The undisputed touristic kingpin of western Ukraine is unlike any other city in the country. Touting its wealth of exquisite Germanic architecture, gothic churches and renaissance palaces, the town speaks more of Slavic traditionalism than it does of the USSR, while its distinct multiculturalism and pro-Europe vibe has made it something of a cradle of political liberalism the nation over.

The sightseeing action centres on the Lviv Old town, where the bustling Market Square gives way to enchanting cobbled lanes, the Catholic landmark of the Latin Cathedral, the honorific Shevchenko Monument and the eerie Chapel of the Boim. Nearby lurks the Lychakiv Cemetery, the resting ground of countless Polish and Ukrainian luminaries since the 18^th century. Lviv tour guides also often recommend enjoying a show at the world-famous Lviv Opera and Ballet, or delving into the town’s wealth of great museums, which range from the city’s branch of the National Museum, to the curious Pharmacy Museum on Drukarska.

After dark Lviv transforms itself, with the locals shooting potent horilka (vodka) and local beer in the shadowy corners of the city’s hidden subterranean drinkeries, and dancing the night away awkwardly to bouts of Euro pop.