Ukraine

Wartime travel essentials for alerts, shelters, transport and resilient payments

17 apps9 essentialEuropeLast updated: August 2026

Many governments advise against all travel to Ukraine, and some distinguish only a limited number of western regions for essential travel.

The essentials

UklonRide Hailing
BoltRide Hailing
Bolt FoodFood Delivery
GlovoFood Delivery
Google MapsNavigation
Kyiv DigitalTransit
Google TranslateLanguage
UkrzaliznytsiaIntercity Transport
Air AlertUtilities

What to know before you go to Ukraine

Missile and drone strikes can affect any region, commercial flights do not operate, consular help may be severely limited and ordinary insurance may be invalid. If you travel despite that advice, identify a verified shelter before arrival, install Повітряна тривога, obey every siren and check the local curfew daily. An available taxi does not give you permission to move during curfew. Expect rail, power, mobile, water and card-payment disruption; carry offline documents, two physical cards, some hryvnia, water, medication and a charged power bank.

Stay on verified routes because mines and unexploded weapons remain a hazard, and never photograph military sites, checkpoints, air defences or strike locations. Call 112 from a mobile for general emergencies, 101 for fire, 102 for police and 103 for an ambulance.

Ride Hailing3 apps · 2 essential

View Ride Hailing guide→

UklonEssential

Ukraine's leading local ride app, with the broadest country-specific service and cash or card payment.

Pro tip: A foreign card may fail even after registration. Keep hryvnia cash and Bolt or Uber as backups, and never assume a visible car means curfew travel is legal.

App Store Play Store Website

BoltEssential

Broadly available ride app with an English interface, upfront quotes and foreign-friendly card support.

Pro tip: Compare its live supply with Uklon. Confirm the plate and driver, keep payment in the app, and follow the local curfew even if Bolt accepts a request.

App Store Play Store Website

Uber

Useful international backup currently listed in Kyiv and 17 other Ukrainian cities.

Pro tip: Coverage on a city page does not guarantee nearby drivers. Compare the live wait and fare, and never ask a driver to ignore an alert or curfew restriction.

App Store Play Store Website

Food Delivery3 apps · 2 essential

View Food Delivery guide→

Bolt FoodEssential

Restaurant and grocery delivery whose current official courier directory names 39 Ukrainian localities.

Pro tip: Ride coverage does not equal food coverage. Check your address, every fee and the live delivery estimate before choosing it over Glovo.

App Store Play Store Website

GlovoEssential

Large restaurant and shop marketplace whose current Ukraine directory has 48 address-search entries.

Pro tip: Set the exact address, compare the complete checkout total and never place a handoff above an air-alert, curfew or shelter instruction.

App Store Play Store Website

LOKO

Ukrainian service for restaurant meals, Silpo groceries and daily goods in 62 published settlements.

Pro tip: Use it when Glovo or Bolt Food has weak choice, especially when you want one service that covers both restaurant meals and groceries. Coverage and inventory are address-specific.

App Store Play Store Website

Messaging2 apps

View Messaging guide→

Viber

Common personal and group messenger in Ukraine, useful when a specific host, driver or contact requests it.

Pro tip: Do not install it merely because it is popular. Use the booking channel first, verify unfamiliar contacts and never send an emergency request only by chat.

App Store Play Store Website

Telegram

Useful for verified city, transport and institutional channels, as well as local contacts who prefer it.

Pro tip: Follow only channels linked by the responsible authority. Telegram is context, not an all-clear, so obey sirens and the official Air Alert app first.

App Store Play Store Website

Navigation2 apps · 1 essential

View Navigation guide→

Google MapsEssential

Best general option for Ukrainian addresses, walking, business listings and an initial route check.

Pro tip: Download the area and save Cyrillic addresses, but follow closures and authorities. A suggested route is not proof that a road, path or shelter is safe.

App Store Play Store Website

Organic Maps

Offline OpenStreetMap-based maps and routing that remain available during network or power disruption.

Pro tip: Download every region before departure. Offline data can be stale and does not show current military controls, damage, mines or whether a route is open.

