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There are two main airports in the capital of Ukraine, Boryspil International Airport and Zhuliany Airport.
Boryspil Airport is the largest and most modern airport in Ukraine, and deals with almost all the international air traffic to the city. The airport is located around 38 km (24 miles) from the centre of Kyiv (Kiev). It was considerably rebuilt in 2000. Zhuliany Airport operates mostly domestic flights, and is located 11 km or 7 miles from the centre of Kyiv.
Ukraine has two main international airlines: Ukraine International Airlines (Міжнародні Авіалінії України - Mizhnarodni Avialiniyi Ukrayiny) and Aerosvit (АероСвіт). These airlines have daily flights to major European cities. There are scheduled flights to Boryspil airport made by the likes of Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Estonian Air, KLM, Lufthansa and others. Semi-budget and budget airlines flying to Kiev include AirBaltic and Wizz Air.
Domestic flights at the Zhuliany Airport connect all the major cities of Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Lviv, Donetsk, Odessa, Sevastopol and others. Note that air fares for foreigners for domestic flights are more expensive than for Ukrainian citizens.
Boryspil Airport features all the usual services and conveniences of a modern international airport: currency exchange offices, car hire, ATMs, duty-free shops, post office, left luggage, drug store and restaurants.
For full details, check out their website - Boryspil International Airport
The best and cheapest way to get to city center from Boryspil airport is to use the buses. "POLIT" operates a regular bus service between the airport and Kyiv city centre which can be found near the exit from the largest terminal (terminal "B"). The buses leave every 30 minutes. The cost of the ticket is roughly 30 UAH and tickets are sold by the driver of the bus. The bus takes you to the Central Railway Station.
You can also use taxis, although be very wary of the taxi touts that operate outside the terminal. In order to get from Boryspil airport to any point of the city center you will need to pay between 150-400 hryvnas. Make sure that your journey is run on the meter.
Boryspil International Airport
Ukraine International Airlines
Several airlines have offices in Kiev for travel queries, ticket booking, etc.
Aeroflot, Saksaganskogo 112a +38 (044) 245 4359
Air Baltic, Khmelnytskogo 52b +38 (044) 238 2668
Air France, Ivana Franko 34/31 +38 (044) 496 3575
Air Mauritius, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 490 6501
Alitalia, Boryspol Airport +38 (044) 490 3934
Austrian Airlines, Krasnoarmyiska 9/2 +38 (044) 289 2032
Azerabijan Airlines, Kominterna 3/25 +38 (044) 246 4236
British Airways, Khmelnytskogo 48 +38 (044) 585 5050
Carpatair, Vozduhoflotskiy Prospekt 92 8 +38 (044) 8 050 062 6281
Caspian Airlines, Zlatoustivska 2/4 +38 (044) 494 0428
Crimea Air, Zhulyani Airport +38 (044) 241 2424
CSA, Ivana Franko 36 +38 (044) 288 1060
Delta Airlines, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 287 3595
Donbassaero, Volodymyrska 81a +38 (044) 238 6016
Egypt Air, Kreshatyk 14 +38 (044) 228 2343
El Al, Lesi Ukrainky 34 +38 (044) 230 6993
Estonian Air, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 220 0520
Finnair, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 247 5777
Germanwings, Kiev 071 +38 (044) 222 0577
KLM, Ivana Franko 34/33 +38 (044) 490 2490
LOT, Ivana Franko 36 +38 (044) 288 1054
Lufthansa, Khmelnytskogo 52 +38 (044) 490 3800
Malev, Pushkinska 45/2 +38 (044) 490 7342
Pakistan Airlines, Tereshenkovska 21 +38 (044) 246 4095
Transaero, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 490 6565
Turkish Airlines, Pushkinska 19 +38 (044) 490 5933
Uzbekistan Air, Pushkinska 20a +38 (044) 270 6544
Wizzair, Callcenter in Ukraine +38 (044) 206 4888
Kyiv's central railway station is Kyiv Passajirskij ("Київ-Пасажирський") and is close to the city centre. Metro station Vokzalna ("метро Вокзальна") connects to the station.
Trains are one of the most popular means of travel between Ukrainian cities. It is much cheaper than air travel, and one of its advantages is that you can see the country "from within".
Trains offer three types of compartment for long-distance train trips: first class compartments with 2 berths, second class compartments with 4 berths and the so-called platskart, a carriage with numbered reserved seats, with 6 berths.
Commuter trains, the so called "elektrichki", are aimed at suburban trips. Such trains are less comfortable and are equipped with wooden benches. In summer commuter trips can be very overcrowded.
During the summer season train tickets are sold out for long time ahead so you need to plan your journey and buy tickets beforehand. Train schedule and prices in Russian and Ukrainian can be found here.
You can plan your journey and buy tickets on-line on the web-site (English option available).
The downside to train travel within Ukraine is its speed – from Kiev it will take you anywhere up to 9 hours to reach Lviv and Kharkiv, while Donetsk is nearly 15 hours away.
