An Ukrainian mega toilet? ;)

Mega toilet in UkraineThe description is not needed… ;)

It was of course a joke, but anyway it really exist and it is possible to see it together with many other more serious things at the Water information center of Kiev. (Водно-інформаційний центр).

It is a place where you can learn many interesting things about water and they way we waste it…

Water information center of Kiev

Address: ul. Grushevskogo, 1v (Kreshchatyy park) Kiev
Web site: http://aqua-kiev.info

Train in Ukraine: Stolychnyi ekspres (столичний експрес)

In Ukraine there are also trains which are more similar to our intercities than to a standard elektrichas. These trains are called Stolychnyi ekspres (столичний експрес) and they connect Kyiv with Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk.

They are composed by wagon of first and second class with only sitting places divided in compartment of 6 places (we tried only the first class).

Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Kharkiv

Locomotiv Siemens. Train Kyiv - KharkivLocomotiv Siemens. Train Kyiv – Kharkiv

Locomotiv stolychnyi ekspresLocomotiv stolychnyi ekspres

Train Kyiv - KharkivTrain Kyiv – Kharkiv

Stolychnyi ekspres, waiting at the Kyiv's stationStolychnyi ekspres, waiting at the Kyiv’s station

Wagon of the train Kyiv - KharkivWagon of the train Kyiv – Kharkiv

Stolychnyi ekspres Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Train Kiev - DnipropetrovskTrain Kiev – Dnipropetrovsk

Stolichniy-express to DnipropetrovskStolichniy-express to Dnipropetrovsk

Inside wagons

First class wagons are quite clean and offer a good comfort.

Corridor train Kyiv - DnipropetrovskCorridor train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Corridor first class wagon, stolychnyi ekspresCorridor first class wagon, stolychnyi ekspres

The are equipped with very nice reclining seats and in the middle of the compartment there is also a small table.

Compartment of the train Kyiv - DnipropetrovskCompartment of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

As in the “renewed” wagons, there is a control panel (lights, radio, wc status and AC plug).

The control panel inside the compartmentThe control panel inside the compartment

In each compartment there are 2 monitors where is possible to watch movies in Russian language.

One of the monitors, train Kyiv - DnipropetrovskOne of the monitors, train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Toilets of the train

There are 2 WC for each wagon and, at least in the first class, they look even better that the ones available on the renewed sleeping cars. They look very clean and have also a dispenser of hygienic paper covering for WC.

Toilet of the train Kyiv - DnipropetrovskToilet of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

WC of the train Kyiv - DnipropetrovskWC of the train Kyiv – Dnipropetrovsk

Price of the tickets

First class tickets are quite expensive if compared with the elekrickas’ ones. Anyway it is possible to feel the difference.
The first class during our trip was almost empty.

One way ticket for the route Kyiv – Kharkiv
1 class: 176.17 UAH
2 class: 104.43 UAH

Videos of Ukrainian trains

Train “Zakarpattia” departing from Kiev:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k7Z4mN5Clg

Freight train in Donetsk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhPAFR4myPk

Other kind of Ukrainian trains

Elektrichka (Электричка) or Elektropoezd
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/elektricka

Overnight trains
http://www.ukrlandia.com.ua/treni-ucraini

Train timetable

http://www.uz.gov.ua (site in Russian and Ukrainian)

Ukrainian cities

List of the main Ukrainian cities with their names written in Russian and in Ukrainian.

