Lviv

The city has a multicultural history but little of the evidence of this has survived until today. It was founded in 1256 by King Daniel of Galicia (Ukrainian: Король Данило Галицький - Korol' Danylo Galyckyy) and fell under Polish control in the 14th century. Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Germans and others lived there together for centuries. This multicultural experience virtually came to an end during and after WWII. Germans, with the help of Ukrainian nationalists, killed most of the Jews (about one third of Lviv's population at that time) and, at the end and in the direct aftermath of the war, the Polish population (about 65% of the population) was first partly driven out by nationalist terror, then "repatriated" to Poland in its new borders by the Soviet government. The Polish and Jewish heritage is hardly preserved, but one can find some inscriptions on former shops in Polish, Yiddish and German.
Because of Lviv's proximity to the EU and its openness to foreigners, the city's multicultural feel has experienced a resurgence. Even today, walking through the city centre, a traveller can hear Poles laughing and taking pictures of the beautiful old buildings, Germans walking through the city on guided tours, Ukrainian or Russian tourists and students joking about this or that, and American or British businessmen chatting in cafes. There is even a small Jewish community in the city. The many universities in Lviv attract students from every continent on the globe, and its old architecture draws tourists from various parts of the world, including Ukraine.
The Polish king John II Casimir founded the Lviv University in the 17th century and Lviv (known as Lwów) was by that time one of the most important cities in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, along with Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk and Vilnius.
In 1772 the city was taken by the Habsburgs, and in Austrian times it was known as Lemberg, the capital of Galicia. After the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, it was returned to Poland.
As a result of World War II, Stalin moved the Soviet frontier westward so Lviv became part of the USSR under the name Lvov (still widely used, even locally). With Ukrainian independence in 1991, the name was changed to Lviv (Львів).
Lviv is in the most Ukrainian region of Ukraine. When it was a Soviet province, most signs were only in Ukrainian, and only a few also in Russian. Because of its Polish and Austro-Hungarian history, Lviv has a Central European flair in its architecture that makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. Lviv has even been called "the capital of Ukrainian culture". The people there are very warm, although somewhat direct (which is very common in eastern Slavic cultures).
Since slightly before the Euro 2012 soccer tournament, the city has become more and more tourist-friendly. All downtown street signs are now in both Ukrainian and English, and the staff of the Information Center on Rynok Square speak many different languages. Maps, schedules of local events, and tourist guides can be obtained there for free in English, German, Polish, and Russian. There are even small information kiosks beside some monuments (small touch-screen TVs that offer maps and information about the city). Visiting Lviv is very rewarding for the pioneer traveller, as living is extremely cheap here and the place has a truly authentic feeling, unlike places like Kraków or Prague, which are swamped with tourists.

By plane

• Lviv international airport

  phone: +380 32 2298112
  address: Liubinska str., 168
  Its brand-new terminal building replaced the cramped old one, which is still seen nearby as a sublime example of Stalinist architecture, with gorgeous sculptures that are, unfortunately, visible from the runways only. - Lviv is served via direct international routes including daily flights from Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Munich (Lufthansa), Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines), as well as regular service to Rome, Vilnius, Poznań, Prague and Tel Aviv. You can also fly from Kiev (4-5 daily flights by UIA, UTair Ukraine, Dniproavia). Another option is to fly from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus.

By train

There are multiple daily trains, including several overnight options, from Kiev, Odessa and many other Ukrainian cities with Ukrzaliznytsia. International trains arrive from Polish cities such as Gdansk, Kraków, Przemyśl and Warsaw. There are also trains from Chop, at the border with Hungary, and long distance trains from Moscow. For more information see here.

• Klepariv Railway station

  phone: +380 32 226-2464, 2460
  address: Shevchenka T. Str, 158

• Lviv Central Railway station

  phone: +380 32 226-2068
  address: Dvirtseva Sq, 1

• Lviv Suburban Railway station

  phone: +380 32 226-2200
  address: Vul. Horodots'ka str., 110

• Railway ticket office

  phone: +380 32 226-3733
  address: Hnatiuka V. akad. str., 20/22
  For train tickets.

• Railway ticket office

  phone: +380 32 226-1194
  address: Horodotska str.,112
  For suburban tickets.

By bus

• Bus station No.1

  address: Vul. Stryiskyi, (ул. Стрыйская,) 109
  Buses from Warsaw, Przemyśl, Lublin, Wrocław and Prague. For more information on international buses see Western_Ukraine#By_bus

• Bus station No.2

  phone: +380 32 238-8308
  address: Khmelnytskogo, (л. Б. Хмельницкого,) 225

• Bus station No.8

  phone: +380 32 238-8308
  address: Dvirtseva Sq, 1

By car

For more information see Western_Ukraine#By_car
From Poland: take the , this will end at the city centre. Formalities at the border take at least one hours. There will be a long line for trucks, which you can pass if you travel by car. Don't expect the border police to treat you respectfully, or speak any language other than Ukrainian, Polish or Russian. In fact, expect the very opposite regarding both.
It is also illegal to drive in the city centre (including Prospekt Svobody) on Sundays and holidays. This is signposted in Cyrillic only, and there are always some police present to catch some unsuspecting foreigner.

Lviv has an extensive tram and mini-bus network.

• Mini-buses (5 грн) are known as marshrutky and follow a set route, but without a fixed timetable. To indicate a desire to board, extend one arm as the marshrutka approaches; simply ask the driver to stop when you would like to get off. However some drivers will only stop the bus at the nearest official bus stop because of fear of police enforcement. Lines 1 to 179.
• Trams and trolleybuses cost 5 грн (tickets for students are 2.5 грн) (April 2018). You can purchase tickets from any news kiosk or from driver in tram. Ask for a "tramvainyi bilet". If you are carrying a piece of luggage larger than a backpack you will need to purchase a second ticket for it. Once inside the tram, be sure to validate your tickets by punching them in one of the metal punches mounted on the walls. An inspector may come around to check your ticket - these people do not wear uniforms but flash a little badge. Most of the drivers of the trams and ticket checkers are women.
• Taxis are available throughout the city, and the city centre is swarming with them at night. When they aren't equipped with a meter you must agree on a price with the driver ahead of time. It's usually cheaper when taxis do have meter, but even then they may not to turn it on for you. It's usually cheaper to order a taxi by phone than catch a taxi on the street. For the sake of convenience and fare's predictability you can also use Uber app or its Ukrainian rival Uklon.

Churches in the "Old Town"

• Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord

  address: Krakivs'ka str, 21
  On the site of the former church of the Holy Trinity which was part of The Trinitarian fathers monastery (1703). In 1783, the monastery was closed. Inside the church is a library and assembly hall. Burned out. The Church of Transfiguration was consecrated on 29 April 1906.

• Armenian Cathedral

  address: Virmenska str, 7-13
  An architectural complex of the centre around which other buildings are grouped to form three small enclosed courtyards. Constructed between 1363 and 1370, later remodelled a few times. Very interesting interior.

• Dominican Roman-Catholic Church

  address: Muzeina sq, 1
  Built in the Gothic style in the years 1370-1375. Impressive Baroque temple rebuilt for Dominicans in 18th century. Resembles the church of St. Charles Borromeus in Vienna with its concave façade and huge elliptical dome. After World War II, the building served as a warehouse and later Museum of Religion and Atheism. Now it is a Greek Catholic parish church.

• Assumption Church

  address: Pidvalna str, 9
  In the 1550s the Dormition brotherhood emerged in which the school operated and printing. The 65m high church has a two-headed Russian eagle image as the memory of the significant donation of funds to build a church, made by Tsar Feodor I of Russia in 1592. Here is also Chapel of the Three Holy Bishops (Каплиця Трьох святителів) a Renaissance architecture, built by architect Peter Krasovsky in 1578-1591, it is adjacent to one side of the northern wall of the Assumption Church. Also here is the Tower of Korniakt (Вежа Корнякта), built as the belfry of the Assumption Church, served as defence towers in the siege and fire guards patrol the item, built in 1572-1578.

• Jesuit Roman-Catholic Church

  address: Teatral'na str, 11
  based on Rome's Il Gesu church. Could accommodate up to 5,000 faithful. Built in baroque style, in the years 1610-1630 while finishing work continued into 1660. In 1775-1848, the church building took place in meetings of the birth of the Diet "Galicia, the first provincial parliament.

• Cathedral (Latin)

  address: Katedralna sq., 1
  Founded in the 1360s, built a long time - up to 1481, in typical European Gothic style. In the walls - high windows, covered with stained glass. Parts: Kampianiv Chapel (Каплиця Кампіанів)- built near the northern wall of the Latin Cathedral in 1619 - and the Boimiv Chapel (Каплиця Боїмів) which built as a tomb in 1610s for the merchant Boim family. A mannerist architecture marvel all made of black stone.

