Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Berlin to Kiev area

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Berlin to Kiev area

We would like to go to Berdichev which is about 100 miles from Kiev, and are trying to find the easiest way from Berlin. The air prices I have found are extremely high and there are no non=stops. Is there a train option? Any other ideas? We are planning to go in October. thanks.

What about flying into Kiev and getting a driver to take you to Berdichev? I doubt you will find any scheduled direct international flights into the region (probably the only airports that handle international traffic are Kiev, Kharkov and Odessa). The train is an option, either from Berlin (through Warsaw), Kiev, Odessa or Kharkov. I assume you are going as part of some heritage tour, in which case you should be able to contact either the tour leader or the sponsoring organization for some guidence (there is little in the way of un-organized tourism in that region). Try: http://www.berdichev.org/ For some photos: http://empresa.com/spunberg/fotos.html

Dear Ms Derby The Ukrainian train from Berlin is comfortable and cheap, with 1, 2 and 3 berth sleepers and a good restaurant car. Leave Berlin Lichtenberg 2132, cross from Germany into Poland 2300 to 2353, cross from Poland to Ukraine and change wheelsets 1140 to 1500, arrive Korosten 2127. Now the St Petersburg to Odessa Express, train N19, from Korosten 2158 to Berdichev 0036. A small firm in Lancashire that specialises in Ukraine travel is http://www.enzia.com and I expect they can book you on the Odessa Express, if anybody can. Or perhaps your relatives can. Otherwise, your best move will be to stand on the platform and beg a place. That failing, a hotel night in Korosten, and a morning train for three hours to Berdichev. Please write if I can help further. Ben haines

Dear Ms Derby I have thought this over. You do not want to arrive at midnight. So I change my recommendation to this. In Berlin buy a packed breaklfast fr next day. Berlin Zoo 1250, restaurant car train, Warsaw Central 1857. Leave bags at left luggage, bus to the Old Town for supper. Leave Warsaw Central 2132, Kiev Express with 2 berth and 4 berth sleepers but no catering. Polish and Ukrainian frontier checks, and change wheelsets, 0200 to 0627. Arrive Kozyatyn 1557 (feels like 1457, due to a time shift) and take the next train or bus north west to Berdyciv, an hour away. There is another route, Berlin Zoo 1951, sleepers and couchettes, change at Krakow (beware pickpockets 0636 to 0650, restaurant car train, reach Prezmysl on the Polish frontier1025, spend the day there (ok, but nothing great), leave in a 3 berth Polish sleeper at 1927, Kozyatyn 0808 (feels like 0708), bus or train to Berdyciv. Or, spend 0636 to 1455 in Krakow. Again, please write if I can help further. Ben Haines

Or take a three-four hour flight non-stop on Ukraine International Airlines to Kiev. You could probably book this with any agent, or try Unisel in New York City (that specializes in travel to the FSU).

Although some might dispute me on this, you really don't want to change trains at odd hours when you don't know the language as it is very easy to become disoriented and get on the wrong train.