International Train Connections with Ukraine
Last update: Aug. 6, 2010 (minor edits)
Get out your map... let's take a look at all the international destinations you can travel to from Ukraine (Kiev train station) by train. This list may be incomplete:
| Anapa, Russia Baku, Azerbaijan Belgrade, Serbia Berlin, Germany Bratislava, Slovakia Brest, Belarus Bucharest, Rumania Budapest, Hungary Chisinsau, Moldova Kaliningrad, Russia Karaganda, Kazakhstan Krakow, Poland Minsk, Belarus |
Moscow, Russia Murmansk, Russia Prague, Czech Republic Rostov na Donu, Russia Saint Petersburg, Russia Sofia, Bulgaria Vienna, Austria Vladivostok, Russia Voronezh, Russia Warsaw, Poland Wroclaw, Poland Zagreb, Croatia |
In addition to these direct connections, train transfers allow you to reach practically any city in Europe by train from Ukraine. However, beyond a certain distance it would probably make more sense to fly. Search for train connections throughout Europe at Die Bahn.
Speed of train travel from Ukraine
Here are the approximate minimum lengths of connections from Kiev to different European capitals:
| Belgrade — 32 hours Berlin — 24 hours Bucharest — 27.5 hours Budapest — 20 hours Chisinau — 13.5 hours Krakow — 16 hours Lisbon — 69 hours London — 37.5 hours Madrid — 55 hours |
Minsk* — 14 hours Moscow* — 9.5 hours Paris — 34 hours Prague — 29 hours Sofia — 44 hours St. Petersburg* — 20 hours Vilnius* — 17.5 hours Warsaw — 22.5 hours Zurich — 32.5 hours |
*NOTE: citizens of western countries need a visa to travel to Belarus or Russia (even for transit to another country, e.g. Lithuania).
Cost of tickets
Train travel to countries of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Belarus, the Baltic countries, and Moldova) are inexpensive by European standards (tickets can be bought for under $50 USD). All connections with western and central European countries are significantly more expensive because of the difference in railway gauge that requires lengthy adjustments at the border.
Buying international train tickets in Ukraine
International train tickets can only be bought at certain ticket counters. In Kiev this ticket counter is in a side room to the left of the main hall of the Central Railway Ticket Office on 38 Shevchenka Boulevard. This building is a 10-15 minutes' walk from the train station. The hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and, I believe, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends.
To buy international train tickets, you will need a passport for each passenger. The booking process is lengthier than for domestic tickets and can take a while. Tickets can be returned at the same ticket desk.
I need to check this, but I believe it is possible to buy international train tickets through certain travel agencies in Ukraine.
Buying train tickets to Ukraine abroad
Train tickets to Ukraine can be obtained at train stations abroad. However, the price may differ from what you would pay for the same ticket in Ukraine (i.e. cost more).
