This page explains how to travel by train from Kyiv - Kyiv in Ukrainian, Kyiv in English or Russian - or Lviv to other European cities and how to buy tickets the cheapest way.  Click here to buy tickets starting in another city.  Information current for 2024.

Trains are running as shown below.  For obvious reasons travel to Ukraine is not generally advised, www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ukraine.  But if you go, take the train!

Before you buy your tickets

Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets.  It answers all the usual questions, "Do I need to book in advance or can I buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or a €35 point-to-point ticket?".  How far ahead can you buy train tickets?

European train travel FAQ

Train travel within Ukraine

• Comfortable trains link most major towns & cities within Ukraine, see the Train Travel in Ukraine section.

• Fares are cheap by western standards:  Kyiv to Lviv costs about 590 UAH in 1st class by IC+ train - about €18.

• You can book Ukrainian trains at the Ukrainian Railways website booking.uz.gov.ua/en.

• Information about Kyiv main station.

Trains between Kyiv & Lviv

• Intercity+  The best trains between Kyiv & Lviv are the two daily IC+ Intercity trains (trains 705, 706, 715, 716).  These are air-conditioned electric trains built by Hyundai like the one shown below.  Fare around 590 UAH in 1st class, about €18.

• Intercity:  Next best is the daily IC Intercity train 749, this uses modernised classic sleeper cars in daytime mode, 4 people to a compartment in 1st class, 6 people in 2nd class.

• Sleeper trains:  There are various time-effective sleeper trains, some heading off to other destinations, with 2-berth (lux), 4-berth (kupé) and open-plan bunks (platskartny).  However, the best sleeper is train 91 (Kyiv-Lviv) & 92 (Lviv-Kyiv) which has 2-berth & 4-berth only, and runs only between Kyiv & Lviv.

• There are a motley assortment of other trains on their way to or from somewhere else, I'd ignore these unless other trains are fully-booked.

• Buy tickets at the Ukrainian Railways website booking.uz.gov.ua/en.

The 06:50 IC+ train from Kyiv to Lviv.		1st class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

2nd class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.		Cafe counter. Larger photo. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.com.

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Kyiv or Lviv to London

• See the UK to Ukraine page, this covers travel in both directions.  Service still running in spite of the war.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Paris

These routes are still running in spite of the war.

Option 1, Kyiv or Lviv to Paris using the Kyiv-Vienna & Vienna-Paris sleepers - easy to book, often sells out

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna by daily direct sleeping-car as shown below.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Paris by Nightjet sleeper train 3 times a week, as shown here .

• You leave Kyiv at lunchtime on day 1, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est in the morning of day 3.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Paris using the Kyiv-Budapest & Vienna-Paris sleepers - easy to book, good availability

Option 3, Kyiv to Paris using the Kyiv-Warsaw sleeper - can be hard to book

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv to Warsaw Centralna overnight by Kyiv Express sleeper train as shown here.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 13:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:06.

  See timetable & travel tips for Warsaw-Berlin trains here.

  Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 3, travel from Berlin to Paris, leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:54, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 19:55.

  This is a convenient direct ICE3 train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  In 1st class, a steward takes food & drink orders and serves you at your seat.

  Or if you prefer, there are a couple of earlier departures with a change of train:

  Leave Berlin Hbf 07:57, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 16:52.

  Leave Berlin Hbf 08:29, change at Karlsruhe, arriving Paris Gare de l'Est 18:15.

  Fares start at €59.90 in 2nd class or €89.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Buy a Berlin-Paris ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  If you're not planning to take the direct train, change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes to get a more robust connection.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print tickets at any time.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Brussels

These routes are still running in spite of the war.

Option 1, Kyiv or Lviv to Brussels using the Kyiv-Vienna & Vienna-Brussels sleepers - easy to book, often sells out

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna by daily direct sleeping-car as shown below.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Brussels by Nightjet sleeper train 3 times a week, as shown here.

• You leave Kyiv at lunchtime on day 1, arriving Vienna Hbf late morning day 2.  Have some free time in Vienna.  Leave Vienna Hbf in the evening of day 2, arriving Brussels Midi in the morning of day 3.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Brussels using the Kyiv-Budapest & Vienna-Brussels sleepers - easy to book, good availability

Option 3, Kyiv to Brussels using the Kyiv-Warsaw sleeper - can be hard to book

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv to Warsaw Centralna overnight by Kyiv Express sleeper train as shown here.  Book this as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf by EuroCity, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 13:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:06.

