The fourth part of the tourist guide is dedicated to main places of interest in Lviv. Main places visited by tourists are described. Suggestions on what and when to visit are provided.

So now, when things are all arranged, you found your place to stay, you are aware of local particularities, you have enough cash with you, you are finally ready to go out to see the city. Yes! Finally! Don’t worry, I’ll not say something starting with “but” or “before you do it”. All warnings and preparations were said already.

In this article I’ll try to speak about main Lviv attractions that are worth visiting. One thing to consider is that no matter how independent I would try to be, still, I might tell about things that are best places in Lviv particularly for me. I promise I’ll try not to fall in such a pathological trap and base my article on my previous experience with tourists and general information from official tour guides, but everything might happen. Shell we finally start, no?! The only thing I would like to add, that I’ll not describe each building or place of interest – I’ll just name the main once and the rest you’ll find out during the excursion or by your own – whatever you prefer.

Old city. One the contrary to many cities, including Warsaw or Krakow in Poland, where old city is a small part of renovated buildings that are mainly occupied by coffee houses, Old city in Lviv is actually a big part of the city. People just live in those two hundred year old houses and walk everyday across those hundred year old streets. This makes Lviv unique, this makes it alive, you don’t feel like playing with a handsome doll, you actually feel the city breathing! And this is a cool part about it.

Old city is the central part of Lviv, with lots of ancient churches and temples, museums and buildings and a city hall in the very middle. You may not order an excursion around old city, though it is sometimes quite interesting to know the name of the famous person that used to live in this or that building or the history of that particular street, still, you are going to receive a lot of impressions just wondering along those old paved streets. By the way, the majority of coffee houses are located in the Old city part.

The opera house. Lviv opera house is a real masterpiece and one should definitely see it while being in Lviv. It is lavishly decorate both from the outside and the inside. World famous artists used to play and sing in that theater. Furthermore it is five minutes’ walk from the city hall, so you’ll not face difficulties getting there. You can even finish your evening by visiting one of the operas. The tickets could be bought in the theater, in small shop to the right of you, when you pass the main door.

High castle hill. If you are going to visit Lviv for the first time and after reading the name of High castle hill you might think of medieval castle in Lviv, I have to disappoint you – there is no real medieval castle in Lviv. In fact it used to be even two, but they were demolished long time ago, because of their bad condition. So high castle hill is worth visiting mainly because you can see the whole city from it and the view is just magnificent. However, if you have a tight schedule you may omit it, while it takes some time to get to the very top of the hill and then go back to the city.

Probably it is worth mentioning that those, interested in medieval castles, knighthood, kings and princesses are able to visit special tour around the castles of the Western Ukraine or castles located in Lviv region. However, such excursion will last for the whole day, so please follow up with your schedule if you are able to visit it.

Lychakiv cemetery. Reading this subtitle, some of you may say something like, I’ll never go to visit a cemetery, what could we possible see there?! Yes, you are correct when we speak about average cemetery. However, Lychakiv is not average at all – in fact it is approximately 400 years old, only the richest, wealthiest, smartest and most respected people were buried there. Each tomb is a true masterpiece decorated with sculptures, reliefs and other types of art. While being at Lychakiv cemetery people often start thinking about the life and really what gift a life is, while looking at lavishly decorated graves, as a proof of the desperation the relatives felt.

Shevchenko valley. Not sure if I translated it properly (I made it word by word, while people try to imaging something, that sounds beautiful), but this is really beautiful place to visit. In fact, Shevchenko valley is a huge park, where wooden houses and churches of the whole Western Ukraine are gathered. The average age of each wooden house is 150 years old. The park is divided into regions, according to the place, the houses were brought from. It is named after Taras Shevchenko – greatest Ukrainian poet, real national hero, a symbol of the nation. I must say that he has nothing to do with Andriy Shevchenko, a football player, beside the fact they are both Ukrainians. It is worth visiting Shevchenko valley during Christmas or Easter when it is especially beautiful and various performances are held there.

I should say that I named probably the most common places, the majority of Lviv tourists visit. However, professional tour guides may show you things you would never find or notice by yourself, bring you to places you would never find by yourself. Personally I prefer to wonder along the city alone and just look at streets, buildings, monuments and people. However, if you are interested in more detailed information you should definitely hire experienced Lviv tour guide. This would make your journey more meaningful and planed, you’ll not just stray along the streets but have everything shown and told in historical sequence.

So, I hope you had great time reading this part of my Lviv tourist guide and if you got interested, please see other parts of the guide or if you have something to say or share – please do not hesitate to contact me.