BLOGGING LVIV
26.03.26 | Foreigners in Lviv
They're out there, those wonderful waifs and strays who end up in Lviv because of job dissatisfaction back home, political madness back home, a broken marriage back home, or an urge to check out a very cool and distant place to spend a big dollar pension.
That the fair sex in Lviv is significantly more attractive than your average maiden back home could be another reason, idem the (mostly) low cost of living. Add the fact that Ukraine has an incredibly complicated, mostly wild and violent history, the Carpathians, amazing food (if you love cabbage) and the best beer in the universe, I understand the attraction.
There are downsides, but nothing catastrophic and easily dealt with.
I think I have heard about foreigners who come to Ukraine "normally". Not for the women, nor for the chance of a second, third or even fourth shot at youth.
I must assume these people are career professsionals, Project Managers with ideas and a vision as I, for example.
As war is upon us, foreign volunteers are with us, too. Volunteers with NGOs, volunteer soldiers, volunteer medics and volunteer drivers. Yes, good, great. Thank you. Will they stay after the war? Open question. If civil war follows war with russia, probably not!
I can count the number of foreigners I know in Lviv on one hand and it's always been like this. I learned a long time ago that it's better to steer clear of non-natives, especially compatriots, and stick with locals. Reason being correct cultural integration, language learning, and a thorough understanding of time and place.
Read more about my thoughts on foreigners in Lviv and what they must do to really settle in.
24.03.26 | Lviv since 240222
I could write 100 articles about Lviv since 24.02.2022, everyone knows that everything has changed but Lviv is still Lviv and war is not new to the city. Streets in 2026 are as they were in 2022, the only obvious difference being protective scaffolding that has been erected around some monuments.
In Lviv old town, every street has at least one building with sandbagged basement windows, typically beneath a religious or educational institution of which there are many. The sandbags may become permanent.
The change that matters most is the ever-decreasing number of men. A million have been forcibly mobilized, several million ran away to Europe, but thousands have volunteered to defend their country. This has fundamentally changed the dynamic of Lviv.
Lviv has been bombed, not often, indeed, very rarely, but it happened. Air alarms and blackouts are part and parcel of daily life. Hot water is not always a given.
russia recruits young mindless Ukrainians on Telegram to commit acts of terrorism and sabotage happens, as do bomb threats to schools and shopping centres. Threats in some form or other are omnipresent.
Let's continue in the article per se, there is much to tell and all of it makes Lviv even more appealing.
18.03.26 | Lviv Tours Veterans
In Lviv tours supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine has always been the dynamic since day one in July, 2023. We must help Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front, no one in Lviv or elsewhere in Ukraine is exempt from that.
All the men and women who have defended the sovereign territory of Ukraine from russian aggression will need economic rehabilitation. Some of them may want to communicate their experiences to foreigners.
This is where the value of tourism in the context of post-war Lviv will become apparent. Tourism has the potential to be a powerful force for positive change.
russia has damaged and destroyed many historic buildings in Ukraine, indeed, drones and missiles have struck some of the oldest and most picturesque streets in Lviv. For this reason, we are duty-bound to play our part in educating visitors to Lviv and helping our defenders readjust to civilian life.
Most of Lviv's archives have been moved underground, externally sandbagged basement windows the careless giveaway. Some of these facilities are guarded by the military, such is the inestimable value of the archival material they protect.
Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has advised that 100,000 soldiers will return to Lviv from war with russia.
Physical and psychological rehabilitation will become a critical need and is already happening. Stable economic rehabilitation will be equally important, but to find work for so many people is unrealistic. In this way, those of us who can contribute must contribute.
"Guided by Veterans" was the initial idea in 2023. Since then, having seen what PTSD means face to face, we've had to revise how we approach connecting veterans with travellers on guided tours. Everyone is different, and from experience, the vast majority of veterans will readjust well. It pains us to report, however, that some will be unable to do that.
The challenges of being a tour operator in wartime, standing up to be counted, and serving the needs of the Lviv community leaves no room for apprehension.
Everyone who books with In Lviv Tours while russia is actively invading Ukraine is rather a special person, we are forever indebted to them for their custom.
In this article, we discuss how veterans of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can become an important part of tourism in Lviv on the ground.
25.12.25 | Christmas Tour Lviv
Christmas in Lviv revolves around the Christmas market that occupies much of Rynok Square and some streets nearby. It's a gathering of Galicians where the soul of Lviv is spread open for all to see and understand.
If you'd like to immerse yourself in the customs and traditions of Lviv, book between mid-December and the first ten days of January to catch our Christmas spirit!
What is there to see and do? Lviv old town is a lure and a labyrinth of surprises, amplified tenfold at Christmas when the toys in the attic come out to play.
Expect the unexpected, it's what we do here at In Lviv Tours. Eat and drink like Kings and Queens, fraternize with our somewhat eccentric locals, dance barefoot beneath our German Gothic, Polish and Italian architecture without a care in the world.
The ghosts of Christmas past or perhaps one of us will guide you to and through the wintry warmth.