  This comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train has a restaurant car.  More about Warsaw-Berlin trains.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book Warsaw to Berlin at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 3, travel from Berlin to Brussels, for example leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:57, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Brussels Midi 13:35.

  By all means have a leisurely breakfast and book the later 08:57 or 10:57 departures.  You travel on superb ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.  Exact times may vary.

  Fares start at €46.99 in 2nd class or €79.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Check times and book from Berlin to Brussels at int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  You leave Kyiv in the evening of day 1 and arrive Brussels Midi at lunchtime on day 3.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Amsterdam

These routes are still running in spite of the war.

Option 1, Kyiv or Lviv to Amsterdam using the Kyiv-Vienna & Vienna-Amsterdam sleepers - easy to book, often sells out

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna by daily direct sleeping-car as shown below.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Amsterdam by Nightjet sleeper train every day, as shown here.

• You leave Kyiv at lunchtime on day 1, arriving Vienna Hbf late morning day 2.  Have some free time in Vienna.  Leave Vienna Hbf in the evening of day 2, arriving Amsterdam Centraal in the morning of day 3.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Amsterdam using the Kyiv-Budapest & Vienna-Amsterdam sleepers - easy to book, good availability

Option 3, Kyiv to Amsterdam using the Kyiv-Warsaw sleeper - can be difficult to book

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv to Warsaw Centralna overnight by Kyiv Express sleeper train as shown here.  Book as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 13:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:06.

  This comfortable EuroCity train has a restaurant car serving meals, beer & wine.  See timetable & tips for Warsaw-Berlin trains.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book Warsaw to Berlin at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Berlin.  Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station.  If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com.  Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.

• Day 3, travel from Berlin to Amsterdam by InterCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 06:06, arriving Amsterdam Centraal 11:59.

  Or leave Berlin Hbf at 08:06 arriving Amsterdam Centraal 13:59.

  Or book a later train, they leave every 2 hours, see the timetable here.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

  You leave Kyiv in the evening of day 1 and arrive Amsterdam Centraal at lunchtime on day 3.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Luxembourg

These routes are still running in spite of the war.

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna by daily direct sleeping-car as shown below.

• Step 2, travel from Vienna to Luxembourg using the Vienna-Cologne Nightjet sleeper train 3 times a week, as shown here.

• You leave Kyiv at lunchtime on day 1, arriving Vienna Hbf late morning day 2.  Have some free time in Vienna.  Leave Vienna Hbf in the evening of day 2, arriving Luxembourg late morning on day 3.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Zurich & Switzerland

This route is still running in spite of the war.

Option 1, Kyiv or Lviv to Switzerland using the Kyiv/Lviv-Vienna sleeping-cars - easy to book, but often sells out

• Step 1, take the direct sleeping-car from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna as shown here.  Book as shown.

• Step 2, take the 13:28 railjet train from Vienna to Zurich via the scenic Arlberg Pass, arriving in the evening.

  Fares start at €29.90 in 2nd class or €39.90 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices).  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Switzerland using the Kyiv-Budapest sleeper - easy to book, good availability

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Kyiv or Lviv to Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome & Italy

This route is still running in spite of the war.

• Step 1, take the direct sleeping-car from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna as shown here.  Book this as shown.

• Step 2, take the 12:24 railjet train to Venice arriving 20:04 as shown here.  You leave Kyiv or Lviv on day 1 and arrive in Venice on day 2.

  Or spend the day in Vienna and take the Nightjet sleeper train to Venice, Milan, Florence or Rome as shown here.  You leave Kyiv or Lviv on day 1, and arrive Milan, Florence or Rome on day 3.

  Book the Vienna-Italy train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, more fiddly, same prices).

A Comfortline sleeping-car on a Nightjet train at Vienna Hbf.  More about Nightjets

Deluxe sleeper.  Each compartment can be used as a 1, 2 or 3-bed room.  Larger photo.  Video of deluxe room		Same deluxe sleeper in evening/morning mode with beds folded away, seats folded out.  Larger photo.		Deluxe rooms have a compact shower & toilet, towels & hair/body wash provided.  Larger photo.		Standard sleeper set up as 2-berth, washstand open.  It can be used as a 1, 2 or 3 berth.  Larger photo.

6-berth couchettes.		4-berth couchettes.		Couchette car on the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Barcelona & Spain

• Day 1, take the direct sleeping-car from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna overnight as shown here.  Book this as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Paris overnight, either by 3 times a week sleeper, or sleeper to Zurich then TGV to Paris, as shown here.

