Bus to Poland

Personal belongings and luggage

The rules of international transportation Ukraine – Poland also include requirements regarding personal belongings and luggage. Sometimes travelers accidentally take with them prohibited food, which customs officers are forced to confiscate. It is prohibited to import:

• meat and by-products (in particular lard, sausages, canned goods);
• dairy products and products containing them (cheeses, butter, yogurts, desserts, etc.);
• prescription medicines containing codeine or ephedrine – without a doctor’s prescription;
• strong medicines – without supporting documents;

• products made from materials of animals that are under threat of extinction (ivory, skins, feathers of wild birds, etc.);

• cash exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 euros – without declaration.

Also, according to international legislation, strictly prohibited are: antique items, archaeological finds and cultural values (without proper documentation), narcotic substances and psychotropic drugs, weapons and ammunition (without official permits), pornographic content, chemical, toxic and other potentially dangerous substances.

It is allowed to transport 40 cigarettes (2 packs) or 50 g of tobacco; also it is possible to take 1 liter of strong alcohol (>22%) or 2 liters of wine/beer. Medicines for personal use are allowed in an amount not exceeding 5 smallest packages of each product.

The tax refund system (Tax Free) applies to purchases from 200 zlotys. The seller in the shop must issue a special receipt. At the border, you simply present the goods in packaging and this receipt to the customs officer to obtain a stamp.

Border crossing points Ukraine – Poland, queues and time on the way

How many border crossing points from Ukraine to Poland are currently operating? There are 8 road crossings functioning for different types of transport:

• Yahodyn – Dorohusk (key for trucks, but also works for buses);
• Ustyluh – Zosin;
• Uhryniv – Dołhobyczów (more local direction, lower load);
• Rava-Ruska – Hrebenne;
• Krakivets – Korczowa;
• Shehyni – Medyka (one of the few with a pedestrian crossing);
• Hrushiv – Budomierz (the least loaded);
• Smilnytsia – Krościenko.

All of them operate around the clock.

The average time of passing customs control is from 2 to 6 hours; during peak periods it may increase to 8–12 hours. Usually, queues at the Ukraine – Poland border depend on several important factors. Night departures pass control much faster than daytime ones. The highest load at the border is recorded on Friday evening, Saturday morning, and on the eve of major holidays.

So how long does it take to travel from Ukraine to Poland by bus? On average, the trip takes 14–20 hours if traveling from central or eastern cities of the country, for example, Kyiv. From Lviv it will be faster – about 8–10 hours.

Currency, payments and finances

The official currency is the Polish złoty (PLN). Euros are accepted quite rarely, mainly in large supermarkets or at gas stations, however the rate is often unfavorable.

It is possible to pay for purchases with Ukrainian bank cards almost everywhere. Currency conversion takes place automatically according to your bank’s rate. To exchange cash, look for points called Kantor. A popular local method of fast cashless payment is the BLIK system.

Accommodation, transport and mobile communication

For orientation in large cities, it is convenient to use the Jakdojade application. It works similarly to the Ukrainian EasyWay and shows the schedule of city transport. For trips between cities, regular buses and local trains PKP Intercity are suitable (the ticket price between cities is usually 40–150 PLN). The price of a ticket for a city tram depends on the duration of the trip and starts from 3.40 zlotys. Taxi services Uber, Bolt, FreeNow operate.

Where it is better to stay:

• Hostels offer a bed from 60 zlotys per night.
• The cost of renting a room through services starts from 120 zlotys.
• Renting a separate apartment usually costs from 200 zlotys per day.

For basic daily expenses (products in Biedronka markets, lunch in an inexpensive café, transport), a tourist needs about 100–150 zlotys.

Ukrainian SIM cards automatically connect roaming. A local starter pack can be easily purchased in any shop. It must be registered with a passport directly at the checkout before use. We recommend comparing tariffs on the websites of popular mobile operators Orange, Play, Plus, T-Mobile.

Cultural differences, safety and weather

The country is safe for tourists, however at railway stations watch your belongings.

Emergency numbers:

• 112 — general rescue service.
• 999 — emergency medical service.
• 997 — police.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Warsaw receives citizens at the following address: al. J. Ch. Szucha 7, 00-580 Warszawa, tel. +48 22 621 39 79. Consulates of Ukraine also operate in Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk, and Lublin.

Guests should respect and take into account local rules of behavior:

• It is prohibited to drink alcoholic beverages on the street or in parks.
• Crossing the road on a red light is punishable by a fine of up to 200 zlotys.
• Most shops and shopping centers do not work on Sundays.

The official language of communication is Polish. Young people have a good command of English. Due to language similarity, Ukrainians are often perfectly understood without translation.

The climate is moderate, and the optimal time for a trip from Ukraine to Poland lasts from May to October.