# Which land border is better? **URL:** \ **Category:** Travel to Russia\ **Created:** [April 15, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318 "2026-04-15T04:58:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 4:58am UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318/1 "2026-04-15T04:58:19Z")
I plan on going back to Russia and taking a taxi service into Pskov. Which land border crossing is better? Koidula - Kunichina Gora or Luhamaa - Shumilkino ??? ---
**Author:** ![NomadicHedgie](https://forum.russiable.com/user_avatar/forum.russiable.com/nomadichedgie/32/9_2.png) [@NomadicHedgie](https://forum.russiable.com/u/NomadicHedgie)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318/2 "2026-04-15T23:29:05Z")
I’m not sure. I’ve only gone through Narva-Ivangorod. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@antoniob](https://forum.russiable.com/u/antoniob)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318/3 "2026-04-23T16:26:48Z")
> @Cal Which land border crossing is better? > Koidula - Kunichina Gora > or > Luhamaa - Shumilkino > ??? I have experience of both, and for a while at Kunichina Gora there was FSB interview for all people. No idea by now. That means, you get a form with questions at the kiosk where passport control happens. You fill the form, passports are collected and handed to the FSB guy inside the office, then you wait in the room, to be called. FSB guy inspects quickly your phone, asks some questions, does some paperwork on his terminal, scanner and printer. Then you proceed further. The point with this is that time at the FSB control depends your mileage. I had it quick, but have plenty russian stamps on the passport, never went to Ukraine. Russians with relatives in Ukraine, and who visited there before Donbas war, are always screened longer. There are busses and car there. No idea how processing is distributed, if single traveler can be processed in-between passengers of a bus or must wait that a whole bus is processed. I have done it by bus and the delay was in the 3 hours. There is no point with taxi there. You can take the bus in Tartu, Baltic Shuttle around 10:00 or Ecolines around 14:00. Since end February until end May (if not prolonged for ever) Estonia operates 07:00-19:00 and the route I took end March, Pskov-Riga ie. via Shumikino-Luhaama is now split on two coaches, similar to Narva-Ivangorod border. Crossing by foot then board another bus. When I crossed at Kunichina Gora - Koidula last time it was prior this change, no idea if now it is also like at Luhaama. Could search dedicated groups about this. Kunichina Gora is practical when by bus, because if you are processed among the first passengers, no need to wait for the others as bus driver has to do before departing, even in case of long delay. The village of Pechory is just there, you walk 15mn to central square with local bus stop to Pskov. ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:28pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318/4 "2026-04-26T21:28:09Z")
This is very helpful, thank you. I too never went to Ukraine so hopefully that will help speed things along. I think from what you describe, the Kunichina Gora route would be the better choice, especially with Pechory being just there. If the bus breaks or something else, I can just walk and catch the local bus. I have the opposite question also - If I’m going Pskov \> Tartu, after I get past Koidula checkpoint is there any local bus stops, or taxis? ---
**Author:** ![Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Cal](https://forum.russiable.com/u/Cal)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://forum.russiable.com/t/which-land-border-is-better/318/5 "2026-04-26T21:39:53Z")
I have a bad back. So when I went through last time, I went through HAPVA, and it took six or seven hours. But I also made the mistake of not getting a hotel in Narva the night before, and not getting there very early. When the bus arrived from Tallin, it was already afternoon. I can’t stand up for that long amount of time, and it almost killed me (not literally). I do not want to go through something like that again, and I’m looking for the best route which has the best transportation options, if I need them. But I’m planning on just using the bus. I keep the webcam link for HAPVA on my phone, and when I’m bored I look at the line and say, thank you Lord for not letting me die here!