• Day 4, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning.

  For Madrid:  AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.

  For Granada:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.

  For Malaga:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.

  For Cordoba & Seville:  Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.

  For Valencia & Alicante:  Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.

  For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.

  Book Spanish trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.  Booking opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Mt Canigou & the Pyrenees.  One of the highest peaks in the mighty Pyrenees, the 2,784m (9,137 feet) high Mt Canigou dominates the skyline on the right all the way from Perpignan to Girona, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canigou.

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Kyiv to Berlin

Option 1, using the Kyiv-Warsaw sleeper train - still running in spite of the war, can be difficult to book

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv to Warsaw Centralna by Kyiv Express sleeper train booked as shown here.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw Centralna to Berlin Hbf by EuroCity train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 13:00, arriving Berlin Hbf 18:06.

  This comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train has a restaurant car.  More about Warsaw-Berlin trains.

  Fares start at €27.99 in 2nd class or €39.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Warsaw to Berlin at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg & Germany

Option 1, via Vienna - easy to book, often sells out

• Step 1, take the direct sleeping-car from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna as shown above.  Book this as shown. 

• Step 2, allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna.  Then book a connection from Vienna to Munich, Frankfurt or anywhere in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.  You leave Kyiv or Lviv on day 1, arrive in Germany on day 2.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Germany using the Kyiv-Budapest sleeper - easy to book, good availability

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Kyiv or Lviv to Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm & Scandinavia

Option 1, Kyiv to Kyiv to Copenhagen & Scandinavia using the Kyiv-Warsaw sleeper - still running in spite of the war

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv to Warsaw Centralna overnight by Kyiv Express sleeper train as shown here, book this as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Warsaw Centralna to Hamburg Hbf, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 13:00 by EuroCity train, change at Berlin Hbf onto a comfortable ICE train arriving Hamburg Hbf 20:23.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car serving meals, snacks, beer & wine.  See timetable & tips for Warsaw-Berlin trains.  The ICE has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Fares start at €37.99 in 2nd class or €69.99 in 1st class.  Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.

  Book from Warsaw to Hamburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.

• Stay overnight in Hamburg.  The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews.  Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski.  If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.

• Day 3 morning, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen at 13:38.

  If you're only going as far as Copenhagen (or heading for Oslo by ferry), book Hamburg to Copenhagen from €27.99 2nd class or €47.99 in 1st at int.bahn.de.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

• Day 3 afternoon, travel from Copenhagen to Norway or Sweden.

  For Stockholm, travel onwards from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000 train.  If you take the 08:50 from Hamburg you'll make the 14:19 X2000 from Copenhagen arriving Stockholm Central at 19:37 (times may vary, check online).  Book Hamburg to Stockholm as one transaction at int.bahn.de, looking for the 08:50 departure with 1 change.  An additional change at Malmö Central may be necessary at times.

  For Malmö or Gothenburg, travel from Copenhagen to Malmö or Gothenburg by Öresund train, these run from Copenhagen to Malmö Central several times each hour taking 39 minutes, and once an hour to Gothenburg taking 3h50.  Book from Hamburg to Malmö or Gothenburg as one transaction at int.bahn.de.  Gothenburg is listed as Göteborg Central.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest & Vienna

Option 1, Budapest to Lviv & Kyiv on the Transcarpathia - new!

• Starting 15 December 2024, a direct Ukrainian sleeper train links Kyiv & Lviv with Budapest every day.

  The Transcarpathia leaves Kyiv at 10:16 & Lviv at 17:01, arriving Budapest Keleti 06:00 next day.

  The train consists of up to 8 Ukrainian sleeping-cars, with one car of 1st class 2-berth compartments (spalny vagon), and up to 7 cars of 2nd class 4-berth compartments (kupé). 

  Bedding is provided, there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor.  The sleeper attendants can provide snacks and delicious Ukrainian tea, but bring your own food as there's no catering car.  The train is jacked up at Chop on the Ukrainian border to have its bogies changed from Ukrainian gauge (5') to standard gauge (4' 8½").

  You can check the consist and car numbers for this train using www.vagonweb.cz.  Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for Transcarpathia.

• Fares start at:

  €63.10 with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper

  €76.10 with a bed in a 2-berth 1st class sleeper.

  These are limited-availability fares book online in advance.

• Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens 3 months ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone in the MAV app.

