Passengers seeking low-cost long-distance travel have often turned to buses and coaches but a surprise new bus destination is now available from Brussels: the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
A 2,150-km journey
Low-cost intercity bus company Flixbus, headquartered in Munich, Germany, has added the Brussels to Kyiv service to its schedules twice a week, with departures from Kyiv on Wednesdays and Fridays, and in the other direction from Brussels Gare du Nord on Tuesday and Sunday. The 2,150 km journey takes between 38 and 40 hours and is priced from €74.99 to €220.
All Flixbus vehicles are equipped with free WiFi, toilets and power outlets, and all passengers are guaranteed a seat, with a choice, subject to availability, of panoramic seats, table seats and adjustable sleeping seats.
Some departures already sold out
Tickets in both directions have already sold out for some dates the company says. It is well placed to know how much demand there is for Ukraine routes despite the country’s ongoing war with Russia. It offers 28 direct bus connections to Ukraine from eight EU countries already, including routes to and from Poland and Hungary.
The new Brussels-Kyiv service makes 17 stops en route (Kyiv – Zhytomyr – Rivne – Lviv – Berlin – Magdeburg – Braunschweig – Hanover – Bielefeld – Dortmund – Essen – Duisburg – Düsseldorf – Cologne-Bonn Airport – Aachen – Liège – Brussels Gare du Nord), and “is an important step in the expansion of our network” said Pablo Pastega, FlixBus’s Western Europe Vice President.
As well as the three other Ukrainian cities, the indirect bus makes four stops in Kyiv itself: at the FlixBus Ukraine Office, the Central Bus Station, the Dachna Bus Station, and Kyiv Bus Station. At the other terminus city, Brussels, stops are made at Heysel, Brussels-North and Brussels-Midi stations, and Charleroi Airport.
Bringing Ukraine and the EU closer?
Describing Brussels as a connection at the “heart of Europe”, the executive added that the bus company is “pleased to contribute to Ukraine’s integration with European countries,” and wants to “offer comfortable and affordable travel to all Ukrainians, strengthening social and economic ties with Europe.”
Going further, Pastega suggested the bus route was a precursor to further political cooperation. “For FlixBus and for Ukraine this bus route is a symbol and confirmation that the Ukrainian people are moving closer to their ambition of becoming a full member of the European Union. From now on Brussels is closer, both literally and figuratively”.
