Ihor Sikorsky Kyiv International Airport (Zhuliany)

Kyiv Zhuliany International Airport (IEV), officially Igor Sikorsky Kyiv International Airport, is Kyiv's city airport. Located just 7 km south of the city center, it handled primarily low-cost carriers and offered convenient city access.

The airport has a single terminal serving domestic and international flights.

Note: Due to the ongoing conflict, commercial flights to Ukrainian airports have been suspended since February 2022. This guide is for reference when normal operations resume.

Key airlines (pre-2022): Wizz Air, Ukraine International Airlines, Motor Sich, and various European carriers.

IEV is very close to central Kyiv:

• To Kyiv city center (Khreshchatyk): 8 km, 20-30 minutes
• To Maidan Nezalezhnosti: 8 km, 20-30 minutes
• To Kyiv Central Railway Station: 5 km, 15-20 minutes

Uber operates in Kyiv.

• To city center: UAH 100-200 (~$3-5 USD at pre-conflict rates)

Taxis from the rank:

• Metered or fixed rates
• Very affordable

Trolleybus/Bus

Public transit connects to the city:

• Multiple bus and trolleybus routes
• Journey time: 30-40 minutes to center
• Cost: UAH 8-15

Metro

The airport is near the Beresteyska and Nyvky metro stations (15-20 minute walk or short bus ride).

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Terminal	$10/day	Adjacent
Long-term	$7/day	Short walk

IEV has basic dining:

Terminal:

• Ukrainian café
• Fast food
• Bar

Small city airport.

Network: IEV Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Adequate

SIM cards from:

• Kyivstar, Vodafone, Lifecell in the city
• Limited airport options

ATMs in the terminal.

Currency: Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH).

• Duty-free (limited)
• Basic retail

Business Lounge

• Access: Business class, Priority Pass, or purchase
• Amenities: Snacks, drinks, WiFi

Hotels throughout Kyiv. The airport's city location means short transfers to most hotels.

Kyiv is one of Europe's great cities—golden-domed monasteries, Soviet history, and a vibrant modern culture on the Dnipro River:

Kyiv attractions:

• Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Cave Monastery): UNESCO site, mummified monks in caves
• Maidan Nezalezhnosti: Independence Square, heart of city
• St. Sophia Cathedral: 11th-century UNESCO masterpiece
• Golden Gate: Reconstructed medieval city gate
• Andriyivsky Descent: Cobbled artistic street

Soviet & WWII history:

• Motherland Monument: Massive Soviet-era statue, WWII museum
• Babi Yar Memorial: Holocaust massacre site
• Chernobyl tours: Day trips to the exclusion zone (4 hours each way)

Modern Kyiv:

• Podil: Hipster neighborhood, cafés, nightlife
• Khreshchatyk: Main boulevard, closed to cars on weekends
• Hidropark: River beach and recreation

Day trips from Kyiv:

• Chernobyl Exclusion Zone: Full day—haunting and fascinating
• Pyrohiv (Open Air Museum): 30 min—traditional Ukrainian architecture
• Mezhyhirya: 40 min—ousted president's lavish estate (now museum)

Food & drink:

• Borscht: Ukraine's national soup
• Chicken Kyiv: Actually invented here (perhaps)
• Varenyky: Dumplings with various fillings
• Salo: Cured pork fat
• Honey cake (Medovik): Layered cake
• Kyiv cake: Meringue and hazelnut creation

Local tips:

• IEV vs KBP: IEV is much closer to city; KBP is the main international hub
• Golden domes: Kyiv's churches are spectacularly beautiful
• Metro: Excellent system; some of the deepest stations in the world
• Safety note: Check current situation regarding conflict before planning travel
• Weekend Khreshchatyk: Main street closes to cars—great atmosphere
• Cyrillic signs: Learn the alphabet; it helps navigation
• English: Growing among young people, limited with older generations
• Kyiv has been continuously inhabited for over 1,400 years
• The city is Ukraine's spiritual and political heart