Transport in Ukraine

Sky Bus

By far the most popular way to get to Kyiv from Boryspil airport is Sky Bus – a shuttle bus that departs several times an hour. The bus takes two stops: the first is the closest to Boryspil metro station, Kharkivska. It is located on the outskirts of the city. The second stop is the main railway station Pivdenny, which lies right in the center of Kyiv. The Railway lies near the Vokzalna metro station, so either way, you can hop on the metro to further navigate the city.
Sky Bus usually follows the following schedule: leaves every 15 minutes from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. and every 45 minutes from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M. The ticket costs UAH 80 and can be purchased from the driver.

Taxi

The second easy way to get from the airport to Kyiv is by taking a taxi. Usually, several men are offering their services as soon as you step out of the terminal. While it is an option, their tariffs might be way higher than the usual rate. It is always safer to use apps – luckily, Uber works in Ukraine just well. The route from the airport to Kyiv downtown is not unusual, so in 10 or 15 minutes top you will find a ride.

Another taxi app that might help is called Uklon, which is essentially a Ukrainian version of Uber. It is the second most popular taxi service in the country, so in case there is any trouble with Uber, Uklon might come in handy. The ride from the airport to the city usually costs from UAH 250 to 400, depending on the destination, as well as taxi service. You can pay cash or with a credit card via applications. The drivers usually speak limited English, so buying a phrasebook might be a good idea.

Kyiv – Boryspil Express Train

The train operates every 30 – 120 minutes with more train runs in peak load time of Boryspil International Airport (KBP).

Kyiv – Boryspil Express Train Schedule | Updated 25.08.2020

Train Boryspil Airport – Kyiv Railway Station

03:48, 06:43, 07:18, 09:08, 10:50, 12:59, 14:45, 17:41, 18:34, 21:00, 23:04

Train Kyiv Railway Station – Boryspil Airport

00:04, 05:43, 06:30, 08:23, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:56, 17:50, 20:14, 22:01

. The train fare is 80 UAH (around 4 Euro per ticket).

Kyiv City 

Kyiv is divided into the 10 districts on the left and right banks of the city. Pechersky, Shevchenkovsky, and Podil districts cover the downtown and are full of hotels and hostels with decent prices. Besides, these districts are exactly what lures in tourists when it comes to Ukrainian capital — wonderful sightseeing and plenty of cheap but delicious fine dining spots.

Here you will find historical landmarks like the Golden Gates, popular photo locations like the giant statue of Motherland or religious locations that have seen the history of the city since its dawn: Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, St Volodymyr’s Cathedral, St. Sophia’s Cathedral, and St. Andrew’s Church. The latter is located on the Kyiv Montmartre — Andriyvsky Descent, full of artists selling their works and vendors with unique handmade souvenirs. The descent leads to the historical district of the city, Podil, and to the embankment of the Dnipro River which divides Kyiv into two banks.

Transportation 

As for navigating the city, locals usually choose Uber or public transport in Kyiv: metro, trolleybuses, trams, and private buses called marshrutkas, easily recognized by their bright yellow color. Metro by far is the most popular, as it covers the center of the city and almost all far-away spots with sightseeing and key travel points like the bus station from where you can get to Boryspil (KBP) airport. At the moment a single ride in the metro costs UAH 8 but since Trolleybuses are the runner-up, covering the districts otherwise unreachable by the metro. A single ride in a trolley costs UAH 8, Trams are mostly used to navigate Podil, the historical district of Kyiv, and to get to Pushcha-Vodytsia, a popular neighborhood with an abundance of nature and various picnic spots.