How do business travelers get into Ukraine from Poland or Romania?
By Bruce Talley, Destination Ukraine · Updated
Business travelers enter Ukraine by land, because Ukrainian airspace has been closed to passenger flights since February 2022. The usual route is to fly to Poland and take a direct train to Kyiv, which takes 10 to 16.5 hours depending on the departure station. From Romania, travelers cross by road. For Odesa and the south, entering through Moldova is often shorter.
Routes to Kyiv by train
| From | Time to Kyiv | Typical fare |
|---|---|---|
| Przemyśl, Poland (Intercity) | about 10 hours | $45 to $85 |
| Przemyśl, Poland (regular train) | 12 to 14 hours | $45 to $85 |
| Chełm, Poland | about 12 hours | $71 to $107 |
| Warsaw, Poland | about 16.5 hours | about $100 |
| Chișinău, Moldova | about 17.5 hours | $60 to $83 |
Source: Visit Kyiv, How to get to Kyiv in 2026, updated 5 November 2026.
Buy tickets on the Ukrainian Railways website or app. Tickets usually go on sale 21 days before departure and the Poland routes can sell out, so book the morning sales open. Border control and changing the bogies takes several hours.
From Poland
Fly into Warsaw, Kraków or Rzeszów. Przemyśl is the main rail crossing, about 10 km from the border, with several trains a day to Lviv and Kyiv. Road crossings open to cars are Shehyni, Krakivets, Rava-Ruska and Yahodyn. Most passengers for the Ukraine train are arriving by train rather than locally, so if the Polish train is late, Ukrainian Railways tends to hold the train.
From Romania
There is no direct train from Romania to Kyiv on the main timetable, so most travelers cross by car or private transfer. The open road crossings are Porubne (from Siret, toward Chernivtsi), Diakove and Solotvyno. This route suits visits to western and south-western Ukraine.
Bucharest is a pleasant place to spend several days, and Brașov is about 2 hours by train from there. From Brașov, you can travel overland by car to Iași and then across the border to Ungheni and on to Chișinău. There are trains from Bucharest to Chișinău that take about 17 hours.
Through Moldova, for Odesa and the south
Fly into Chișinău and cross at Palanca, Vynohradivka or Mamalyha. A private transfer from Chișinău to Kyiv costs about $530 for up to three passengers, against $900 to $1,070 from Warsaw.
What to carry
- Passport. Citizens of the EU, UK, US, Canada and many other countries enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180.
- Health insurance that covers war risks. Border guards can ask for it, and most standard travel policies exclude Ukraine.
- Proof of purpose. An invitation letter or meeting schedule from your Ukrainian host.
- For drivers: licence, vehicle registration and Green Card insurance.
Practical points
- Buses are easier to book than trains, but border waits can reach 12 hours.
- Air raid alerts can stop a train for a while. It continues after the all-clear.
- Border status changes. Check the State Border Guard Service before you travel.
- Your government's travel advice may warn against travel to Ukraine. Read it, because it affects your insurance.
How Destination Ukraine helps
Destination Ukraine moves business delegations into and around Ukraine by rail, motorcoach and private transfer from Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova. We book the tickets, meet you at the border or station, and arrange interpreters, hotels and site visits. Contact us with your dates and destination.
General information, not legal advice. Wartime rules change; confirm current requirements with Ukrainian counsel before acting.