Central Railway Station
Vokzalna, Kyiv
Phone: +38 (044) 503 7005 (Rus/Ukr), +38 (044) 234 6992 (Eng)
Central Ticket Office
T. Shevchenka 38/40, Kyiv
Booking: +38 (044) 503 6050 (Rus/Ukr), +38 (044) 234 6992 (Eng)
Travelling by bus in Ukraine is comfortable for short distances but for longer rides it is really recommended to use the train. There are a lot of buses which go to almost all the major cities of Ukraine departing from "Vokzalna" Metro Station and from the Central Bus Station.
International carriage of passengers is performed by the company Ecolines.
Details to Ukrainian destinations:
Odessa: 130UAH, 8 - 10 hours
Donetsk: 160UAH, 12 - 14 hours
Kharkiv: 110UAH, 7 - 8 hours
Lviv: 120UAH, 10 hours
Dnipropetrovsk 110 7 - 8 hours
Central Bus Station
Moskovska ploshad 3, Kyiv
Information: +38 (044) 525 0430
Tickets: +38 (044) 525 0254
Through Poland
The main route into Ukraine from the western Europe is via Poland in Lvivska Oblast at a place called Krakovets. The nearest significant town on the Polish side is Przemysl. When you arrive at the border, the road is fairly narrow (no motorway/autobahn), and there is always a queue of trucks and vans parked to the right of the road. If you're in an EU-registered car then find the EU-passports section.
Once through, just follow the main road towards Lviv ("Львів") on the way E40 - this is the route to Kyiv and thence the east. The main towns on the way are Lviv, Rivne ("Рівне"), Zhytomyr ("Житомир"). It is required to be careful as in some places the road is in fairly bad condition, even though it is the main East/West highway and the main road route to and from the EU.
Through Slovakia
You will need to buy a sticker to use the motorways. The border crossing Uzhgorod is usually busy and there are long waiting times. All cars are checked as there is no separate lane for EU cars.
Through Hungary
You will need to buy a sticker to use the motorways too. The directions are well placed and easy to follow but going through Budapest can be lengthy. At the border in Chop there is efficient passport and customs control. You will need a valid passport and the technical passport of your car.
Car Hire Offices in Kyiv:
Avis
Yamskaya 72
phone: +38 (044) 502 2010, +38 (067) 245 0705
Budget
phone: +38 (044) 490 1088
Europcar
Gorkogo 48a, Boryspol Airport Kyiv
phone: +38 (044) 238 2691, +38 (044) 281 7737
Hertz
Zdolbynivskaya 7d, Boryspol Airport Kyiv
phone: +38 (044) 492 3270, +38 (044) 281 7616
Car Rental Services
phone: +38 (044) 279 7092
Grata Car Rentals
Mihailovskyy Provulok 9a
phone: +38 (044) 451 5377
Sixt
Dmitrievskaya 46
phone: +38 (044) 490 8158
Smart: Rent-a-Car
Staronavodnitskaya 4, office 43
phone: +38 (044) 491 8424
The NSC Olympic has 70,050 seats (68,055 places for EURO 2012)
Location of ground in the city
The stadium is located right in the centre of Kyiv on the right bank of the Dnieper river. The stadium can be approached mainly by either "Chervonoarmiyis'ka vulytsya" (Red Army Street) or "bulvar Lesi Ukrayinky" (Lesya Ukrainka Boulevard). Both streets southern ends connect to the European Route E95 which is known in that part of the city as "bulvar Druzhby Narodiv" (Friendship of Nations Boulevard). However the main arena of the complex does not have a direct access to the aforementioned streets and can only be reached through several smaller streets such as "vulytsya Fizkultury", "vulytsya Saksahanskoho", "vulytsya Shota Rustavelli", "vulytsya Esplanadna", and "perevulok Hospitalny".
The main bridge that connects Kyiv with Boryspil is the Pivdennyi Bridge which supports both car as well as subway traffic.
Address
Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya Str., 55 (Pecherskiy district)
Distance from the city centre
2 km from Majdan Nezalzhnosti underground Station
Brief history of stadium
The date of birth of the stadium is August 12, 1923 when the Red Stadium named after L. Trotsky hosted the first events of the First Kyiv Region Olympiad.
Many mistakes were made due to the rushed construction. In particular, the stadium was aligned along an east-west axis instead of the standard north-south. So in 1934 as the Republican administration was moved to Kyiv (from Kharkiv), the plans were made for the replacement of the stadium, and in 1936 a construction began on the new 50,000-seat stadium designed by architect Mykhailo Hrechyna (1902–1979) called the Ukrainian Republican Stadium. Later Hrechyna organised all the renovations of the stadium until 1980's. Among other Hrechyna's notable projects were Palace of Sports (located in the vicinity), Komsomolsky residential massif at the Dnipro Raion, Hotel Rus, a building of the Trade-Industrial Chamber, as well as the Hotel Tarasova Hora in Kaniv.
On 1 December 2008, reconstruction began when a winner of the countless tenders held was announced. The stadium was officially opened by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on October 8, 2011.
The reconstruction of the stadium involved the demolition and rebuilding of the lower tier, a completely new west stand with a two-level press box (or luxury boxes) between the two tiers, the addition of a 13-story high rise building to the west, and the addition of a new roof covering the entire stadium.
