Getting Around Chernihiv
Chernihiv is a compact, walkable city, and most visitors find that a mix of walking and short rides on public transport or taxis covers everything they need. The city has a convenient public transport system built around buses and trolleybuses, with taxis and ride-hailing apps filling in the gaps.
Public Transport: Buses and Trolleybuses
Chernihiv's public transport network consists of 16 bus routes and 8 trolleybus routes. There is no metro or tram system in the city, so buses and trolleybuses are the main forms of shared transport for getting across town.
- Buses — the backbone of the network, with 16 routes serving the city.
- Trolleybuses — electric vehicles running on a separate set of 8 routes, generally a little cheaper than buses.
Single-ride tickets are inexpensive and are bought on board: expect to pay 8–12 грн for a bus ride and 8 грн for a trolleybus. Fares are paid in cash to the driver or conductor, so it helps to carry small notes and coins.
To plan a trip, you can check schedules on the official public transport website (available in Ukrainian), or use the DozoR and EasyWay apps and Google Maps, which also carry information about routes and timings.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are the easiest way of getting around the city, and several companies operate in Chernihiv. Ride-hailing apps are widely used and are usually the simplest option for visitors, since you can set your destination in the app and pay without needing to explain an address in Ukrainian.
- Bolt
- Uklon
- OnTaxi
- Opti
- Shark
These services cover the city and are a good fallback when you don't want to wait for a bus or trolleybus, or when you're travelling with luggage.
Walking
Chernihiv's central sights, main avenues and transport stops are close enough together that walking is a practical way to get around for much of a visit. The city's core is laid out along its main avenues, and pedestrian routes connect the centre with the railway station and the bus stations. Walking is also the easiest way to reach the informal minibus stops that link Chernihiv with Kyiv.
Arriving by Train
Chernihiv is served by rail, with two railway stations:
- Chernihiv Railway station (Залізничний вокзал "Чернігів") on Peremohy Avenue — the city's main station.
- Chernihiv-Pivnichnyi Railway station (Залізнична станція Чернігів-Північний) on Borysenka Street, in the northern part of the city.
Both stations can be reached by phone if you need to check details in advance.
Arriving by Bus from Kyiv
Frequent minibuses — known locally as marshrutkas — connect Chernihiv with Kyiv. They leave from Kyiv's Lisova Metro station when full, typically every 15 to 20 minutes, and also from the Chernihiv Metro station in Kyiv; from that exit you turn left, walk along the sidewalk over the train line to the adjacent highway, where the buses stand in line. Take the bus furthest down the line, which is the first one to depart. The journey is inexpensive.
The same minibuses run from Chernihiv back to Kyiv frequently throughout the day, departing from various stops around the city, including near the McDonald's in front of the Mega Mall on Prospekt Mira, and on Prospect Pobeda just before it intersects with Prospect Mira.
Chernihiv also has three bus stations for longer-distance and regional services:
- Bus station No. 1 on Peremohy Avenue
- Bus station No. 2 on Murynsona Street
- Bus station No. 3 on 50 Rosiv SRSR Street
Getting from the Airport into the City
In practice, visitors travelling by air generally arrive through Kyiv and continue to Chernihiv overland — most commonly by the frequent minibuses from Kyiv's Lisova and Chernihiv metro stations, or by train to one of Chernihiv's two railway stations. Once you reach Chernihiv's main railway station or bus station No. 1, both on Peremohy Avenue, you can continue into the centre by bus, trolleybus, taxi or on foot.