  Tip:  You should select 2-bed compartment (double) or sleeping-car, 4-bed compartment.  Single and triple options are shown, but result in a ticket without reservation.  If it says x Reservation not included, do not proceed.  Like I said, select double or 4-berth!

• For Vienna, travel from Budapest to Vienna by railjet, leaving Budapest Keleti at 07:40, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:20.

  The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Above left, the Transcarpathia on its first day of operation.  Above right, a 1st class 2-bed sleeper.  Courtesy of Ukrainian Railways Укрзалізниця

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest by sleeper train- still running in spite of the war.

• Two direct sleeping-cars leave Kyiv main station at 13:23 & Lviv at 20:08 every day, arriving Budapest Keleti 08:20 & Vienna Hbf 11:20.

  The sleeping-cars have 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, see the photos below.  At Chop on the border with Slovakia the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5') to European standard gauge (4'8½").

  A Hungarian restaurant car operates between Zahony (on the Ukrainian border just after Chop) and Vienna, treat yourself to a cooked breakfast.

  These direct sleeping-cars are popular and usually leave fully-booked, so book ahead.

• If you're going to Budapest, first try booking at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.

  Booking opens around 90 days ahead.  You print your own ticket or can show it in the MAV app.  Feedback appreciated.

  Booked this way, a bed in a 2 or 3 bed sleeper starts at around €66.

• If you're going to Vienna (or going to Budapest and the MAV website doesn't work for you), contact reliable agency www.polrail.com:

  Kyiv to Budapest costs around €103 in a 3-berth sleeper €114 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €184 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Kyiv to Vienna costs around €138 in a 3-berth sleeper €149 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €241 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Lviv to Budapest costs around €87 in a 3-berth sleeper €95 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €152 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Lviv to Vienna costs around €120 in a 3-berth sleeper €129 in a 2-berth sleeper, or €207 in a single-berth sleeper.

  Don't leave it to the last minute, these sleeping-cars currently usually leave fully-booked.

• Or buy at the station in Ukraine:  Kyiv to Vienna costs around €80.50 in a 3-berth, €90.50 on a 2-berth or €152 in a single-berth.  Lviv to Vienna €62.10 in a 3-berth, €70.10 in a 2-berth or 119.70 in a single-berth.  However, this sleeper does get full on occasion.

• Change in Vienna for Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck.  I'd allow at least an hour between trains at Vienna Hbf.  Book the Austrian domestic train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €, a bit more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.

The Kyiv-Vienna sleeping-car about to leave Kyiv Pass.  Photos courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.

The sleeper is jacked up to have its bogies changed at Chop on the Ukrainian border.  Photo Helmut Uttenthaler.

The Vienna-Kyiv sleeper at Vienna Hbf. Courtesy of Helmut Uttenthaler.		The sleeper corridor.  Courtesy Helmut Uttenthaler.		1, 2 or 3 bed sleeper compartment.

Option 3, Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest via Mukachevo.

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Mukachevo (often spelt Mukacheve) on one of these two trains:

  Train 29 leaves Kyiv at 19:26 or Lviv at 02:25, arriving Mukachevo 06:14.

  Train 17 leaves Kyiv at 21:33 or Lviv at 04:29, arriving Mukachevo 08:18.

  Train 81 has kupé and platskartny.  Train 29 has kupé.

  Times may vary so check online, always allow at least an hour between trains at Mukachevo. 

  The fare from Kyiv to Mukachevo in a 2nd class kupé 4-berth is around 670 UAH, about €17, but it varies.

  Buy tickets at the Ukrainian Railways website booking.uz.gov.ua/en or buy at the station.

• Day 2, travel from Mukachevo to Budapest by Hungarian InterCity train Latorca, leaving Mukachevo at 10:30, arriving Budapest Nyugati 16:39.

  Just one through carriage runs direct from Mukachevo to Budapest, a Hungarian air-conditioned 2nd class car with open-plan seats, power sockets for laptops & mobiles. 

  Fares start at €19.80.

  Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.

  Booking opens 60 days ahead.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Prague & Bratislava

Option 1, Kyiv & Lviv to Prague by Regiojet sleeper train - running in spite of the war, easily bookable online, plenty of availability

• Private open-access train operator Regiojet offers a comfortable daily train service from Kyiv & Lviv to Prague:

  Step 1, leave Kyiv daily at 12:06 & Lviv at 19:25 by seats train, arriving Przemysl 20:20.

  Step 2, leave Przemysl at 22:10 by Regiojet sleeper train, arriving Prague Hlavni 06:39.