The NSC Olympic has a new logo designed by Sergey Melnik from Berdyansk.
There are a couple of subway stations within a walking distance: Olimpiiska (~300 metres) and Palats Sportu (~400 metres). Currently there is no direct subway connection with the Boryspil Airport. The closest to the airport subway station "Boryspilska" is about 18.5 kilometres (11.5 miles) away. In December 2010 the Kyiv City State Administration renamed the subway station "Respublikansky Stadion" into "Olimpiiska".
Each host city will have a permanent, stationary Fans' Embassy throughout the tournament, as well as mobile Fans' Embassy teams operating in the days around matches played in that city. The mobile teams will be based at strategic points throughout the city (transport hubs, near the fanparks and stadiums, etc) and all Fans' Embassy staff will be on hand to offer advice and assistance to all supporters, either in person or by phone/email.
In each host city the Fans' Embassy will serve as a crucial source of information as well as a meeting point for all visiting supporters. The essence of a Fans' Embassy is to provide fan-specific services - such as ticket availability, public viewing facilities, locally applicable legislation, stadium regulations, match-day arrangements, etc.
However, you will also be able to obtain more general information you would normally find at a tourist office: accommodation, details of local transport timetables and routes, sightseeing opportunities, money exchange, etc.
The staff of the Fan Embassy will generally be drawn out of the local fan scene and will offer visiting supporters detailed and relevant information in their own language, as well as provide swift and simple solutions to any problems that may arise.
Fans' Embassies will be located in easy to reach central areas and will be open daily throughout the tournament. Find out where they are by visiting their dedicated section of the web page and drop by once you arrive in town!
Once the preparations and arrangements from the host cities are finalised we will put all information on public viewing here.
Prices of four-, three-star hotels in Kyiv often do not match the quality, and prices in five-star hotels are too high.
Only recently cheap hostels have started to appear in Kyiv.
The advice from our local researchers was that the best option is to rent apartment per day. There are a large number of agencies in Kyiv that will help you to do it. Comfortable 3 room apartments in the city centre which will sleep between 5-7 people can be rented for 80-100 Euros per day, which is the most economical type of accommodation.
Drinking is not allowed at the streets, although you will see locals flouting this, and smoking is not allowed in public places (e.g. transport stops, underground crossings, etc).
Better to have an ID with you.
Eating out in Kyiv is relatively cheap - if you can avoid the major tourist traps. While Eastern Europe used to have a reputation for being very cheap when it came to food and drink, prices have escalated as more and more tourists have found their way to the edge of the continent. The bars and restaurants around Independence Square and the main street Kreshatyk will have vastly inflated prices compared to a lot of the rest of the city.
You're advised not to drink the tap water, but bottled water is easily and cheaply available. Beer in bars is expensive for locals. So they tend to buy beer from street-vendors (of which there are many) and these are much more reasonably priced.
Local restaurants are cheap and plentiful, and there are various 'fast-food' Ukrainian style cafés and eateries, serving borscht and other Russian-type cuisine. The local beer (or "Pivo" in Ukranian) is obviously far cheaper than imported, western beers, and is largely very palatable.
The main local side is Dynamo Kyiv - their website can be found here.
Great players from the past: Lobanovsky, Muntyan, Rudakov, Chanov, Blokhin, Demyanenko, Buryak, Mikhailichenko, Luzhny, Rebrov, Belkevich, Kaladze, Kalitvintsev, Gusev.
Great players from more recent times: Shevchenko, Shovkovsky, Yarmolenko, Gusin, Mikhalik
Honours: Dynamo are 12-time League Champions, 9-time League Cup Winners, 5-time League Super Cup Holders, 13-time USSR Champions, 9-time USSR Cup Winners, 3-time USSR Season Cup Winners, 2-time Cup Winners' Cup Winners, UEFA Super Cup Winners.
The club colours are white and blue. Dynamo is the most popular and successful club in the post-soviet territory. It is also popular in Russia, Israel, Germany, etc. Each of these countries has its own Dynamo fan club.
Pyrotechnics are officially prohibited but are used in major-games, which is sometimes allowed by the club's board.
Another of the city's sides is Obolon Kyiv.
Established in 1992, and playing in white and green, they have the smallest budget in the league, usually only play with local players and have a tiny stadium, but still generate a good atmosphere. Named after the district of Kyiv in which they play, they are sponsored by the famous beer producer Obolon with whom they share their name. They had some great performances last season, including getting 10 points from 12 from the two leaders, Dynamo and Shakhtar. They finished 10th of 16 last season.
After the 2000 financial crisis at CSCA the club lost its funding from the Ministry and was on the brink of being dissolved. The Kyiv city government on the initiative of Omelchenko bought the club in 2001 reorganising it under the name of Arsenal. The CSCA-2 once again became the primary team of the Army football club.