• Bernardynskyi monastyr

  address: Square Soborna, (Соборна пл.,) 1-3
  The monastery occupies a triangular plot, which was the basis for the shaft between the Galician city gates and Royal bastion, and the top - a strong bastion of what was called Bernardine. It was surrounded by strong stone walls with battlements and a tower with Hlynyanskymy gate. There were adjacent farm buildings - smithy, stable, and others. The monastery main part is the Bernardyns'kyi Roman-Catholic Church (Бернардинський костьол). First built in wood, in 1600, finishing work continued into 1630. In 1738-1740 rebuilt in hewn stone.

• Remains of the former Golden Rose Synagogue

  address: Staroievreiska str.
  This was the oldest synagogue in Ukraine. In 1941 the Nazi invaders destroyed this building together with other synagogues. Today one can visit the foundations and one remaining wall; also, there is a commemorative plaque.

Other churches and synagogues

• Saint George (Jura) Cathedral

  address: Sviatoho Yura sq (Святого Юра пл.,), 5
  Built in 1363-1437 as a stone church in the Byzantine basilica style. The present Greek Catholic Cathedral was built in 1744-1770: it is a classic example of Baroque architecture of the period.

• Tsori Gilod Synagogue

  phone: +380 322 383 804
  address: Brativ Mikhnovs'kykh St, 4
  Built in 1925, used as a warehouse during the German occupation, returned to the Jewish community in 1989, then renovated.

• Temple of Svaty Apostola Andriia

  address: Varshavska str., 38

• St. Parasceva Pyatnitsy Church

  address: Khmelnytskoho B. str, 63
  In 1645 the church built of stone whoop (in bottom) and brick.

• Armenian Roman-Catholic Church

  address: Zamarstynivska str., 9
  A half-round apse temple built in the 1630s. Gothic architecture.

• Church and monastery of Saint Onufrii

  address: Khmelnytskoho B.str, 36
  Here was a wooden church, where monks settled in the early 15th century. Around 1550, Prince Constantine Ostrozhsky built a brick church. In the 18th century, there were two churches: a primary - the so-called "big church" and the Trinity Chapel on the south side - the "small church," built in 1680. In 1776 the "high (big) church" and the chapel were connected. In 1821 -1824, the eastern area of ​​the altar was expanded, and the sacristy and porch were constructed. Finally in 1902, the north aisle was built, repeating the shape of the southern chapel. As a result the church now has three naves.

• Church of St. Nicholas

  address: Khmelnytskoho B. str.,(ulica Bogdana Chmielnickiego,) 28
  From the primary structures of the 8th century, only the lower part of the foundation and walls composed of blocks of white limestone have survived. In the 18th century, the church was covered with shingles. The condition of the church's interior is extremely poor.

• Museum of ancient monuments of Lviv

  phone: +380 32 272-2886
  address: Uzhhorodska str (Ужгородська ул),1
  In the Church of St. John the Baptist. The exhibits contains archaeological findings, antiquities, works of art, and historical information about the oldest period of the city.

• Church of the Saint Family of Reformat Order

  address: Shevchenka T. str, 66
  Roman-Catholic Church.

• Saint Anna Temple

  address: Shevchenka T. str, 1
  First a wooden church was built in 1507. In 1599, it was restored. A stone church was then constructed here in the 1760s.

• Church of Klarysok (Saint Clare)

  address: Mytna sq ( Мытна пл.,), 2
  Roman-Catholic.

• St. George's Cathedral

  address: Korolenka V. str., 3
  Neo-Byzantine Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)

• Church of the Holy Spirit

  address: Kopernyka M. str.(Коперника М. ул.), 40
  During World War II, the church was destroyed. Preserved only bell-tower - stone, square in plan, three-storey, with baroque completion. In 1786 it set the clock. In 1957 the monument was restored. Now here is open Mermaids Dnistrova Museum.

Monuments in the "Old Town"

• Griffon House

  address: Krakivs'ka str., 34
  Original staircase, decorated with fine reliefs in the Empire style with motifs Griffon, vases and playful sense. Relief, that contain trade mark.

• City Theatre (M. Zankovetska Ukrainian Drama Theatre)

  phone: +38 32 235-5583
  address: Lesi Ukrainky str, 1
  Built in the style of Viennese classicism. Length is about 96 m, width 76 m, area of ​​7,000 m². One of Europe's largest theatre buildings after Milan's La Scala and the court theatre in Dresden. Since 1944 home of the Zankovetska theatre troupe.

• Lviv Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre

  address: 28 Svobody ave
  Founded in June 1897. Lavishly decorated both outside and inside.

• Korniakt Tower

  address: Pidval'na str
  This is 65 m high

• Narodnyi Dim (Nation Home)

  address: Teatralna str., 22
  One of the oldest and richest cultural and educational institutions in Galicia, in 1849-1939. At the People's House, there were a library and museum. It was some time Russian Casino, Academic Club, a place for the "Society Russians ladies". In 1862 moved here the first Ukrainian academic high school. Here opened the Seminary. In addition to schools, there is contained Archaeological, Art and Natural History Museum.

• Poleyovskiy house

  address: Krakivska str., (Краківська вул.) 24
  Corner house longer side face (north) out on the street Ukrainian Lesya. Building dates from 1780s. (Architect P. Poleyovskiy), restructured in 1783 and 1894. Architecture stone shows stylistic features Baroque and Historicism. This mansion a three-story, brick building. At the level of the ground floor façades laid ashlar. Centre accented balcony on stone consoles, 18th century. Today the building is used as a dwelling house. Also there are more monument buildings on Krakivska str at numbers 4, 13, 15, 17 and 22.

• Patio's house

  address: Lesi Ukrainky str. (Лесі Українки вул.) 10
  Three-storey, brick, rectangular in plan building with patio. Rebuilt in the XIX century. Smooth plastered facade diversify flat pilasters. Also monument houses on Lesi Ukrainky street: No. 12, 14, 16 and 26.

• Royal Arsenal

  address: Pidvalna str., 13
  Built by order of Polish King Wladyslaw IV. Because it was the Main Royal Arsenal, built between the city walls. Completed in 1646. The façade of the building was decorated bronze sculptures, cast in 1639, now is in History Museum. The building is made of stone, rectangular plan, with two L-shaped wings connected by a wall, these walls to protect the east side of the patio. The façade decorated with balcony and pediment in baroque style. On the side façade of the east wing preserved carved stone portal in the Renaissance style.

• Fedorova house

  address: Fedorova I. str. (Федорова І. вул.) 1
  This four-storey building, invalid quadrilateral plan with patio. Three open fronts - in Armenian Street, Fedorova Street and Stavropihyyskoy square, plastered, painted lower floors. Built in the 17th century. This house has kept features of different eras and style.

• Seasons house

  address: Virmenska str., (Вірменська вул.) 23
  A plastered, elongated, four-storey house made of brick. The last renovation was in the 19th century, it holds its shape today. Façade design style of late classicism: the second and third floors are connected by Ionic pilasters, between them at the second floor is a depiction of Chronos and at the sides - four reliefs with scenes from people's everyday lives, symbolizing seasons. Above, in front stretched the entire length of frieze depicting the zodiac signs. Painted in 1860s. Also there monument houses on Virmenska street: No. 17, 27 and 33.

• Domazhyrs'ka house

  address: Virmens'ka str., 15
  The house top floor made in the 18th century. A brick, plastered, three storey invalid rectangle form building with a narrow courtyard. The main architectural accent of the main facade is a big portal, keystone is the stone along with two symmetrically positioned consoles supporting a balcony with openwork metal grille.

• Ratusa (Town hall)

  address: Market Square, Ploshcha Rynok, Площа Ринок
  You can climb the tower of the town hall: go in via the main entrance, wander about until you see a sign 'вхид на вежу', then follow those signs up 103 steps to a ticket-office and up 305 more steps to the top of the tower. There's a great view of the Old Town, and this is clearly one of the romantic spots of the city: I saw a marriage-proposal there. The City Hall is made of brick, four-square plan, with patio, in 1830-1835, in the Viennese classicism style. Added the town hall a clock tower. Around the building on the square are three fountains in 1900s: first the Fountain Adonis (to Northeast) has an cup, which stands on the pavement, in the centre of a star, outlined in red and black stone. In the centre of the bowl - a statue of the hero character of ancient mythology Adonis with a dog and boar killed him; Fountain Neptune (to Southwest) In the centre of the bowl - a statue of ancient mythology character Neptune,- the Roman god of freshwater and the sea,- which is situated at the feet of dolphin; and also on the square is the Fountain Amphitrite (to Northwest) with a statue of ancient mythology character Amfitryta, consort of Neptune with a dolphin.

Landmarks

• Public casino (Casino of Herkhard) or House of Scholars

  address: Lystopadovoho Chynu str., 6
  Monument of architecture.

