lviv.travel

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If you’ve spent time in other Ukrainian regions, Lviv will come as a shock. Mysterious and architecturally lovely, this Unesco-listed city is the country’s least Soviet and exudes the same authentic Central European charm as pretourism Prague or Kraków once did. Its quaint cobbles, bean-perfumed coffeehouses and rattling trams are a continent away from the Soviet brutalism of the east. It’s also a place where the candle of Ukrainian national identity burns brightest and where Russian is definitely a minority language.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Lychakivsky Cemetery

Don't leave town until you've seen this amazing 42-hectare cemetery, only a short ride on tram 7 from the centre. This is the Père Lachaise of Eastern…

National Museum and Memorial to the Victims of Occupation

This infamous building on vul Bryullova was used as a prison by the Poles, Nazis and communists in turn, but the small and very moving exhibition over two…

Ploshcha Rynok

Lviv was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1998, and this old market square lies at its heart. The square was progressively rebuilt after a major…

Revamped in 2017, the museum belonging to Lviv's brewery is an impressive, modern experience, a world away for the rickety post-Soviet repositories of the…

High Castle Hill

Around a 2km walk from pl Rynok, visiting the High Castle (Vysoky Zamok) on Castle Hill (Zamkova Hora) is a quintessential Lviv experience. There’s little…

Lviv History Museum – Rynok 24

This branch of the Lviv History Museum expounds on the city's very early days starting with early cultures that inhabited Galicia and ending with the…

The city fathers have occupied this location since the 14th century, but the present-day Italianate look dates to 1835. In a sign of openness and…

Apteka Museum

This fascinating pharmacy museum is located inside a still-functioning chemist's shop dating from 1735. Buy a ticket from the pharmacist and head down…

Latest stories from Lviv

Nov 29, 2018 • 3 min read

Winter looks good on Lviv. This western Ukrainian gem of a city may well be the best destination in the whole of Ukraine to enjoy the snowy season. The…

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How to visit Lviv in 3 days

By Joan Torres 1 Comments Last updated on April 9, 2024

Lviv is the most progressive and artistic city in Ukraine, and the most Ukrainian as well.

From elegant buildings to a European-like, perfectly shaped old city, but also with plenty of Soviet stuff, this is by far, the most tourist-friendly destination in the country.

I spent almost 3 weeks visiting Lviv, mainly because, at that point, I was considering moving there indefinitely, working my way a digital nomad.

And I loved it.

In 3 weeks, I partied in a sadomasochistic bar; visited plenty of quirky, Soviet buildings; tasted countless types of craft beer; had some of the best coffee in Europe; and learned so much about the real, non-Russian-influenced Ukrainian culture.

Plus Lviv is damn cheap.

In this guide, I want you to learn how to visit Lviv and do all of that in a 3-day itinerary , with Lviv travel tips included.

For all the practical information to visit Ukraine (visas, budget and travel tips) read my generic travel guide .

In this Lviv travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• How to get there
• How to move around
• Where to stay
• Day 1 – Old City
• Day 2 – Jew sites and more
• Day 3 – Soviet Tour
• More information

Travel insurance for Ukraine I recommend IATI Insurance : COVID-19 coverage + 5% discount Get your discount when purchasing through this link

Reasons to visit Lviv

When thinking about Ukraine , most first-timers tend to associate it with pro-Russian cities made of concrete and ugly buildings, or a mere extension of the most forgotten part of Russia and, to be fair and to some extent, the most eastern part of Ukraine may actually be like this, but definitely not Lviv.

Today the capital of Galicia, a region and once a kingdom that stretched across present-day Poland and Western Ukraine, Lviv, with its lordly avenues, classical buildings and cosmopolitan European atmosphere, now shares more similarities with Krakow than with Kyiv itself.

In my opinion, this is Central Europe and one of the main reasons to visit Lviv is that this is the actual center of Ukrainian culture, a national identity which, more often than not, tends to get diluted by the Russian one.

In the 19th century, when Ukrainian national awareness arose, Lviv was the center of the movement and that is why the city is filled with monuments dedicated to scholars and writers who helped to promote it.

Only part of the Soviet Union since the end of WWII, Lviv feels different from other parts in Ukraine, very Ukrainian, and Russian-speaking travelers will realize that some Ukrainians from Lviv will be reluctant to be addressed in that language, but everybody likes to speak Ukrainian.

But this Ukrainian uniqueness is not the only reason to travel to Lviv; but this is a refined and welcoming city, declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, full of tourist attractions, a surprisingly rooted coffee culture, great nightlife and, of course, a bunch of Soviet monuments which Against the Compass explorers will love to check out.

Lviv is so much fun.

Also read my travel guide to Minsk

How to travel to Lviv (getting in)

Traveling to lviv by plane.

Lviv is a top touristic destination with many international connections, including direct flights with New York City and Asian destinations.

It also has several flight connections with countless European cities, often operated by Wizzair , Ryanair and many other airline companies like Ukrainian Airlines .

Traveling to Lviv by train

If you decide traveling to Ukraine by train, you can do so from many cities in Poland such as Krakow, Lublin or Warsaw.

Moreover, Lviv has the largest and most transited train station in Western Ukraine, with daily trains from Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

You can book your train ticket on this website .

Traveling to Lviv by bus

I hate traveling by bus but it’s definitely a cheaper option than going by train, and I heard from other travelers that there are direct bus connections with many cities in Central Europe like Prague, Budapest or Bratislava.

However, they all complained that the Ukrainian border crossing was an unnecessarily slow process.

How to move around Lviv

Lviv is rather a small city and if you only have 1 or 2 days and stick to the main tourist sites, you won’t need to take any sort of transportation, as everything is within walking distance.

However, the coolest Soviet places are located at the city outskirts, a few kilometers away from the city center.

For that, you can either take the city bus or tram, on which, a single ticket costs 5UAH , around 15 cents.

For public transportation directions, check on Google Maps .

Where to stay in Lviv

Lviv is well-sorted for budget accommodation.

Backpacking Hostel – Park Plus Hostel – I stayed here one night and it’s a great hostel to meet other backpackers, plus the location and facilities are great.

