Social ConventionsUkrainian people are warm and particularly friendly to visitors. It is not at all uncommon for Ukrainians to invite strangers into their own homes. People on the street are friendly despite the rigours of post-Soviet life. Formal attire is rarely required, though people dress smartly for the theater. Visitors should avoid ostentatious displays of wealth in public places.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe main airline is
Ukraine International Airlines (PS) (website:
www.ukraine-international.com/eng).
Aerosvit (VV) (website:
www.aerosvit.ua/eng) operates domestic
routes as well as serving a number of international destinations.
Departure TaxNone.
Main AirportsKyiv – Borispol International (KBP) is approximately 34km (21 miles) from central Kyiv.
To/from the airport: Buses run to the city center for most of the day (journey time - approximately 1 hour). The arrival/departure point in central Kyiv is the central railway station. Taxis also run.
Facilities: Banks/bureaux de change, duty-free shops, restaurants, pubs, child facilities, left luggage and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Ilyichevsk,
Izmail and
Odessa.
UkrFerry (website:
www.ukrferry.com) operates
ferries from Odessa to Istanbul, Turkey; from Ilyichevsk to Poti and Batumi, Georgia; from Ilyichevsk to Varna, Bulgaria; and from Ilyichevsk to Derince, Turkey. Ferries are available to the Russian Federation ports of Novorossiysk and Sochi. The Republic’s most important internal waterway is the River Dnieper.
Several companies offer Black Sea
cruises around the Crimean peninsula.
Getting There by RailThe 22,730km (14,207 miles) of railway track link most towns and cities within the republic and further links extend from Kyiv to all other CIS member states. The main stations are Kyiv and Lviv. Regular daily services connect these stations with Moscow. There are international trains to many other major European cities. Fast ’
firmeny’ trains are the most rapid, modern and comfortable trains. Tickets are cheap by UK standards. If traveling by overnight train, do not leave the compartment unattended. Timetables for trains within CIS states, including trains to Ukraine, are available in English from the website
www.poezda.net. The fastest train from Kyiv to Moscow takes 10 hours 30 minutes and to St Petersburg 25 hours 30 minutes.
Getting There by RoadOutside urban areas, roads can be badly lit and in poor condition. Border points are at Chop, Mostiska and Uzhgorod. A road tax is payable at the border. Petrol stations and repair garages are becoming more common, but it is recommended to carry spare parts. Leaded and unleaded petrol are available. Cash is usually required at petrol stations. Insurance cover can be difficult to arrange. See
Getting Around for information on traffic regulations and documentation.
Coach: Eurolines (tel: 0870 514 3219, in UK only; website:
www.eurolines.com) and
National Express (tel: 0870 580 8080, in UK only; website:
www.nationalexpress.com) run regular coach services from the UK to Ukraine and other European cities. Travelers can either choose Mini-Pass breaks or book a 15-, 30- or 60-day pass. The six Mini-Passes give travelers the freedom to visit three cities. Travelers can stay as long as they like in each city.
Bus: A few buses run daily services from Karkiv to Moscow.
OverviewThe following items may be imported into Ukraine without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco products;
1l of spirits and 2l of wine (persons over 20 years of age only);
goods for personal use, provided holding proof of their export, or imported under conditions of transit (toiletries and personal effects);
gifts up to the value of €200.
Means of transportation that are five or more years old for permanent use in Ukraine, for selling or breaking into parts; strong, poisonous, radioactive or explosive substances or other objects that can harm the population and animals or contaminate the environment; printed materials, films, negatives, photos, movies, videos, computer disks, scripts, records and other audio recordings, drawings, and other printed materials that contain propaganda of war, racism or genocide; food products without the relevant certificate; seeds and plants. Animals require veterinary certificates issued by relevant Ukrainian authorities. Contact the Embassy of Ukraine for further details.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirDomestic flights in Kyiv depart from both
Borispol airport (KBP) and from
Zhulany airport (IEV).
Aerosvit (website:
www.aerosvit.ua/eng) is one of the main domestic carriers.
Getting Around by WaterCruises between Kyiv, Odessa and Sevastopol are very popular and can be booked through various tour operators.
Getting Around by RailTrains are more reliable than air travel in winter, when aircraft are sometimes grounded. Timetables for trains in CIS states, including trains within Ukraine, are available in English from the website
www.poezda.net. The Ukrainian Railways website
ww.uz.gov.ua also publishes information, but is not available in English.
Getting Around by RoadBus: There are services to most cities and towns. One of the most modern and comfortable fleets of buses is operated by
Autolux (website:
www.autolux.com.ua). The company runs coaches to all the major cities and publishes its website in English.
Taxi: Hiring a driver for a long-distance destination is a realistic option.
Car hire: Self-drive hire cars are gradually becoming more available.
Regulations: Speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (55mph) in outside areas and 130kph (80mph) on the motorways. Traffic drives on the right; righthand-drive cars are prohibited. Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited. The limit of alcohol allowed in drivers' blood is zero. Heavy fines are imposed if traffic police smell alcohol on a driver’s breath.
Documentation: An International Driving Permit is necessary.
Getting Around Towns and CitiesKharkiv, Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk have clean, efficient and cheap metro systems, where tickets can be purchased at vending machines inside the stations. Buses and trolleybuses are extremely crowded and are best avoided. Taxis are easy to find in the cities. Official taxis have yellow and black signs on the roof and are metered. Fares should be negotiated in advance for private taxis. Some shared taxis and minibuses exist on fixed routes. Hitchhiking is very common, although not recommended. Travelers can indicate the need for a lift and the driver will take them to their destination cheaply by Western standards, but prices should be agreed in advance. There are no public transport services from 0100-0500.
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