• Lychakivsky Tsvyntar

  address: Vul. Mechnikhova (вул. І. Мечнікова), 33
  There are about 400,000 people buried here, including Ukrainian heroes such as Ivan Franko. Cemetery is enormous (42 ha), and very pleasant to wander around on a network of variously-maintained paths. At the back there are series of war memorials. The cemetery is considered a museum - hence the entry fee. There's also supposedly a further fee charged for permission to take pictures (I think it might be for professional shoots, there's no way they can enforce such fee for simple tourist).

• High Castle

  address: Vysokyi Zamok street
  The place where a historic castle used to stand and now stands a mound built in 1869 to commemorate 300th anniversary of Lublin Union. On the mound there is an observation platform with nice views of the city and another sandy mound, which you can also climb, and which has a cross devoted to the dead of the war in Afghanistan. From the mound you can walk around the whole central hill-park of the town. very recommendable. easy to find and free of carge.

• Shevchenko Monument

  address: Svobody Ave,
  Donated by members of the Argentine Ukrainian diaspora, and absolutely unmistakable in the centre of town; a sculpture of the writer, and a wave-shaped monument with Ukrainian folk-art motifs rising to his side. Sometimes seems to be used by locals as a climbing-wall, but I would advise foreigners against this.

• Lviv Municipal Theatre

  address: 36 Horodotska Street

• Lviv National Polytechnic University

  address: Vul. (вул. Степана Бандери), 12

• Lviv Rail Terminal

  address: See above
  Built in 1904 Art Nouveau style.

• Former "European" Hotel

  address: Ploshchad' Mitskevicha, 4
  Rebuilt in 1930. From 1950 to 1980, it was the Hotel Ukraine. After 2006, this building is a branch of the Ukreximbank.

Museums in the "Old Town"

• Arsenal Museum

  phone: +380 235-7060, +380 235-8061
  address: Pidvalna str. (вул. Підвальна), 5
  It was a city fortification, built in 1554-1556, in Renaissance military architecture style. Weapons and armour from medieval times to the beginning of 20th century, from over 30 countries. The museum is located in the oldest (16th century) of three historic arsenal buildings in Lviv.

• The Lviv National Museum

  phone: +380 32 235-8856
  address: Svobody ave, (пр. Свободи,) 20
  The main building displays Ukrainian Art from the Middle Ages up to the 19th century. The Lviv Art Gallery mainly shows foreign art in its art collections so if you are more interested in Ukrainian art you should definitely visit this museum. About the buildings: former Art and Industry Museum, built in 1904, in Neo-Renaissance style. From 1950 to 1990 it housed a branch of the Central Lenin Museum.

• Museum of Natural history

  phone: +380 32 235-6917
  address: Vul. Teatral'na. (вул. Театральна,), 18
  Collection include more than 500,000 items. The museum building is in the palace 'Dzieduszyckis - Magistrates', 18th century building, in the 19th century rebuilt in the classical style. One of the items that are most proud of the museum is Europe's first full carcass hairy rhinoceros and mammoth unearthed from Starunia village, (Ivano-Frankivska oblast) an earlier mud volcano site.

• The Gallery of Ukrainian Military Uniforms

  phone: +380 32 297-5193
  address: Rynok sq., 40
  The exhibition represented uniform and Ukrainian troops from the early 20th century.

• "Under the Black Eagle" Pharmacy Museum

  phone: +380 32 272-0041
  address: Drukars'ka str., 2 (st. Stavropihiis'ka, 1)
  The oldest pharmacy in Lviv, opened in 1735. More than three thousand items. 16 exhibition halls with a total area of 700 m².

• Museum of the History of Religion

  phone: +380 32 272-9100
  address: Museina Sq,(пл. Музейна,) 1
  An interesting museum documenting Jewish and Christian history of Lviv in one of Lviv's biggest and most beautiful Baroque churches of 14th-18th century. The museum has a specialized library of religious profile, which is unique in the state. Among the 150 000 copies - labours of theologians of Kyiv, Lviv, St. Petersburg and Moscow Theological Academies and their periodicals. And religious literature of Catholic institutions from Italy, Germany, Austria, France and Poland. A collection of religious books of the Crimean Khanate time, works of publishing house of Ukrainian Catholic University in Rome. An unique collection of Bibles in different languages: Greek, Latin, German, French, Chinese, English, etc. Among them - the Ostrog Bible of Ivan Fedorov, the Paris edition of 1563, and a Venetian edition of 16th century.

• Dzyha GalleryA

  phone: +380 32 297-56-12, +38 32 276-74-20
  address: St. Virmenska, 35
  A showroom of a cultural and artistic association of the city. That supports, produces and promotes multi-genre contemporary arts: art, music, literature, theater, cinema, multimedia and more.

• Museum of Post

  phone: +380 32 2720671
  address: 2 Rynok Sq
  In the beautiful Palace of Bandinelli, built in the late renaissance, in the late 16th century. At the beginning of 17th century building became the property of the Florentine merchant R. Bandinelli who known that he perfected the Lvov-mail. Since 1629, it housed the first post office in Ukraine. In the 19th century there was a bookstore, a Club for intellectuals. Check whether the museum is open.

• Hotyk-Khol (Gothic Hall) Art Gallery

  phone: +380 32 2356990
  address: Rynok sq., 6
  An 'Antique shop-salon' in Kornyak Palace, has more than 300 years of history and is one of the masterpieces of Lviv and, simultaneously, the European architecture of the Middle Ages. Its first description refers to the 17th century. The building was designed by architect Peter Barbone. Paintings and drawings, icons, furniture, interior decor items, tableware, household items, sculptures, jewelry, vintage, watches and coins.

• Museum of furniture and porcelain

  phone: +380 32 2743388
  address: Rynok sq.,(пл. Ринок,) 10
  There a remarkable collection of almost 700 examples of Ukrainian and European furniture, and textiles as well as 17th-19th-century metalwork. The museum also owns a collection of porcelain, art glass and pottery from the 16th-20th centuries that includes over 11,000 artifacts.

• Herdan gallery

  phone: +380 32 2725046, +380 32 2971001
  address: Rus'ka str., 4
  Exhibition and sale of contemporary art: painting, graphics, ceramics.

• Lviv Historical Museum, Department of “Ancient History of Ukraine and Archaeology Department

  phone: +380 32 235-6874
  address: Rynok sq., 24
  About the building: the Massarivs'ka Palace (Кам'яниця Массарівська) rebuilt in Renaissance style after a fire in 1527. The last realignment was in 1920. Attica parapet was replaced with a bas-relief work Kurchynskoho, this time to include balcony and sculpture over the portal. Brick, plastered, elongated in the bottom plot, four-storey building. There are remains of Gothic windows of the ground floor. Divided into many departments most of which are in the old town displaying archeology, history from medieval times up to the Ukrainian struggle for nationalism, as well as jewellery and armoury.

More museums

• The L'viv Art Gallery

  phone: +380 322 744 047
  address: Stefanyka st (ул. Стефаника), 3
  Divided into several departments the central of which is on display at Potoskiy Palace showing mainly Renaissance and Baroque European art (for Ukrainian art see National Museum). Nearby is the Palace of Arts where changing contemporary art exhibitions take place. Other interesting branches of the Lviv Gallery are the Museum of Ancient Books, Museum of Relics and Pinsel Museum (dedicated to the local Baroque wood carver).

• Museum of Ethnography and Arts and Crafts

  phone: +380 32 272-7808
  address: 15 Svobody Avenue
  The museum has an unique and extensive collections of monuments of culture and traditional ukrainian folk art, and examples of decorative art.

• Museum of National Folk Architecture and Rural Life «Shevchenkivsky Hay»

  phone: +380 322 471 882
  address: 1 Chernecha Gora str.(вулиця Чернеча Гора)
  On the central hill about a half-hour walk from the Lychakivskiy Cemetery. This is a collection of wooden buildings from all over Western Ukraine, dismantled and reassembled here; the multi-tiered churches are the most spectacular buildings, and are all still working churches. Tickets: 10 грн normal, 5 грн discount.

• Beer Brewing Museum

  address: Kleparivska str, 18
  The museum has a tasting room, where you can try all sorts of beautiful beer in a cosy atmosphere.

• The History of Printing Museum

• Museum of Meteorology

  phone: +380 32 2616030
  address: Kniazia Romana str., 38
  The museum collection has more than 500 exhibits.

• Panchyshyn Museum of the History of Medicine

  phone: +380 32 2769798
  address: Karmeliuka U. str., 3

• Center for Urban History of East Central Europe

  phone: +380 32 2751734
  address: Bohomol'tsia O. akad. str., 6
  The center produces various exhibitions, seminars and conferences. There are films, sound recordings from private collections and official collections which represent life of large and small towns of Central and Eastern Europe.

• Museum of sacral sculpture in the Baroque taste 18th century it. Pinzelia

  phone: +380 32 275-6966
  address: Mytna sq., 2
  Inside a former catholic church (1607). The collection include 32 exhibits, which are representing the work of the famous Lviv sculptor John George Pinsel, from the 1790s.