Budget Apartments – In Lviv, there are more touristic apartments than hotels and they tend to be a very good value-for-money option.

Mid-range Hotel – Villa Stanislavskyi Hotel – Elegant rooms in a classic building. Not expensive for what you get.

5-star hotel – Grand Hotel Lviv – One of the best hotels in town.

Places to visit in Lviv in a 3-day itinerary

Map of the places to see in lviv.

What to visit in Lviv on day 1: Stick to Old Lviv

Visit Lviv on a walking tour ! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

The refined architecture Lviv is famous for, and the main reason it has become one of the most touristic destinations in Eastern Europe, is found in Lviv’s old town.

In Lviv Old Town, each and every door, balcony and facade has something to tell, something worthwhile to stare at, and the best you can do is stroll down the streets while stopping at the several stylish cafés, because Lviv also claims to be the first city to ever roast and brew the coffee bean , back when it belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This is the reason why coffee in Lviv is particularly good and, as such, it has the largest offer of high-quality coffee spots in this part of Europe.

I recommend you start your visit at Rynok Square , the city’s main square, , where there is a story behind each and every building.

Old Lviv Highlights:

We won’t go through all the places to visit in Lviv’s Old Town, otherwise this would be an interminable article, but these are the main landmarks:

• Rynok Square – The social and economic center of Lviv.
• Lviv City Council – For a few hryvnia , you can climb the City Hall’s tower and get a panoramic view of the city.
• Shevchenko monument – Taras Shevchenko was a poet and writer whose literature is considered the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature. In Ukraine, many Lenin statues, especially in the Western part, have been replaced by Shevchenko and the one in Lviv is particularly pretty.

• Armenian Cathedral – One of the oldest churches in Lviv.
• Dominican Cathedral – A church from the 18th century and one of the most beautiful.
• Opera House – A Viennese masterpiece from 1900.

Best coffee places in Lviv Old Town:

As I said, coffee in Lviv is a big deal and the first place you need to visit is the Lviv Coffee Mining Manufacture , an old coffee brewery in whose underground cellar, coffee was literally mined. You can either visit the cellar or just have a regular coffee like in any other café.

More good coffee shops I used to go are:

• Black Honey
• Urban coffee
• White coffee

Leopold von Sacher-Masoch and masochism Mr. Sacher-Masoch was a writer born in Lviv, infamous for writing romantic novels where he expressed his masochistic fantasies. Basically, he was the inventor of the masochism concept, a term named after him by a German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. Masoch is actually adored by Ukrainians from Lviv and one of the best things you can do in Lviv is going for drinks at Masoch café, a masochist-themed pub where clients get constantly whipped by the waiters and waitresses while having drinks. It’s a very touristic spot but fun is guaranteed, especially at late night, when everybody is drunk. We had so much fun in this bar and stayed until they kicked us out.

WATCH THIS MASOCH CAFÉ VIDEO!

What to visit in Lviv on day 2: Old Lviv

Jewish sites in lviv.

When you travel to Lviv, I believe it is very important to learn about Jews because, prior to 1941, around 45% of Lviv’s population were Jews.

In 1943, their population was less than 900.

Jews have inhabited Lviv since the 16th century and they all occupied a significant part of the old town, around Rynok Square.

Near Rynok Square, you find a 15th Century Synagogue named Golden Rose , which was destroyed by the Nazis in 1941, leaving only some ruined walls behind. Today they have turned it into a memorial.

Something about Lviv which I had no idea of is that, during WWII, this was home to one of the largest Jewish ghettos in Europe, hosting 120,000 people who were later killed by the Nazis, except for the aforementioned 900.

Today, the ghetto is nothing more than a middle-class neighborhood. I rented an apartment there for 2 weeks and besides a welcoming local market, there was the Territory of Terror Memorial Museum , a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Jewish ghetto, featuring massive portraits of survivors, with their respective bios.

Right across the street, you find a modern-art monument also dedicated to those victims.

The center of the ghetto is along Dzherelna street .

If you are interested in the Jewish part of Lviv, there is a great guided tour CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Lviv Brewing Museum

Beer in this city is as important as coffee and Lviv Brewery used to be one of the most important breweries in the whole Austro-Hungarian Empire.

If you like beer, I am sure you will enjoy this 1-hour visit which also includes some beer tasting. To be very honest, the museum itself is nothing special but tasting a different set of beers at 11am doesn’t come without its own fun.

Take a beer tasting tour in Lviv! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

National Museum and Memorial to the Victims of Occupation

For me, this museum is a must visit in Lviv, a former prison used throughout the 20th century by the Poles, the Nazis and the Soviets. Inside, you can check out the cells, some propaganda posters and different exhibitions of all the atrocities.

The only downside is that most information is only in Russian, or Ukrainian, I am not sure which.

Lychakivskiy Cemetery

Weirdly, one of the most popular attractions to visit in Lviv is a cemetery, but it’s a special one.

The people resting under those extravagant Gothic graves and gargoyles, are famous aristocrats, writers and Soviet soldiers from the region.

Ivano Franco is buried here as well.

The yard of lost toys

Very close to the Old City, you find this quirky museum made of old toys collected by a local resident.

What to visit in Lviv on day 3 – Full Soviet tour!

Interested in taking a guided Soviet tour in Lviv? CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Against the Compass readers, which refers to intrepid, urban explorers interested in offbeat stuff, will enjoy their third day in Lviv very much, since it is about exploring some of its finest Soviet relics.

Although Lviv only became part of the USSR after WWII, there is plenty of this stuff.

Related: Tbilisi travel guide (with offbeat stuff included)

Lviv State Circus

Every city in former USSR has its particular Soviet Circus and the one in Lviv is so easy to reach.

Abandoned Ukrvino Wine Factory

Within a walking distance from Lychakivskiy Cemetery, you find an abandoned winery that features some great murals from the Soviet 80s.

Monument to the War Glory of the Soviet Army

This monument commemorates the victory of the USSR during WWII, or the Great Patriotic War, as they like to say.

