Ukraine has a large road network, with conditions varying throughout. Surfaces in main cities are generally of a good quality, but they quickly deteriorate in more rural regions. Driving at night is not generally recommended, and Ukrainian drivers are thought to be aggressive and ignorant of the rules of the road – defensive driving is certainly the order of the day. Bus services cover most towns in the country, but these services are often overcrowded, slow and unreliable, as well as being difficult to get a ticket for. Forward planning is a necessary skill to negotiate a lot of Ukrainian public transport. Taxis are a far easier option, and though not as cheap as buses or trains prices certainly aren’t unreasonable – even for long-distance journeys. Trolleybuses are also available, but again are overcrowded and unreliable. Ukraine does offer a very good Metro system in Kiev and Kharkiv, which is easy to navigate, clean and reliable – so it’s not all bad on the public transport front.

Trains are slow but generally reliable, though prone to overcrowding. It can also prove very difficult to obtain tickets for journeys, so pre-booking is recommended. Intourist Travel in London offer pre-booking services for rail and air travel in Ukraine, and their services come recommended.

Internal flights are available, but timetables are prone to massive changes, as well as frequent cancellations. Internal winter flights are rare, with planes regularly grounded for safety reasons. As mentioned above, it is recommended that tickets are pre-booked through an agency such as Intourist Travel.

A number of cruises operate between Kiev, Odessa and Sevastopol.

http://www.intouristuk.com/