• Museum of the Prison on Lontskogo

  phone: +380 32 2474220
  address: Bandery S. str., 1

• Museum of ancient Ukrainian book

  phone: +380 32 272-2536
  address: Ulica Kopernika, 15
  Museum and research centre. Collections of the museum include 12,000 exhibits, including manuscripts and Early Printed Books. Book plates and book illustrations, pedagogical literature. The exposition consists of four rooms.

• Sheptytsky National Museum

  phone: +380 32 2613594
  address: Drahomanova M. str., 42
  There is a fine arts collections, which includes almost 117 000 items (icons from 14th-18th century).

• Palace of art

  phone: +380 32 272-7573
  address: Kopernyka M. str., 17
  Exhibition Centre.

Further afield

• Belzday trip. Sights: Arian Tower (1606) only survived part of a medieval fort; the Dominican Sisters Monastery, (1647, rebuilt 1743, 1861); St. Paraskeva Church, with a bell tower, built in 18th century; Ancient Settlement Archeological Site of Belz (old city, probably founded in 1088); Nicholas Cathedral (1926), Church of St. Valentine, (built in 1907-11, neo-gothic style); Jewish cemetery; Bandery villa.

• Chervonograd

  address: Lviv Oblast
  Good day trip. Sights: A branch of the Lviv Museum of the History of Religion (Potocki Palace), the St. Dukha Church (the St. Vladimir church), the St. Yury Basilian monastery (1771-76); Bernardines monastery (1692-1767) 21 B.Khmel'nyts'kogo st.; Potocki's palace (1736-57), 10 Shashkevycha st. built in baroque and classicism style

• Brody

  address: Brody Raion, Lviv Oblast
  Good day trip. St. Yuriya Church (Церковь св. Юрия), built at the beginning of the 17th century, restored in 1867; Palace of Pototskyi Count (1630-1635), History Museum, Ruined Big Synagogue (1742), Palace of Tyshkevich is built in 1909, in English style.

• Drohobych

  address: Lviv Oblast
  Good day trip. St. Apostles Peter and Paul Monastery), Vultsa Stryiska, 1; St. Bartholomew Catholic Church with the former defence tower now the bell tower of the St. Bartholomew church; Palace of Arts Local Museum, Bruno Shults (Polish Writer) Museum, Vultsa I. Franka, 24; Picture gallery, Sichovykh Striltsiv, 16; Church of Holy Exaltation Cross (Церква Воздвиження Чесного Хреста), 1661, Vulitsa Zvarits'ka, 9

• Horodok

  address: Horodok Raion, Lviv Oblast
  A good day trip. Visit: John the Baptist Church (1755)

• Krekhiv monastery

  address: Kozulka settlement, Lviv Oblast
  day trip.

• Olesko

  address: Lviv Oblast
  Good day trip. - See here: St. Joseph Church and monastic cells of the monastery of capuchins (1838); the Castle, Vulitsa Zamkova, 34 (14-17th centuries); take a walk in the Castle Park (13 ha); right the next is the Capuchin Monastery (1700s); visit the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Vulitsa T. Shevchenka, 59

• Pidhirtsi

  address: Lviv Oblast
  A good day trip to see the Konietspolskikh Castle (замок Конецпольських), 1635-1640; Pidhoretskyi Landscape Park (17 ha); St. Joseph Catholic Church (Костел св. Иосифа), 1765; Plisnesk Archeological Site, 7th-13th сenturies; Cells of monastery (Келії Підгорецького монастиря) 18th century, Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos? (Церковь Рождества Богородицы), part of the former Vasylyi Monastery (1180)

• Rava-Rus'ka

  address: Lviv Oblast
  St. Michael Church and monastic cells of the Franciscan Abbey (Костел Св. Михайла та монастирськi келiї монастиря ордену Реформаторiв), the first wooden chapel, built here in 1725. St. Joseph Catholic Church from 1843 with the miraculous icon of Mother of God (1670s). French Second World War soldiers' cemetery.

• Sambir

  address: Sambir Raion, Lviv Oblast
  Good day trip. - Sights: Town hall (Самбірська ратуша), Square Rynok, 1; St. Ivan Church, Street Pushkina, 7; Bernardine monastery (Монастир бернардинців), Street A. Mitskevycha, 5-A; Nativity Church (Церква Різдва Пресвятої Богородиці), built in 1738;

• Slavske

  address: Skolivskyi Raion
  Good day trip. - Take a chair lift on Trostyan mountain for a good walk; Visit the Cave of Painted Draw-well. Cheap accommodations: Al'piis'kyi dvir Guesthouse (Пансионат "Альпийский двор") Tel +380 67 6727230; Rozhanka Resting house (База відпочинку "Рожанка") North-East 2KM. Tel. +380 32 298-5331; - Lys Mykyta Cottages Resting house (Котеджі "Лис Микита"), Franka str., 59А Tel. +380 50 334-8295; - U Lili ta Yaroslava B&B (Приватна садиба "У Лілі та Ярослава") Tel.+380 67 977-3598; Cottage Zyhva (Котедж "Зигва"), +380 32 514-2578; U Tetiany Hotel (Мини-отель "У Татьяны") Tel.+380 32 514-2332. - Sights: Carpathian Museum of the liberation struggle (Карпатський музей визвольної боротьби), Sichovykh Striltsiv Street, 2. Tel.+380 97 333-4630; Assumption of the Virgin Mary church Church (Церква Успіння Пресвятої Богородиці), T. Shevchenka street., built in 1901.

• Stare Selo

  address: Pustomyty Raion, Lviv Oblast
  Castle (Старе Село замок), 1584-1654

• Svirzh

  address: Peremyshliany Raion
  Sights: Assumption of the Virgin Mary church (костел Успіння Богородиці), 1546, early 17th century., 1770s; Defense tower (ruins), grotto (оборонна башта, грот), 1484, Svirzh castle (Свірж замок), 1484-1660s.

• Zhovkva

  address: Zhovkva Raion
  A good day trip. Visit the Monastery

• ZolochivGood day trip for visiting: Ascension of Virgin Mary church + cells (костел Вознесіння Діви Марії + келії), 1731-1763; Castle (Золочів замок), 1634-1686; Arsenal (арсенал), 15th century.; Polish cemetery (польський цвинтар).

• Trukhaniv

  address: Skolivskyi Raion
  Good day trip. - Rocks and Cave of Dovbush (6 km from here), The bottom edge of the village is a picturesque waterfalls cascade, the Sukilski waterfalls, also in the village is a St. Michael Church built in 1840

• Truskavets

  address: Lviv Oblast
  Good for a day trip

• Univ monastery

  address: Peremyshlians'kyi Raion,
  Founded in 1390s. It consists of church, partly saved fortress walls with two north and south-west towers (15th century), building of monastic cells (17th-19th centuries) and house of metropolitan (19 century). Good for a day trip.

• Attend a concert or festival. L'viv has been called the "Queen of Festivals" as a city, because there is often a different festival every other week. Some festivals with many free activities are the Chocolate Festival, the Coffee Festival, and the Alpha Jazz Festival. Stop by the Tourist Information Center on Rynok Square to find out more about what festivals are happening during your stay in L'viv.

• S. Krushelnytska Opera House

  address: Svobody Ave, 28
  In the very heart of L'viv the historic opera house offers regular performances of various operas and ballets. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre cashier ("Kaca") ranging in price from 50 грн to 80 грн. Even if opera and ballet is not your cup of tea, a night at the theatre is worthwhile, at the very least, to enjoy this spectacular venue.

• Lviv philharmonic Society Concert hall

  phone: +380 32 2721042
  address: Chaikovs'koho P. str.,7

• Mini "People and Dolls" Theatre

  phone: +380 32 2613125, +380 32 2612127
  address: Fredra O. str.(вул. Фредра), 6

• Les Kurbas youth theatre

  phone: +380 32 2724914, +380 32 2729204
  address: Kurbasa L. str., 3

• The first Ukrainian theatre for children & young people

  phone: +380 32 2726841, +380 32 2727810
  address: Hnatiuka V. akad. str., 11

• Lviv State Circus

  phone: +380 32 2385327, +380 32 2385330
  address: Horodots'ka str., 83
• Visit the Bania, a Russian style sauna for men and women (non-communal). There are a few located in L'viv and well worth the trip. The experience can be mildly confronting for the prudish Westerner, as all activities are conducted in the nude but don't worry, it is a highly civilized environment.

• Stadiumn Torpedo

  address: Vul. Gorbenka (вулиця Горбенка)

• SKA Stadium

  phone: +380 322 332379
  address: Kleparivska St (вул. Клепарівська), 39

Parks and gardens

• Pliazh Aquapark

  phone: +380 32 2638297, +380 32 2636055
  address: str. Princess Olga 114 (Kniahyni Ol'hy str., 114)
  Escape from summer heat. Area 1.4 ha. Enjoy Greek-Roman steam room and jacuzzi, bars “Tropic” and “Hawaii” in the wet area.

