I’m not the kind of person who becomes head over heels in love easily. In all of my years, I can only recall a handful occasions when it took place. Berlin. San Francisco. Madrid. I may now include Lviv, which is located in Ukraine to the list.
It’s possible that it’s because I didn’t really feel the same way about the rest of Ukraine. It was pleasant, and there were intriguing aspects to it, but overall, it lacked the feeling of love.
I couldn’t stop hearing how wonderful Lviv was. In contrast to the rest of Ukraine, several visitors I spoke with remarked it had a more Western European atmosphere. Many people even made the comparison to Prague. I’ve had to learn the hard way that it’s best to keep my expectations in control, so I made an effort to avoid becoming thrilled too early on.
They had a valid point.
Although I didn’t go to too many other places in Ukraine, it was clear to me right away that Lviv was unlike the others. It simply felt different. And it was unmistakably distinct in appearance.
Lviv has all the amenities that one would anticipate finding in a city located in Western Europe at prices that are among the lowest to be found in Eastern Europe.
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Some facts about Lviv-
- The seventh biggest city in Ukraine is Lviv, which also happens to be the largest city in Western Ukraine.
- In Ukraine, a month’s pay often comes to less than $250 on average. If you’re a digital nomad looking to optimize your profits, Lviv is the ideal location for you to be.
- The UNESCO World Heritage site in Lviv is located in the city’s historic core. During World War II, there was little any damage done to it.
Where to stay-
My search on Airbnb resulted in the discovery of a one-bedroom apartment in the main plaza that was available for $25 per night. When I stepped outside of my building, I saw the following:
There were a lot of additional ads that were available for less than $20 per night. The first apartment that I lived in was a two-bedroom apartment that cost $18 a night and was located less than ten minutes’ walk away from the town square. A buddy of mine and I shared this apartment.
What to do-
Visit the cemetery:
Even though it may seem strange, one of the most popular things to do in Lviv is to check out the local cemetery. Although the earliest burials took place in the 16th century, the Lychakiv Cemetery did not become legally created until the year 1787. Over 300,000 people are buried inside the grounds of the cemetery. The cemetery is not quite as spooky as its reputation suggests; in fact, it is rather lovely, and it is entertaining to roam about in search of the earliest dates inscribed on the headstones. The cost of entry is either 25 UAH or 1 USD.
Climb to the top of City Hall for the view:
For approximately 20 UAH (about 80 cents USD) per person, you may have access to one of the greatest vistas in town. If you suffer from a fear of heights, you should probably go elsewhere. The very tiny stairway is built completely of wood, and in order to allow others to pass, you are need to push against a wall. There are around 500 steps leading up to the summit, but the climb is well worth it because of the views:
Check out the Lviv Theater of Opera and Ballet:
The structure is quite stunning, and it is very relaxing to sit inside and watch the children have fun in the fountain outside. Is it the most stunning piece of architecture to be seen anywhere in all of Europe? No, but it’s definitely remarkable, and it further supports my notion that Lviv has the vibe of Western Europe rather than Eastern Europe.
Wander the main square:
The area of the city that is comprised of the main plaza and the old town was by far my favorite to explore while I was in Lviv. Because this is a car-free zone, you will be able to safely explore the many restaurants and businesses that are located here. Both a Chocolate Museum and a Pharmacy Museum may be found in the vicinity of your current location. In addition to that, I would walk around the side streets. During my explorations, I came upon this location, which ended up being the subject of one of my most treasured photographs from the trip:
Just a few steps away from the central plaza is where I discovered another cheery scene:
Where to Eat:
These are my favorite meals. For a list of the most unique or unusual restaurants to try in Lviv, click here.
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It is not difficult to find excellent restaurants in Lviv that are also quite reasonably priced. The following items are among some of my favorites:
Make it a point to stop by Baczewski Restaurant for breakfast on your next visit. The restaurant, which is situated in the central square, provides a breakfast buffet with items such as made-to-order crepes and omelettes in addition to alcoholic beverages such as champagne and vodka shots. You may expect to find the usual assortment of additional morning foods, such as salads and baked goods, at the buffet. The sound of birds chirping from their cages is accompanied in the background by the soft playing of a pianist. The total cost of all of this is just 90 UAH, which is equivalent to $3.50 USD.
The next day, I went back for lunch, and both the service and the presentation were quite high end; they were exactly what you would expect from a five-star restaurant in your own country. The price for both classes is 200 UAH, which is equivalent to $8 USD.
The First Lviv Grill Restaurant of Meat and Justice is an experience that omnivores just must have at least once in their lives. The restaurant caters mostly to tourists and is one of several establishments in Lviv that is decorated in a particular theme. The setting is a restaurant with the concept of torture, in which customers are either brought outdoors and flogged while strapped to a wooden table or are placed into cages and thrown water on them. In spite of the gimmicks, this restaurant consistently produces high-quality steaks. I paid 220 UAH, which is equivalent to $8.50 USD, for this T-bone steak that came with dill butter and cranberry sauce.
Because it was just a few feet from from my place, I found myself going to Pravda Beer Theatre almost every night. However, the quality of both the cuisine and the craft beer is what drew me there the most often. On some evenings, the restaurant has a live band, and it may be quite difficult to get a table there. Those who arrived late would congregate close to the door in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the band. Others would climb up to the floor above and hang themselves from the rafters. The whole venue was buzzing with excitement, and the band was absolutely fantastic. Try one of the changing beers on their menu that are created in-house.
The mussels in cream cheese and white wine that Bar Mushlya serves are absolutely extravagant, but they are well worth every single calorie. The eatery serves seafood that has just been caught. You may have the oysters shucked to order, so they are quite fresh. On the breakfast menu, you may choose dishes such as eggs scrambled with scallops and croissants or eggs poached with caviar. The most costly lunch I had throughout my stay was this one, which cost 325 UAH, which is equivalent to $12.70 USD. It came with a bowl of seafood soup and two glasses of wine.
ater poured on them or taken outside, tied to a wooden table, and flogged. All gimmicks aside, this place makes an excellent steak. I had this T-bone steak with dill butter and cranberry sauce for 220 UAH/8.50 USD.
I found myself at Pravda Beer Theatre almost every night, partly because it was steps away from my apartment but mostly because the food and craft beer are both so great. Some nights the restaurant features a live band, and getting a seat is near impossible. Latecomers would crowd near the entrance trying to get a glimpse of the band. Others would hang over the rafters from the floor above. The entire place was high-energy and the band was incredible. Try their rotating menu of beers produced in-house.
A complete splurge, the mussels in cream cheese and white wine from Bar Mushlya were worth every calorie. The restaurant features fresh seafood. Extremely fresh– you can have oysters shucked to order. The breakfast menu includes choices like scrambled eggs with scallops and croissants or poached eggs with caviar. This dish with a bowl of seafood soup and two glasses of wine was the most expensive meal I had during my visit– 325 UAH/$12.70 USD.