While under the city government's ownership, Arsenal has struggled financially, resorting to loaning many of its first team players. The city had decreased funding to the club significantly as it sought to reduce its numerous sports holdings. In May 2007, it was announced that the club would be demoted due to financial issues, however soon afterward it was revealed that Arsenal would be purchased by Ukrainian oligarch, Vadim Rabinovich. The new owner started actively financing the club and its transfers. In January 2009 the Mayor of Kyiv Leonid Chernovetskyi bought Arsenal Kyiv for 1 UAH from Rabynovich.
FC Arsenal Kiev is the only club in the Ukrainian Premier League which does not have its own stadium. They rent arenas of other Kiev clubs; they have also had some of their home games in other cities. The support of FC Arsenal is not very numerous.
A description of the fan scene in Kyiv will follow soon.
A day trip around Kyiv can be started with the Museum of the Great Patriotic War where there is a wonderful view on the left bank of Kyiv and a beautiful park. From there you can walk through the Kyiv – Pechersk Lavra, where you can see over cathedrals and then enter the Museum of Miniatures, then through the Park of Glory by Arsenalnaia metro station. Here you can enter the Mariinsky Park, walk to the Dynamo Stadium, pass it by the right side and cross the Bridge of Lovers heading down to the Peoples' Friendship Arch, passing European Square. You can then go up through the park on St. Vladimir's Hill to St. Michael Square and St. Sophia Square with St. Sophia's Cathedral and St. Michael's Cathedral.
Then you can go to the Podol area through the picturesque Andriyvskyy Desent, where a visit to Bulgakov's Museum and the Museum of "One Street" is recommended.
The excursion can be finished (or started) on Kontraktova Square with a lot of cozy small bars and restaurants. If you still want to continue the tour you can go to Poshtova Square where you can take a boat trip along the Dnieper. You can also get from Poshtova Square to the St. Michael's Square using the famous funicular.
It is of course recommended to visit Kreshchatyk and Independence Square which are adjacent to each other. You can also visit a new district in retro style (Vozdvizhenka and Goncharka) in the heart of Kyiv near the Andreevskii Descent. This district rather resembles a film's décor as it is not occupied because of problems with water supply. Turn from Andeeevskii 24 on Vozdvizhenskaia Street and you'll see it.
Monday 11 June 2012, 20.45CET
#8: Ukraine vs Sweden
Friday 15 June 2012, 20.45CET
#15: Sweden vs England
Tuesday 19 June 2012, 20.45CET
#24: Sweden vs France
Sunday 24 June 2012, 20.45CET
#28: Quarter-final 4
Sunday 1 July 2012, 20.45CET
#31: Final
Once the arrangements from UEFA are finalised, we will put all specific matchday information here, including:
UEFA ticketing points
Match day transport (park and ride, etc)
EURO street signage
Cordons/checks, etc
To leave a social legacy in Poland and Ukraine UEFA supports, besides RESPECT Fan Culture – Fans' Embassies, three further programmes that aim on social change.
50% of all European disabled people have never participated in leisure or sport activities. EURO 2012 provides an opportunity to improve access to football and for the removal of physical, sensory and intellectual barriers in public places in the region. It is recognised that supporting and playing football is an integral and vital part of European culture and tradition. Football is increasingly diverse; this naturally includes many more disabled people. The Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) has formed a disability alliance in the region to help to deliver the awareness project, Respect Inclusion – Football with No Limits.
EURO 2012 offers a unique chance to promote a positive message of diversity and inclusion. The programme will be delivered on behalf of FARE by the long established regional partner, the 'Never Again' Association. Civil society organisations, and ethnic minorities in particular, have been motivated to engage with the preparations. Important stakeholders have signed up to the anti-discrimination agenda. The FARE activities concentrate on minimizing the risk of racist incidents during the tournament as well as promotion of anti-discrimination measures.
RESPECT your Health - Euroschools 2012 is the official community health education programme of the UEFA EURO 2012. This one-year project aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on smoking prevention, responsible alcohol consumption, healthy diet and physical activity among young people and their families in Poland and Ukraine. Through a train the trainers approach, local institutions and NGOs in the eight UEFA EURO 2012 host cities will be empowered to activate their communities and promote good health. A guide will help coaches, teachers, social workers and Orlik animators use the power of football and sport to engage communities, increase health literacy levels, and establish a common feeling of ownership for public (sport) grounds.
UEFA EURO 2012 will be tobacco-free. A complete ban on the use, sale or promotion of tobacco will be in force in both indoor and outdoor areas of all match venues. Put into place to protect the health, safety and comfort of all fans and other tournament participants, the tobacco ban complements other activities such as Respect your Health that use the force of football to promote social issues.
EURO tournaments bring people together on and off the pitch. All sorts of encounters are made, some closer than others. The fun may know no bounds, but there are of course rules. Encounters between people from all over Europe can be unforgettable, as long as they are respectful, good humoured and a danger to no one. Show HIV and AIDS the red card. The HIV virus doesn't play fair, so you have to. Unforgettable encounters should leave no lasting damage. When you think fun and passion, think health too: condoms protect!
There are two main airports in the capital of Ukraine, Boryspil International Airport and Zhuliany Airport.