• Lviv hippodrome

  phone: +380 322 649727, +380 322 649729
  address: Stryis'ka str., 117
  Race courses.

• Ivan Franko Park

  address: str. Universytetska (вул. Університетська)
  is oldest park in the city. Traces of that time may be found in three- hundred-year-old oak and maple trees. Upon the abrogation of the Jesuit order in 1773 the territory became the town property. A well-known gardener Bager arranged the territory in the landscape style, and most of trees were planted within 1885-1890.

• Bohdan Khmelnytsky Culture and Recreation Park

  phone: +380 32 2727877, +380 32 2727931
  address: streets Striyskeyu (ulitsa Zaritskikh)
  in the Halych district of the city , interesting garden art local value (1984). It's one of the best organized and modern green zones containing a concert and dance hall, stadium, the town of attractions, central stage, numerous cafes and restaurants. In the park there are Ferris wheel. Between the streets Striyske , Guardyisko , Vitovskogo and Zaritsky. At the top of the park is culture Glory Monument. The area of ​​the park is 26 hectares.

• Stryiskyi Park

  address: Between Str. Stryis'ka and Str. Ivana Frank, 156
  It is considered one of the most picturesque parks in the city. The park has over 200 species of trees and plants. It is well known for a vast collection of rare and valuable trees and bushes. At the main entrance gate you will find a pond with swans.

• Regional Landscape Park Znesinnya

  address: Street Novoznesens'ka, (вулиця Новознесенська)
  Ideal site for cycling, skiing sports, and hiking. It's on green hilly parts of the historical village Znesinnya. Area: 312.1 ha. The park includes rare specimens of plants, as well as sandstones, limestones containing fossils, hills covered by forests and picturesque valleys with ponds and streams.

• Shevchenkivskyi Hay

  phone: +380 32 2437823
  address: Vul. Chernecha hora. (вул. Чернеча гора)
  In the park is a unique open-air museum that has gathered the best collection of Ukrainian wooden architecture. Museum successfully combines hilly terrain, vegetation Carpathians restored and carefully moved historic buildings from different regions of Western Ukraine. The park is approx. 84 ha.

• High Castle ParkIt is on the highest city hill (413 m) and occupies the territory of 36 hectares consisting of the lower terrace once called Knyazha Hora (Prince Mount), and the upper terrace with a television tower and artificial embankment.

• Zalizni Vody Park

  address: Located between the streets Stusa, Myshugy, Ternopylska and Yaroslavenka
  It began from the former garden Zalizna Voda (Iron water) combining Snopkivska street with Novyi Lviv district. The park owes its name to the springs with high iron concentration. This beautiful park with ancient beech trees and numerous paths is a favorite place of many locals. The total area of ​​19.5 hectares the park. Here, among the western slopes of the plateau of Lviv, near the park originates Poltva. In the park you can see the outputs of marl, which is the reason for the existence of multiple sources. The name of the park comes from the high iron content in the springs that flow here. - Vegetation: beech, pine, oak, birch, poplar, willow, ornamental trees and shrubs. It also grows old apple orchard.

• Lychakivskyi Park

  address: Between Street Tsetnerivka, Street Lychakivska & Street Pasichna
  Founded in 1892 and named after the surrounding suburbs. A botanic garden is on the park territory, founded in 1911 and occupying the territory of 18.5 hectares. At the park is a sportcomplex of the Lviv State University of Physical Culture, the "Stadium Skiff".

• Zamarstynivs'kyi forest park

  address: Ulitsa Filippa Orlika

• Park the name of the 700year of Lviv

  address: prospekt Vyacheslava Chernovola, 91

• Park Na Valakh

  address: Pidval'na str.
  There is a

• Sviatoiurs'kyi park

  address: Lystopadovoho Chynu street,

• Student park

  address: Sakharova A. akademika str.

• Botanical Garden of L’viv Ivan Franko National University

  phone: +380 322 768369
  address: Cheremshyny str, (вул. Черемшини), 44
  There are 1025 tree and shrub species; 720 natural herbaceous species; 1095 cultural herbaceous species and sorts; 1630 tropical and subtropical species.

• Botanical garden of the Lvov Forestry Engineering Institute

  address: Chuprynky T. henerala str
  The land area ​​10.8 ha. There is a flower collection, educational area and a small research farm. Also the collection include about 200 species of trees and shrubs.

• Park Piskovi Ozera

  address: Hordynskykh str.

• Kulparkivskyi park

  address: ulitsa Evgeniya Konovaltsa, ~111

• Horikhovyi hai Park

  address: Boikivs'ka str.

• Bear Sanctuary Domazhyr

  phone: +380 67 5093058
  address: 1 Vedmezhy Krai St, Zhornyska, Yavoriv District
  The sanctuary was built by the animal welfare organisation Four Paws in 2016. The whole area comprises 20 ha and offers guided tours and exhibitions for environmental education.

Market

• Staryi Lytsar ? Rynok

  phone: +380 32 2247136
  address: Chornovola V. ave., 67

• Krakivs'kyi

  phone: +380 32 2338054
  address: Bazarna str., 11

• Pryvokzal'nyi

  phone: +380 32 2372134
  address: Hors'koi A. str., 2

• Novyi rynok

  phone: +380 32 2922328
  address: Petliury S. str., 11B

• Halytskyi market

  address: Vulitsa Serbska (вулиця Сербська)

• Shuvar

  phone: +380 32 2951919
  address: Khutorivka str. (вул. Хуторівка), 4A

• Vynnykivs'kyi Market

  phone: +380 32 2753457
  address: Solodova str., 4

• Pidzamche Market

  phone: +380 322 522184
  address: Khmel'nyts'koho B. str., 120

Other stores

• Foxtrot Electronics Supermarket

  phone: +380 322 422 507
  address: Chornovola V. Ave. (просп. В'ячеслава Чорновола), 57

Shopping centre

• Dobrobut Shopping centre

  phone: +380 32 2975614
  address: Stara str.(вулиця Стара), 3

• Hypermarket Epicentr

  phone: +380 322 351145
  address: Vulytsya Bogdana Khmelnitskogo, 188A,

• Magnus Shopping centre

  address: Shpytal'na street (ulitsa Gospitalnaya), 1

• King Cross Leopolis and Auchan Hypermarket

  phone: +380 32 2420580
  address: Stryiska Str., 30
  Auchan

• Sykhivskyi Shopping centre

  phone: +380 32 2219127
  address: Sykhivs'ka str., 16A

Money

For more information on currency see here
ATMs (known as "bankomats") and currency exchanges ("obmin valyuti") are ubiquitous throughout Lviv, particularly in the city center. Most ATMs will accept Visa and MasterCard. Currency exchanges will often only accept foreign currency in pristine condition. Travellers' checks are not very useful in Lviv; however, there are still a few hotels and banks that will cash them for you.
Credit cards are now widely accepted in many of the city center restaurants, cafes, hotels and some hostels. Also at the main bus station and long distance train station. Surprisingly, lots of small grocery stores now also accept plastic.
Attempting to pay for something inexpensive with a large denomination (50 грн and above) will often at the very least annoy the shopkeeper; salespeople may even refuse to sell to you if you do not have any smaller denominations. Grocery stores and other high-volume shops are an exception to this rule.

• OTP Bank, Teatralne office

  address: Svobody ave.(пр. Свободи), 22

• OTP Bank, Naukova office

  address: Naukova Street (вулиця Наукова), 96-А
  And more two units: Str. Ivan Franko, 20; - prospect V. Chornovola, 59

• Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Branch 6

  address: Kopernyka M. str., 14

• Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Branch 1

  address: West - Liubins'ka str., 4

• Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Soborne

  address: Halyts'ka sq., 14

• UniCredit Bank (Ukrsotsbank)

  address: Politekhnichna str., 2

• UniCredit Bank

  address: Mitskevycha A. sq., 10

Budget

Life in Lviv is very cheap. It's not difficult to find a place where you can have a full meal for €2. The challenge is rather ordering if you don't speak Ukrainian.

• Arsen #2 Supermarket

  phone: +380 32 2976070
  address: Viacheslava Chornovola Ave. (пр-т Черновола), 93
  More units: west 2.5 km ul. Paton, 37, Phone +38 032 2441925, M-F 08:00-23:00, Su 09:00-22:00; southeast 1.5 km ul. Zelenaya, 147, Phone +38 032 2405258, M-F 08:00-23:00, Su 09:00-22:00; south 3 km ul. Kn. Olga, 120, Phone +38 032 2457654 M-F 08:00-23:00, Su 09:00-22:00

• Potato House Fast Food Restaurant

  phone: +380 32 2521975
  address: Chornovola V. ave., 65
  Restaurant chain

• McDonald's Restaurant

  phone: +380 32 297-0414
  address: Chornovola V. Ave., 12
  Restaurant chain. Wi-Fi.

