Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, built on the hills of the Dnipro River's right bank. Its skyline of gold-domed churches, the UNESCO-listed St Sophia Cathedral and Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, the cobbled Andriyivskyy Descent and the riverside Podil district make it one of Eastern Europe's most historic capitals. Kyiv is a city at war: air-raid alerts, damage and security restrictions shape every visit, and all travel must be planned around current official advice.
- Public
- Kyiv has a three-line metro (46 stations), plus buses, trolleybuses, trams, a funicular and the Kyiv City Express ring train; every single ride costs a flat 30 UAH (about $0.67) from 15 July 2026, paid by bank card, QR ticket in the Kyiv Digital app, or a transport card. During air-raid alerts surface transport stops or slows and the metro runs as a shelter
- Taxi
- Uklon, Bolt and Uber are the normal way to get a car; fares are app-quoted and surge during alerts, rain and rush hour. Hail only from the app - street taxis are not recommended. A short central ride is typically 100-200 UAH ($2-4)
- Rental
- Not recommended: martial-law checkpoints, fuel shortages, damaged roads, curfew and alert-time stops make self-driving impractical for visitors; a car with local driver is the practical alternative for day trips
- Walking
- The central districts (Khreshchatyk, Podil, Pechersk, Andriivskyi Descent) are compact and walkable, with steep hills between the upper town and Podil; walk to the nearest shelter or metro station when an alert sounds
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5
- Taxi
- 4/5
- Rental
- 1/5
- Walking
- 4/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Uklon, Bolt and Uber operate in Kyiv; central rides 100-250 UAH ($2-6), surge during alerts. Order in the app, confirm the plate, and pay in-app or by card.
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Kyiv is reached overland, because Boryspil (KBP) and Zhuliany (IEV) airports have had no commercial flights since 24 February 2022; Ukrainian airspace remained closed to civil aviation on 21 October 2026 (UK FCDO page updated 2 October 2026). The usual route is the Ukrzaliznytsia train from Przemyśl in Poland (about 9-10 hours) or a coach/train via Chop, Lviv or Chisinau. Inside the city, the metro is the backbone, backed by buses, trams, trolleybuses, the Kyiv Funicular, the Kyiv City Express ring train and ride-hailing apps. During air-raid alerts, metro stations act as shelters and surface transport is interrupted. The US State Department (Level 4, Do Not Travel, 28 August 2026), UK FCDO, Canada and Australia all advise against travel to Ukraine; read the Safety guide before planning any journey.
Airports
Boryspil International Airport
Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Install Kyiv Digital (Київ Цифровий) before arrival: it sells QR tickets for the metro, buses, trams and trolleybuses (30 UAH / $0.67 per ride; 60 UAH / $1.33 for a 90-minute transfer ticket)
Install the Air Alert (Повітряна тривога) app and keep sound on; when an alert sounds, surface trams and buses stop at the next stop and passengers are asked to leave for a shelter
The metro opens all 46 stations as shelters during alerts, including at night; deep stations such as Arsenalna, Zoloti Vorota, Teatralna and Universytet are the most protective
Ticketless riding carries a fine of 600 UAH (about $13); validate or pay by card at the turnstile or on board
Martial-law curfew in Kyiv is 01:00-05:00 (shortened from 00:00-05:00 on 10 September 2026); public transport hours were extended by one hour. Do not plan late-night journeys - taxis are checked at checkpoints
Carry the original passport at all times: patrols and checkpoints on roads and at rail stations ask for documents
For rail travel use the Ukrzaliznytsia app or booking.uz.gov.ua; buy international tickets well in advance because alert delays and demand are high
Commercial flights do not operate: Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civil aviation since 24 February 2022 and no restart date was announced as of 21 October 2026. Arrival is by train or coach from Poland (or Moldova/Romania)