Traveling by taxi is by far the most convenient and comfortable means of getting around Kiev. Compared to other modes of public transport in Kiev, taxis are the most expensive option but their fares are a fraction of the cost of other Western Europe and American cities. Most visitors during their stay in Kiev will take at least two taxi journeys; to and from Boryspol airport. This guide will provide information about traveling by taxi in Kiev and includes details of English-speaking taxi services and typical fares.

There are dozens of taxi companies in Kiev and a numerous army of private cars acting as taxis. Although the prices of the latter are usually less, we would not recommend employing their services due to the following reasons:

Private taxi drivers usually fail to adhere to safety requirements for their cars.
Private taxi drivers are not regulated, thus there is no guarantee that you will get to your destination.

Saint Sophia’s Cathedral

Most taxis do not have taxi-meter, therefore you should always agree on a price before getting in. If you fail to set a price, Kiev taxi drivers are notorious for overcharging journeys, especially for tourists. Kiev Taxi drivers often make their most money from fares that originate from the airports, the main train station, and the central bus station.

At these locations you will see many parked cars and drivers looking for and loudly inviting the potential clients. Those most actively and loudly touting will most likely quote the highest price. They believe and hope that Kiev newcomers and foreigners, in particular, may be easily deceived with extortionate rates. The process for catching a taxi from Boryspol airport to Kiev has much improved with regulated taxi and set fares of 200UAH, for a guide about traveling from the airport to Kiev, please click here.

Saint Andrew's church

Do not forget that prices are negotiable, and always arrange a price before getting in the car. The average rate charged by the taxis is about 0.40-0.50 Euros (7-10 UAH) per kilometer with a minimum of 35-40 UAH. In the historic center of the city, the rates tend to be more expensive due to traffic and tend to be around 1.5-2.5 Euros (35-60 UAH) per kilometer. There should be no difference in fare prices during the night and day, but night fares tend to be a lot more expensive if the taxi driver guess that you have been drinking or a “rich tourist”. If you are ever unhappy with the price quoted for the journey simply leave the taxi and catch another, and often this action will reduce the price of the fare. Another approach to get a fair price is to state how much you will pay for the journey.

It is useful while exploring Kiev to have the name and address of your hotel on a piece of paper, so that if you need to catch a taxi back, this can be shown to the driver. If a taxi is ordered through a hotel, they will usual take a commission from the driver. This will make the journey slightly more expensive but is often outweighed by having a better driver/car who can speak some a little English. Kiev taxi drivers tend to like their music turned up to the maximum, and you will be most likely entertained with loud music during your journey.

The Dnieper River of Kiev

The main problem with taxis, as well as the other public means of transport, is that most of the drivers do not speak English. However, thanks to Euro 2012 several English-speaking taxi services have recently appeared in Kiev. The most reliable among them are: Lingo Taxi (lingotaxi.com; tel.: + 38 094 712 2034), Happy Go Taxi (happygotaxi.com; tel.: + 38 063 739 2369) and Welcome Taxi (welcometaxi.com.ua; tel.: + 38 094 710 5663). Limuzin Taxi (+ 38 068 353 1341; {044} 502 0808, {044} 207 3737) should be also mentioned for its high quality service and relatively low prices.