• Bistro

  phone: +380 32 272-2165
  address: Panteleymona Kulisha, 13

• Bistro

  phone: +380 32 240-3598
  address: Horodotska str., 11
  Fast Food Chain

• Puzata Hata

  address: Sichovykh Striltsiv Str., 12
  This fast food chain offers hearty Ukrainian smörgåsbord. Cafeteria style eatery has a selection of traditional Ukrainian food mixed with some other food found around the area.

• Acropolis Tavern

  address: ?
  A Greek casual diner. The staff speak English and may well start dancing, in traditional style, given any amount of encouragement.

• Idalnia #1 Gurman

  address: Petra Doroshenka 7
  They are cooking only from Ukrainian products.

Mid-range

• Bäckerei Videnski bulochky

  phone: +380 32 2358822
  address: Katedralna Sqr. 3
  Traditional Austrian cafe-bakery. Freshly baked French croissants, real German pretzel, Italian focaccia and ciabatta. Full menu featuring a selection of hot sandwich-baguettes, salads and soups.

• Cafe 1

  address: sq. Katedralna 5
  A very cosy cafe/casual dining restaurant that offers a varied range of modern cuisine. It has a warm atmosphere with non-smoking and smoking areas plus friendly and thoughtful staff.

• Gutsulsky Dvir

  phone: +380 322 952564
  address: 36 Schyretska str.
  One of the most picturesque ethnic restaurants in the city. Ukrainian ethnic cuisine, great atmosphere of wooden restaurant with lots of trees around is a must to visit while staying in L'viv.

• Kavkaz Georgian Restaurant

  address: Zelena street (вул. Шота Руставеллі), 2
  Try harcho soup and fig salad.

• Kupol

  phone: +380 32 261-4454
  address: Chaikovskogo 37
  Has a touch of understated Habsburg grandeur. Homestyle quality.

• Museum of Ideas

  address: Valova 18A
  A kind of cultural centre, with hand-made glass souvenirs gallery, exhibition space, sculptures and movie screenings. There's a good small restaurant there and in summer also a beer garden.

• New York Street Pizza

  address: 5, Sichovykh Striltsiv Street (Січових Стрільців)
  More units: 51, Volodymyra Velykogo Str, 37, Patona Str, 4, Stefanyka Str, 36, Generala Chuprynky Str, 5, Tershakovtciv Str, 59, Grushevskogo Str, 1, Valova Str, 51, Chervonoi Kalyny pr, 2, Sv. Teodora pl. Tasty pizza, soups, salads, cakes and beverages.

• Pid Kelpsydroyu café/restaurant

  address: Vir’menska 35
  You'll also see the city's sophisticated set sipping Under Clepsydra's famous forest tea. Under Clepsydra has three sections. The indoor café/restaurant inspired by the Parisian brasseries of the left bank has two sections, smoking and non-smoking, that share a soundtrack of classic French jazz and folk music. Upstairs you’ll find the more popular late-night section of the establishment. But what really sets it apart from other Lviv hangouts is the menu. Vegetarian restaurants in Lviv are, well, non-existent, but Under Clepsydra you’ll find a collection of fresh, meat-free dishes made with local ingredients. Potato and mushroom crepes are less than €2, and fresh soups and salads are anywhere between €1-2. Menus are in English. The carnivorous set has plenty of options as well. Few dishes run more than €5, and entrees include duck, pork, grilled chicken, smoked salmon.

• Tsukerna Confectionary

  address: pr. Staroevraiski
  Viennese-style cake and coffee.

Splurge

• AmadeusA broad European and Ukrainian menu in a 5 star environment with 4-star food and 2.5-star prices.

• Viden’ska Kavyarnia

  address: Svobody Prospect
  This place has menus in English and English-speaking staff.- The Wiener Schnitzel is great, so are all the soups, the breakfasts, the potato pancakes and the Apfelstrudel.
• Veronica, on the Shevchenko Prospect is both a French style cafe (upstairs) and stylish restaurant downstairs.

Cafés

• Mapa

  address: Halyc'ka 4
  (Map), , a quiet café with a special atmosphere and tasty Italian coffee. There are three large rooms for visitors: a large room on the first floor, and old-style rooms in the basement.

• Rodzinka Cafe

• Pid Synoju Flyazhkoju

  phone: +38 (032) 294-91-52
  address: Ruska 4
  Intimate, medieval.

Bars

• Hasova Lyampa Bar

  address: Virmenska 20
  You’ll most likely see a man dressed in Olde Tyme regalia pacing in front of the entrance, beckoning people inside. If he’s not there another greeter awaits in the form of a metal statue sitting at a desk with a... you guessed it, lit gas lamp. Once inside you’ll find a spiral staircase ascending up three flights of dining space. Each floor is cozy, candle lit, and decorated with classic gas lamps. Gas Lamp also has one of Lviv’s best patios, in the form of their rooftop dining section. While the entrees are standard, the snacks that go with beer are real standouts. Try the seasoned croutons, chips and a variety of dipping sauces they’re the perfect accompaniment for their wide selection of cold local brews.

• House of Legends Bar

  address: Staroevreyska 48
  A bar with small staircase connecting few floors and a roof terrace (great views!), where each room is differently designed around a theme of a Lvivian 'legend'.

• Kriyivka Bar“Slava Ukrayini” - the phrase means ‘Glory to Ukraine,’ and it’s your ticket to this underground, unmarked bar called Kryivka. When you do finally find it, state the password to a man toting a prop vintage machine gun, receive your shot of medovukha, and descend into the cozy wooden dining room you’ll be glad you took the time to find. This Ukrainian Independence themed bar is decorated with artifacts from Ukraine’s valiant struggle to stay autonomous - with guns, maps and posters lining the walls. You’ll also notice the names of dishes on the English menu harken back to a military tradition stretching back to the Austrian Empire. Culinary highlights include a half-metre long sausage, pickles soaked in honey and savory vereniky. There is also a bit of theatre during a dinner at Kryivka. If you’re lucky, a “Russian spy” may have snuck in to the restaurant and the brave staff will turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, root out this spy and serve him a healthy portion of justice. Once the intruder has been detached, celebratory live music erupts in the basement venue and locals burst into traditional songs of freedom.

• Masoch Café/Bar

  address: Serbska 7
  A place where you get whipped by the bar staff. Yes, seriously.

• Robert Doms Beer House

  address: Kleparivs'ka 18
  Follow the tree lined street of Kleparivska as it winds up and down hills until you reach the easy to spot entrance of this beer hall and concert venue. It’s attached to the Lvivske Brewery. Depending on the nights festivities you may have to pay a small cover charge, but it’s well worth it, as early evening acts often include international Jazz bands, and late evening events often fall into the feverish dance music category. Descend a flight of stairs past a little merchandise stand to the cavernous first room. Sit down at a long beer garten style table and order a giant stein of the Lvivske beer. The name, Robert Doms comes from the man who founded the brewery in 1715 (also the name of their signature brew). The underground location and stone walls give Robert Doms Beer House great acoustics and an intimate feel. Or, if you’re not in the mood for music, head to the adjoining Austrian style pub room. Plush, wooden and well lit, this is a great place to watch a game of football with friends as the giant TV at the end of the room has a habit of sucking in people's attention.

• Kumpel beer restaurant

  address: Vynnychenka 6
  Mini-brewery.

• Kult Underground Bar & Pub FilharmoniaCool underground bar.

• Franz Josef The twilight zone. 24 hour outdoor freak show. See the local intelligentsia acting rather unintelligent.

• Dublin Irish Pub

  address: Kryva Lypa 5
  In the busy courtyard just off Doroshenka St. The name is written in Cyrillic as well as Latin, so have no fears there. Dublin does a good job of not packing the tables in too tightly, you after you’ve grabbed a seat, don’t be shy to get up and wander around a little bit with a pint of any of their host of international beers in hand. If you happen to be hungry, you’ll be glad to know that the menu is in English (though the staff don’t speak English), and features many of the pub favourites you would expect at home. However, you’ll find that many of these dishes have been modified slightly as local ingredients are substituted for traditional ones. If football is your thing, Dublin Pub spares no expense. If there is a game on, anywhere in the world, chances are Dublin Pub will be showing it live. However, if your side happens to be playing at the same time as any of Ukraine’s club, or national teams you might want swallow your pride and join in, as you’re not likely to find anyone here who will permit you to change the channel.

• Korzo Irish Pub

  address: Brativ Rohatinskiv street
  Though it may sometimes seem like it, not every bar or restaurant in Lviv has some kind of theme or hook, and Korzo Pub is one of these places. - Nothing too fancy here, just an oak bar, brass taps and well worn tables that have eavesdropped on hundreds of conversations, arguments and romantic encounters. Korzo also has a great selection of international spirits, so if you’re the kind of person who needs a shot of tequila to get the night going, this is your place. As the beer flows, you might want to try the fish soup, hearty and robust, locals say it is the perfect ballast to prevent a hangover the next morning. If quenching your thirst on a sunny afternoon of exploring is your goal, Korzo has one of Lviv’s largest patios.