Unfortunately, in an attempt to get rid of all Soviet symbols, they built a tall fence around it that makes taking photos of it a bit challenging, as you need to climb over a statue located just outside of it.

State Fiscal Department Lviv Oblast

The regional Tax Department is a massive 12-story concrete building from the 80s.

Abandoned auditorium

An auditorium from the Soviet era which, more than abandoned, was never finished.

Stryiska Bus Station

Built in the 70s, this is one of the finest examples of Soviet Modernism in Lviv.

By the way, here is where I took the bus going to Ternopil.

Leona Tech building and the Bus Factory

A massive concrete building and an actual bus factory whose walls feature a pretty cool Socialist bas relief.

If you want to keep exploring offbeat Lviv, check this post from Kathmandu & Beyond , which actually helped me find some of these places, so big thanks to them.

More information for visiting Lviv

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Ukraine .

As well as all our Ukraine articles:

• Kiev Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Chernobyl
• Ukraine Itinerary

Here’s hoping you found this Lviv travel guide useful. If you have any question or suggestion, please let us know in the comments section.

One reply on “How to visit Lviv in 3 days”

Lviv is such a wonderful city. Very welcoming, beautiful, historically interesting, and quite affordable……and, oh yes, delicious. Spent 4 nights there and will go back for a longer stay post pandemic. All 4 grandparents were from the area between Aviv and Her look ( Kozova, Bethany, Rhizdviany). I heard many stories from.them about the area when I was a child in the 1950s growing up outside of New York City. First visit there in 2019 was very moving and meaningful. Thanks for your wonderful overview.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

The closest operating airport is in Rzeszów :

By car [ edit ]

For more information see Western_Ukraine#By_car

It is also illegal to drive in the city centre (including Prospekt Svobody) on Sundays and holidays. This is signposted in Cyrillic only, and there are always police present to catch some unsuspecting foreigner.

Get around [ edit ]

By bike [ edit ]

There are more than 100 km of infrastructure for bicycles in Lviv. While you can use your own bike, you can also rent one using one of the following companies:

• nextbike . ( updated Sep 2023 )

See [ edit ]

Drink [ edit ]

Cafés [ edit ].

• Mapa , Halyc'ka 4 . ( Map ), a quiet café with a special atmosphere and tasty Italian coffee. There are three large rooms for visitors: a large room on the first floor, and old-style rooms in the basement.  
• Rodzinka Cafe , Lukschy street Anhelovych, 32 ( phone=+380 96 274 05 38 ). Cheap, but very good. ( updated May 2019 )
• 49.841264 24.033179 1 Pid Synoju Flyazhkoju ( Under the Blue Bottle ), Ruska 4 , ☏ +38 32 294-91-52 . 10:00-22:00 . Intimate, medieval. ( updated Mar 2022 )

Bars [ edit ]

• Hasova Lyampa Bar ( Kerosene Lamp ), Virmenska 20 . You’ll most likely see a man dressed in old time regalia pacing in front of the entrance, beckoning people inside. If he’s not there another greeter awaits in the form of a metal statue sitting at a desk with a... you guessed it, lit gas lamp. Once inside you’ll find a spiral staircase ascending up three flights of dining space. Each floor is cozy, candle lit, and decorated with classic gas lamps. Gas Lamp also has one of Lviv’s best patios, in the form of their rooftop dining section. While the entrees are standard, the snacks that go with beer are real standouts. Try the seasoned croutons, chips and a variety of dipping sauces they’re the perfect accompaniment for their wide selection of cold local brews.  
• House of Legends Bar , Staroevreyska 48 . A bar with small staircase connecting few floors and a roof terrace (great views!), where each room is differently designed around a theme of a Lvivian 'legend'.  
• Kriyivka Bar ( Hiding Place in Ukrainian ). “Slava Ukrayini” - the phrase means ‘Glory to Ukraine,’ and it’s your ticket to this underground, unmarked bar called Kryivka. When you do finally find it, state the password to a man toting a prop vintage machine gun, receive your shot of medovukha, and descend into the cozy wooden dining room you’ll be glad you took the time to find. This Ukrainian Independence themed bar is decorated with artifacts from Ukraine’s valiant struggle to stay autonomous - with guns, maps and posters lining the walls. You’ll also notice the names of dishes on the English menu harken back to a military tradition stretching back to the Austrian Empire. Culinary highlights include a half-metre long sausage, pickles soaked in honey and savory vereniky. There is also a bit of theatre during a dinner at Kryivka. If you’re lucky, a “Russian spy” may have snuck in to the restaurant and the brave staff will turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, root out this spy and serve him a healthy portion of justice. Once the intruder has been detached, celebratory live music erupts in the basement venue and locals burst into traditional songs of freedom.  
• Masoch Café/Bar , Serbska 7 . A place where you get whipped by the bar staff. Yes, seriously.  
• Robert Doms Beer House , Kleparivs'ka 18 . Follow the tree lined street of Kleparivska as it winds up and down hills until you reach the easy to spot entrance of this beer hall and concert venue. It’s attached to the Lvivske Brewery. Depending on the nights festivities you may have to pay a small cover charge, but it’s well worth it, as early evening acts often include international Jazz bands, and late evening events often fall into the feverish dance music category. Descend a flight of stairs past a little merchandise stand to the cavernous first room. Sit down at a long beer garten style table and order a giant stein of the Lvivske beer. The name, Robert Doms comes from the man who founded the brewery in 1715 (also the name of their signature brew). The underground location and stone walls give Robert Doms Beer House great acoustics and an intimate feel. Or, if you’re not in the mood for music, head to the adjoining Austrian style pub room. Plush, wooden and well lit, this is a great place to watch a game of football with friends as the giant TV at the end of the room has a habit of sucking in people's attention.  
• Kumpel beer restaurant , Vynnychenka 6 ( on Mytna square ). Mini-brewery.  
• Franz Josef The twilight zone. 24-hour outdoor freak show. See the local intelligentsia acting rather unintelligent.
• Dublin Irish Pub , Kryva Lypa 5 , ☏ +380 322 616171 . M-Th 12:00-00:00, F Sa 12:00-02:00 . In the busy courtyard just off Doroshenka St. The name is written in Cyrillic as well as Latin. Staff do not speak English but the menu is in English. Live soccer on TV.  
• Korzo Irish Pub , Brativ Rohatinskiv street ( off the main Rynok ). Though it may sometimes seem like it, not every bar or restaurant in Lviv has some kind of theme or hook, and Korzo Pub is one of these places. - Nothing too fancy here, just an oak bar, brass taps and well worn tables that have eavesdropped on hundreds of conversations, arguments and romantic encounters. Korzo also has a great selection of international spirits, so if you’re the kind of person who needs a shot of tequila to get the night going, this is your place. As the beer flows, you might want to try the fish soup, hearty and robust, locals say it is the perfect ballast to prevent a hangover the next morning. If quenching your thirst on a sunny afternoon of exploring is your goal, Korzo has one of Lviv’s largest patios.  