Russian names

Ukrainian names

Kiev (Киев) Kyiv (Київ)
Sevastopol’ (Севастополь) Sevastopol’ (Севастополь)
Borispol’ (Борисполь) Boryspil’ (Бориспіль)
Cherkassy (Черкассы) Cherkasy (Черкаси)
Chernovtsy (Черновцы) Chernivtsi (Чернівці)
Chernigov (Чернигов) Chernigiv (Чернігів)
Dnepropetrovsk (Днепропетровск) Dnipropetrovsk (Дніпропетровск)
Donetsk (Донецк) Donets’k (Донецьк)
Ivano-Frankovsk
(Ивано-Франковск)
Ivano-Frankivsk
(Ивано-Франківск)
Khar’kov (Харьков) Kharkiv (Харків)
Kherson (Херсон) Kherson (Херсон)
Khmnel’nitskiy (Хмнельницкий) Khmnel’nyts’kyi (Хмнельницький)
Kirovograd (Кировоград) Kirovograd (Кіровоград)
Lugansk (Луганск) Lugans’k (Луганськ)
Lutsk (Луцк) Luts’k (Луцьк)
L’vov (Львов) L’viv (Львів)
Nikolayev (Николаев) Mykolaiv (Миколаїв)
Odessa (Одесса) Odesa (Одеса)
Poltava (Полтава) Poltava (Полтава)
Rovno (Ровно) Rivne (Рівне)
Simferopol’ (Симферополь) Simferopol’ (Сімферополь)
Sumy (Сумы) Sumy (Суми)
Ternopol’ (Тернополь) Ternopil’ (Тернопіль)
Uzhgorod (Ужгород) Uzhgorod (Ужгород)
Vinnitsa (Винница) Vinnytsa (Вінница)
Zaporozh’e (Запорожье) Zaporizhzhia (Запоріжжя)
Zhitomir (Житомир) Zhytomyr (Житомир)

Kiev Borispol, how to reach the Terminal A

The three terminals of Kiev Borispol are not interconnected between each other. So if you come from an international flight and you need to take a national flight, you will have to go out from the terminal B and walk, outside the airport, until the terminal A.

It is not a complex thing, the terminal A is just at few meters from the main terminal (B).

Just outside the terminal B, there is a signboard showing the direction for to reach the other two terminals (A and C).

Signboard showing the direction to reach the Borispol's terminalsSignboard showing the direction to reach the Borispol’s terminals

Turn to the right (as described on the signboard) and follow the white stripes on the ground for to reach the terminal A.

Way to the terminal A of Kiev BorispolWay to the terminal A of Kiev Borispol

Along the way to the terminal A, you can find several sits which are a very good place where to have rest when the weather is good.

From terminal B to terminal A of Borispol airportFrom terminal B to terminal A of Borispol airport

Walking along the white stripes, you will see a large signboard with written “Терминал А”, we are already very close to our destination.

Next to the terminal A of Kyiv BoryspilNext to the terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil

Few steps and we are arrived, the building in front of you is the terminal A.

The terminal A of Kiev BorispolThe terminal A of Kiev Borispol

Video of the “tour” Terminal B to Terminal A

You can see the video guide on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vQ0DC_7QA4

Have a nice flight:)

For further information

Kyiv Boryspil official website:
http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua

Guide to the Terminal B of Kiev Borispol:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/borispol-terminal-b

Guide to the Terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/boryspil-terminal-a

How to reach the Borispol airport:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/polit-boryspol

Kiev Borispol airport, Terminal B

The terminal B at the Kiev Borispol (Boryspil) airport is the terminal reserved to the international arrivals and departures.

Boryspil airport terminal BBoryspil airport terminal B

This is for sure the largest and modernest terminal of Ukraine. From here arrive and depart all the main national and most of all international airlines: Lufthansa, Delta, Airfrance, British airways, Alitalia etc.

Inside the terminal: Public area

Once inside the terminal B, you will find a large waiting room where you can wait for the check-ins checking time the situation of you flight on the monitors.

Inside the terminal BInside the terminal B

The waiting room is often crowded and it is not easy to find a free sit.

At few steps from the entrance you can find a bar, it is not the only one in the building, you can find some other ones before and also after the check-ins.

The bar next to the entrance of the terminal BThe bar next to the entrance of the terminal B

Se ne avete bisogno, potete chiedere informazioni ai vari sportelli delle compagnie aeree che operano su questo aeroporto…

Alitalia and Delta offices at BoryspilAlitalia and Delta’s offices at Boryspil

Or if you prefer you can take advantage of the multilingual information points (Easy Kiosk) available in Borispol.

Information point at Borispol airportInformation point at Borispol airport

Multilingual touch screenMultilingual touch screen

Inside the public area of the airport (the area before the check-ins) you can also find some ATM and other machines for to recharge the credit of your mobile phone (read post).

Arrivals

On the left, shoulder to the entrance, you will see the arrivals’ area. Here is the exit door of the baggage claim area.

Arrivals at the Borispol airportArrivals at the Borispol airport

This is the strategical area where taxi drivers wait for the coming passengers. Jjust say “net spasibo” (no thank you) if you don’t want a taxi. They will not push you too much.

