Before the war visitors saw Pripyat, the Duga radar and the reactor 4 confinement. As of 21 October 2026 only one recent source was found and it states tourism remains closed; the zone was occupied by Russian forces in 2022 and mines and ordnance remain.
The Chornobyl Exclusion Zone was the most popular day trip from Kyiv before 2022, with about 70,000 visitors in 2019. It has been closed to tourists since the invasion began, and no reopening date was found. Verify with dazv.gov.ua rather than relying on tour sellers.
| Distance | About 100 km north of central Kyiv |
|---|---|
| Travel time | Not accessible (about 2 hours by road before 2022) |
| Getting there | Not accessible: Tourist visits have not been offered since 24 February 2022; no licensed Ukrainian operator is running trips |
| Cost | Not available |
| Difficulty | not available |
| Address | Chornobyl town and Pripyat, Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Kyiv Oblast |
How to get there
- No tours currently run; check the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management (dazv.gov.ua) for any reopening
- Before 2022: licensed operators with Kyiv hotel pick-up (about 1,400 UAH / $31)
Location
Chornobyl town and Pripyat, Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Kyiv Oblast
51.2763, 30.2219 View on map
Highlights
- Pripyat ghost town (pre-war)
- Reactor 4 and the New Safe Confinement
- Duga radar
Tips for visiting
- Treat unofficial offers as unsafe; they are not licensed
- Mines and unexploded ordnance remain
- Check dazv.gov.ua for status
- Wartime note: all of Ukraine is under Level 4 / Do Not Travel advice from the US State Department (28 August 2026) and similar UK, Canadian and Australian advice; alerts can halt trains and coaches, and the Kyiv curfew is 01:00-05:00. Check the Air Alert app before departure.
Accessibility
Not accessible.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Chernobyl from Kyiv in 2026?
No licensed tours were found running as of October 2026; the zone has been closed to tourists since February 2022.