Lviv City Guide
This will be more of a fun page with facts, useful words & phrases and some quotes!
A Brief History of Lviv
Lviv is a city with many names and many stories. Founded in the mid-13th century by King Danylo of Galicia and named after his son Lev (meaning “lion”), Lviv has long stood at the crossroads of East and West. Over the centuries, the city has been part of several empires and countries, including the Kingdom of Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Soviet Union, and modern-day Ukraine.
Each wave of rulers left a mark on the city’s architecture, language, and culture. Walking through Lviv today feels like flipping through a European history book. Gothic churches stand beside Art Nouveau buildings, and Austro-Hungarian cafés line the cobbled streets.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Lviv (then called Lemberg) became a key cultural hub in Central Europe. It was known for its universities, opera house, and lively coffee culture—a tradition that’s still alive and well today.
The 20th century brought more turbulent times. Lviv was deeply affected by both World Wars and experienced dramatic demographic changes. Yet despite everything, the city held on to its character and resilience.
Today, Lviv is proudly Ukrainian, yet still proudly diverse. It is a city where old legends meet youthful energy, where every courtyard hides a story, and where the past is always just around the corner, waiting to be discovered over a strong cup of coffee.
🇬🇧 Multilingual Wordlist 🇺🇦
English – Ukrainian (EN–UA) Practical phrases for travel, dining, and emergencies in Lviv and beyond.
Greetings
| English | Українська (Ukrainian) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Привіт | Pryvít |
| Good morning | Доброго ранку | Dóbroho ránku |
| Good afternoon | Добрий день | Dóbryy denʹ |
| Good evening | Доброго вечора | Dóbroho véchora |
| Good night | На добраніч | Na dobránich |
| Goodbye | До побачення | Do pobáchennya |
| See you later | Побачимось | Pobáchymosʹ |
| How are you? | Як справи? | Yak správy? |
| I’m fine, thanks | Добре, дякую | Dóbre, djákuju |
| What’s your name? | Як тебе звати? | Yak tebé zvaty? |
| My name is… | Мене звати… | Mené zvaty… |
| Nice to meet you | Приємно познайомитись | Pryémno poznayómytysʹ |
| Please | Будь ласка | Budʹ láska |
| Thank you | Дякую | Djákuju |
| You’re welcome | Нема за що | Nemá za shchó |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Вибачте | Vybáchte |
| Yes | Так | Tak |
| No | Ні | Ni |
Restaurant & Café Phrases
| English | Українська (Ukrainian) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Стіл на двох, будь ласка | Stil na dvoh, budʹ láska |
| Can I see the menu? | Можна меню, будь ласка? | Mózhna menyú, budʹ láska? |
| What do you recommend? | Що ви порадите? | Shchó vy poradýte? |
| I’m vegetarian | Я вегетаріанець / вегетаріанка | Ya vegetariánets / vegetariánka |
| No meat, please | Без м’яса, будь ласка | Bez m’yása, budʹ láska |
| I’m allergic to… | У мене алергія на… | U mene alérhiya na… |
| Water with/without gas | Вода з газом / без газу | Vodá z gázom / bez gázu |
| Coffee with milk, please | Каву з молоком, будь ласка | Kávu z molokóm, budʹ láska |
| I’d like a tea, please | Я хотів би чай, будь ласка | Ya hotív by chai, budʹ láska |
| Cheers! | Будьмо! | Búdʹmo! |
| The bill, please | Рахунок, будь ласка | Rákhunok, budʹ láska |
| Can I pay by card? | Можна розрахуватись карткою? | Mózhna rozrakhuvátysʹ kártkoyu? |
| That was delicious! | Було смачно! | Buló smáchno! |
Travel & Directions
| English | Українська (Ukrainian) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the hotel? | Де готель? | De hotélʹ? |
| I have a reservation | У мене є бронювання | U mene ye bronyuvánnya |
| I need a taxi | Мені потрібне таксі | Mení potríbne taksí |
| How much is it? | Скільки це коштує? | Skílʹky tse kóshtuye? |
| Where is the bus stop? | Де автобусна зупинка? | De avtóbusna zupýnka? |
