Kyiv–Bucharest Train and Buses: Land Route Options into Ukraine

Ukraine's borders are open to foreign travellers despite martial law, but with Ukrainian airspace closed, anyone coming from Romania must arrive overland — by train, bus or private car. Because the rail link between the two countries is less developed than Ukraine's connections with other neighbouring states, the route needs to be planned in advance and travellers should carry a complete set of documents to speed up the border check.

Key facts

• Entry from Romania is possible only by land: train, bus or your own car
• A direct Kyiv–Bucharest train is listed as starting on 10 October 2025
• Train tickets between Moldova and Ukraine cost 50–80 euros
• Bus fares from Suceava start at 20 hryvnias
• Chisinau–Kyiv tickets go on sale at 08:00, 20 days before departure

How can you travel from Romania to Ukraine?

Three options are described: the train, the bus and driving your own vehicle. Air travel is not available, so every traveller reaches Ukraine at a land border.

What is the Kyiv–Bucharest train timetable?

The direct service runs on the route Kyiv – Vinnytsia – Zhmerynka – Mohyliv-Podilskyi – Velchynets – Ungheni – Iasi – Bucharest.

Departure from Kyiv is scheduled for 06:30, with arrival in Bucharest at 06:47 the following day. The return journey leaves Bucharest at 19:10 and reaches Kyiv at 19:41 the next day.

Is there a train route through Moldova?

Yes, in two stages. First, get from Romania to Moldova on train 106 Bucharest–Chisinau (departs 19:12, arrives 08:24) or train 824 Iasi-Socola–Ungheni (departs 17:40, arrives 18:56). Fares for this leg are given as 40–45 euros.

Then take train 351 Chisinau – Ungheni – Kyiv, which leaves Chisinau at 17:05, stops at Ungheni at 19:58 and arrives in Kyiv at 12:15. The trip takes about 18 hours and costs 50–80 euros. The service does not run daily: it travels from Chisinau to Kyiv on even dates and from Kyiv to Chisinau on odd dates.

Tickets for the Chisinau–Kyiv train are sold online on Ukrzaliznytsia's official website, in its mobile app and through its official chatbots. Sales open at 08:00, 20 days before departure, while returned tickets reappear online 1–2 days before the train leaves.

What about buses?

Chernivtsi has a relatively close bus connection with Romanian border towns. The most popular services run from Suceava, with several buses per day, and fares start at 20 hryvnias.

What documents are needed?

Travellers are advised to have a full package of documents ready to cross the border quickly. The information available here does not list which documents are required.

What this means for travellers

With no flights, anyone travelling from Romania to Ukraine must choose a land route before booking anything. Those taking the Chisinau–Kyiv train should note its alternate-day schedule and the 20-day advance sales window, and check which documents are required before setting out.

The Kyiv–Bucharest service is the only direct rail link listed between the two capitals, and the available text does not give fares for it.