Travel advice for fans travelling to Kyiv for the UEFA Champions League Final

News

Date: Saturday 26 May 2018

Venue: Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv

Kick off time: 9.45pm (local time)

We do not have an embassy in Ukraine however you can contact the Honorary Consulate on +380 44 279 3200 (during office hours) or +380 93 571 30 11 (in case of an emergency, outside of office hours).  Monday 28 May is a public holiday in Ukraine, therefore, the Honorary Consulate will be closed Saturday 26 May, Sunday 27 May and Monday 28 May.

Passports and Visas

• you do not need a visa to enter Ukraine for less than 3 months, but your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay
• your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid in Ukraine, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential, even if you're only going for one night
• you must carry your passport with you at all times. Police may carry out passport checks on foreign nationals and your original passport is required since no other document can provide information on your legal status in Ukraine. Policemen should introduce themselves (name, post, rank, reason for ID check) and present a document verifying their position
• always take care of your passport, as getting a replacement is costly and time-consuming; keep a photocopy separately from the original document and make sure your next of kin details on the back page of your passport are up to date
• if you lose your passport, please contact the Honorary Consulate at the number above.

Travel arrangements

• you can find information on how to get to the city centre on the websites of Kyiv's two main airports: Boryspil airport and Kyiv (Zhulyany) airport
  
• you can plan your route on Kyiv public transport using the eway website
• use official taxis which display the name and telephone number of the taxi company. Agree the fare with a taxi company or a driver in advance.

Getting to the stadium

• the Olimpiyskiy stadium is located on 55 Velyka Vasylkivska street in central Kyiv, about 2 km from Maydan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square), 3 km from the central railway station, 35 km from Boryspil airport and 8 km from Kyiv (Zhulyany) airport
• it takes around 30 to 40 minutes to walk to the stadium from the city centre
• Olimpiyska metro station will be closed before and after the match. The nearest metro stations that will be operating are Palats Sportu and Ploshcha Lva Tolstoho

At the match

• buy match tickets only from an authorised seller
• tickets to the stadium are holder specific. You might be asked to show your passport to enter the stadium
• Liverpool fans will be seated in blocks 37-55 (lower level) and 40-56 (upper level) in the north stand - the nearest entrance to these sectors in the stadium is from Esplanadna and Saksahanskogo streets
• doors open 3 hours before kick-off – get to the stadium early, as access can be slow due to ticket and security checks
• there are designated rows for wheelchair users in the away sections, which can be reached via lifts from the ground floor
• no large bags (over 20x25x45cm) are permitted inside the stadium. Luggage of a bigger size has to be left at accommodation or stored in lockers near Shevchenko Park (see below)
• no fireworks, smoke bombs, poles for flags are allowed to be brought into the ground. Pitch invasion is prohibited (see Rules of conduct at the stadium)
• police and security staff have the authority to deny entry into the stadium to supporters under the influence of alcohol or drugs; alcohol is banned inside the stadium
• smoking is not allowed anywhere at the stadium
• food outlets and toilets will be available at the rear of the seating area
• items should be paid for by cash in the local currency
• obey instructions from the stadium security to avoid being removed from the stadium and detained by the police
• fans may be kept behind for a time to be determined by police/ stadium security after the match

Taras Shevchenko Park

• a meeting point for Liverpool FC supporters will be set up in Taras Shevchenko Park. Food and beverage facilities, toilets and flight information will be provided here. The meeting point is open on 26 May until 6pm and after the match from midnight to 6am
• if you have a ticket for the match, you will be able to use free shuttle buses to travel between Borispol airport and the meeting point
• a bag deposit facility will be available near the park, on the way to the stadium
• from Taras Shevchenko Park, it is a 15 minute walk to the stadium

UEFA Champions Festival

• The UEFA Champions Festival will be held on Kyiv's main Khreshchatyk Street, between Independence Square and the TSUM Department Store. The Festival will be open from 24 to 27 May from 11am to 11pm on 24 and 25 May, from 11pm to 8pm on 26 May and 11am to 9pm on 27 May. There is no scheduled public viewing of the Final at the Festival

Tips

• most trips to Ukraine are trouble free, however there have been cases of violent attacks on foreign nationals in Kyiv and some of these may have been racially motivated, so take extra care and be vigilant at all times
• be aware of the current political situation (in particular the tension between Ukraine and Russia) and avoid any action that could provoke a hostile reaction
• the pavements, even on the main roads, are difficult to negotiate for those with disabilities. Access to public transport is also difficult
• the currency of Ukraine is the Hryvnia (UAH). US dollars and Euros are the easiest currency to exchange, Sterling may be exchanged at a limited number of sites, Scottish and Northern Ireland notes are not accepted. Use banks and official exchange booths and keep the receipt as you may need to produce it if you exchange money back on departure
• ATMs are available and credit cards are widely used in Kyiv
• as in any other city beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at airports, railway stations, around the town centre, in the stadium and when using public transport; keep valuables and wallet out of sight
• take special care not to leave jackets or bags containing wallets or passports unattended if you're in a restaurant or a bar
• be wary of accepting drinks in bars from strangers or people you've just met
• drinking alcohol is prohibited in public places (except bars, restaurants). Local alcoholic drinks are often stronger than in the UK/Ireland so make allowance for this
• smoking is prohibited in public places, including bars, bus stops, subways, the metro, playgrounds, parks and the stadium itself. Use designated areas for smoking
• don't get involved with drugs - the penalties are severe
• drink bottled water; this is readily available from local shops and hotels
• for the latest information on safety and security - visit our travel advice page for Ukraine
• Police and Ambulance can be contacted on the following numbers from local phones - Police – 102, Ambulance – 103.  There are numerous phone boxes on the streets of Kiev that can be used free of charge for these numbers.

Lost wallets

If you lose your wallet try to cancel your credit cards as soon as possible. We cannot provide you with the funds to help you return home. You can receive money from relatives or friends via commercial money transfer agencies, e.g. Western Union and MoneyGram.

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