Consulates [ edit ]

Stay safe [ edit ].

Ukrainian cities are not dangerous, though a bit more precaution is required. Common tricks include impersonating a police officer. In doubt ask an officer or tell him you're not following him. The first thing they try is to get you out of the tourists places in to areas where they can 'acquire' a fine.

Open robbery happens less as the risks are bigger. However, pick-pockets operate in the historical center, so keep an eye on your belongings.

Cope [ edit ]

It can be very helpful to learn some Ukrainian before visiting, or at least the Cyrillic alphabet. Everyone can also read, speak and write in Russian, although they'd appreciate that you learnt a few basic phrases in Ukrainian as well. German and, especially, Polish (as Lviv used to part of Poland) is spoken well among people with mature memories of the interwar era. Especially if you speak Polish surviving in Lviv shouldn't be a problem, as many people understand it since it's quite close to Ukrainian.

People selling you tickets at the train station might not speak anything other than Ukrainian or Russian and may not have any patience or sympathy for you. Queues in Ukraine tend to be a chaotic mess, especially at stations. Assert your place with an elbow and mean stare, because everyone else will, including the 15 babushki pushing you to the side. Make sure you get in the line for foreigners when you want to buy train tickets. The cashier might not speak English, but if you know the details of the train you want, just write them down!

Go next [ edit ]

• The Carpathian Mountains and their accompanying ski resorts are good for a day trip
• Transylvania , Romania : To go south, take a bus to Chernivtsi (a bumpy 6½- hour ride, or you can take one of overnight trains). Near Chernivtsi, you can visit the lovely Kamianets-Podilskyi with its ancient castle. The bus to Suceava takes around 4 hours with border formalities. The buses from Suceava to Bacau and finally to Braşov take about 4 hours apiece on very bumpy roads.

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Lviv travel guide – all you need to know about the prettiest city in Ukraine

With the current situation in Ukraine, with a heavy heart, I strongly advise not visiting the country. This is the older, pre-war article and you can use it for future inspiration and information to plan a trip when it’s safe to visit Ukraine again.

Lviv, Ukraine is one of the most beautiful yet underrated cities in Europe.

Lviv old town looks like straight from a fairy tale and visiting Lviv is always a pure pleasure. No matter what time of the year the city is never boring, with so many great things to do in Lviv .

I put together a mini Lviv travel guide that would help you plan the trip to this amazing city.

Table of Contents

How to get to Lviv, Ukraine

It’s fairly easy to travel to Lviv – one of the biggest cities in Ukraine.

Numerous international and national trains, buses and flights serve the city.

The main train station is located a short tram ride away from Lviv Old Town, you can reach the center by trams no 1 and 9.

The ticket currently costs 5 UAH and can be bought from the driver (and then stamped in the old-fashioned validator).

Some of the international buses stop at the main train station too and I highly recommend you go there if you can as the main bus station is located a bit away.

If you however end up there you can take the bus 3a to the center.

Lviv international airport is well connected with the center by trolleybus no 9 (it arrives at the university, at the edge of Ivan Franko Park. Recently low cost airlines started flying to Lviv so getting there is really affordable and easy.

If you’re coming from Poland I recommend going by train with a change in Przemyśl .

You can easily get there from most of the major Polish cities, then you have two day trains that take only 2 hours to get to Lviv.

This way you avoid long waiting time at the border as the passport control is in the train.

You can get the ticket for Przemysl-Lviv train at the website of Ukrainian Railways.

Many travelers travel from Krakow to Lviv – if you are one of them and are looking for the best options I’ve created a complete guide how to get from Krakow to Lviv .

How to get around

Most places that everyone tends to visit are within a walking distance from each other in the city center.

If you need to travel any further (to Lychakiv Cemetery for example) there’s a really good and cheap trams network. One way ticket, both bought from the driver or from the newsstand, costs 5 UAH ($0,18/0,16€).

You can also use Uber in Lviv and it works very well, with very reasonable prices.

Where to stay in Lviv

Lviv is full of affordable accommodation so no matter if you’re looking for the hostel, hotel or apartment – you will find it all there.

Just browse through all the options at Booking!

My tip is to stay somewhere near the Main Square (Rynok) as you don’t want to be away from all the fun.

Recently my favorite place to stay in Lviv is Hotel George (8.6/10 on Booking) – the oldest hotel in Lviv where some of the most famous people used to stay.

But don’t let this intimidate you, the prices are very affordable. The rooms are simple and the toilet or shower are not in the room but the interior of the hotel, the history and the perfect location make me return there over and over again.

That’s also the only place I’ve ever stayed at where I could listen to live piano music when eating breakfast.

Click here to read the reviews, see pictures and current deals of Hotel George.

Where to eat in Lviv

Ukrainian cuisine is rather heavy yet really delicious.

I guess everyone has heard of borshch, a red beets soup with other vegetables and some meat, it must be the most popular and famous Ukrainian dish. But there’re so many options worth trying, also for vegetarians.

My favourite is varenyky, dumplings similar to Polish pierogi, stuffed with meat, potatoes, cabbage or cherries.

There’re many restaurants spread around the old town, serving traditional Ukrainian food. They are focused on tourists but still are worth checking.

