Apr 25, 2025
Lviv, the soul and cultural capital of Ukraine rivals the famous tourist cities of Europe. The unforgettable places of the old town attract visitors from all over the world. No matter at what time of year you come to Lviv, you will never get bored in the city. There is so much to see and do in Lviv!
As one of the UNESCO World Heritage cities, Lviv is full of amazing places to visit. The best way to experience the city and get to know it from the inside is to walk through the streets of the old town. Trust me, you will find so many fascinating things to see since every street is interesting in its own way. You will admire every detail, from sculptures crowning various buildings to the Atlanteans supporting the cornices of houses with their massive, muscular shoulders.
How much time should I stay in Lviv?
It is impossible to explore Lviv in two or three days. But even if you come for a short trip, you can still see the most important sights and feel the spirit of the city. Do you want to visit at least some museums, galleries, dip into the nightlife and go out of town? A trip to Lviv should be longer. If you plan to visit some nearby ancient castles, the whole trip may take about a week.
You should definitely come to the city that smells like coffee if you want to:
The square has a square shape; on the corners of the Market Square, there are four fountains with sculptures. You will see Neptune, Diana, Adonis, and Amphitrite.
In the central part of the square, you will find a classicist-style town hall. Lviv Town Hall was built in 1827-1835. Tourists can access the observation deck to admire the panorama of Lviv from a height of 65 meters.
However, the best thing you can do when visiting Lviv is just to take a walk along the narrow streets. Breathe the wonderful bohemian atmosphere of the city. Take a scented coffee in a quiet street and have lunch in a typical restaurant in Lviv. There are many places that are not common restaurants, but rather spots with soul and motive.
One of the most intriguing museums in Lviv is the Johann Georg Pinsel Museum of the Sacral Baroque Sculpture. It is situated in the city’s center, in the former Roman Catholic Church of Clarisse.
The heyday of the gifted sculptor’s career is deeply associated with Lviv, where he moved in the 18th century. Pinsel was called the Galician Michelangelo for his mastery and originality of his works. The museum houses the most extensive collection of Pinzel’s artworks: authentic paintings combined with Baroque sculptures.
Location: Lviv, Mytnaya Square, 2
The History Museum of Lviv. Just imagine, the museum has been working since 1929! Since then, there have been a lot of expositions, and the last one was in 2020. Today there are a lot of authentic items that narrate the history of the city and introduce its citizens.
Location: Lviv, Market Square, 4
The House of Scientists is a beautiful building developed by the famous Austro-Hungarian duo Fellner und Helmer. The House of Scientists is located right next to the university, a few minutes’ walk from Prospekt Svobody. It used to be the original, ornate residence of the club, a meeting place for rich businessmen, landowners, and horse breeders. Big deals were celebrated by pouring champagne from a faucet in a marble well.
Location: Lviv, Listopadovogo Chinu Street, 6
The Potocki Palace in Lviv is an impressive building in Neo-Renaissance style. Today, it houses a branch of the Lviv Art Gallery, but it was not always like this. The Palace was built in the late 19th century for the Polish Count and Austrian Prime Minister Alfred Józef Potocki. Unfortunately, the Count died before the completion of his new residence.
Location: Lviv, Kopernyka Street, 15
The Roman Catholic church of St. Mary Magdalene – Today, you can listen to the largest organ in Ukraine, made in the Czech Republic by Rieger-Kloss. It acquired its modern appearance in 1870, the architecture of the building combines elements of Baroque and Renaissance styles.
Location: Lviv, Stepana Bandery Street, 10.
Shevchenkivskyi Hai. Just a few kilometers from Market Square, there is a place where time literally stopped a hundred years ago. An open-air museum has been built on charming hills to preserve the memory of years long gone. The wonders of a bygone world are collected here. Among the trees, there are wooden houses that were moved from the surrounding villages, churches from the 18th century, and old schools. Shevchenko’s Gai is also a great place for walking among the greenery.
Location: Lviv, Chernecha Hora Street, 1.
The Church of Sts. Olha and Elizabeth, which was built in the early 20th century according to the project of Teodor Talowski. Today, the Greek Catholic Church is located here. It has magnificent Neo-Gothic architecture and a relatively modest, but still charming interior. You should definitely go up to the observation deck, which offers amazing views of the city.
Location: Lviv, Kropivnitsky Square, 1.
Most tourists visit Lviv during the spring and summer months. Coming to Lviv in winter also makes sense. There are not so many tourists, which means lower prices and more accessibility to the most visited restaurants and coffee shops. Ironically, winter is a great time to visit Lviv. Especially since the Lviv Christmas Fair, which starts at the beginning of December. Perhaps, it is not as impressive as in Poland or Germany. Still, there is a wonderful Christmas atmosphere you can enjoy for as long as you want.
