Kiev Transportation

If time is no problem for you to go to Kiev, I advise to take the train. Unfortunatelly since 2008 there is no longer a direct train from Vienna to Kiev. The fastest connection is Vienna - Warsaw - Kiev and takes about 24 hours... sometimes maybe with a little delay even a bit longer;-) Planes to Kiev are overpriced so it is really worth to take the train and have also the occasion to enjoy the landscape.
Pay attention by booking, beside the ticket is also a reservation needed for the most Ukrainian trains. I had forgotten this at my first trip... but a few € or $ for the conductor are always a good help for coming home.
For further informations: http://www.oebb.at

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If you arived to the railway station and your next destination is the Internaional Airport, you don't have to hire a cab.
There are direct buses to the airport.
The bus stop is located outside the new building of the railway station called Southern Station.
The big bus will take you to the airport in 40-45 minutes and the small express bus will take you there in about half an hour. The bus fare is 30 UAH.

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The Metro is the easiest way to travel around Kiev, except during the rush hours, when the trains can get very crowded. Much, but not all of the city, is covered by the Metro's three lines and 46 stations. Kiev has some of the deepest underground stations in the world and at times as you travel down the steep escalators, it feels like you are on a journey to the centre of the earth. The stations and trains are clean and fairly modern.

The first of the three lines to open was the Sviatoshyns'ko-Brovars'ka Line between Vokzal'na (Central Station) and Dnipro, the first section of which opened in 1960. This was followed by the Kurenivs'ko-Chervonoarmiys'ka Line in 1976, and the Syrets'ko-Pechers'ka Line, which has been growing since 1989. There are currently 60 km of track in the system. It is planned to add two more lines and almost double the number of Metro stations in the future.

The Kiev Metro runs from 6:00 until 24:00. First trains leave at 5:50 from the terminus of the line, and last trains leave the city centre at 0:20. Trains run every 1.5-2 min during peak hours, and every 3-5 min at other times, depending on the line. The fare per jouney is just 0.5 UAH. You buy the plastic tokens just inside the station entrance. Or, if you are staying long-term, you can buy a monthly travel card for 25 UAH.

Try to get maps or other useful information beforehand in western strandard writting, there is no tourist information office at all and all of the signs and directions are written in cyrillic......I got the usual lonely planet book which was ok but the web is only there to find out all the needed information.....All the best

Carlos

if you need to get from Zhuliany (local airport) to Boryspil (international airport), and are not willing to pay a rip off taxi price, here is a budget option by public transportation.

- take a marshrutka (minivan) #565, which stops just outside of Airport Zhuliany (fare 1.5 UAH -1.75UAH) to Chokolvsky Prospekt;
- change to a marshrutka #454 (fare 1.5 UAH -1.75 UAH) to Pivdennyi Railway station (the last stop). if you want to save time, and don't mind paying extra, take a taxi from Zhuliany to Pivdenny Railway station (30 UAH).

- change to a Polit bus to Boryspil Aiport (22 UAH per website, 2008). the departure times can be checked at: http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua/transport/public.html

although this is the cheapest, it is also the longest way (might take from around 2-2.5 hours depending how well you connections will go), thus plan accordingly.

Depends what you mean by easiest.
Taxi is easiest and quickest but most expensive.Not sure how much these days but around $30 maybe more.
Alternative is to get to train station and there go by bus/mini bus.
Last time I was there it was 23 Grivna (around $4/5)

Once you walk down St Andrews descent to the Podil district you can easily ride this funicular back up to the top of the hill near St Michaels. Look for the Mc Donalds near the river and then turn to face the hill and you'll find the funicular.

The word for train station in Russian is Volksalna (close approximation). This picture is of the old section of the station, if you go inside you can ride an escalator up to the walkway that walks over the tracks to the new train station section. The walkway also has many small stores to buy goodies and snacks for your trip.

If you're looking for food, outside the old side of the train station is a McDonalds and Pizza restaurant. If you go out and turn left towards the McDonalds you will also find the entrance to the metro station. There are also several more kiosks with food and beverages.

You can also stash your luggage in the luggage lockers outside the old entrance and to your left. Then go downstairs and you'll see the attendants.