The most famous ones are Meat and Justice, At Arsenal or House of Legends.

Whenever I’m in Ukraine (not only in Lviv) I eat in Puzata Khata, a chain buffet eatery serving only national food.

It’s always full of people, mostly locals and for me that’s already a good sign for the restaurant. The food is really good and cheap there, the most I paid for the two-course lunch and half a liter of local beer (a really good one!) was less than €4!

There are two Puzata Khata restaurants close to the old town (but not exactly in the old town), maybe 5 minutes walking from the Rynok Square.

One is at Shevchenko Prospekt , the other at Tadeusha Kostyushko street .

Where to drink in Lviv

Lviv is famous for its interesting pubs and cafes. In fact this is the city with the biggest ratio of cafes in the world!

In one of the backstreets of Rynok Square, Serbska street, the Masoch Cafe can be found – the name of the place comes from Leopold Ritter von Sacher-Masoch who was born in Lviv almost 200 years ago.

He enjoyed the unusual sexual behaviour and the word “masochism” actually comes from his name.

The cafe is decorated in that theme, all the drinks have sex-related names, if you wish so the waitress can hancuff and whip you.

It was definitely one of the weirdest and coolest pubs I’ve ever been to!

Other famous pubs include a place where you need to know the secret password to get in, the place where midgets serve or the one full of legends of Lviv.

The city is also known for its cafe culture, cozy places for a sip or two of delicious coffee can be found on every step.

On the Rynok Square, at the corner next to the Ruska Street, the manufacture of coffee is located – the smell is so amazing and coffee so delicious!

If you want to try the Ukrainian beer then Obolon (especially Bile) or Lvivske are really good!

What to see in Lviv

As the city that is on UNESCO World’s Heritage List Lviv is full of amazing and interesting places to visit.

However, the best thing to do there is just walking around the narrow streets and breathing in the wonderful bohemian feel of the city.

Here are some of the places I think you shouldn’t miss:

• Rynok Square – the heart of the city with an amazing architecture and a great street life to observe. It’s not mostly for tourists (as it often is in many cities, Warsaw for example) but more for local people to hang out. When in Rynok be sure to climb the tower of the Town Hall as the view across the city from there is simply stunning

• The Opera House – located at the end of Svobody avenue, not far from the old town. It’s amazing from the outside but breathtaking inside! It’s possible to visit it and immediately be transformed to the fancy world with golden rooms, overblown statues and fancy atmosphere.
• High Castle – a hill overlooking the city. It’s quite a hike up there but so worth the view. Literally the whole city is in front of you, as well as surrounding hills and mountains.
• Lychakivsky Cemetery – located not that far from the center (and the walk there is really pleasant), reachable also by tram. This huge cemetery (over 400.000 people are burried there) is full of beautiful graves of famous Polish and Ukrainian citizens, all in the neat, hilly park.

• churches of Lviv – there are a lot of them in the old town, each one being more beautiful than the previous. I especially liked wonderfull baroque Dominican Church or old Armenian Church.

You can visit Lviv with a guide (highly recommended as this city is full of stories and legends), there are also numerous tours with various themes available. Click here to see the best Lviv tours!

Why is it worth to visit Lviv, Ukraine

For whatever reason, a lot of people still consider Ukraine unsafe and are afraid to go there. Big mistake.

It’s just your regular European country in the safety standards so there’s not much to worry about, just use your common sense like everywhere else.

There might be tension in the east of the country but the rest of Ukraine is safe to travel to.

While the number of tourists visiting Lviv is getting higher each year it is still not as bad as in popular destinations in Western Europe.

The city is still unspoiled by the commercial and it’s so easy to feel the bohemian, artsy, multicultural atmosphere of the old times.

And did I mention it’s just stunning?

Travel Resources

You can find the best accommodation options at Booking . They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Lviv

Never travel without travel insurance , you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Ukraine here.

I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here .

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10 Comments

Joy @MyTravelingJoys

As always Kami, thanks for your lovely tips! I’m catching up on all your old Lviv posts as we have a trip planned there in mid-February. Took advantage of the 300pln flights via LOT recently. Can’t wait to explore this cute city! :-)

you will love it for sure! It’s really one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in Europe and with the current exchange rate it will be crazy cheap! I’m slightly jealous you’re going there, Lviv is in my top3 cities :) And LOT can have such a good prices sometimes!!

Doug Foster

Hello Kami! Thank you for all your efforts explaining these cities. I wonder about the natural Gems in that area and are they for sale on ebay or other places on the internet. I have been to Crimea and other places. It left a giant impression on me. I would enjoy going back to see your cities and inter- mix into the culture. It would be like a dream, but the dream is real. You are a cool lady! Thanks Doug from Tucson Arizona….

Sadly I have no idea about the natural gems. But I really hope you will be able to go to Lviv as it’s such a splendid city! Thanks!

Hello Ms. Kami! Thank you for all recommendations.

I’m glad you found them useful!

Hi Kami Can you tell me if there are Christmas markets etc in Lviv I have never been and would hope to go in December taking the train from Poland. Thank you.

Yes, there is a really nice Christmas market in the center :) I think December might be a nice time to visit Lviv, especially when there is snow around! Hopefully traveling will be easier then!

A friend of mine from the Lviv area says wait until May when the weather is better and it would be safer as a USA tourist as it would be tourist season etc. I definitely agree the weather would be better. What do you think? New Year’s in Lviv with snow or wait until summer when the weather is perfect and there is more people around?

While Lviv is enjoyable all year long I would definitely wait until the weather gets better, especially for your first visit there. Either way, I’m sure you will enjoy Lviv! :)

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Lviv travel guide

Lviv tourism | lviv guide, you're going to love lviv.

There is a reason why the majestic city of Lviv is marked by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, with plenty of art, culture, and music, as well as its perfectly preserved regional churches, castles, and distinctly Ukrainian customs.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit Lviv

1. history in the everyday.

Lviv's beautiful churches and buildings have been revived, restored, and fortified. When you walk through the city, you'll see such monuments to history as Boim Chapel, Church of Sts. Olha and Elizabeth, and the Armenian Cathedral of Lviv.