You will feel that time flows slower there, so it is worth visiting too. You should be accompanied by a good guide, who will show you what the mystery of Lviv is! Moreover, in winter there are definitely fewer tourists in Lviv, so you won’t have to waste time in queues. You shouldn’t miss this opportunity.
Lviv is the perfect place to take a walk in the cold season, with attractive pubs at every turn. In winter, every long drive is filled with breaks in atmospheric coffee shops, bars, and restaurants. Sweet noisy conversations, background music and a warm atmosphere create the perfect contrast to the outside world. The mood immediately improves, and the dark evenings suddenly take on color. And if you need to warm up, you can order another slice of an apple pie, coffee, or mulled wine.
When walking in the city center we recommend to have lunch in the cozy restaurant of the Ferenc Hotel. Authentic European cuisine and amazing desserts will boost your spirits, and mulled wine will warm you up from the cold. The restaurant and private atmospheric terrace are located on the narrowest street in Lviv named after Ferenc Liszt.
You can have a candlelight dinner for two or with friends at the Panorama Hotel restaurant with the best panoramic view of the Opera Theater.
In winter, especially when it snows, Lviv is almost magical. You can simply walk through the city’s streets and immediately notice it. Evenings are especially beautiful, creating an extraordinary atmosphere throughout the city.
Christmas period makes Lviv special. It cannot be described, but must be seen and felt. Lviv traditions of celebrating Christmas with crèches, carols, and festive food attract many tourists to the city.
What to see and taste in Lviv on New Year and Christmas:
In order to provide your kids with an immediate fun, take a tour of the historic center of Lviv in the “Miracle Train”. This retro city mini-train runs all year round. The hour-long sightseeing tour, during which you will travel along a 10-kilometer route, starts at the Market Square right by the Town Hall. The route passes the most famous monuments.
Lviv’s culture also includes events for the youngest ones. In the city center, there are a lot of places where different master classes for children are held, starting from the art of making candy canes and gingerbread to painting lessons.
You should definitely visit the Lviv Opera Theater. Give your children the greatest joy of contact with high culture! Each season the theater’s repertoire includes opera and ballet performances for youth and children. “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” are world classics. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is a modern ballet that both children and adults will enjoy.
If your children love and can patiently visit museum exhibits, then that’s great! Lviv can offer them many interesting places. These include: Pharmacy Museum, Museum of Natural History, Lviv History Museum, Arsenal Museum of Arms, and Lviv galleries. It is also possible to arrange an adventure for children in the form of a fun quest. For example, the Lviv Coffee Mine (“Lvivska kopalnia kawi”) organizes interactive tasks for children. Yes, yes, there’s no typing error! Just a “mine,” not a typical coffee shop. So the kids get helmets, flashlights, a pickaxe… – and some fun, too! And what about the parents? They will enjoy priceless moments of relaxation with a cup of coffee.
And some more tips on walking with children. Children love motion, so be sure to visit the theme playgrounds in the city’s parks. One of the oldest and most famous is Stryiskyi Park. There is a swan lake, countless and tireless squirrels, amusement park and bike rental. And, of course, there is much space, as the park covers an area of about 50 hectares!
Not far from Stryiskyi Park, there is the Culture Park, featuring several modern children’s playgrounds. Each year, new, “themed” attractions appear there. For example, at the “Mala Skandynavia” playground, children can enjoy a trampoline, a rope park and numerous hammocks. There is also a local bestseller – a toboggan run for riding on tires.
And here is the list of Lviv coffee shops and restaurants that offer a special children’s menu and have children’s corners:
http://childfriendly.lviv.ua/uk/nashi-proekty/zaklady-druzhni-do-ditey
If you find interesting the attractions we’ve chosen, don’t waste a single minute. Pack your bags and go to Lviv as soon as possible!
What is worth seeing near Lviv if you are already familiar with the sights and monuments of this old city? Here is the list of places worth visiting in Lviv’s surroundings.
The old city of Lviv looks just like a fairy tale, and visiting Lviv is always a pleasure. Everyone who has ever been in Lviv will always remember the coffee aroma in the central paved streets. The ancient houses and churches, lots of museums, architectural monuments, parks – everything is worth seeing.
And as Skryabin sings:
“This is Lviv, an old, wise, gray-haired fellow,
He’ll leave a piece for everyone to remember.”
You always want to come back to Lviv!