Boryspil Airport is the largest and most modern airport in Ukraine, and deals with almost all the international air traffic to the city. The airport is located around 38 km (24 miles) from the centre of Kyiv (Kiev). It was considerably rebuilt in 2000. Zhuliany Airport operates mostly domestic flights, and is located 11 km or 7 miles from the centre of Kyiv.
Ukraine has two main international airlines: Ukraine International Airlines (Міжнародні Авіалінії України - Mizhnarodni Avialiniyi Ukrayiny) and Aerosvit (АероСвіт). These airlines have daily flights to major European cities. There are scheduled flights to Boryspil airport made by the likes of Aeroflot, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Czech Airlines, Estonian Air, KLM, Lufthansa and others. Semi-budget and budget airlines flying to Kiev include AirBaltic and Wizz Air.
Domestic flights at the Zhuliany Airport connect all the major cities of Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Lviv, Donetsk, Odessa, Sevastopol and others. Note that air fares for foreigners for domestic flights are more expensive than for Ukrainian citizens.
Boryspil Airport features all the usual services and conveniences of a modern international airport: currency exchange offices, car hire, ATMs, duty-free shops, post office, left luggage, drug store and restaurants.
For full details, check out their website - Boryspil International Airport
The best and cheapest way to get to city center from Boryspil airport is to use the buses. "POLIT" operates a regular bus service between the airport and Kyiv city centre which can be found near the exit from the largest terminal (terminal "B"). The buses leave every 30 minutes. The cost of the ticket is roughly 30 UAH and tickets are sold by the driver of the bus. The bus takes you to the Central Railway Station.
You can also use taxis, although be very wary of the taxi touts that operate outside the terminal. In order to get from Boryspil airport to any point of the city center you will need to pay between 150-400 hryvnas. Make sure that your journey is run on the meter.
Boryspil International Airport
Ukraine International Airlines
Several airlines have offices in Kiev for travel queries, ticket booking, etc.
Aeroflot, Saksaganskogo 112a +38 (044) 245 4359
Air Baltic, Khmelnytskogo 52b +38 (044) 238 2668
Air France, Ivana Franko 34/31 +38 (044) 496 3575
Air Mauritius, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 490 6501
Alitalia, Boryspol Airport +38 (044) 490 3934
Austrian Airlines, Krasnoarmyiska 9/2 +38 (044) 289 2032
Azerabijan Airlines, Kominterna 3/25 +38 (044) 246 4236
British Airways, Khmelnytskogo 48 +38 (044) 585 5050
Carpatair, Vozduhoflotskiy Prospekt 92 8 +38 (044) 8 050 062 6281
Caspian Airlines, Zlatoustivska 2/4 +38 (044) 494 0428
Crimea Air, Zhulyani Airport +38 (044) 241 2424
CSA, Ivana Franko 36 +38 (044) 288 1060
Delta Airlines, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 287 3595
Donbassaero, Volodymyrska 81a +38 (044) 238 6016
Egypt Air, Kreshatyk 14 +38 (044) 228 2343
El Al, Lesi Ukrainky 34 +38 (044) 230 6993
Estonian Air, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 220 0520
Finnair, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 247 5777
Germanwings, Kiev 071 +38 (044) 222 0577
KLM, Ivana Franko 34/33 +38 (044) 490 2490
LOT, Ivana Franko 36 +38 (044) 288 1054
Lufthansa, Khmelnytskogo 52 +38 (044) 490 3800
Malev, Pushkinska 45/2 +38 (044) 490 7342
Pakistan Airlines, Tereshenkovska 21 +38 (044) 246 4095
Transaero, Krasnoarmiyska 9/2 +38 (044) 490 6565
Turkish Airlines, Pushkinska 19 +38 (044) 490 5933
Uzbekistan Air, Pushkinska 20a +38 (044) 270 6544
Wizzair, Callcenter in Ukraine +38 (044) 206 4888
Kyiv's central railway station is Kyiv Passajirskij ("Київ-Пасажирський") and is close to the city centre. Metro station Vokzalna ("метро Вокзальна") connects to the station.
Trains are one of the most popular means of travel between Ukrainian cities. It is much cheaper than air travel, and one of its advantages is that you can see the country "from within".
Trains offer three types of compartment for long-distance train trips: first class compartments with 2 berths, second class compartments with 4 berths and the so-called platskart, a carriage with numbered reserved seats, with 6 berths.
Commuter trains, the so called "elektrichki", are aimed at suburban trips. Such trains are less comfortable and are equipped with wooden benches. In summer commuter trips can be very overcrowded.
During the summer season train tickets are sold out for long time ahead so you need to plan your journey and buy tickets beforehand. Train schedule and prices in Russian and Ukrainian can be found here.
You can plan your journey and buy tickets on-line on the web-site (English option available).
The downside to train travel within Ukraine is its speed – from Kiev it will take you anywhere up to 9 hours to reach Lviv and Kharkiv, while Donetsk is nearly 15 hours away.