2. Scenic Views at Lviv High Castle

At the top of Castle Hill sits the Lviv High Castle. The castle itself is in ruins, but you can capture views of the city, especially at sunset, from the observation platform located atop the kurgan.

3. Vibrant Nightlife

You'll find the city comes alive at night. Check out Metro Club and the Millennium Club for beats and people you simply can't miss.

4. Museums and Galleries Galore

Lviv's museums portray the various works of art, the movements, and all the culture that has unfolded in this spot. Of particular note are The Lviv National Museum and Lviv Museum of Religious History.

5. Relax at the "Bania"

A favorite pastime of locals, visiting the "bania" or local bath/steam-house and sauna is a social activity. The experience ends with a (optional) beating of an olive branch bouquet and a dip in cold pools.

What to do in Lviv

1. high castle: gorgeous views and romantic ruins.

Ransacked by Poles, Lithuanians, and Cossacks (among others), Lviv's High Castle may not have been the world's stoutest fortification, but it's among the most spectacular. Dating back to the 13th century, the High Castle towers over central Lviv. Not much of the actual fortress remains, but what's there is wonderful: miles of wooded paths that open out onto a gorgeous vista across the city. There's no better vantage point to take some snaps.

2. Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet: A Showcase for Ukrainian Arts and Culture

The Theatre of Opera and Ballet is the crown jewel of Lviv's Old City. Built between 1897 and 1900, it's a fin de siècle masterpiece that has seen transitions from Austro-Hungarian rule, through Soviet Communism, to an independent Ukraine, where it's one of the country's greatest artistic centers. Don't miss the murals and sculptures inside the theater, and try to attend a show if you can. There's a thriving annual Opera season with affordable ticket prices, and the promise of magical cultural experiences.

3. Lychakiv Cemetery: A Tangled Web of Historical Memorials

Located a couple of miles southeast of the Old City, Lychakiv Cemetery is a state-run museum of history that's well worth an afternoon's stroll. Thanks to sections like the Field of Mars (the resting place for thousands of soldiers who died fighting the Nazis), it's a poignant place to spend time and a testimony to the city's tangled history. Ukrainian and Polish patriots and heroes mingle in the cemetery's lanes, along with a controversial memorial to the Ukrainian National Army (associated with the SS). Complex, yes, but fascinating nonetheless.

4. Rynok Square: The Heart of Old, and New Lviv

Right at the center of everything in Lviv, Rynok (which means 'market') Square is the place to start an exploration of the Old City. Start with the square itself, with its Renaissance-style fountains, before touring the 16th century Bandinelli Palace, and the elegantly simple Black House, along with a visit the Sobieski Palace (home to a 17th century Polish monarch). If the square reminds you of Italy, that's no coincidence. It was rebuilt in the 16th century with Italian expertise (and money) brought in to help fireproof the new design, and became the playground for Lviv's elite for centuries.

5. Armenian Cathedral: A Stunning Survival of a Turbulent History

Although it's a long way from the Caucasus, Lviv has long had connections to Armenia thanks to a sizable trading community. In the 14th century, Armenian merchants got together to fund a church, which was steadily expanded into a cathedral. However, the community suffered disaster under Stalin and was almost wiped out. But the Armenians have started to return and the cathedral has been restored. Nowadays, its colorful interior and graceful composition is a breathtaking sight, located just a few hundred meters from Rynok Square.

Activities & attractions in Lviv

Other activities

Where to Eat in Lviv

For authentic Ukrainian cuisine, like a hearty bowl of bohrach or banosh, check out Trapezna Idey. Mains cost from between ₴50-100.

When to visit Lviv

The best time to visit Lviv is April to October, especially if you prefer the warmer weather, when the spring turns to summer and the temperatures rise to around 75 - 84.

Airports near Lviv

Where to stay in lviv.

There's no place better for a luxury stay than the Grand Hotel. Modest accommodation can be found at Hotel Volter, and budget travelers will love Coffee Home Hostel.

Popular Neighborhoods in Lviv

Frankivskyi District - this district was named after writer and social activist Ivan Franko. Besides its historical architecture, Frankivskyi has parks, the Altai lake, and residential areas.

Shevchenkivskyi District - named after the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, this district has many Soviet-style apartment blocks, and is close to the Lviv National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.

Lychakivskyi District - this eastern neighborhood is home to many churches, buildings, and the picturesque Pogulyanka Park, perfect for summer picnics!

Where to stay in popular areas of Lviv

Most booked hotels in lviv, how to get around lviv, public transportation.

Locals use a combination of mini-buses, trams, and trolleybuses. The former costs ₴4 and the latter two cost ₴2.

Taxis are plentiful in Lviv but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Try and agree on a fixed price before you get in. If the taxi is metered, try asking the driver to run the meter rather than negotiating a fixed price. On average, fares start at a flat rate of ₴35 and it's ₴3 per mile thereafter. If you call and book a taxi ahead of your journey the fare will be cheaper than hailing one from the street.

Rent a car in Lviv from well-known providers like Budget and Avis. Rates start at ₴604 a day for a standard, 4-door compact car.

The Cost of Living in Lviv

There are multiple malls in Lviv. Take your pick from among the Dobrobut Shopping Centre, Magnus Shopping Center, or King Cross Leopolis and Auchan Hypermarket, to name a few.

Australia pledges $100m in military assistance to Ukraine as Richard Marles visits

Deputy prime minister says Australia remains committed to Ukraine’s war effort as it struggles to hold back Russian advances

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The Australian government has announced a new $100m assistance package for Ukraine, which includes munitions and military equipment, during a visit to the country by the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles .

Australia’s package will include $50m in military assistance, including $30m towards uncrewed aerial systems, and $15m towards other high-priority equipment such as combat helmets, rigid hull inflatable boats, boots, fire masks and generators.

It will also include the delivery of air-to-ground precision munitions and $50m in short-range air defence systems.

During his visit, Marles met the Ukrainian prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, and deputy minister of defence, Lt Gen Ivan Havryliuk.

