How to Visit Ukraine's Matches at Euro 2020, Travel Across Half of Europe and Spend Only 200 Euros on Transport

Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Bucharest and more, on a budget.

Not everyone likes the idea of the 2020 European Championship being held in 12 different countries, but for travelers it offers a chance to get unforgettable experiences from moving between different cities across Europe.

The Ukrainian national team has qualified for the European Championship, so at a minimum, a lot of people will travel the route Kyiv (Lviv, Kharkiv, insert needed city) — Amsterdam — Bucharest — Kyiv (Lviv, Kharkiv, insert needed city). Some will choose to drive their own car, but we suggest looking at the opportunity that opens up for those who decide to travel only by plane (and a little bit by bus).

Summer 2020 — time to experience emotions. Even if you can't get tickets to a match — trust us, it's not a big deal. The main thing at major football tournaments — is the impressions you get outside the stadiums.

Where to search for and buy tickets for the dates shown?

Ukraine national team schedule in the Euro 2020 group stage

June 14. Amsterdam. Ukraine — Netherlands
June 18. Bucharest. Ukraine — play-off winner (to be determined in March)
June 22. Bucharest. Ukraine — Austria

Leg 1. Flight from Kyiv to Amsterdam

Goal: get from Ukraine to Amsterdam by June 14
Price: 68 euros
What else you will see: Katowice (Krakow), Cologne

Experienced travelers see no dissonance in the phrase “the cheapest option is by plane.” The route to Amsterdam is no exception.

So, getting to the capital of the Netherlands (and don't call it “Holland”, they won't approve of that there) currently costs only 68 euros. You need to fly at noon on June 12 from Kyiv to the Polish city of Katowice on Ryanair, the next morning fly with the same low-cost airline to the German city of Cologne, and at night from June 13 to 14 take the Union Inkovi bus from Cologne to Amsterdam.

This option is bad for anyone who doesn't want to spend the night on transport, but it is ideal for anyone who wants to save money by avoiding the cost of a night's stay in Cologne. In Katowice, a one-night hostel stay costs from 11 euros.

Leg 2. Flight from Amsterdam to Bucharest

Goal: get from Amsterdam to Bucharest between June 15 and 18
Price: 70 euros
What else you will see: Vienna

Don't stay in Amsterdam for long (it's an expensive city, to put it mildly) and head straight for Romania. On the morning of June 15 you can fly to Vienna on LEVEL, and a day later fly from there to Bucharest on Lauda — the two flights together cost 70 euros.

One night in one of the most beautiful cities in the world — Vienna — won't ruin you. A hostel from 12 euros. A night in Bucharest — from 10 dollars.

You can spend a whole week in Bucharest. You can visit Timișoara, Cluj, or even Count Dracula's castle in Transylvania — all according to your wishes and budget.

The Ukrainian national team has great chances to advance from the group and continue the fight in the play-offs, but unfortunately the options for the round of 16 are too varied: staying in Bucharest, a convenient Budapest, and inconvenient London and Glasgow — and prices a few days before the match will be very painful. So let's assume it's already time to return to Ukraine and watch the remaining matches on TV.

Leg 3. Flight from Bucharest to Ukraine

Goal: get from Bucharest to Ukraine after June 22
Price: 74 euros
What else you will see: Brussels, Warsaw

For residents of western Ukraine, especially if you are from Chernivtsi, it may make sense to return by land transport. You can get to Suceava by bus for 200 hryvnias, then again by bus to Chernivtsi for 250 hryvnias. After that — check the Ukrzaliznytsia website depending on the city you live in (for example, to Lviv — from 120 hryvnias, to Kyiv — from 250 hryvnias).

But this text — is about adventures, right? The day after the Ukraine — Austria match, June 23, you can start the journey back... through Brussels. Then fly to Warsaw, and from there arrive in Kyiv at noon on June 24. The route to Kharkiv will be practically the same, but 15 euros more expensive.

Summary of the possible 11-day trip

Cities (7-8): Katowice (or Krakow), Cologne, Amsterdam, Vienna, Bucharest, Brussels, Warsaw
Countries (6): Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Belgium
Number of flights — 7
Bus travel — 1
Transport cost: 212 euros (5.6 thousand hryvnias)

And don't forget: the sooner you decide and book all the tickets, the more you will save.

Yevgeny Blazhko, TK Media