Holiday in Lwiw (Lviv)

About Lwiw (Lviv)

Lwiw (Lviv) is the cultural capital of Western Ukraine and one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe — an architectural jewel, whose completely preserved old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The city bears the traces of all the empires that ruled over it: Polish Renaissance, Austro-Hungarian Art Nouveau, Soviet Brutalism, and today a vibrant Ukrainian identity expressed in over 600 cafes, creative museums, and a flourishing cultural scene. Rynok Square (Market Square) is the heart of the old town: Surrounded by 44 magnificent townhouses from the 16th to 18th centuries, each with a unique facade — Venetian, Greek, and Armenian trading houses testify to Lwiw's past as a cosmopolitan trading metropolis. The town hall in the middle offers a panorama over the rooftops of the old town to the Carpathian foothills from its 65-meter-high tower. Lwiw is the coffee capital of Ukraine — over 600 cafes for 720,000 inhabitants make the city a mecca of coffee culture. The tradition dates back to the 17th century when Jurij Kulczycki brought coffee to the Austrian crown lands after the siege of Vienna in 1683 — it originated from Lwiw. Today, the range extends from historic Viennese-style coffee houses to trendy third-wave roasteries. The Lviv Opera House (Lviv National Opera) is one of the most magnificent theaters in Europe: Opened in 1900 in Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque style, it resembles the Paris Opera and offers world-class performances for just a few euros. The chocolate workshops are Lwiw's sweet side: At the Chocolate Museum in Rynok Square, you can taste handmade chocolates and observe the production process. The underground museums are a specialty of Lwiw: The Arsenal Gallery in a former weapons arsenal, the underground passages of the Dominican Church, and the mysterious restaurant-museum Gasova Lampa (Gas Lantern) offer experiences underground. Note: Due to the war in Ukraine since February 2022, there are travel warnings for Lwiw as well. Although Lwiw is located in the west of the country and is less affected, be sure to check with the Foreign Office about the current security situation.