Clubs

The club scene in Lviv is thriving; with many options ranging from the cavernous clubs Metro and Millenium to the intimate and upmarket Zanzibar. There are usually entry charges but drink prices more than make up for this. In most clubs you are able to buy bottles of vodka for a reasonable price and simply chill at a table all evening.

• Fashion Club

  address: Sq. Pidkovy 1
  Bizarre nouveau riche.

• Club Metro disco

  phone: +380 32 242-0788
  address: Zelena 14
  Metro isn’t the easiest place to spot during the day, but at night, just follow the hordes of fabulously dressed young people as they make their way there. Entrance will probably set you back about €3 and once inside the first thing you’ll see is a large disco. A raised platform in the centre of the dance floor features male and female go-go dancers (and any brave customers who decide to join them on stage). A bar opposite provides local beers, vodka and champagne. For a change of pace, head downstairs where you’ll find two more bars. One serves the techno and house room, the other the lounge, private rooms and the hip hop dance floor. To cool off from all of the dancing, hit the giant upstairs patio with its heat lamps during winter and umbrellas for those rainy Lviv nights.

• Millennium Club

  phone: +380 32 240-3591
  address: Chornovola 2
  Featuring the restaurant "Tequila Bum", a casino, a state-of-the-art movie theatre, billiards and video games, it has something for everyone. As the largest disco in Western Ukraine, the entrance fee is a little steep compared to other local bars, but it rarely tops €5. Once inside, grab a table and sit back as bottles of vodka are delivered to your table or sidle up to any of four cocktail bars for a beer, mixed drink or shot. DJs from all over Eastern Europe come to Millennium to spin house, retro, electro and rock tunes. Guys should be prepared to wear dress shoes, pressed slacks and a dress shirt. Ladies, Lviv girls are some of the most stylish in the world, so dress like you mean it. You might get into the club in your street clothes - but you’ll feel out of place.

• Picasso

  phone: +380 32 275-3272
  address: 88 Zelena St.
  Picasso aims to be a relaxed alternative, in a large corner building. Getting in can be a little confusing. The door staff will point you to a door at the side of the building where you pay your entrance fee, usually between €3 and 5, and get a ticket. The first thing you’ll notice once inside is a giant vaulted ceiling with a ring of balconies surrounding the venue. Really, it looks more like a church than a club. At the far end is a massive stage, and below that, a roomy dance floor. Beers here run a little bit more than standard, but their selection caters to a more refined palate. The music and dress code here are also a bit more relaxed. Tunes range from disco to rock, with a little techno and house thrown in. One distinguishing feature of the music is volume; not cranked so loud you can’t hear yourself think, but not a library either. There is free coat check, and most patrons are dressed casually, which in Lviv means like models on their day off. The stellar lighting also makes this place a popular venue for concerts. As Lviv does not have a large music venue, many acts play Picasso if they can secure a night. The club also hosts private parties and events, so call ahead to make sure you can get in that night.

• Pozitiff

  phone: +380 32 294905
  address: 14 Zelena St.
  If you’ve been to Metro Club you may have noticed a long line of locals trying to gain access to Pozitiff. This place is not easy to get into, and there are no guarantees that your money, passport or even begging can ensure you gain entrance. It’s all the bouncers call. Your best bet is to arrive with a small group of the most attractive people you can find. At this point the door man will either let you in, or not. If he does you’ll have negotiate an entrance fee. This cover charge usually depends on how cool and attractive your group is: The better-looking, the lower the fee. Expect to pay close to €6 for entrance. As entrance is so difficult, some patrons make the most of their trial, floating through the bar mingling, chatting and flirting. Others, displaying the icy confidence that got them in in the first place simply recline in their booth and radiate cool. No matter how you choose to play this one you’ll find enough friendly professionals to chat with and if you need to check your email, the Internet café section remains operational even into the wee hours of a rocking party.

• ZanzibarCool, funky.

• LeroyUpmarket, mature crowd

L'viv has a variety of hotels, hostels and apartments to suit all budgets and needs. The best deals for budget travellers (2-3 people) are found with the lovely apartments for rent all over town - These can be found online (preferably in Russian) or on arrival at the train station. Expect to pay around US$150-200/month for a nice studio apartment with a kitchen, TV and a nice warm-water bathroom.

Budget

The hostel scene is quite new in L'viv so be sure to check reviews of hostels using well known booking agents and forums.

• Cats' house hostel

  phone: +380 93 483-7665
  address: 20 ulitsa Saksaganskogo, apt. 4 (Second Floor) - вул. Саксаганського, 20, кв. 4
  20 beds, 24 hour reception, English, Ukrainian, Russian speaking staff, free Wi-Fi, tea, coffee, breakfast, bed linen, towels, slippers included, washing machine, library, tourist assistance – information, maps, luggage storage. Hostel is in the old Austrian house in the middle of the city near tram and bus stop.

• Central Square Hostel

  phone: +380 95 225 66-54
  address: 5 Rynok Square
  Cozy hostel in the heart of the city - 18 beds, English, Polish, Russian speaking staff, free Wi-Fi, tourist information, free maps, coffee & tea, linens & towels included, washing machine. Also will show you the city.

• Coffee Home Hostel

  phone: +380 63 3419594
  address: Ulitsa Teatral'naya, 10
  Next to main square. Chamber hostel — 20 beds, English, Spanish, Russian speaking staff, free Wi-Fi, touristic information, free maps, breakfast, coffee & tea, linens & towels included, laundry. Coffee interior style.

• The Georgehouse Hostel

  phone: +380 50 4306454
  address: Ustyjanovycha (улица Устияновича), 8
  4-bed and 8-bed mixed dormitories, free Wi-Fi, maps, breakfast, linens & towels included, modern colourful design. Free bed on your birthday (with minimum stay two nights).

• The Kosmonaut Hostel

  phone: +38 0936554219
  address: 4 Tomashivskoho St., apt. 5 (Second Floor) - вулиця Томашівського, 4, кв. 5
  20 beds, 24-hour reception, English-speaking staff. Free Wi-Fi, tea, coffee, washing machine, rated the Best Hostel in Ukraine by Hostelworld.com 2008. For good reason too. With a central location, hot powerful showers and a friendly common room perfect for meeting other travellers, this hostel has it all. Some additional attractions like bania, and AK-47 shooting trips. Staff are very helpful.

• Mini Hostel Lviv

  phone: +380 97 9315628
  address: Sichovykh Streltsov St.,(улица Сечевых Стрельцов) 12, Ap. 16
  Close to the Opera House and the main square. Free wi-fi, maps, coffee, tea, and free pub crawls. Guests of the Mini Hostel Lviv get discounts for to stay in the Mini Hostel Kiev and the Mini Hostel Odessa.

• Old Ukrainian Home Hostel

  phone: +380 32 2727611
  address: Bogdana Lepkogo (Лепкого) street, 12
  Located in the centre of the city near the Lviv National University. Chamber hostel — 20 beds, English, Spanish, Russian speaking staff, free wi-fi, touristic information, free maps, breakfast, coffee & tea, linens & towels included, laundry. Old Ukrainian interior style. One bathroom with three showers, one kitchen with some dishes. A very neat and clean place, with a cosy backpacking atmosphere to it, kept by a very friendly young staff!

• Retro Hostel Shevchenko

  phone: +380 32 240 37 61
  address: Shevchenka prosp. 16
  One of the biggest and most centrally located hostels. Every room has a bathroom. Privates and dorms on few floors, with outdoor common area (table tennis, billiards, barbecue available free of charge). Residents get a discount at Metro Club.

• Roxelana Hostel

  phone: +38 0974449789
  address: Generala Chuprenke 50/4
  Accommodation within a majestic historical castle. This castle was once inhabited by a famous Count. We are very near to the train station. Offers discounts to nightclubs in town. Offers deals on city tours, pub crawls, gun shooting experiences and famous Russian saunas. Helpful and friendly English staff.

• Soviet Home Hostel

  phone: +380 32 2530386
  address: Drukarska 3, top floor, door code 250
  - US$2 discount for US Peace Corps volunteers! Comfortable beds, hot shower, breakfast and Soviet interior.

• Hostel TSisar Bankir

  phone: +380 32 2255627, +380 67 6725076
  address: Khmel'nyts'koho B. str., 23

• Hostel Kosmonavt

  phone: +380 32 2740274
  address: Sichovykh Striltsiv str., 8

Mid-range

• Arho Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2333248, +380 32 2986451
  address: Shevchenka T. str., 186

• Trial Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2520388
  address: Zamarstynivska Str., 122

• Herold Hotel, Restaurant

  phone: +380 32 2455431 or +380 32 2455432
  address: Pancha P. str., 7

• Vlasta Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2455432 or +380 32 233-34-27
  address: Kleparivska str., 30

• Kupava deluxe Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2450345 or +380 32 2450567
  address: Komarova Str., 17

• Electron Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2335044
  address: Kvitky-Osnovyanenka H., 4

• Prestyzh Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2444179, +380 32 2444178, +380 97 8488978
  address: Yaroslava Mudroho Str.,33

• Irena Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2395894
  address: Storozhenka O. Str.,21

• Hotel Lviv

  phone: +380 32 2423270
  address: Chornovola V. Ave., 7

• TSisar Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2358228 or +380 96 3723232
  address: Kotliarska Str.,3

• Staryi Krakiv Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2971630
  address: Shpytalna str.,21
  A new comfortable mini-hotel in a renovated three-storey mansion. Single, double and triple rooms. Cosy cafe on the ground floor.

