The Foreign Office have chipped in again!!
Liverpool FC v Real Madrid travel advice
Travel advice for Liverpool fans travelling to Kyiv for the UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid on Saturday 26 May.
Advice for fans travelling to Ukraine for Liverpool FC’s match with Real Madrid on 26 May 2018
Date: Saturday 26 May 2018
Venue: Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kyiv
Kick off time: 9.45pm (local time)
Passports and visas
you don’t need a visa to enter Ukraine for less than 3 months, but your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay
if you are travelling by road through Belarus, you will need a visa. Check out FCO travel advice for Belarus
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. It could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties
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, you’ll need to get an Emergency Travel Document from the British Embassy in Kyiv. The fee for travel document is £100.
Travel arrangements
it may take several hours or longer to get across the land border
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 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
Lost wallets
If you lose your wallet try to cancel your credit cards as soon as possible. British consular officials cannot provide you with the funds to help you return home. You can receive money from relatives or friends in the UK via commercial money transfer agencies, e.g. Western Union and MoneyGram.
If you are arrested
British consular officials can visit you in remand / prison at your request and give you the list of English speaking lawyers if you need one. But they cannot get you out of prison, represent you in court or pay your bills. If you wish to see a consular official please make this request clear to the local police authorities.
British Embassy in Kyiv
British Embassy Kyiv
9 Desyatynna str, 01901 Kyiv, Ukraine
Telephone (+38 044) 490 36 60 (also for out of hours emergencies)
Office hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
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