Central Railway Station
Vokzalna, Kyiv
Phone: +38 (044) 503 7005 (Rus/Ukr), +38 (044) 234 6992 (Eng)
Central Ticket Office
T. Shevchenka 38/40, Kyiv
Booking: +38 (044) 503 6050 (Rus/Ukr), +38 (044) 234 6992 (Eng)
Travelling by bus in Ukraine is comfortable for short distances but for longer rides it is really recommended to use the train. There are a lot of buses which go to almost all the major cities of Ukraine departing from "Vokzalna" Metro Station and from the Central Bus Station.
International carriage of passengers is performed by the company Ecolines.
Details to Ukrainian destinations:
Odessa: 130UAH, 8 - 10 hours
Donetsk: 160UAH, 12 - 14 hours
Kharkiv: 110UAH, 7 - 8 hours
Lviv: 120UAH, 10 hours
Dnipropetrovsk 110 7 - 8 hours
Central Bus Station
Moskovska ploshad 3, Kyiv
Information: +38 (044) 525 0430
Tickets: +38 (044) 525 0254
Through Poland
The main route into Ukraine from the western Europe is via Poland in Lvivska Oblast at a place called Krakovets. The nearest significant town on the Polish side is Przemysl. When you arrive at the border, the road is fairly narrow (no motorway/autobahn), and there is always a queue of trucks and vans parked to the right of the road. If you're in an EU-registered car then find the EU-passports section.
Once through, just follow the main road towards Lviv ("Львів") on the way E40 - this is the route to Kyiv and thence the east. The main towns on the way are Lviv, Rivne ("Рівне"), Zhytomyr ("Житомир"). It is required to be careful as in some places the road is in fairly bad condition, even though it is the main East/West highway and the main road route to and from the EU.
Through Slovakia
You will need to buy a sticker to use the motorways. The border crossing Uzhgorod is usually busy and there are long waiting times. All cars are checked as there is no separate lane for EU cars.
Through Hungary
You will need to buy a sticker to use the motorways too. The directions are well placed and easy to follow but going through Budapest can be lengthy. At the border in Chop there is efficient passport and customs control. You will need a valid passport and the technical passport of your car.
Car Hire Offices in Kyiv:
Avis
Yamskaya 72
phone: +38 (044) 502 2010, +38 (067) 245 0705
Budget
phone: +38 (044) 490 1088
Europcar
Gorkogo 48a, Boryspol Airport Kyiv
phone: +38 (044) 238 2691, +38 (044) 281 7737
Hertz
Zdolbynivskaya 7d, Boryspol Airport Kyiv
phone: +38 (044) 492 3270, +38 (044) 281 7616
Car Rental Services
phone: +38 (044) 279 7092
Grata Car Rentals
Mihailovskyy Provulok 9a
phone: +38 (044) 451 5377
Sixt
Dmitrievskaya 46
phone: +38 (044) 490 8158
Smart: Rent-a-Car
Staronavodnitskaya 4, office 43
phone: +38 (044) 491 8424
The NSC Olympic has 70,050 seats (68,055 places for EURO 2012)
Location of ground in the city
The stadium is located right in the centre of Kyiv on the right bank of the Dnieper river. The stadium can be approached mainly by either "Chervonoarmiyis'ka vulytsya" (Red Army Street) or "bulvar Lesi Ukrayinky" (Lesya Ukrainka Boulevard). Both streets southern ends connect to the European Route E95 which is known in that part of the city as "bulvar Druzhby Narodiv" (Friendship of Nations Boulevard). However the main arena of the complex does not have a direct access to the aforementioned streets and can only be reached through several smaller streets such as "vulytsya Fizkultury", "vulytsya Saksahanskoho", "vulytsya Shota Rustavelli", "vulytsya Esplanadna", and "perevulok Hospitalny".
The main bridge that connects Kyiv with Boryspil is the Pivdennyi Bridge which supports both car as well as subway traffic.
Address
Bolshaya Vasilkovskaya Str., 55 (Pecherskiy district)
Distance from the city centre
2 km from Majdan Nezalzhnosti underground Station
Brief history of stadium
The date of birth of the stadium is August 12, 1923 when the Red Stadium named after L. Trotsky hosted the first events of the First Kyiv Region Olympiad.
Many mistakes were made due to the rushed construction. In particular, the stadium was aligned along an east-west axis instead of the standard north-south. So in 1934 as the Republican administration was moved to Kyiv (from Kharkiv), the plans were made for the replacement of the stadium, and in 1936 a construction began on the new 50,000-seat stadium designed by architect Mykhailo Hrechyna (1902–1979) called the Ukrainian Republican Stadium. Later Hrechyna organised all the renovations of the stadium until 1980's. Among other Hrechyna's notable projects were Palace of Sports (located in the vicinity), Komsomolsky residential massif at the Dnipro Raion, Hotel Rus, a building of the Trade-Industrial Chamber, as well as the Hotel Tarasova Hora in Kaniv.
On 1 December 2008, reconstruction began when a winner of the countless tenders held was announced. The stadium was officially opened by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on October 8, 2011.
The reconstruction of the stadium involved the demolition and rebuilding of the lower tier, a completely new west stand with a two-level press box (or luxury boxes) between the two tiers, the addition of a 13-story high rise building to the west, and the addition of a new roof covering the entire stadium.