• Kyiv Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2728571
  address: Horodots'ka Str.,15

• Hotel George

  phone: +380 32 2725952
  address: Pl. Mickiewicz 1
  Only some rooms have private bathrooms (from US$73).

• Hotel NTON

  phone: +380 32 233 31 23
  address: Shevchenka St., 154b (вул.Шевченка 154б)
  Hotel NTON has been in operation since January 2001. Offers more than 70 modern comfortable rooms equipped with phones, TV-sat, showers and bathrooms, air conditioning, hairdryers, refrigerators with mini-bars. Hot & cold water is around a clock, heating is autonomous. Services include restaurant, guarded parking place, 4 conference halls, business center and free wireless Internet. The hotel transfer service brings you to the hotel and any destination point in the downtown or behind the city at any time. Moreover the hotel also has fitness complex 'Pharaoh' (offering pharaonic massage, fitness gym, solarium, sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, IR-sweating).

• Hotel Volter

  phone: +380 32 294 88 88
  address: Lypynskoho 60a
  Offers 56 comfortable rooms of different categories, namely, standard, superior, semi-suite, Deluxe suite, equipped according to modern norms and standards. Includes round-the-clock hot and cold water supply, installed independent heating system, satellite television, telephone, hair-drier and mini-safe in each room. The restaurant's staff is available round-the-clock.

• Reikartz Dworzec Lviv

  phone: +380 32 2350888
  address: Gorodotskaya Street, 107
  It offers rooms with modern ambience, all of which have a private toilet and shower with bathtub, cable TV, Internet access, and mini-bar. Some of its amenities are fitness room/gym, a swimming pool, and a sauna. While staying here you can visit some tourist spots like Church of St. Olha and Elizabeth, Pharmacy Museum, and the High Castle Park.

• Wien Hotel

  phone: +380 32 244-4314
  address: Pl. Svobody 12

• Lion's Castle Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2971563
  address: Glinka str. 7

Splurge

• Premier Hotel Dnister

  phone: +38 032 297 43 17
  address: Mateyka st. 6, 79007, Lviv

• Park-hotel “Drevny Grad”

  phone: +380 32 2351005
  address: 81123, Pustomyty region, camping, 7th km of Kyiv Highway

• Opera Leopolis

  address: Teatralna Str. 17
  Prestigious Leopolis Hotel is a luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of the city center.

• Hotel Eney

  phone: +380 32 2768799
  address: Shimzeriv st. 2

• Grand Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2724042 or +380 32 2724042
  address: pl. Svobody 13
  Absolutely central - right in front of the Teras Shevchenko statue.

• Opera Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2259000 or +380 32 2259001
  address: Pl. Svobody 45

• Citadel Inn

  phone: +380 32 2357630
  address: Hrabovskoho street 11
  The hotel is in an ancient building of an old citadel. In the very building where the guests sleep, Germans murdered tens of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war and others during WWII.

• Guest house Andriivskyi

  phone: +380 32 2357630
  address: . Levyts'koho street 112.

• Shveitsarskyi (Swiss) Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2403777
  address: Kniazia Romana str., 20

• Chopin Hotel

  phone: +380 32 2611020
  address: Malaniuka YE. sq., 7
  Four-star hotel. Knightly and romantic style architectural elements and decorations of the facade structure inherent to an eclectic style that prevailed at the XIX-XX centuries in building cities of Austria-Hungary.

The dialing code for Lviv is +380 32(2). The telephone system has been modified; thus, to dial 6-digit numbers, use the city prefix 322, but for 7-digit numbers, use only 32.
All calls to and from cell phones are treated as long distance calls. The telephone system was modified one more time, thus, you must not dial an 8 followed by the city/mobile prefix, followed by the phone number. Some frequent mobile prefixes are 050, 067, 066, 096, and 097. The main mobile operators are Kyivstar, MTS, and Life. You can buy a SIM card or a balance replenishment card at many stores throughout Lviv.
Internet cafes are plentiful. Centrally located is Chorna Medeia on Kryva Lypa.

• UKRPoshta (Main Post Office)

  phone: +380 32 2615321
  address: Str. Slovats'koho YU.(Bулиця Словацького), 1

• No.20 post-office

  phone: +380 32 252-3441
  address: Varshavska str., 54.

• No.19 post-office

  phone: +380 32 2724918
  address: Zamarstynivska Str., 30

• No.7 post-office

  address: Hrebinky Y.E. Str., 6

;Consulates-General:

• Consulate-General of Czech Republic

  phone: +38(032)-297-68-93
  address: Antonovycha V. str., 130

• Consulate-General of Poland

  phone: +38(032)-295-79-90
  address: Franka I. str., 108

• Consulate-General of Russia

  phone: +38(032)-244-25-25
  address: Levytskoho K. str., 95

;Honorary consulates:

• Honorary consulate of Austria

  phone: +38(032)-242-96-96
  address: Henerala Chuprynky str., 6, office 1

• Honorary consulate of Belarus

  phone: +38(032)-290-15-27
  address: Heroiv UPA str., 78

• Honorary consulate of Belgium

  phone: +38(032)-260-20-69
  address: Franka I. str., 14

• Honorary consulate of Brazil

  phone: +38(032)-224-43-83
  address: Kniagyni Olhy str., 116

• Honorary consulate of Bulgaria

  phone: +38(032)-261-36-13
  address: Krushelnytskoi S. str., 2

• Honorary consulate of Canada

  phone: +38(032)-260-15-72
  address: Akademika Bohomoltsia str., 2, office 4

• Honorary consulate of France

  phone: +38(032)-261-55-99
  address: Chaikovskoho P. str., 20

• Honorary consulate of Germany

  phone: +38(032)-275-71-02
  address: Vynnychenka V. str., 6

• Honorary consulate of Hungary

  phone: +38(032)-230-40-67
  address: Kniagyni Olhy str., 116

• Honorary consulate of Israel

  phone: +38(032)-253-09-43
  address: Hazova str., 36/3

• Honorary consulate of Kazakhstan

  phone: +38(032)-240-36-70
  address: Zamknena str., 3/1

• Honorary consulate of Latvia

  phone: +38(032)-430-23-37
  address: Chornovola V. ave., 57

• Honorary consulate of Lithuania

  phone: +38(032)-298-89-35
  address: Heroiv UPA str., 72

• Honorary consulate of Moldova

  phone: +38(032)-295-34-19
  address: Konovaltsia Ye. str., 54

• Honorary consulate of the Netherlands

  phone: +38(032)-297-19-06
  address: Vynnychenka V. str., 12

• Honorary consulate of South Korea

  phone: +38(032)-242-44-33
  address: Lypynskoho str., 36

Ukrainian cities are not dangerous, though a bit more precaution is required.
Common tricks include impersonating a police officer. In doubt ask an officer or tell him you're not following him. The first thing they try is to get you out of the tourists places in to areas where they can 'acquire' a fine.
Openly robbing you happens less as the risks are bigger. However, pick-pocketing is still a thing even in the historical center, so keep an eye on your belongings.

It can be very helpful to learn some Ukrainian before visiting, or at least the Cyrillic alphabet. Everyone can also read, speak and write in Russian, although they'd appreciate that you learnt a few basic phrases in Ukrainian as well. German and, especially, Polish (as Lviv used to part of Poland) is spoken well among people with mature memories of the interwar era. Especially if you speak Polish surviving in Lviv shouldn't be a problem, as many people understand it since it's quite close to Ukrainian.
People selling you tickets at the train station might not speak anything other than Ukrainian or Russian and may not have any patience or sympathy for you. Queues in Ukraine tend to be a chaotic mess, especially at stations. Assert your place with an elbow and mean stare, because everyone else will, including the 15 babushki pushing you to the side. Make sure you get in the line for foreigners when you want to buy train tickets. The cashier might not speak English, but if you know the details of the train you want, just write them down!

• Carpathian mountains and their accompanying ski resorts-Good for a day trip
• Lutsk
• Rivne
• Transylvania, Romania - For south to go, this is best done jumping buses to Chernivtsi (a bumpy 6½- hour ride, or you can take one of overnight trains). Near Chernivtsi, you can visit the lovely Kamyanets-Podilsky with its ancient castle. To Suceava, the bus takes around 4 hours with border formalities. From Suceava to Bacau and finally to Braşov, each bus will take about 4 hours on very bumpy roads.