Best recommendations how to visit Lviv, Ukraine
There is no mistake that Lviv is the cultural capital of Ukraine with the atmosphere resembled that of Central European cities rather than the Soviet Brutalism vibe you often get when visiting a previous Soviet city like Kyiv.
Lviv, to Ukraine, is like Saint Petersburg to Russia, Prague to Czechia, and Krakow to Poland, full of history, incredible architecture, and countless things to do.
If you are looking for a hidden gem of Europe with a lot to offer yet still extremely cheap, Lviv is a city you shouldn’t miss. Here’s a complete backpacking guide on things to do in Lviv, Ukraine.
When To Visit Lviv
If you are interested in attending all the cool and free weekend events at Rynok Square (they have almost every week), the summer months between June – September is the best time to visit Lviv. Although, keep in mind that will be quite crowded but that is what to expect when there’s a lot of activities happening in a city.
If your priority is to have a more peaceful experience and you don’t mind cooler weather, during shoulder seasons like April – May or October – November is great period to visit Lviv.
You can also enjoy a festive Lviv during wintertime (December – March)as well with stunning Christmas market and countless cozy cafes to indulge yourself in. Although, there will be fewer events and activities happening during this period.
How To Get To Lviv
There are 2 ways to get to Lviv, you can either fly directly to Lviv or Kyiv if you are currently outside of Europe or you can travel by land to Lviv from Western/Eastern/Central Europe (if you do not require a Schengen Visa to enter Europe).
If you are coming from the US, there is a direct flight from New York to Kyiv via Ukrainian Airline that you can take directly to Ukraine or you can fly via several European airlines like KLM, Lufthansa, and Air France into any of the main hubs in Europe and then get a low-cost airline like Wizz Air or Ryanair to fly directly to Lviv.
Keep in mind that Ukraine is not part of Schengen Zone and the above method only works if you do not need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe. If you do, it is best that you fly directly or with a transit flight to Kyiv, Ukraine via Ukrainian Airline or other airlines that offer a route from your home country.
If you are in Asia, the simplest option is to fly directly from one of the hub cities like Bangkok to Kyiv via Ukrainian Airline. They are cheap and fly direct to Kyiv in 11 hours and from Kyiv, you can take an overnight train to Lviv.
Last but not least, if you are already in Europe, you have a few more options to get to Lviv. The fastest and sometimes cheaper is to fly with a low-cost airline like Ryanair or Wizz Air. They have a few routes that fly directly to Lviv without having to travel by land.
You can also travel by bus or train. Most buses and trains will have to go through Poland and it can take a long time depending on where you are traveling from Europe.
To give you an example, taking a train from Krakow will take around 5 hours or more depending on how long it takes at the border whereas if you take the bus, it will take 8 hours or more.
As you can see, unless you are already in Krakow or Warsaw, flying is almost always easier and sometimes, even cheaper.
If you want to travel by train, you can book a train ticket online through the official website here: Book Ukraine Train Online or through Tickets.ua. You can simply pay with your credit card and you will receive an email with a QR code and all you have to do is show it to the ticket master when you are on the train.
To find a cheap flight to Ukraine, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Momondoto look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How To Get Around Lviv
Lviv is similar to Western European cities in that most of the tourist attractions are concentrated in one area near the Rynok Square in the Old Town district so most of the places I recommended here are all within walking distance.
There are a few places that are located a bit outside of the city center though but thankfully, they are easily accessible via trams. Lviv trams cost 7 UAH per trip and you can buy the ticket from the conductor when you get on and stamp your ticket manually with an old machine with a lever in the middle of the tram.
To help you navigate the tram lines, I would recommend you use Google Maps to punch in your location and the app will recommend you which bus stop to go and which tram line to take.
If you are in a rush, you can also use Uber or Uklon, the local alternative to Uber to get around the city. They are quite reliable and surprisingly affordable.
How Many Days To Spend In Lviv
Lviv is a city with a ton of things to do and if you really want to see the city and experience its vibrant culture, I would recommend spending at least 3 full days to explore Lviv and its surrounding tourist attractions.
Day 1: You can spend your first day exploring the Rynok Square and all its attractions while indulging yourself in all the cafes and theme restaurants in the evening.
Day 2: Visit a Folk Village at the Museum of Folk Architecture and Lebensunterhalt in the morning and in the afternoon, spend some time exploring the tourist attractions outside of Rynok Square like the House of Scientists, Toy Yard and a hike atop High Castle for sunset.
Day 3: Go on a day tour to all the medieval castles around Lviv. This is a great chance to see Lviv’s surrounding landscape where you would not be able to see if you stick only to the city center.
Day 4 (Extra): Lviv is best experienced on Fridays and Saturdays (especially in the summer months) where all the activities and events are happening at Rynok Square and so if you are more time, be sure to align your trip to the weekends so that you can experience some of the best events the city has to offer.
The weekends I was there, there was a YOGA DAY concert and JAZZ festival with local bands playing on a stage in Rynok Square. The entrance is free and the concert goes from the evening until midnight.
How Much Money Do I Need For Lviv
There are quite a lot of things to do in Lviv so most of your budget will go towards food, drinks, and activities most of the time. To calculate the minimum amount you would likely spend in Lviv, we first have to see how many days you are planning to stay.
Accommodation: For a dorm room, it should cost you around 7 – 11 USD per night. For the recommended hostel in this guide, let’s go with 11 USD per night. For 3 nights that will be 33 USD (831 UAH).
Food: For a one-person meal with drinks, expect to pay 100 UAH (3.9 USD) or more in the city center. If you eat out 3 meals a day, it will cost you around 300 UAH (11.9 USD) per day and around 900 UAH (36 USD) for 3 days.
Transportation: This is probably the cheapest factor here as the tram costs only 7 UAH per trip. For this itinerary, you would only need 2 tickets and so for the transportation cost, let’s say 10 UAH (0.6 USD).
Activities: Basing off from this itinerary, you would be paying for Town Hall Observation Deck (40 UAH), entry to the Folk Village (40 UAH), Medieval Pharmacy Museum (30 UAH), House of Scientists (15 UAH) and for a day trip to the castles (550 UAH including castle tickets). In total, you would pay around 650 UAH (26 USD) for activities.
Total Budget for 3 Days in Lviv: ~2,391 UAH (95 USD).
Is It Safe In Lviv?
Lviv is very safe. The city is extremely tourist-friendly and you would have no trouble at all walking around the Old City at night. Just be aware of your belongings when you are in a crowded area, just like any big cities.
Internet In Lviv
When I was traveling in Lviv, I have no trouble finding fast and reliable WIFI at all may it be at restaurants, cafes, or hostels and you would have no trouble relying on free WIFI to stay connected.
Although, if you want to be connected all the time, I would recommend you get a local sim card. You can either get the one from Vodafone or Kyivstar. They both offer similar plans with data ranging from 2GB to unlimited costing between 55 UAH – 220 UAH.
For more information about Ukraine local sim card: Ukraine Prepaid Data Sim Card.
Travel Insurance
If you are looking for travel insurance to go along with your trip to Ukraine, I would recommend WorldNomads.com, which is what I use to look for travel insurance that fits my kind of adventure.