App Store Play Store Website

Transit2 apps · 1 essential

Kyiv DigitalEssential

Official English-capable Kyiv app for transport tickets, live information, alerts and the city's shelter map.

Pro tip: Register with a supported foreign number, download the shelter map and validate every QR ticket. Keep Air Alert as a separate warning source.

App Store Play Store Website

EasyWay

English-capable route planner for many Ukrainian cities, with offline data and selected live vehicle feeds.

Pro tip: Use it for routes, not as a universal ticket. Live positions can be limited for security reasons, so confirm a critical trip with the local operator.

App Store Play Store Website

Language1 app · 1 essential

Google TranslateEssential

Offline Ukrainian text, camera and conversation support for signs, menus, addresses and basic communication.

Pro tip: Download Ukrainian before arrival and keep original Cyrillic names. Use a human-checked card or interpreter for medical, allergy, legal or emergency details.

App Store Play Store Website

Intercity Transport3 apps · 1 essential

UkrzaliznytsiaEssential

Official Ukrainian Railways app for long-distance, international, suburban and selected urban rail tickets.

Pro tip: For some international trains, verify the app account with your passport up to 12 hours before sales open. Match the ticket name exactly to the ID.

App Store Play Store Website

INFOBUS

Multilingual search and booking marketplace for domestic and international buses serving Ukraine.

Pro tip: Verify the actual carrier, boarding point, baggage and refund rules. Leave a large border buffer because a marketplace cannot protect a tight connection.

App Store Play Store Website

FlixBus

Large international coach network linking many Ukrainian cities, with limited domestic-only service as of 2026.

Pro tip: Check whether FlixBus is the operator or sales brand, confirm the exact stop and allow substantial time for border procedures and wartime disruption.

App Store Play Store Website

Utilities1 app · 1 essential

Air AlertEssential

Official civil-defence alert app for selected Ukrainian regions and communities, with no registration required.

Pro tip: Enable critical notifications, select the exact locality and test the sound. The app is not a shelter map and cannot replace sirens, authorities or a charged backup plan.

App Store Play Store Website

Also covered

Internet in Ukraine

Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling

Guac

Recommended

Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.

App Store Play Store See plans

Airalo

One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.

Holafly

Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.

Buying a local SIM card No ID registration needed

Registration: Formal registration is not normally required, but the retailer may still ask for your passport.
Where to buy: Airport counters and city carrier stores are the easiest places to buy; confirm activation before leaving.

Good to know

Civil airspace remains closed to scheduled passenger flights; plan to enter overland and arrange connectivity accordingly.

Local carriers

Kyivstar
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Vodafone Ukraine
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
lifecell
Good-value option when price matters most.

Full SIM card and eSIM guide for Ukraine→eSIM and SIM cards by country→

Fewer independent sources cover this country, so treat prices and registration rules here as a starting point and confirm them locally.

Sources and how current this is

Data checked July 2026

From the companies

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-have apps for traveling in Ukraine?

The essential apps for Ukraine are Uklon, Bolt, Bolt Food, Glovo, Google Maps.

How many travel apps does Ukraine have?

We've curated 17 apps across 9 categories for traveling in Ukraine, including 9 essential apps.

What is the best ride hailing app in Ukraine?

Uklon. Ukraine's leading local ride app, with the broadest country-specific service and cash or card payment.

Keep exploring

How to Pay in Ukraine

Payment apps and cashless travel tips

Is Uber Available in Ukraine?

Ride-hailing options and local alternatives

Also traveling in Europe?

Albania

Local taxi apps, lek cash and offline maps matter more than global brands

13 apps · 4 essential

Austria

Public transport first, with city and Alpine tools that prevent expensive mistakes

13 apps · 7 essential

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Carry BAM, use local transport apps, and stay on established routes

13 apps · 5 essential

Belgium

National rail, regional transit and simple card backups for Belgium

13 apps · 6 essential

Bulgaria

Licensed taxi apps, city-specific transit tools and euro cash backups

21 apps · 6 essential

Switzerland

Use SBB first, keep a card and francs handy, and prepare offline maps for the mountains

13 apps · 5 essential

See something wrong? Suggest an edit