Next to this area, you can also find some shops (MTS, Kyivstar) a newsstand and the Budget’s office (car rental).

The office of this car rental company is also the place where Turtess (an Ukrainian tour operator) give tickets to the departing passengers. So you might find no few people waiting outside it… (ask what they are waiting for, before to make the queue).

Departures

Walking in the opposite direction of the arrivals’ area, you will find several offices of different airlines companies, a small shop of souvenirs and on the left (next to the monitors) some stairs which bring to the toilets.

To the check-insTo the check-ins

Keeping going in this direction you will arrive in the area just before the entrance to the check-ins (restricted area). Here in general there are not few people waiting for the check-in time.

L'area prima dei check-ins a BoryspilL’area prima dei check-ins a Boryspil

You can enter in the restricted area only when the check-in for your flight starts. You need to show your ticket for to enter in this area.

Green and Red corridor at BorispolGreen and Red corridor at Borispol

Once inside you need to chose if to go straight to the check-ins (Green corridor) or if to stop and declare something (read post) at the custom control (Red corridor), you can find some custom declaration form right in this area.

By experience we can say that in Borispol, when you depart, unless you will not stop to declare something , nobody will ask you anything.  Anyway everything is possible.

If you have filed out a custom declaration at your arrival in Ukraine, it maybe asked now.

Check-ins' area at Kiev BorispolCheck-ins’ area at Kiev Borispol

Restricted area: Departures

After the check-in, take the escalators and go upstairs with your boarding card.

Once upstairs, you will have probable to pass first the security check and only after it the passport control which is some meter after it.

At the passport control, you need to show your passport and to give the side of the immigration card you got at your arrival in Ukraine.

Done even this, you are free to wait your flight in the waiting room.

The waiting room is divided in two areas:

- A smaller waiting room next to the gates from B7 to B11.

- A much larger one next to the gates from B1 to B6.

In the first waiting rooms you will find several sits, a bar, WC and most of all a large and very nice Duty Free.

Waiting room in Kiev Borispol (Gates B9-B11)Waiting room in Kiev Borispol (Gates B9-B11)

Duty free Kiev BorispolDuty free Kiev Borispol

The next and larger waiting room is possible to reach taking the stairs under the panel (Gates B1 – B6). You can come and go back from a waiting room to the other one without any restriction.

To the new waiting roomTo the new waiting room

Just after the stairs, on the left, there is a nice souvenirs shop, selling typical Ukrainian stuff.

Souvenirs shop in BorispolSouvenirs shop in Borispol

In this room you will find some bar an another Duty Free of smaller dimensions at the end of the room.

If you want to have just some rest, you can for sure find a place where to sit.

Sala d'imbarco di Kyiv BoryspilSala d’imbarco di Kyiv Boryspil

WC are available in both waiting rooms.

Restricted area: Arrivals

Once outside your plane, you will be brought to a large room where you will have to pass the passport control.

The queue are divided according to the nationality. Some are just for Ukrainian citizens, other ones for all foreigners and one more is only for the crew.

Often all these division are not respected so in you queue you can find in front of you several people holding Ukrainian passports…

The most important thing, is not to lose time filling out the immigration card (read post) the soonest possible. In general they give it directly on the plane. If not you can find many of them right in this room.

Remember to fill out both sides of the immigration card (Arrival and Departure).

The officer, will put a stamp on your passport and on both sides of the immigration card. He will give your passport back together with the Departure side of the immigration card which you need to keep until your departure.

Now you can finally catch you luggage at the baggage claim area. In this room you can also find WC, customs declaration forms and most of all very nice and totally free maps of Kiev (they are free because they are full of advertising).

With you luggage, go to the customs control. Here you need again to chose if to take the “Green Corridor” or the “Red Corridor”. If you need to declare something, remember to fill our the customs declaration (read post).

Here the situation differ from the one at the departure. Control are more frequent and even if you take the “Green Corridor”, they can ask you to open the bag.

After this last check, you can finally go out to the public area of the airport where taxi drivers are waiting for you.

For further information

Kyiv Boryspil official website:
http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua

Guide to the Terminal A of Kyiv Boryspil:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/boryspil-terminal-a

How to reach the Borispol airport:
http://en.ukrlandia.com.ua/polit-boryspol