The NSC Olympic has a new logo designed by Sergey Melnik from Berdyansk.
There are a couple of subway stations within a walking distance: Olimpiiska (~300 metres) and Palats Sportu (~400 metres). Currently there is no direct subway connection with the Boryspil Airport. The closest to the airport subway station "Boryspilska" is about 18.5 kilometres (11.5 miles) away. In December 2010 the Kyiv City State Administration renamed the subway station "Respublikansky Stadion" into "Olimpiiska".
The official stadium website can be found here.
Each host city will have a permanent, stationary Fans' Embassy throughout the tournament, as well as mobile Fans' Embassy teams operating in the days around matches played in that city. The mobile teams will be based at strategic points throughout the city (transport hubs, near the fanparks and stadiums, etc) and all Fans' Embassy staff will be on hand to offer advice and assistance to all supporters, either in person or by phone/email.
In each host city the Fans' Embassy will serve as a crucial source of information as well as a meeting point for all visiting supporters. The essence of a Fans' Embassy is to provide fan-specific services - such as ticket availability, public viewing facilities, locally applicable legislation, stadium regulations, match-day arrangements, etc.
However, you will also be able to obtain more general information you would normally find at a tourist office: accommodation, details of local transport timetables and routes, sightseeing opportunities, money exchange, etc.
The staff of the Fan Embassy will generally be drawn out of the local fan scene and will offer visiting supporters detailed and relevant information in their own language, as well as provide swift and simple solutions to any problems that may arise.
Fans' Embassies will be located in easy to reach central areas and will be open daily throughout the tournament. Find out where they are by visiting their dedicated section of the web page and drop by once you arrive in town!
Once the preparations and arrangements from the host cities are finalised we will put all information on public viewing here.
Prices of four-, three-star hotels in Kyiv often do not match the quality, and prices in five-star hotels are too high.
Only recently cheap hostels have started to appear in Kyiv.
The advice from our local researchers was that the best option is to rent apartment per day. There are a large number of agencies in Kyiv that will help you to do it. Comfortable 3 room apartments in the city centre which will sleep between 5-7 people can be rented for 80-100 Euros per day, which is the most economical type of accommodation.
Drinking is not allowed at the streets, although you will see locals flouting this, and smoking is not allowed in public places (e.g. transport stops, underground crossings, etc).
Better to have an ID with you.
Eating out in Kyiv is relatively cheap - if you can avoid the major tourist traps. While Eastern Europe used to have a reputation for being very cheap when it came to food and drink, prices have escalated as more and more tourists have found their way to the edge of the continent. The bars and restaurants around Independence Square and the main street Kreshatyk will have vastly inflated prices compared to a lot of the rest of the city.
You're advised not to drink the tap water, but bottled water is easily and cheaply available. Beer in bars is expensive for locals. So they tend to buy beer from street-vendors (of which there are many) and these are much more reasonably priced.
Local restaurants are cheap and plentiful, and there are various 'fast-food' Ukrainian style cafés and eateries, serving borscht and other Russian-type cuisine. The local beer (or "Pivo" in Ukranian) is obviously far cheaper than imported, western beers, and is largely very palatable.
The main local side is Dynamo Kyiv - their website can be found here.
Great players from the past: Lobanovsky, Muntyan, Rudakov, Chanov, Blokhin, Demyanenko, Buryak, Mikhailichenko, Luzhny, Rebrov, Belkevich, Kaladze, Kalitvintsev, Gusev.
Great players from more recent times: Shevchenko, Shovkovsky, Yarmolenko, Gusin, Mikhalik
Honours: Dynamo are 12-time League Champions, 9-time League Cup Winners, 5-time League Super Cup Holders, 13-time USSR Champions, 9-time USSR Cup Winners, 3-time USSR Season Cup Winners, 2-time Cup Winners' Cup Winners, UEFA Super Cup Winners.
The club colours are white and blue. Dynamo is the most popular and successful club in the post-soviet territory. It is also popular in Russia, Israel, Germany, etc. Each of these countries has its own Dynamo fan club.
Pyrotechnics are officially prohibited but are used in major-games, which is sometimes allowed by the club's board.
Another of the city's sides is Obolon Kyiv.
Established in 1992, and playing in white and green, they have the smallest budget in the league, usually only play with local players and have a tiny stadium, but still generate a good atmosphere. Named after the district of Kyiv in which they play, they are sponsored by the famous beer producer Obolon with whom they share their name. They had some great performances last season, including getting 10 points from 12 from the two leaders, Dynamo and Shakhtar. They finished 10th of 16 last season.
After the 2000 financial crisis at CSCA the club lost its funding from the Ministry and was on the brink of being dissolved. The Kyiv city government on the initiative of Omelchenko bought the club in 2001 reorganising it under the name of Arsenal. The CSCA-2 once again became the primary team of the Army football club.