  Regiojet sell this combo as a fully-integrated service, easy to book online with a through ticket, there are usually plenty of places available.

  The Regiojet sleeper train has air-conditioned 4-berth couchette compartments which can be booked as private compartments for sole occupancy, or you can book individual couchettes in shared compartments at cheap prices.  Bedding & bottled water is provided, a light breakfast with tea or coffee is included and there's free WiFi.  The train also has ordinary seats, but a seat is a false economy for an overnight journey.

• Fares start at €58 with a berth in a shared compartment, or €119.90 for sole occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people.

• Book at www.regiojet.com.

  Booking only opens a month or two ahead, so don't be impatient.  You print your ticket or show it on your phone.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Prague using the Kyiv-Vienna sleeper - running in spite of the war, often fully-booked

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Vienna by daily direct sleeping-car as shown above.  Book as shown.

• Day 2, travel from Vienna to Prague by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 15:10, arriving Prague Hlavni 19:15.

  Fares start at €19.90, book at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in €, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in €).

Option 3, Kyiv or Lviv to Prague using the Kyiv-Budapest sleeper - running in spite of the war, easy to book, good availability.

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest by sleeper train Transcarpathia as shown below.

• Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bratislava or Prague by EuroCity, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 07:30, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 09:55 & Prague Hlavni 14:15.

  The EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.

  Book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at.

Option 4, Kyiv or Lviv to Prague via Krakow

• You could consider going from Kyiv or Lviv to Krakow by daytime train as shown here.

• Stay overnight in Krakow.  Hotels next to the station with great reviews include the PURO Hotel or for something inexpensive, the Polonia Hotel.  For a longer stay, see suggested hotels in the old town.

• Travel from Krakow to Prague by daytime train or spend a day there and take the sleeper, see the Krakow-Prague page for details.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest as shown above. 

• Step 2, see here for trains from Budapest to Ljubljana, Zagreb, Belgrade.

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Kyiv or Lviv to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania

Option 1, Kyiv or Lviv to Romania via Budapest - a long way round, but a simple option

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Budapest by direct sleeping-car as shown above.  Book as shown.

• Step 2, a same-day connection is possible with an air-conditioned Intercity train from Budapest to Brasov, leaving Budapest Keleti at 09:10 via Arad, Simeria, Sibiu arriving Brasov at 22:42.  There's also an afternoon Intercity train to Timisoara.

  Book either of these trains from €26.30 at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu (see my advice for using it).

  Alternatively, spend the day in Budapest and take the overnight sleeper train Ister to Brasov & Bucharest as shown here.

Option 2, Kyiv to Romania via Moldova - more direct, with a day free in Moldova between trains

• Step 1, travel from Kyiv to Chişinău by overnight sleeper train as shown below.

• Spend a day in Chişinău.

• Step 2, travel from Chişinău to Bucharest by overnight sleeper train Prietenia, leaving Chişinău at 17:05, calling at Ungheni (Moldovan frontier) from 19:58 until 21:35 and arriving at Bucharest Gara de Nord at 06:35 next morning.  More about the Chişinău-Bucharest train.

  The Prietenia has 4-berth 2nd class sleepers and 1st class 2-berth sleepers.

  The Prietenia can be booked at the Moldovan Railways website on.railway.md:10000/?lang=en.  This can book the train in either direction with print-your-own tickets, it accepts foreign traveller passport numbers, and it has now been confirmed by several travellers that it works fine with international Visa & MasterCard credit cards.

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Kyiv & Lviv to Warsaw

Option 1, Kyiv to Warsaw by Kyiv Express sleeper train - still running in spite of the war

• A comfortable direct sleeper train called the Kyiv Express links Kyiv and Warsaw every night, leaving Kyiv main station (also known as Kyiv Pass) at 20:21, arriving Warsaw Wschodnia at 10:11 next morning.

  The train has comfortable Ukrainian 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers with washbasin.  Bring your own picnic and beer or wine as there's no catering car.  The train is jacked up at the border to have its bogies changed from Russian 5' gauge to standard gauge (4' 8.5"), an interesting experience.

  Don't book last minute, this train currently usually leaves fully-booked.

• The fare is around €50 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper.

• You can (in theory) book this train online with Ukrainian Railways at booking.uz.gov.ua/en.

  Booking opens 20 days before departure, if you look further ahead than this, no train will appear.  It gets booked up fast.  It only sells berths in 3-berth compartments, so if you want sole occupancy (or dual occupancy for two of you) then you will have to book all 3 berths in a compartment.  You print your own ticket.

