Is It Safe to Travel to Kyiv Right Now?
Real travel conditions and safety tips for visiting Kyiv.
Since 2022, Ukraine has been living through a full-scale war, and Ukrainians continue to defend their country against Russia’s invasion. Missiles and drones regularly target Ukrainian cities, so many visitors naturally ask: “Is it safe to travel to Kyiv?”
Despite the ongoing danger, Kyiv continues to welcome visitors from around the world. They come to see a city that continues to live, adapt, and evolve despite the war; attend cultural events; support local businesses; and experience life in Kyiv today.
To reduce risks while in the city, it is important to follow safety rules, stay alert, and understand how to travel to Kyiv as safely as possible.
Useful Tips for Tourists
When traveling to Kyiv, it’s important to pay attention to air raid alerts and follow the recommendations of security services.
The VisitKyiv.com team has prepared practical tips to help reduce risks during your stay in Kyiv.
Install the “Air Raid Alert” app
This useful app instantly notifies you of an air raid threat. It can help you reach the nearest shelter in time, even if you are indoors and cannot hear the sirens on the street.
Observe the curfew
While martial law is in effect throughout Ukraine, Kyiv has a curfew — a period when people are not allowed to stay on the streets or in other public places without a valid reason.
In Kyiv, the curfew currently runs from 12:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., so plan your evening walks and activities to return to your accommodation before the restrictions begin.
However, safety always comes first, so you may move around the city during curfew hours if you need to:
- reach the nearest shelter during an air raid alert;
- get to a “Point of Resilience” if you need help, internet access, electricity, or a warm place to stay;
- get home from the train station if your train was delayed and arrived in Kyiv after midnight.
Plan your travel around air raid alerts
During an air raid alert, public transport in Kyiv usually continues to operate, but delays are possible. Service intervals may increase, and the metro may temporarily stop running between the city’s left and right banks, as well as between above-ground sections of the lines.
Taxi prices can rise significantly during air raid alerts, so it’s best to plan your route and be prepared for your journey to take longer than expected.
Find the nearest shelter in advance
During an air raid alert, missiles can reach the city within minutes, leaving little time to react. That’s why it’s important to know in advance where the nearest metro station or other shelter is located, so you can move there quickly if needed.
Tips for finding shelter in Kyiv
- Choose accommodation with a shelter
When choosing where to stay, prioritize hotels or apartments with an on-site shelter or a nearby underground parking facility. Air attacks can happen at any time, including at night, so it’s important to know where you can quickly reach a safe place.
- Ask locals for help
If you are unsure where to go during an air raid alert, ask hotel staff, café or restaurant employees, shop assistants, or residents. People in the area can usually point you to a safe place nearby and help you find your way.
- Find the nearest metro station
During an air raid alert, all Kyiv Metro stations serve as shelters. If there is no other safe place nearby, a metro station can be a reliable place to stay until the danger has passed.
Pack an emergency bag
When the situation can change in seconds, a backpack with the essentials can help you act calmly and without panic. Pack your documents, money, food, water, a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, and a power bank so you are ready to move to a safe place if needed.
Stay calm and act responsibly
During an air raid alert, stay calm and follow the instructions of staff and security services to reach a shelter quickly and safely.
Do not photograph or share images of strike sites, military equipment, or air defense operations. Maintaining information silence helps protect the city and prevents the enemy from using public posts to adjust future attacks.
Stay informed
When information changes quickly, it is important to follow reliable updates.
For real-time information, we recommend downloading the official city app Kyiv Digital, which brings together the capital’s key services.
You can use it to pay for public transport and parking, as well as receive alerts about air raid warnings, transport changes, and power outages.
The app also supports English
It is also a good idea to stay informed about current developments in Ukraine. For reliable news and updates, we recommend following Ukrainska Pravda and The Kyiv Independent.
What’s life like in Kyiv today?
Despite ongoing air attacks, Kyiv continues with daily life. The city’s museums, theaters, restaurants, and cafés remain open, while concerts, exhibitions, festivals, and charity events continue to take place. Over the years of full-scale war, Ukrainians have learned to adapt to new realities, respond quickly to danger, and return to their daily routines once the alerts are over.
At the same time, Kyiv remains open to tourists from around the world who want to get to know modern Ukraine better. Although risks remain part of everyday life, following safety guidelines, responding promptly to air raid alerts, and paying close attention to official announcements can significantly reduce potential threats during your stay in the city.