| Train station | Залізничний вокзал | Zalíznichnyy vokzál |
| Airport | Аеропорт | Aeropórt |
| Left / Right | Ліворуч / Праворуч | Lívoruch / Právoruch |
| Straight ahead | Прямо | Pryámo |
| Entrance / Exit | Вхід / Вихід | Vkhíd / Výchid |
| Open / Closed | Відчинено / Зачинено | Vidchynéno / Zachynéno |
| Do you speak English? | Ви розмовляєте англійською? | Vy rozmóvlyayete anhlíysʹkoyu? |
| I don’t understand | Я не розумію | Ya ne rozumíyu |
Emergencies
| English | Українська (Ukrainian) | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Допоможіть! | Dopomozhítʹ! |
| Call the police! | Викличте поліцію! | Vyklychte polítsiyu! |
| I need a doctor | Мені потрібен лікар | Mení potríben líkár |
| I’m sick | Я хворий / хвора | Ya khvóryy / khvóra |
| I’m lost | Я загубився / загубилась | Ya zahubývsya / zahubýlasʹ |
| My phone was stolen | У мене вкрали телефон | U mene vkrály teléfon |
| There’s been an accident | Сталася аварія | Stálasya aváriya |
| Is it safe here? | Тут безпечно? | Tut bezpéchno? |
| Where is the nearest pharmacy? | Де найближча аптека? | De nayblyzhcha aptéka? |
| Blood type | Група крові | Hrúpa króvi |
| I need help urgently | Мені терміново потрібна допомога | Mení termínovo potríbna dopomóha |
Coffee, Culture & Character: Fun Facts About Lviv
Coffee Capital of Ukraine
Lviv is known as the coffee capital of Ukraine. Its cafés are not just places to drink, but places to share ideas and spark inspiration.
Coffee Underground
At “Lviv Coffee Mining Manufacture”, coffee is said to be “mined” underground. You can even order your coffee wearing a helmet and headlamp.
More Cafés Than Days in a Year
Lviv has over 1,000 cafés; more than the number of days in a year!
The Scent of History
Many coffee spots are housed in centuries-old buildings. Some of the walls and furniture date back hundreds of years.
A Mascot with a Mane
Lviv is named after King Danylo’s son Lev. “Lev” means lion and you’ll find lions everywhere: in statues, fountains, and on facades.
Lviv’s Nickname: “Little Vienna”
During the Austro-Hungarian era, Lviv earned the nickname “Little Vienna” thanks to its elegant
architecture and cultural charm.
A Mix of Languages in the Streets
Historically, Lviv has been a melting pot of languages: Ukrainian,
Polish, German, Russian, and Yiddish could all be heard here.
Ukraine’s Oldest University System
Ivan Franko National University was founded in 1661 and remains a
center of intellectual life today.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Lviv’s historic city center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Soviet Past, Viennese Flair
Nowhere else in Ukraine will you see such astriking mix of Austro-Hungarian style and Soviet influence.
Lviv Was Once Polish
Until 1939, Lviv (then called Lwów) was an important Polish city.
An Opera House Full of Stories
The stunning Lviv Opera House is an architectural jewel and you can
enjoy a show there for just a few euros.
Lviv + Chocolate = A Match Made in Heaven
Besides coffee, Lviv is also famous for its chocolate cafés, where you can
watch chocolatiers at work.
Every House Has a Legend
Many buildings in the old town have nicknames or myths, from haunted houses to homes of alchemists.
Lychakiv Cemetery as an Open-Air Museum
This monumental cemetery is the final resting place of many famous writers, poets, and scholars.
Street Music & Cultural Life
From classical strings to Ukrainian beats: in Lviv, you’ll hear live music on almost every corner.
Bookshops with Soul
Lviv was named a UNESCO City of Literature in 2020 and you can feel it. Even cafés sell second-hand books.
Handicrafts & Folk Traditions
At markets and festivals, you’ll find traditional embroidery and costumes with a modern twist.
A City for Dreamers and Thinkers
From coffeehouses with philosophical quotes on the walls to hidden courtyards with art installations, Lviv always fires the imagination.