Where is Kiev? Well it’s not in Russia as many believe. It’s the the capital city of Ukraine, the second largest country in Europe (after Russia) and is situated in the northern part of the country, around 55 miles from the border with Belarus.
The Dnipro river runs south towards the Black Sea, dividing the city in two. The Right Bank, is the oldest part of the city and is home to most government offices, major hotels, and tourist attractions. The Left Bank is mainly residential. The Right and Left Banks are confusingly named from the perspective of someone looking south, meaning that the Right Bank is west of the Dnipro and the Left Bank in on the eastern side.
The city has two airports, Boryspil (KBP) and Kyiv International Airport (IEV). Most international flights arrive at Boryspil, around 19 miles east of the city centre. Kyiv International Airport (Zhulyany) is smaller but nearer to the centre.
Flight times from a selection of cities are shown in the table below:
| City | Airport | Airline | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | KBP | KLM | 2 hours 45 minutes |
| Beijing | KBP | Aerosvit | 9 hours 25 minutes |
| Berlin (Tegel) | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 2 hours |
| Brussels | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 2 hours 55 minutes |
| Dubai | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 5 hours 20 minutes |
| Istanbul | KBP | Aerosvit | 2 hours 5 minutes |
| Katowice | IEV | Wizz Air | 1 hour 35 minutes |
| London (Gatwick) | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| London (Heathrow) | KBP | British Airways | 3 hours 15 minutes |
| London (Luton) | IEV | Wizz Air | 3 hours 10 minutes |
| Milan (Bergamo) | IEV | Wizz Air | 2 hours 35 minutes |
| Munich | KBP | Lufthansa | 2 hours 20 minutes |
| New York (JFK) | KBP | Aerosvit | 9 hours 50 minutes |
| Paris (Charles de Gaulle) | KBP | Air France | 3 hours 5 minutes |
| Prague | KBP | Aerosvit | 2 hours |
| Riga | KBP | Air Baltic | 1 hour 50 minutes |
| Rome (Fiumicino) | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 3 hours |
| Tallinn | KBP | Estonian Air | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Vienna | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 1 hour 55 minutes |
| Warsaw | KBP | Aerosvit | 1 hour 25 minutes |
| Zurich | KBP | Ukraine International Airlines | 2 hours 35 minutes |
There are numerous bus stations in Kiev and various companies offering services to international destinations.
Ecolines operates from the Central Bus Station on Moskovska Square (near Demiivska Metro Station) and offers routes throughout Europe. Passengers should note that northerly routes to Moscow and destinations in Latvia and Estonia (Riga, Tallinn etc.) pass through Belarus. Most travellers, with the exception of those holding a CIS passport, will need to obtain a transit visa to pass through Belarus. They are expensive and a pain to apply for.
Eurolines also offers regular bus services from many European cities to Kiev and other destinations in Ukraine.