KYIV (not Lviv) For Orthodox Christmas .... Yes, totally changed.

Here is some good background information.

https://visitukraine.today/tours

Some Ideas of what to expect:

• Here is the last trip report which details the trip (its to Kyiv, but the trip to Lviv is similar, but a few hours shorter): https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/kyiv
• Here is Lviv last Christmas: https://youtu.be/r-jAtlkdp6w?si=UFF75tjnqO7V5zhN
• The "is it safe question" with a fair response: https://youtu.be/TViofIeVEGQ?si=gH1npYvU__vslq52

I thought I would add that I made a similar trip in Oct, 2023, to Lviv from Budapest on my own. My trip was a little different and a bit shorter: private transfer across the border and then by car with my friend (who is a guide) from there to Lviv; 2 full days in Lviv; then Flixbus back to Mukachevo at the border and private transfer back to Budapest. I would be happy to PM more info and impressions if someone is considering this.

People go back and forth daily. We were recently offered the time to cross into Ukraine from Romania last month by our guide (but didn’t). There are lots of considerations and I wouldn’t urge someone to go - but it’s not crazy. Lviv is a lovely city and I had a wonderful time being a tourist there. Tourism is welcome.

Lviv...the city of various names depending on the period of history under discussion. I only wish I had gone there in the first years of the 21st Century, certainly a missed opportunity.

A good friend of mine, some 20 years my junior, did exactly that in 2006 as he wanted to see remnants and historical evidence of the old Lemberg, the name under the Habsburg Empire , a province capital and the 4th largest urban center in Austria-Hungary

I'm not doing this now but appreciate the link to the company doing tours in Ukraine. I especially liked the fact that there is a tour of "deoccupied cities". I wonder if any agency has a tour of "the capital city of those who invade their neighbors because they want to steal their country".

I am sorry for your Croatia incident, James. Hope you are mending.

And thank you for preparing a trip for my birthday !

Thank you Kim. Life goes on.

Okay, getting close to the day to pull the cord on the train ticket purchase. They go on sale about 3 weeks prior and they sell out in hours.

My dates are pretty much up in the air. When I was in Croatia in September I had a little "event" and tore my rotator cup. Not just a little, I made hamburger meat out of one muscle. The first surgery was a failure. Plan B is they steal parts from elsewhere and try to reconstruct something. Live goes on regardless. But I have a lead on a very good surgeon with the right experience that works out of a clinic in Lviv and one in Kyiv. The price is right too. So my travel dates are around when I can get in to see him. I also have one in Budapest I am talking to and one in Lativa and one in Dallas (least fun option).

But I expect to make the trip before the end of January. If anyone wants to tag along .....

magyarjd

sorry you're under the weather

Thank you Nigel. Very much appreciated. Its tough being right handed and losing so much use of your right arm. But I have a very blessed life, so no regrets. Figure it out and move on.

makes me think that the arthritis I've been complaining about while writing cards is small potatoes

But at least you still do it by hand. Thats first class my friend.

From 01.01.2026 Ukraine will join the European Union Roam Like At Home Zone allowing international tourists to use the Internet and make calls in the same way as in other European Union countries.

Roam Like At Home is a rule introduced by the European Union which allows subscribers to use telecommunications services (calls, text messages, Internet) in other EU countries on the same terms as in their own country without additional roaming charges.

The cost of the calls on Ukrainian numbers from EU cell-phone numbers while visiting Ukraine are the same as set by the tariffs of EU cell-phone operators.

While traveling in Ukraine if you call your home European country - the tariffs are as set by your EU cell-phone operator and no roaming charges.

Dobryy den Mr. Ê,

Hope you are recovered from mishap, and Bon Voyage --- have a wonderful time, and if you have time to post later, I would be eager to hear about it. Currently I'm hoping for May trip

Happy New Year & All the Best...

blackcat fortunate, thank you.

Unfortunately iy seems like all the orthopedic surgeons decided to go into hiding until after 5 January. I have one appointment here 7 January and am still trying to get into see one in Lviv / Kyiv and one in Dallas but cant make the appointments until after tgey return from the holidays. It looks like a fix is a long shot but since i've lost close to half the use of my arm it might be worth a try. First I make that decision then back to recreational travel plans.

But when I do go, there will be trip reports.