Whatever company you'll keep, there's just no place like Lviv at Christmas.
29.10.25 | Lviv Christmas Tours
Taking a tour of Lviv at Christmas is rather different from experiencing Christmas in Europe or the United Kingdom. Traditions and local customs in Lviv are very strong, and Christmas is the best time to know them.
The commercialization of Christmas in Europe and the UK has become commonplace. Chinese tat being sold out of black bags on the grand squares of Europe has become acceptable. There is a terrorist threat. For these reasons, it's easy to understand why spending Christmas in Lviv will become bucket list.
There are two articles about Lviv at Christmas. This first one hammers home the problems that afflict Christmas markets in Europe and the UK.
The second article, "Christmas Tour Lviv", will be a walkthrough of the market stalls on Rynok Square and Prospekt Svobody, our main track. Learn everything about the artisans, what they make and where they come from (typically towns and villages near Lviv or Lviv itself).
This opening salvo, penned by In Lviv Tours founder Pete Gr, is a direct report on the demise of traditions and erosion of culture at Christmas in his home country.
His memories of Christian English Christmas traditions in market towns such as Garstang, Lancaster and Cartmel in the 1970s and 1980s are undiminished, and that will never change.
Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas in Lviv is not unlike how Christmas in England used to be.
24.10.25 | Lviv Tours Ukraine
Tours of Lviv in Ukraine have more in common with tours in Poland and Lithuania than Kyiv and Odesa. With a history that borders on being as European as anywhere else in geographical Western Europe, the variety of Lviv tours is very interesting.
Without bias, In Lviv Tours encapsulates this better than anyone else as our work embraces multiple non-Ukrainian cultures and histories within the framework of Ukraine today.
It is for this reason that tours of Lviv will eventually become the most important tours in Europe.
We never really offered "Ukraine war tours", such a thing does not really exist, with the crazed exception of a few shameless, self-serving "tour operators" in Kyiv.
Our focus is Lviv and we're looking forward to developing what we have as well as offering new excursions to the Ukrainian Carpathians.
Another new direction for us is how to improve what an underground Lviv tour can be. The last remaining Cold War bunkers in Lviv have become too unsafe to explore and restrictions are in place to keep people away. We agree and understand it.
Walks to places where one can pay their respects are obviously not part of the tours we offer, but we can advise and accommodate on request.
22.10.25 | Lviv Tour Reviews
Reading reviews of Lviv tours has the potential to be maddening. Are the reviews real? Why is the reviewer fawning over the guide? Don't rely on reviews of tours in Lviv or anywhere else.
Online reviews of tours and activities are much of a muchness. Many are paid for, written by shameless freelancers on behalf of unscrupulous tour operators, while others are AI-generated, published by freelancers on behalf of the same. Nothing is real.
Review platforms such as Tripadvisor, Trustpilot, Google and Facebook are a goldmine for tour guides and tour operator owners who want to build up a solid reputation without actually doing anything.
Tripadvisor claims to moderate every review, but this is a lie. Tripadvisor needs every review to consolidate it's SEO, as each one is free content from a new IP address and Google supports this flow.
The best advice we can give before booking a Lviv tour is search on Google or Bing, ignore the sponsored ads, choose the tour operator that is most interesting for you, then pore through each and every tour until you have found what you're looking for.
21.10.25 | Guided Tours in Lviv
One day, Lviv guided tours will be the most booked tours in Eastern Europe. We're setting a precedent by curating unique and engaging activities that buck the trend early doors, so Lviv doesn't end up with duplicate tours on dozens of platforms as is the case in most, if not all other European cities.
This practice of market saturation engenders overtourism and we don't support it.
It's important to book direct with local tour operators, not corporate resellers. If you book from a sponsored ad that offers Lviv tours, you could be damaging our city if it leads to GetYourGuide, Viator (Tripadvisor - more about them soon), Headout or Klook.
By booking direct, you support localized tourism infrastructure. By booking through a reseller, the 30% commission they take from local operators goes straight to them. They do nothing for the destinations they profiteer from.
19.10.25 | Lviv Guided Tour
What defines a guided tour of Lviv? It's a good question and there are no easy answers. Reading this article will help you understand why a tour of Lviv with In Lviv Tours makes perfect sense.
We don't get involved in wandering around the most famous buildings in Lviv pointing out masonry and proclaiming "that was built in 1743" by "whoever".
It's not our remit. If you want to book a tour like that, without emotions, nothing interesting, look elsewhere.
If you want to know Lviv at local level and explore all avenues, book our tours.
15.10.25 | Best of Lviv Tour
Sightseeing the best of Lviv is something we try to do on every tour. It took us a while to catch all the must-sees and now they are our top three tours, absolutely unique in Lviv.
Introducing Lviv Highlights, Lviv Nightlights and Lviv Skylights, our Lviv tours trilogy, our Ukrainian Tolkien. By booking all three, you will see and do everything.
The essence of experiencing the best of Lviv on privately guided Lviv tours lies in uncovering a rich tapestry of history and contemporary humanity.