While under the city government's ownership, Arsenal has struggled financially, resorting to loaning many of its first team players. The city had decreased funding to the club significantly as it sought to reduce its numerous sports holdings. In May 2007, it was announced that the club would be demoted due to financial issues, however soon afterward it was revealed that Arsenal would be purchased by Ukrainian oligarch, Vadim Rabinovich. The new owner started actively financing the club and its transfers. In January 2009 the Mayor of Kyiv Leonid Chernovetskyi bought Arsenal Kyiv for 1 UAH from Rabynovich.
FC Arsenal Kiev is the only club in the Ukrainian Premier League which does not have its own stadium. They rent arenas of other Kiev clubs; they have also had some of their home games in other cities. The support of FC Arsenal is not very numerous.
A description of the fan scene in Kyiv will follow soon.
A day trip around Kyiv can be started with the Museum of the Great Patriotic War where there is a wonderful view on the left bank of Kyiv and a beautiful park. From there you can walk through the Kyiv – Pechersk Lavra, where you can see over cathedrals and then enter the Museum of Miniatures, then through the Park of Glory by Arsenalnaia metro station. Here you can enter the Mariinsky Park, walk to the Dynamo Stadium, pass it by the right side and cross the Bridge of Lovers heading down to the Peoples' Friendship Arch, passing European Square. You can then go up through the park on St. Vladimir's Hill to St. Michael Square and St. Sophia Square with St. Sophia's Cathedral and St. Michael's Cathedral.
Then you can go to the Podol area through the picturesque Andriyvskyy Desent, where a visit to Bulgakov's Museum and the Museum of "One Street" is recommended.
The excursion can be finished (or started) on Kontraktova Square with a lot of cozy small bars and restaurants. If you still want to continue the tour you can go to Poshtova Square where you can take a boat trip along the Dnieper. You can also get from Poshtova Square to the St. Michael's Square using the famous funicular.
It is of course recommended to visit Kreshchatyk and Independence Square which are adjacent to each other. You can also visit a new district in retro style (Vozdvizhenka and Goncharka) in the heart of Kyiv near the Andreevskii Descent. This district rather resembles a film's décor as it is not occupied because of problems with water supply. Turn from Andeeevskii 24 on Vozdvizhenskaia Street and you'll see it.
Monday 11 June 2012, 20.45CET
#8: Ukraine vs Sweden
Friday 15 June 2012, 20.45CET
#15: Sweden vs England
Tuesday 19 June 2012, 20.45CET
#24: Sweden vs France
Sunday 24 June 2012, 20.45CET
#28: Quarter-final 4
Sunday 1 July 2012, 20.45CET
#31: Final
Once the arrangements from UEFA are finalised, we will put all specific matchday information here, including:
UEFA ticketing points
Match day transport (park and ride, etc)
EURO street signage
Cordons/checks, etc
To leave a social legacy in Poland and Ukraine UEFA supports, besides RESPECT Fan Culture – Fans' Embassies, three further programmes that aim on social change.
50% of all European disabled people have never participated in leisure or sport activities. EURO 2012 provides an opportunity to improve access to football and for the removal of physical, sensory and intellectual barriers in public places in the region. It is recognised that supporting and playing football is an integral and vital part of European culture and tradition. Football is increasingly diverse; this naturally includes many more disabled people. The Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) has formed a disability alliance in the region to help to deliver the awareness project, Respect Inclusion – Football with No Limits.
EURO 2012 offers a unique chance to promote a positive message of diversity and inclusion. The programme will be delivered on behalf of FARE by the long established regional partner, the 'Never Again' Association. Civil society organisations, and ethnic minorities in particular, have been motivated to engage with the preparations. Important stakeholders have signed up to the anti-discrimination agenda. The FARE activities concentrate on minimizing the risk of racist incidents during the tournament as well as promotion of anti-discrimination measures.
RESPECT your Health - Euroschools 2012 is the official community health education programme of the UEFA EURO 2012. This one-year project aims to promote a healthy lifestyle, with a focus on smoking prevention, responsible alcohol consumption, healthy diet and physical activity among young people and their families in Poland and Ukraine. Through a train the trainers approach, local institutions and NGOs in the eight UEFA EURO 2012 host cities will be empowered to activate their communities and promote good health. A guide will help coaches, teachers, social workers and Orlik animators use the power of football and sport to engage communities, increase health literacy levels, and establish a common feeling of ownership for public (sport) grounds.
UEFA EURO 2012 will be tobacco-free. A complete ban on the use, sale or promotion of tobacco will be in force in both indoor and outdoor areas of all match venues. Put into place to protect the health, safety and comfort of all fans and other tournament participants, the tobacco ban complements other activities such as Respect your Health that use the force of football to promote social issues.
EURO tournaments bring people together on and off the pitch. All sorts of encounters are made, some closer than others. The fun may know no bounds, but there are of course rules. Encounters between people from all over Europe can be unforgettable, as long as they are respectful, good humoured and a danger to no one. Show HIV and AIDS the red card. The HIV virus doesn't play fair, so you have to. Unforgettable encounters should leave no lasting damage. When you think fun and passion, think health too: condoms protect!
Getting There
Stadiums 
Fans' Embassies
Public Viewing 
Accommodation 
Going out 
Local Club(s) 
Fans 
Things to do and see 
Match day Info 
Respect 
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