  Important tip:  You may come up against the need for a 'trusted profile' to complete the booking.  This is a Ukrainian digital signature which Ukrainians have and you probably won't have.  For non-Ukrainians this effectively renders the train unbookable online, so either book in person (but this train can get fully-booked well in advance) or use RegioJet's Kyiv-Lviv-Krakow daytime service which is easily bookable online without a trusted profile.

A Ukrainian sleeping-car on the Kyiv Express at Warsaw Centralna.  Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper.		Washbasin.		Kyiv Express.

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Warsaw by daytime trains with overnight stop in Krakow

• Day 1, travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Krakow with one easy change at Przemysl, as shown below.

  If you use RegioJet's service it can easily be  booked online without the need for a Ukrainian trusted profile/digital signature.

• Stay overnight in Krakow.  Hotels next to the station with great reviews include the PURO Hotel or for something inexpensive, the Polonia Hotel.  For a longer stay, see suggested hotels in the old town.

• Day 2, take any train you like from Krakow to Warsaw in as little as 2h19 for around €20, booked at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl with print-your-own tickets.

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Kyiv & Lviv to Krakow

Option 2, Kyiv or Lviv to Krakow by daytime trains - still running in spite of the war, good availability, more effort to book

• You can travel from Kyiv or Lviv to Przemysl by Ukrainian train, and change onto a Polish Intercity train to Krakow:

  Leave Kyiv 21:09 or Lviv 04:13 on train 51, change in Przemysl (arrive 06:29, depart 08:15) and arrive Krakow Glowny 10:49.

  Leave Kyiv 22:52 or Lviv 08:51 on train 89, change in Przemysl (arrive 11:12, depart 12:53) and arrive Krakow Glowny 15:23.

  Leave Lviv 13:03 on train 32, change in Przemysl (arrive 15:17, depart 17:11) and arrive Krakow Glowny 19:47.

  Leave Kyiv 11:17 or Lviv 18:30 on train 715, change in Przemysl (arrive 19:50, depart 21:22) and arrive Krakow Glowny 23:55.

  Train 715 is a comfortable modern Ukrainian Intercity (IC) train with 1st & 2nd class.  Other Lviv-Przemysl trains are Ukrainian sleeper trains, with platskartny, kupé 4-berth and (usually) 2-berth spalny vagon.

  Przemysl-Krakow trains are comfortable air-conditioned Polish trains.  Times may vary.

  Check times for the Ukrainian train at www.uz.gov.ua/en/passengers/timetable.

  Check times for Polish trains at the Polish Railways website www.intercity.pl.

• Kyiv to Przemysl costs around €26.  Lviv to Przemysl costs around €9.  Przemysl to Krakow costs around €12.

• You can order Kyiv or Lviv to Krakow tickets through highly-recommended Polish train booking agency www.polrail.com.  They charge a small fee, and either allow ticket pick up in Krakow or can send to any country worldwide.

  It's possible to book the Kyiv or Lviv to Przemysl train at Ukrainian Railways booking.uz.gov.ua/en - you may need a VPN set to a Ukrainian IP address  You can then book the Przemysl to Krakow train at Polish Railways www.intercity.pl.

Intercity train, Przemysl-Lviv-Kyiv.		1st class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com.

2nd class. Larger photo. Courtesy of DiscoverByRail.		Cafe counter. Larger photo. Courtesy DiscoverByRail.

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Kyiv to Chişinău

• A sleeper train links Kyiv with Chişinău every second day.

  The train leaves Kyiv at 17:05 on odd dates (1st, 3rd, 5th...) arriving at Chişinău at 11:30 next day.

  Returning, the train leaves Chişinău at 17:34 on even dates (2nd, 4th, 6th...) arriving Kyiv at 12:05 next day.

  The train has kupé (4-berth compartments) and platskartny (open-plan bunks).

• A sleeper train links Lviv with Chişinău every second day - new from December 2024!

  The train leaves Lviv at 15:00, arriving Chişinău at 11:30 next day.

  The train has kupé (4-berth compartments).  Check days of running at booking.uz.gov.ua/en.

• To book use booking.uz.gov.ua/en.  Chişinău is listed as Chisinau.

Kyiv to Moscow

• These trains were suspended due to Covid-19, and are now cancelled - and the lines blown up - due to the war in Ukraine

Train 6 from Kyiv to Moscow, boarding at Kyiv station.		The 2-berth spalny vagon on train 6 even have an LCD TV.  Photos courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com

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