What is the best way to book train tickets in Ukraine?

Question

Their website is only in Ukrainian.

http://www.uz.gov.ua/?lng=uk

I am in the USA. Most sites say that summer season train tickets sell out WAY in advance. I am going from Kiev to Odessa on Jul 31 and Odessa to Kiev on August 4. Additionally, if you could tell me how far Borispyl airport is from the KIEV train station that would be excellent.

Answer 1

The best way is to simply go to Ukraine, and go directly to the train station. You will get an accurate selection of available trains, and the price gets better as the time of departure arrives.

What happens there, very often, is trains will be cancelled or addeded, depending on the demand on a particular day. Some trains you can book in person 30 days in advance, and some only a week in advance. Often, they will tell you "come back 2 hours before the train is scheduled to leave".

And I have found that the price drops greatly 2 hours before departure. Yes, you risk not getting a ticket for when you want, but the price is often 30-60% less (depending on how full or empty the train is).

--- Edit ---

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will buy tickets online for the trains, unless you use a travel agent that has an associate agent in Ukraine. This is because you are required to show your passport to buy tickets.

The trains do not sell out that fast. If you are trying to buy a ticket close to the date you want, you might have to wait a day or two, but you will find that weekday trains are "more empty", and the class of the car you buy will determine how sold out it is. Buy a first class "private car" berth on an overnight train, and you will find a ticket much quicker.

I have travelled to Crimea at all seasons, and have never bought a ticket more than a few days in advance. You can always take the bus, or simply fly to Odessa (so you can book in advance). It will cost you about $200 to book a flight to there in the US, but considering the train will cost you $120-140 round trip...

Boryspil is 30 minutes by bus to the train station in Kyiv. Simply go outside the airport, and there will be a bus waiting. They leave about every 20-30 minutes, and go directly to the train station.

Answer 2

i live in Kiev but i really don't know how to book train ticket and you didn't say ure going to book from outside or in Ukraine?
however you said its in Ukrainian so i wanted to help you:
go to this site and then paste this site in "translate a web page" so you can read it in every language you want!!!
this is the site you have to go to: http://www.google.com/translate_t
in this site you have to paste the site you want to translate
this is you site: http://www.uz.gov.ua/index.php?lng=ru
then select your language you want this site be in .
best wishes!!
any help in Kiev I'm here with you dint worry!!
bye

Answer 3

You can find information:
1.About train travel in UKraine.

http://www.ukraine-travel-advisor.com/ukraine-train.html

2.About features of buying ticket in Ukraine and how to do it

http://www.ukraine-travel-advisor.com/ukraine-train-tickets.html
Good luck!