Car Rental in Kyiv

Why rent a car in Kyiv?

Kyiv is a fascinating city to visit. Having long been underrated as a tourist destination, over the last five years it has finally started to receive the attention it deserves. A historic city with an imperial charm, Kyiv boasts diverse religious architecture, high-quality museums, and an impressive city center. After seeing the capital city, get in your rental car to explore the rest of Ukraine. 

Top ways to enter Kyiv

• Kyiv Boryspil International Airport: Named after the suburb of Kyiv in which it is located, Boryspil Airport handled 12.6 million travelers in 2018. By far the largest of the country’s airports, it handles more international air traffic than all other Ukrainian airports combined. Boryspil Airport is a large hub for Ukraine International Airlines, the national carrier, and is also served by around 20 other companies. Located 36km (22 miles) southeast of the center of Kyiv, the airport can be reached in about 30 minutes.
• Kyiv Zhuliany Airport: The smallest of the two airports serving Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv-Zhuliany is a large hub for the low-cost airline Wizz Air and also has flights by around ten other airlines. In addition to many European connections, the airport also hosts a number of flights to and from countries in the Middle East. Located just 9km (5.4 miles) southwest of Kyiv’s center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
• Kharkiv Airport: Serving Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv Airport is especially active during the summer months. The airport has flights by around 15 different airlines and offers connections to Italy, Turkey, Poland, Germany, and many other European and Asian countries. Located 490km (304 miles) east of Kyiv, Kharkiv Airport can be reached in about six hours.
• Odessa Airport: Growing over the last four years, Odessa Airport handled 1.4 million travelers in 2018. The airport is served by a large number of airlines, including low-cost companies like Ryanair and Wizz Air. Odesa Airport is some 475km (295 miles) south of Kyiv and can be reached in around 5 hours and 45 minutes.
• By rail: If you’re arriving in Kyiv by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrsky Railway Station.

City facts

• Kyiv has a humid continental climate with hot summers and long, cold winters. The average high temperature is 26°C  (78°F) in July, the hottest month, with many individual days hotter than 30°C  (86°F), and -1°C  (30°F) in January, the coldest month. Precipitation is at its highest in June and July and at lowest in January. Kyiv experiences regular snowfall from November to mid-March.
• In the international media, the name of Ukraine has recently most-often been connected to the military conflict that started in 2014. Although the war is still ongoing, it is important to note that it is strictly limited to the eastern part of Ukraine. The conflict is ongoing in Donetsk and Luhansk regions some 700-800km (435-500 miles) east of the capital. There has been no mass violence in Kyiv since the Maidan events in 2014, and the city is safe to visit. Many places in Eastern Ukraine, like Dnipro and Kharkiv, are also reasonably safe to visit, many western governments strongly advise against travel to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 
• Although the official language of Ukraine is Ukrainian, Russian remains widely spoken in Kyiv. Despite the tense political situation, Russian is the first language of many of Kyiv’s inhabitants, is often a language of business, and is understood by nearly everyone. (The situation, however, is different in some parts of Western Ukraine where Ukrainian is the dominant language and Russian is rarely heard). Ukrainian, although not mutually intelligible, is closely related to Russian - if you speak the latter, you should be able to at least follow the basic conversation in the former. 

Top sights and activities

• Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. A unique cave monastery, Pechersk Lavra was founded almost 1,000 years ago. The caves were created by monks who lived underground as hermits. Nowadays, visitors can see ancient religious icons or even take a look at the mummified remains of the cave makers. The caves continue to be treated as an Orthodox Christian temple, so women visitors need to wear skirts and cover their hair. Although Pechersk Lavra has a slightly claustrophobic feel to it, it truly is a place like no other. 
• St. Sophia’s Cathedral. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this beautiful 11th-century church is one of the symbols of Kyiv.  Although a distinctly unique piece of Slavic Orthodox architecture, the cathedral was built to resemble Hagia Sophia of Constantinople. Inside, it has the world’s largest collection of mosaics and frescoes.
• Open Air Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life. This unique museum consists of a restoration of six different, but archetypal Ukrainian villages. Mills, workshops, family homes, and churches have been recreated, letting visitors learn about life in Ukraine before industrial modernization. Also known as the National Museum of Folk Architecture, it is south of Kyiv’s city center and takes some 25 minutes to reach by car.

