How to Travel from Ukraine to Poland: By Bus, Train or Car

How to Get to Poland by Bus

Taking a bus is another common and affordable way to travel from Ukraine to Poland. Many bus companies offer regular direct routes between Ukrainian and Polish cities. Tickets are easy to buy — either online or at international ticket counters at bus stations.

Advantages:

• Direct routes from even small Ukrainian towns without transfers.

• Affordable: Bus travel is the cheapest option to reach Poland from Ukraine.

• Convenient for those without access to a train station.

Disadvantages:

• Unpredictable border delays: Buses often queue for hours at the border due to thorough passport and luggage checks. Arrival times are approximate.

• Long journey times: For example, Kyiv to Warsaw takes 15+ hours, and Lviv to Lublin takes at least 5. Long sitting hours — especially with children — can be exhausting.

• Risk of missing flights due to unexpected border queues is a common issue.

Ticket Booking Platforms:

Popular companies with easy online booking:

• Flixbus, Infobus, Euroclub – routes like Kyiv–Warsaw, Lviv–Krakow, Kyiv–Krakow, Vinnytsia–Warsaw, and more.

• Busfor, East West Eurolines – wide selection of routes from Ukrainian to Polish cities.

Budget Travel Tip:

Another option is to take a train to Lviv (cheap 3rd-class tickets are available via the UZ website) and transfer to a bus from Lviv to Poland. This can be slightly cheaper overall and more comfortable than sitting for 15+ hours straight.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. How to Travel to Poland by Train from Ukraine

Train travel is one of the most convenient and fastest land options to cross the Ukraine–Poland border. Border checks are done onboard the train, which saves time. However, delays — especially on the Polish side — are common. Always allow extra time for connections.

Main Train Routes:

1. Direct Trains to Warsaw:

• Kyiv–Warsaw (Train No. 67/68): Popular but hard to book. Tickets are sold 20 days before departure via the UZ app or at international ticket offices. Comfort level is moderate. Travel time: ~16 hours via Chelm.
  Tip: Easier to find tickets via Chelm transfer: Kyiv–Chelm–Warsaw.

• Chernivtsi–Lviv–Rava-Ruska–Warsaw: Involves transfer at Rava-Ruska to a Polish SKPL train. Time shifts are possible. Departure from Chernivtsi at 03:02; arrival in Warsaw ~17:18.

2. Direct Trains to Przemyśl (border town in Poland):

• Trains from Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia. Travel time: 10–20 hours.
  Types: Intercity (seats) and night trains (sleepers).
  Example:

  • Kyiv–Przemyśl: 705К (20:14–04:45), 715К (11:01–20:25)

  • Zaporizhzhia–Przemyśl: 032П (20:15–15:18, ~20 hours)

  • Odesa–Przemyśl: 036Ш (14:58–06:30, ~16.5 hours)

  • Lviv–Przemyśl: Intercity – fastest border crossing.

3. Kyiv–Chelm Route:

• Two direct sleeper trains (e.g., 019K and 023K) run via Kovel and Yagodyn. From Chelm to Warsaw takes ~2 hours by Polish train.
  Advantage: Easier ticket availability than direct Kyiv–Warsaw train.

Tips for Booking Tickets:

• Book 20 days in advance when sales open.

• Use the UZ app — enable Apple/Google Pay for faster checkout.

• Add passenger data to your profile beforehand.

• Booking 1–2 tickets has better success than 3–4.

• Tickets are held for 15 minutes before returning to general sale.

• Since 2024, tickets for the Kyiv–Warsaw train can only be purchased via the UZ app with Diia.Signature (for identity verification).

• Refunds are now processed directly in the app, instead of at railway stations.

Final Notes:

• Train is the most efficient way to cross the border.

• Allow buffer time in case of delays or overnight stays near the border.

• Follow schedule updates via the UZ Booking Site or at station ticket offices.

__________________________________________________________________________

3. From Poland to Ukraine by Car / Private Transport or via BlaBlaCar

Traveling from Poland to Ukraine by your own vehicle is convenient — you’re not tied to a fixed schedule and can choose a comfortable route. However, you should consider the need for proper documentation for the vehicle, potential border delays, and familiarize yourself with Polish traffic laws.

If you don’t have your own car, you can use BlaBlaCar — a popular carpooling service that operates in many countries. Just enter the date and route in the app and choose a ride with a driver. The advantages are a lower price and fewer people in the vehicle compared to buses.

Border crossing points between Poland and Ukraine include:

• Yahodyn–Dorohusk

• Ustyluh–Zosin

• Krakivets–Korczowa

• Shehyni–Medyka

• Rava-Ruska–Hrebenne

• Smilnytsia–Krościenko

• Hrushev–Budomierz

• Uhryniv–Dołhobyczów

You can check real-time border queue updates on the official website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

 

Toll Roads

In Poland, road tolls are charged based on the number of kilometers traveled and are paid at designated toll booths (barriers) located along the highways. Upon entering the motorway, you must take a ticket. This ticket must be kept for the entire journey, as it will be used to calculate and pay for the distance traveled. If you lose the ticket, you will be charged the maximum fee according to your vehicle category.

Payment can be made in cash or by bank card. Cash is accepted in PLN, EUR, and USD. For payments in EUR and USD, only banknotes up to €100 or $100 are accepted. Change is given only in PLN. 

Map of toll roads in Poland:

 

---

4. Crossing the Border on Foot

This method may not seem popular at first glance, but statistics show that around 1 million people cross the Ukraine–Poland border on foot each year.

Pedestrian border crossings usually operate at checkpoints such as:

• Uhryniv–Dołhobyczów

• Shehyni–Medyka

• Mostyska–Przemyśl

This option is especially convenient if you're traveling to Lviv first and then taking a direct bus to the border. After passing through customs on foot, you can use public transport on the Polish side to reach your destination.

It’s best to check the current situation with traffic and pedestrian queues at border checkpoints on the official website of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

It’s important to take care of your safety and follow necessary travel regulations. Every traveler must have valid medical travel insurance for crossing the border. If you're traveling with a personal vehicle, vehicle insurance is also required.

Some Ukrainian tour operators offer additional transfer services when booking tours — for example, transfers to Rzeszów included with a tour package, or separate transfer services from Ukrainian cities to Warsaw. For more details on available options and booking conditions, see below.

__________________________________________________________________________

 

What Documents Are Required for Visa-Free Travel to Poland?

When planning a trip to Poland, Ukrainian citizens must ensure they have a valid international passport, available visa-free days, or the Polish mObywatel app with a valid Diia.pl electronic document. The list of required documents may vary depending on the destination country, but in most cases, the standard set includes:

• a valid international passport;

• travel medical insurance;

• proof of sufficient financial means (*some countries may require a bank statement);

• a return ticket (*if the traveler is not using private transport);

• proof of accommodation (*a hotel booking or official invitation).

For travel with a child, the following additional documents are required:

• an individual international passport for each child (*regardless of age. Passports are valid for 4 years for children under 14, and 10 years for those over 16);

• the presence of both parents or a notarized consent form from one or both parents, depending on who is accompanying the child during the trip.

Important: All necessary information for Ukrainian citizens traveling abroad—including required documents, entry rules and conditions, and contact information for embassies and consulates—is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.