Any other "best of Lviv" tour will likely include a walk around our magnificent UNESCO World Heritage old town. You will already know that In Lviv Tours does much more than walking around.
Highlights of any excursion to Rynok Square include cosy cafés and unusual buildings that reveal real Lviv when it was not Ukrainian, but this is baseline tourism and naturally, our focus goes much further.
11.10.25 | English Tours Lviv
Lviv tours in English with In Lviv Tours are classic examples of English language tours in Lviv that offer visitors the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Lviv in a globally recognized language.
The secret insights that only our guides can impart, a bonus. Browse our Lviv tours to learn more.
English is widely spoken in Lviv, but the truth is that most tour operators only offer tours in Ukrainian or Polish. We are the exception.
Our English tours in Lviv have been curated in such a way as to accommodate English-speakers, ensuring they can appreciate each and every one of the many magnificent historical landmarks in Lviv in depth.
Furthermore, we provide the springboard from which English-speakers can dive deeper into local Lviv life.
Our tour guides bring history to life, they delve into the past. In the case of Lviv; Polish, Austrian, and latterly, Ukrainian influences rise up as one and tours are conceived in a linguistically illuminating manner.
10.10.25 | Lviv Private Tour
A private Lviv tour with a local expert Lviv tour guide can be completely off-the-beaten-path where almost no tourists go, or more traditional in that iconic buildings and our famous Renaissance facades are visited.
Art spaces, peaceful courtyards and scenic vantage points offering panoramic views of Lviv are all on the table, as are our fantastic restaurants, many of which can only be found deep underground.
In Lviv Tours offers the most interesting private tours in Lviv and we are always curating new activities.
Every traveller is different and individual expectations are what we thrive on. It's fascinating for us to find out what drives people to Lviv and what we learn motivates us to make In Lviv Tours an iconic tour operator.
08.10.25 | Private Tour Lviv
A Lviv private tour is the sensible option for travellers who want their Lviv experience to be nothing less than remarkable. Undivided attention and in depth insights about the history of Lviv, traditions in Lviv, and local customs will make that happen, all of which you will definitely miss on a group tour, or, god forbid, one of those dreaded "free" tours.
Private tours in any destination are always more personal. They present opportunities to ask unlimited questions and engage in telling conversations with the guide. This approach is employed by In Lviv Tours and it guarantees a solid appreciation of what Lviv really is.
Such tours are unrushed, creating a calm environment wherein you will be able to admire the iconic as well as lesser-known sites without the pressure of a schedule.
Whether you're a history buff, an architecture lover, or just eager to try local dishes, a private Lviv tour with In Lviv Tours will always be a good fit for your interests.
06.10.25 | Tour of Lviv
A Lviv tour with In Lviv Tours offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the most interesting city in Ukraine, cleverly avoiding the trap of joining a generic guided group tour. Beware of "free tours", there are many In Lviv and they exist to disappoint.
In the right company, Lviv does not disappoint. With an In Lviv Tours private guide, expect an intoxicating mix of Ukrainian traditions meshed with European heritage.
Strolling through the cobblestone streets of Lviv means navigating a fusion of architectural styles, from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque and even Art Nouveau, but don't fear, your tour guide in Lviv will join the dots.
Lviv old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where landmarks such as Rynok Square are as impressive as any in Europe - with 99% less tourists. Quaint cafés, esoteric shops and traditional restaurants that reflect the city's spirit line the streets all around. The Opera House, an architectural masterpiece close to Rynok Square, is a majestic reminder of Lviv's royal past.
Lviv and coffee have become inseparable, ergo cupping coffee in the artisanal cafés of Lviv is a must. Lviv and chocolate is another love story. Local chocolateries known for handcrafted confections can be found on almost every corner.
Among unmissable highlights are vantage points such as High Castle. Visit Lviv Skylights to gather all the views together with a local.
St. George's Cathedral and the Romanesque-Gothic Armenian Cathedral provide insight into Lviv's spiritual history, reinforcing its storied past. These cathedrals can be toured with In Lviv Tours.
01.10.25 | Lviv Tour Guide
A tour guide in Lviv is the foundation stone of every visit to our extraordinary city. It is their vocation to introduce newcomers to the deep historical roots, impressive architectural marvels, and shifting quasi-cultural atmospheres that make Lviv so unique.
Their expertise helps our clients find hidden places and partake in local traditions. Through engaging narratives and exciting itineraries made possible by In Lviv Tours, real Lviv, not touristic Lviv, is experienced.
NEED TO KNOW
Avoid tours that everyone offers, ergo the generic stuff. You can do all that yourself. Scroll past Tripadvisor and all the other OTAs with their brandjacking sponsored ads when searching for Lviv tours.
Booking through a commission-hogging reseller is always a terrible idea if something goes wrong. Always book direct to reap all the rewards at local level.
Lviv is an unusual city, deserving of phenomenal tours that tear up the rulebook and turn the expected into flawlessly executed unexpectedness.
It's worth noting that our founder, Pete Gr, turned his back on Rome, of all places, to move here. That fact alone says so much about Lviv.
✍ by Pete Gr on April 28th, 2026.