What to see in Lviv in 2 days

Day 1

Rynok Square, the town hall and the townhouses

The heart of the Old Town, where any route begins.

Rynok Square is the central square of Lviv, and the city grew up around it from the 14th century onwards. It is ringed by townhouses of the 16th to 18th centuries, each with its own name and story: the Black House, the Korniakt Palace, the House with the Fountain. In the middle stands the town hall with its tall tower.

The town hall and the viewing platform

The town hall is the square’s main building and one of the city’s best-known landmarks. You can climb the tower: from the top there is a panorama of tiled roofs, church towers and the very heart of the Old Town. It is the quickest way to see Lviv as a whole rather than in pieces.

The townhouses around the square

Walk the full circle of the square — that way you see the facades, the four fountains and the difference between buildings from different eras. Look out for the Black House and the Korniakt Palace: these are the addresses where any account of Lviv architecture begins.

Churches nearby

The main pedestrian streets branch off the square — Virmenska, Ruska, Krakivska, Teatralna. Along them stand the Armenian Cathedral, the Dormition Church with the Korniakt Tower, the Dominican Cathedral and the Latin Cathedral. The Boim Chapel deserves a visit of its own: a Renaissance burial chapel of the Boim family, who are linked to the history of the townhouse that now houses the hotel.

The first day in the Old Town easily stretches into the evening: the distances between churches, courtyards and coffee houses are short enough that transport never crosses your mind.

Day 1

Liberty Avenue, the Opera House and the centre in the evening

The second half of day one — the city’s main street and theatrical Lviv.

From Rynok Square the route continues onto Liberty Avenue (Prospekt Svobody), the central street lined with 19th-century buildings, coffee houses and shops. The avenue leads to the Solomiya Krushelnytska Opera House: the building went up in the early 20th century and is still one of the finest opera stages in Ukraine.

Nearby are the Maria Zankovetska Theatre, the monument to Adam Mickiewicz and the monument to Taras Shevchenko. In the evening the avenue is lit up, and a walk here looks quite different from the daytime.

From there you can carry on to Mytna Square, the Bernardine Monastery and the Jesuit Church. This is the other side of the centre — quieter, with fewer visitors.

As for dinner: the hotel is home to the Baczewski Restaurant, and there are plenty of places nearby to suit any taste. At weekends it is worth booking a table in advance. If you are planning an overnight trip, take a look at the hotel’s Offers — there are sometimes packages with breakfast and a transfer.

Day 2

Lychakiv, the Lviv Brewery and the evening

The second half of day two — the eastern side of the city and the local beer.

Lychakiv is a historic district that begins beyond Mytna Square. The rhythm here is different: fewer tourists, more ordinary city life, old houses and workshops.

The district’s best-known site is Lychakiv Cemetery, founded at the end of the 18th century. Today it works as an open-air museum: celebrated Lviv residents are buried here, and the tombstones were made by well-known sculptors. Set aside at least an hour for it.

Beer lovers may want to add the Lviv Brewery to the route — one of the oldest in Ukraine. It is on the other side of the city, so you will need transport from Lychakiv; check the tour and tasting times in advance, as they change with the season.

If you would rather have a quiet evening, head back to the centre: after sunset Rynok Square and Liberty Avenue are lit up, and the coffee houses stay open late. There is a separate article on where to have breakfast before you set out — Where to have breakfast near Rynok Square.