why Lviv?

Why have I decided to visit Lviv? For the same reason, why I have visited Columbia and Panama ,instead of Thailand and Costa Rica. Ukraine is not yet overcrowded by tourists, you can still feel the local atmosphere, eat great food and the preserved multigenerational traditions.

Weekend in Lviv with a guide and without.

When I am in a new city, I always try to get to know as many interesting places as possible. However, Lviv is the place where you can slow down, just walk and discover each corner without being in a rush. I enjoyed my stay and would definitely recommend it to you.

Geographical location:

Ukraine is the second largest European country, after Russia and the third one is France, which should be enough to highlight that Ukraine is a pretty huge country :)

It is located in the center of Eastern Europe. From the south, it borders with the Azov Sea and the Black Sea, in the southwest with Romania, Moldavia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland, in the north with Belarus, and in the east with Russia.

Quick reminder, Poland and Ukraine did co-host the 2012 European Championship.

As a child, I didn't get to see all the breathtaking landscapes which Poland has to offer. I used to go for a school camp to the same place, every summer holiday, over and over again (someone could say as in the old communist times haha). Good for my mother, she did not have to worry about finding a new travel destination every school break.

Nowadays, as I grow older, I prefer to travel to new places, where I have not been yet (with a few exceptions where I absolutely love coming back to). As a result, I have visited more Spanish cities than in my homeland. Going to Ukraine was a spontaneous decision. I won't lie, the reason why we chose Lviv as our city break destination was the ticket price. It was impossible to hesitate when I saw a one-way ticket for £3 (all together costed me £20). I had never been to any Eastern European country before, I was very excited to visit the Slavic part of Europe.

Initially, the plan included a trip to two cities; Lviv and Kiev. However, due to the unstable situation at the Ukrainian eastern border (the period of martial law in Ukraine), for our own safety, we indisputable changed the plan and decided to stay in Lviv only.

My best friend Karolina and I went there for 6 days, which may seem relatively long for a city size of Bydgoszcz or Rochford (Essex District). All one-day trips reflect the direction of the Polish mountains, so they automatically dropped out of our list of things to do.

As we all know now, from previous post -Lviv is a paradise for food lovers, who appreciates Ukrainian cuisine, and good liquor.

---

WHERE TO STAY: DREAM HOSTEL is located on Krakivska Street, the side street from Rynok Squar. Make sure you stay in heart of Lviv.

(get 10% of their trip back of your next booking)

---

11 THINGS TO DO IN LVIV

1. FREE WALKING TOUR:

It is my favorite way to explore all the unique nooks and things to do in a city (especially when a particular city got a rich history and great architecture). Tips are welcome at the end of a tour that usually lasts 2-3 hours and is led by a local with insider tips on the city.

2. FIND 100 LIONS

Almost, 4500 lions live in Lviv walls and windows of buildings on streets.

3. WATCH BALLET IN THE LVIV OPERA HOUSE

Congratulations to The National Opera on the opening of the new 118th theatrical season! I've got the pleasure to watch the French ballet Esmeralda and German opera Lohengrin from the back row for 120UAH (£3.5) for each ticket and really enjoyed it.

4. GET LOST ON THE STREET OF THE OLD CITY

Believe me, you could easily spend months exploring the hidden alleys, uncovering interesting stories and enjoying all that this capital of culture has to offer.

5. THROWN A COIN TO THE HAT OF A FUNNY CHIMNEY SWEEPER

On the roof of the House of Legends, a sweeper lives and if you get a coin into his cylinder, then all your desires will be fulfilled.

6. CATCH THE SUNSET ON A HIGH CASTEL

If you want to see more than just the old town, head to the highest point in the city for even better views of the region. Despite the name, there is no longer a castle but the top of the hill is a great spot to catch a sunset over the city. We didn't manage to make it for a sunset, but the view of the city remained just as beautiful.

7. TAKE A SELFIE AT THE CITY TOWER

For great 360° views of the old town, climb up to the clock tower at the town hall building in Rynok Square. (Admission fee: 30UAH)

8. FIND THE MOST FAMOUS MONUMENT IN LVIV

If not the change of borders, it would be the best-known monument of Adam Mickiewicz in Poland, leaving behind the statue of Mickiewicz at Main Square in Krakow or the statue of Mickiewicz from Poznań. The column and the monument of Adam Mickiewicz in Lviv is one of the most beautiful commemorations of the poet in the world.

9. FIND A STREET WITH LOTS OF NAMES

In Lviv, there is a tradition to give one more name to a street in honor of the main director in Film Festival ''KinoLev'' in that year. It's most commonly known as Arkhivna but gets an annual name change to honour celebrities in film like Charlie Chaplin and Federico Fellini.

10. VISIT THE UNUSUAL YARD OF LOST TOYS

At first it felt a bit odd and slightly creepy. Apparently this garden of lost toys came to be after a neighbour who found a toy in his yard and left it outside so the child would be able to find it. Donations (both cash and toy) are welcome.

11. BUY UNIQUE SOUVENIRS AND REGIONAL PRODUCTS FROM THE LOCAL BAZZAR

I absolutely love going for a treasure hunting at local markets. You can often come across a genuine masterpiece, or if you're not this time, you can always buy some homemade preserves from Babushka. In addition, I was positively surprised by the fact that we couldn't find any American food chains in Lviv (except for McDonald's). No Starbucks, no KFC, no Subway.

---

I strongly recommend Lviv to all of you who would like to spend a pleasant weekend away from your home and crowds of tourists.