Moldova: Chisinau | 153 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 1h15m | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:20 |
| Montenegro: Podgorica | 276 € | Austrian | 1 (Vienna) | 7h10m | Return from Kyiv: night stopover (19h10) |
| Poland: Warsaw | 101 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 1h35m | |
| Poland: Krakow | 198 € | LOT | 1 (Warsaw) | 4h00m | |
| Romania: Bucharest | 251 € | LOT + Austrian | 1 (Vienna / Warsaw) | 5h35m | Stopover in Vienna to Kyiv, in Warsaw from Kyiv. Departure from Kyiv and arrival to Bucharest on 22 December morning. |
| Russia: Moscow | 114 € | Ukraine International | Direct | 1h35m | Departure possible on 19 December: arriving at Kyiv at 8:20 |
| Russia: St. Petersburg | 97 € | Aeroflot | Direct | 2h05 | |
| Serbia: Belgrade | 263 € | Aeroflot | 1 (Moscow) | 6h35 | |
| Slovakia: Bratislava | 428 € | Czech | 1 (Prague) | 16h25 | Little meaningful connections: use Vienna airport or train |
| Slovenia: Ljubljana | 305 € | Adria + Ukraine International | 1 (Vienna / Zurich) | 8h40 | |
| Turkey: Istanbul | 191 € | Aeroflot | 1 (Moscow) | 7h45m | |
| 231 € | Turkish | Direct | 1h55m | ||
| Turkey: Ankara | 318 € | Turkish | 1 (Istanbul) | 4h15 |
Get in edit
- Boryspil International Airport (KBP) - Boryspil Airport has 3 terminals in operation: B, D, and F. Most international flights arrive in the terminals D or F, whereas terminal B is used for domestic flights. Terminal B is much older than F and dates back to Soviet times, but in fact they differ in small details only. Both terminal B and F are very cramped and inconvenient, while terminal D is newer and larger. Expect long queues at the immigration control, which is inevitably haphazard. Despite separate lanes for Ukraine citizens, 'non-visa', and 'visa' passengers, few booths are usually in operation so getting through immigration can take over 30 minutes. Airlines operating to/from KBP include Ukraine's two major international airlines: Ukraine International Airlines (Міжнародні Авіалінії України - Mizhnarodni Avialiniyi Ukrayiny) and Aerosvit (АероСвіт), as well as Aeroflot, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Delta, Estonian Air, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and AirBaltic . Aerosvit and Delta are the only airlines with non-stop service to North America.
- Zhulyany Airport (IEV) - Mostly served by budget airlines, Wizzair is the major airline operating to this airport.
To Boryspil Airport edit
By bus edit
The easiest way to travel between the city centre and Boryspil (KBP) is the Sky Bus, which operates service to/from the Vokzalna/Central Railway station for UAH40. Buses depart every 15 minutes during rush hour, or every 45 minutes in the middle of the night, 24/7.
The journey to the city centre takes 40 to 70 minutes and the buses stop in the front of every terminal. Buses terminate at the southern side of the railway station. To get to the metro (Vokzalna station) from the bus stop, enter the railway terminal, follow the bridge over the railway, leave the building, and turn left.
Before arriving at the Central Station the buses also make a stop at the Kharkivska Metro|, in the southwestern suburbs (on the Green Line, M3). If your destination lies on the Left Bank, or if it's rush hour (in which case the bus is likely to run into traffic in the center) and you were going to take the subway anyway, it might be a good idea to exit there. It's a much shorter walk to the station (especially if you have luggage), and the fare is also slightly cheaper from the airport. To do this the other way around (from the city to the airport) is less convenient, since the bus might skip the stop if it's already full (and even if it does stop, you'd be standing all the way, as most seats are usually taken at the terminus).
By taxi edit
For taxis, the minimum price to the city centre is about UAH200 when you book in advance. The official taxi service at the airport (Sky Taxi) is slightly more expensive at UAH6.50/km. Unofficial cabs may demand higher prices, so always arrange the price before you enter the cab and feel free to bargain.
To/from Zhulyany Airport edit
By bus edit
- Bus 9 operates service to/from the Vokzalna/Central Railway Station, with connections to Metro Line 1.
- Bus Route 78 operates service to Vasylkivska Metro Station, where connections can be made to Metro Line 2.
- Trolleybus Route 22 operates service to Dorohozhychi Station, where connections can be made to Metro Line 3.
By train edit
- From Volynsky Train Station (located 500m from the domestic terminal) you can go on elektrichka (commuter trains operate service) to the central/Vokzalna Railway Station. The intracity Urban Electric Train service also operates at Volynsky train station.