He said Australia remained committed to the Ukrainian war effort , as the country struggles to hold back Russian advances.

“Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine to resolve the conflict on its terms,” he said.

“I am pleased to announce an additional $100m of military assistance, including world-leading drone technology, with the support of local Australian defence industry.”

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As part of his visit, Marles met members of the armed forces of Ukraine during training exercises and had the opportunity to tour the local defence industry, which has been integral in Ukraine’s defence against Russia.

Marles said his meeting with Shmyhal “reaffirmed” that the spirit of the Ukrainian people remained strong, with the war recently crossing the two-year mark.

“Ukraine and its people have endured more than two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion but their spirit remains strong. This was reaffirmed during my meeting with prime minister Shmyhal.

“Australia is proud to be working with our partners, including Poland, to support Ukraine’s self-defence,” he said.

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Marles also reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the multinational program to train Ukrainian armed forces personnel in the UK, through Operation Kudu.

As part of his trip, he also visited Poland, and met with the deputy prime minister and minister of defence, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

As part of his conversation with his counterpart, Marles thanked the Polish government for its support of the recent six-month deployment of a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail which helped protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine.

The new package brings Australia’s overall support to Ukraine to more than $1bn, which includes $880m in assistance for Ukraine’s military.

That support has included providing 120 Bushmaster vehicles, six M777 155mm lightweight towed howitzers, 56 M113AS4 armoured vehicles, 14 special operations vehicles as well as munitions.

The government also announced a $50m grant to the International Fund for Ukraine in February, and said it would extend and expand Operation Kudu over two years to deliver additional support for Ukraine.

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Russian missiles strike Ukrainian power plants in new blow to infrastructure

KYIV — Russia hammered Ukraine’s electrical grid with nearly two dozen missiles overnight Saturday, officials said, in the latest assault on the country’s energy system. The missiles struck four thermal power plants belonging to the country’s largest private energy company, officials said.

It was the fourth “large-scale attack” on DTEK’s power plants in a little over a month as Russia “seeks to cripple supplies of energy to millions of ordinary Ukrainian homes and businesses,” the company tweeted . The extent of the damage was still being assessed, DTEK said.

DTEK did not say where the plants were located, but Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko wrote on Telegram that energy facilities came under assault in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region and the western Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. One energy worker was wounded, Galushchenko and DTEK both said.

The attacks were “an attempt to destroy the lives of millions of people who rely on electricity to do things we take for granted: drink clean water, refrigerate food, reach apartments, talk to family members or light a child’s bedroom,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko tweeted .

Moscow’s forces fired 34 air-, land- and sea-based missiles at Ukrainian targets overnight, the Ukrainian air force wrote on Telegram. Thirteen evaded Ukraine’s air defenses, including all four Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles that Russia launched, the air force said.

Russia has been able to significantly ramp up its missile and drone attacks across Ukraine — killing and wounding a large number of civilians, in addition to damaging infrastructure — as Ukrainian air defenses run low on ammunition .

President Biden this week signed a foreign aid package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine, after the bill was blocked in Congress for months by hard-line Republicans. However, Ukrainian officials say they need additional air defense weapons — in particular, multiple Patriot antiaircraft systems, which can intercept ballistic missiles.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeated his appeal to Ukraine’s allies to supply his country with the needed air defenses and weapons.

“This night, 34 Russian missiles targeted Ukraine. We managed to intercept a portion of them. However, the world has all of the resources to assist us in intercepting every missile and drone fired by Russian terrorists,” he tweeted . “... What Ukraine needs is air defense systems, a sufficient quantity and quality of weapons to ensure our frontline actions, as well as prompt delivery and steadfast action.”

In the Lviv region, Russian missiles struck “critical energy infrastructure in the Stryi and Chervonohrad districts,” Maksym Kozytskyy, head of the regional military administration, wrote on Telegram. “There is destruction.”

No one was injured in the attacks there and there were no power outages, Kozytskyy said. However, the regional energy system was experiencing difficulties maintaining “the balance of production and consumption,” he said.

“To avoid having to apply hourly shutdowns, please do not turn on energy-intensive electrical appliances” between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., he added. They include “air conditioner, electric kettle, vacuum cleaner, boiler, heater, iron, washing machine, microwave oven, electric oven.”

In the Dnipropetrovsk region, the attacks damaged energy facilities in the Dnipro and Kryvorizka districts, resulting in “interruptions in the water supply,” Serhiy Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, wrote on Telegram.

Missiles also struck the grounds near a medical complex and a psychiatric hospital in the eastern city of Kharkiv, said Oleh Synyehubov, head of the regional military administration.

Sixty patients and five employees were in the psychiatric hospital building at the time of the strike, Synyehubov said, adding that one patient was injured and treated on the spot.

More than 1,000 patients and staff were at the medical complex, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on social media.

“Fortunately, the rockets hit the ground and not the buildings of the medical facility — otherwise it is difficult to imagine the number of dead and injured,” he wrote on Telegram.

Saturday’s attacks came in waves, with air raid alerts sounding out twice in the capital, Kyiv, the second taking place at close to 4 a.m. and lasting more than two hours.

“This night was restless for all of Ukraine,” Svitlana Onyshchuk, head of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional military administration, wrote on Telegram. “The enemy again struck a massive blow against peaceful cities.”

For its part, Ukraine’s military and security service, SBU, carried out overnight drone attacks on a military airfield and two oil refineries in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, an official in Ukraine’s intelligence services said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

The attack was successful, the official said. “Dozens of military aircraft, radars and electronic warfare devices” were based at the Kushchevsk airfield, he said, while the drones “struck the rectification and atmospheric columns” of the Ilsky and Slavyansk refineries. He did not provide further details and The Washington Post could not independently confirm his statement.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense said that overnight it shot down 66 Ukrainian drones in the Krasnodar region and two in Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed 10 years ago.

Krasnodar Gov. Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram that “more than ten drones” were intercepted as they tried to attack oil refineries and infrastructure facilities “in the Slavyansky, Seversky and Kushchevsky districts,” but “there were no casualties or serious damage.”