Traffic and parking

• Ukraine drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limit is 130km/h (80 mph) on motorways, 110km (68 mph) on dual carriageways, 90km/h (54 mph) on other roads outside populated areas, 50km/h (31 mph) within urban and built-up areas, and 20km/h (12 mph) within residential areas. 
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.02% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding these limits can lead to hefty fines.
• While the road conditions are good in most of Kyiv, and most national highways are also steadily improving, secondary and rural roads can be of wildly varying quality. Many will have potholes, lack paving, or have other issues. Because of this, it’s important to drive extra carefully outside the cities. 
• Although the internet has a lot of scare stories about Ukrainian road police demanding bribes, the situation has steadily improved during the last five years. Asking for a bribe is still not completely unheard, but your odds of encountering such a situation are minimal. The road police are also not allowed to issue fines that you have to pay on the spot (if you have broken a law, they will send you a ticket later).
• Most road signs are only written in Ukrainian (the same is true for street signs etc). It’s a good idea to learn the basics of the Cyrillic alphabet. If you plan to travel outside the city or even in the outskirts of Kyiv, getting a car with a reliable GPS system is also a must.
• The car’s registration and insurance documents must be in it at all times.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number is 112.

Toll roads

As of October 2019, there are no toll roads in Ukraine.

Ideas for day trips

• Chernihiv. One of the oldest cities in Ukraine, Chernihiv is rich in ancient religious architecture. Some of the most impressive and most important churches and monasteries of Kievan Rus’ were built in this North Ukrainian city. Nowadays, the city has many museums and cultural centers honoring this heritage. Located 140km (87 miles) north of Kyiv near the border with Belarus, Chernihiv can be reached in about 1 hour and 50 minutes.
• Chernobyl. Known across the world as the site of the terrible nuclear power plant accident that happened in 1986, Chernobyl has been abandoned ever since. Small parts of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are now open to tourists who can visit the ghostlike area (much of it now reclaimed by forests and wildlife) and learn about the tragic impact of the nuclear blast. Located 135km (84 miles) north of Kyiv, Chernobyl can be reached in a bit less than two hours. You must book a tour in advance to visit.
• Zalissya National Nature Park. A protected area of dense forests, hiking paths, and the Desne River, Zalissya is home to rich flora and fauna. Although only parts of the park are open for visitors (the rest is reserved for government officials), Zalissya is one of the nicest green spaces in the vicinity of the capital city. Located 50km (31 miles) northeast of Kyiv, Zalissya can be reached in about 55 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Kyiv is the Ford Fiesta, although the Skoda Fabia and the Seat Leon are also really popular. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact, and mini.

Further destinations

• Western Ukraine. Scenic, proud, and culturally related to neighboring Poland and Slovakia, Western Ukraine is a fun place to visit. Highlights include Lviv, one of the most beautiful cities of Eastern Europe; wooden churches; and the national parks of the Carpathian Mountains. Lviv is 540km (334 miles) west of Kyiv and takes some six hours to reach, but the long journey is worth it.
• Kamianets-Podilskyi. A city in Western Ukraine deserving special mention, Kamianets-Podilskyi’s main attraction is its fortress. A fairy tale castle, it would stand out even if it were in Bavaria or Italy. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, it is said to have withstood more than 50 attacks by the Cossacks, Tatars, and Ottomans. Located 420km (260 miles) southwest of Kyiv near the borders with Romania and Moldova, Kamianets-Podilskyi can be reached in about 5 hours and 40 minutes.
• Odesa. During Soviet times, Odesa was known as one of the most colorful and unique cities in the Soviet Union. Home to long Black Sea beaches, wild nightlife, and ancient sites, the city has lost nothing of its charm. Located 470km (292 miles) south of Kyiv, Odesa can be reached in about five hours. If your rental car provider permits it, you can also pop over the border to Moldova, one of the most enigmatic and least visited countries in Europe (just check in advance to see if you need a visa).

Car rental prices in Kyiv

• Small cars - from $28 per day
• Medium cars - from $37 per day
• Station wagons - from $42 per day
• Large cars - from $47 per day
• SUVs - from $80 per day
• Vans - from $122 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips to land a great rental car:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Kyiv is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 44% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 70% cheaper than renting a vehicle in July.