However, an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban “partially suspended operations after an attack” by Ukrainian drones, Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency said.

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Child seriously hurt as number of dead rises after airstrike in Odesa seaside park

The Ukrainian authorities say the number of victims from a Russian airstrike in Odesa has risen, with many more injured. Listen to a Daily podcast on whether the UK should send troops to Ukraine as you scroll.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 11:19, UK

• Number of victims from Odesa attack rises to five, with child badly hurt
• Watch: Massive building in flames after attack
• Explained : Why is Chasiv Yar the next target for Russia?
• Your questions answered: Will Ukraine launch another spring offensive?
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts

Live events elsewhere mean we are leaving our coverage of the Ukraine war there for the day. 

The main development this morning was the rise in the number of people killed in a Russian strike on Odesa yesterday to five.

Read more details in our posts below - and we'll be back with rolling updates and analysis of the war soon.

At least two people have been killed in another Russian strike, this time targeting the northeastern city of Kharkiv, local officials say.

Six more have been wounded in the attack, which Governor Oleh Synehubov says was carried out using guided bombs, according to preliminary information.

The attack damaged a residential building in one of the city districts, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. 

Emergency services are on the scene, local officials say.

Yesterday, a woman was reportedly injured after a "series of explosions" hit the city, according to the mayor.

Russia denies targeting civilians in the war that is now in its third year.

As we reported yesterday, a Russian missile attack targeted an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Black Sea port of Odesa.

The number of victims from that airstrike has risen, with five people now reported to have died. 

Local officials had initially said four were killed.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper said in addition to those killed in the attack, one man died after suffering a stroke attributed to the strike.

Another 32 are said to be injured, eight of whom seriously - including a four-year-old child.

A pregnant woman and another child are also among the injured.

"Monsters, beasts, savages, scum, I don't know what else to say," Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.

"People are going for a walk by the sea and they are shooting and killing."

Video footage, which could not be immediately verified, showed people receiving treatment on the street alongside pools of blood. 

One photo showed officials examining part of a missile.

Ukrainian navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the strike was conducted by an Iskander-M ballistic missile with a cluster warhead.

Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Hello and welcome back to our coverage of the war in Ukraine. 

Yesterday a Russian attack on the port city of Odesa killed at least four people, while dramatic footage showed a massive education facility ablaze in the aftermath. 

Here are the other key events to get you up to speed on from the past 24 hours:

• More than 30 Ukrainian conscripts have died while trying to cross the border illegally to avoid mobilisation, a Ukrainian official said;
• The Duchess of Edinburgh met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, in what marks the first visit to the country by a member of the Royal Family since the war begin;
• Debris recovered from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian region of Kharkiv on 2 January was North Korean, according to the United Nations;
• NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg visited Kyiv for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
• In a joint news conference, Mr Stoltenberg said NATO allies had "not delivered" on their military aid pledges to Ukraine in recent months, saying that "serious delays" had led to negative consequences on the battlefield;
• Mr Zelenskyy also called for the delivery of Western weapons to Kyiv's troops to be sped up;
• Russia's defence ministry claimed its forces have taken control of the village of Semenivka in the eastern Donetsk region;
• European Council president Charles Michel said the Russian invasion of Ukraine has given "new impetus" to calls for the EU to be enlarged beyond the 27 members;
• Germany's public prosecutor's office said it was assessing whether a political motive was behind the killing of two Ukrainian soldiers in Murnau.

As we reported a short time ago, the Duchess of Edinburgh has met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, in what marks the first visit to the country by a member of the Royal Family since the war begin.

Sophie met the Ukrainian president and first lady Olena Zelenska and delivered a message to them on behalf of the King, Buckingham Palace said.

You can watch footage from her trip here...

Throughout the day, we've been reporting on a Russian attack on the city of Odesa in Ukraine, which has killed at least four people. 

These images show a burning educational institution building, which was struck. 

Airline Finnair has said it is pausing flights to Tartu in eastern Estonia for the next month, due to GPS disturbances in the area.

"Finnair will suspend its daily flights to Tartu, Estonia, from 29 April to 31 May, so that an alternative approach solution that does not require a GPS signal can be put in place at Tartu Airport," the Finnish airline said in a statement.

Finnair last week had to divert two flights back to Helsinki after GPS interference prevented the approach to Tartu airport, although a spokesperson said the company did not now where the interference came from.

However, Tallinn seems certain as where the issues are originating. 

"It is a fact that Russia affects GPS devices in our region’s airspace," Estonia's foreign minister said via a spokesperson.

Margus Tsahkna added that Estonia will raise the issue of GPS interference with its neighbours, and intends to discuss it with the EU and NATO. 

GPS jamming and spoofing have grown worse in eastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East, all areas close to conflict zones, according to industry group OpsGroup. 

More than 30 Ukrainian conscripts have died while trying to cross the border illegally to avoid mobilisation, a Ukrainian official has said.

Andriy Demchenko, spokesman for the State Border Guard Service,  told Ukrinform that some men are prepared to pay "large sums" of money to groups promising to smuggle them across the border safely.

"Then they are faced with the fact that the route runs along a mountain river," he said.

Many conscripts have lost their lives after realising they didn't have the strength to swim the river, Mr Demchenko added.

"In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, about 30 people have died trying to cross the border illegally," he said.

Such attempts occur "every day", he said.

For context: Ukraine has been under martial law since the Russian invasion in February 2022.

It lets draft officers call up men of a certain age to fight on the front line.

In April, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed off a new law lowering the age of draft-eligible men from 27 to 25, in a bid to boost troop numbers in his depleted ranks.

The Duchess of Edinburgh has met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine, in what marks the first visit to the country by a member of the Royal Family since the war begin.

Her visit is aimed at demonstrating "solidarity with the women, men and children impacted by the war and in a continuation of her work to champion survivors of conflict-related sexual violence", the palace said.

Three women and a man have died after a Russian attack on Odesa.

A further 28 people have been injured, including two children aged five and 16. A pregnant woman has also been hurt.

This video shows the aftermath of the attack. 

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