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Lviv The Week of 14 December

Posted by (Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest) on

https://youtu.be/hTCKAWYczBU?si=oOoZWTguE7roklIx

PM me if any of this interests you.

I wanted to go sooner, and I wanted to return to Kyiv, but it looks like i have a situation that will keep me close to home for a few months and right now Kyiv is gettiing hit pretty hard. So, today, Lviv looks like a wiser choice. I am willing to take along one or more travel buddies that might be interested but a bit nervous. If the situation improves in Kyiv we can vote to head to Kyiv.

The trip will be by train from Budapest, probalby the 14th of December. Its a direct overnight train in mixed compartments. The price is under $100 each way. I have a Ukrainian tour guide for assistance for ticket purchase (isnt easy) and overall logistics. We will do a guide at least one day in Lviv, but otherwise we plan it later. Sorry, but I prefer nice hotels so a 4 Star hotel as nice as any anyplace in the world and it will be under $100 a night. And one with a good basement LOL. Suggest a backpack for luggage (just easier on the train).

Ive been to Lviv before so I know a little about the most interesting things to see. I have ridden the train since the start of the war (to Kyiv) so know what to expect there as well. It is really an enlightening experience. Safe? Define safe? In the past year the only attacks on the Ukrainian train system have been in areas close to the Russian border. Lviv is as far from the Russian border as Chichago is from the Atlantic Ocean. We will take every precaution and have expert advice for safety, but it is a country at war so there is some risk. Last time I checked Lviv was a US Statement Level 3 Advisory; same as Egypt for instance.

Entrance requirements: Not difficult, but you have to purchase insurance.

Duration:
Sunday, 22:40 Depart Budapest on the overnight sleeper train. Shared compartment for four. Mixed.

Monday, 12:28 Arrive Lviv (12:48 trip duration)
Tuesday, Lviv
Wednesday, Lviv
Thursday, Lviv
Friday, 20:08 Depart Liviv
Saturday, 08:20 Arrive Budapest (13:12 trip duration)
(all of the train times are subject to change and there is an option that involves taking a van across the border and picking up the train in Mukachevo or Uzhhorod. Actually there are some interesting places to visit in Uzhhorod so it might be an option to spend the night there. https://youtu.be/0W1G7MIC7CI?si=8dU-iqysp9NDWzq2)

Posted by
24341 posts

Some Ideas of what to expect:

Posted by
24341 posts

Do keep in mind that Lviv is a level 3 by the State Department, same as Egypt, and only one step above Germany. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ukraine-travel-advisory.html

Here is some more info on why and how and what to expect:
https://wartours.in.ua/en/2025/05/12/the-most-frequently-asked-questions-by-war-tourists-and-honest-answers/

Looks like a change in plans. I am trying to move this to mid-November. I have a surgery scheduled for late November and recovery is a few months and I dont want to be away that long. I PMed those who have enquired privately. We might have a few for the trip.

Posted by
24341 posts

Friday evening, 7 November depart Budapest (night train).
Saturday morning, 8 November arrive Lviv.
Sunday, 9 and Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 in Lviv ( I have an excellent guide lined up).
Wednesday evening, 12 November Depart Liviv (night train).
Thursday morning, 13 November Arrive Budapest

Posted by
5706 posts

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.

Posted by
24341 posts

Of course you never want to urge anyone to take any trip. Those that go because they were urged just end up being the cause of the worst kind of overtourism. They dont deserve to be there ... whereever "there" is.

As for somethng to think long and hard about on this trip is medical insurance. While Lviv is a 3, Ukraine si a 4 and your insurance may not cover you in either a 3 or a 4. You need to confirm. Your insurance also may not cover you for an act of war even in a level 2 country. You need to confirm. Ukraine does sell, and requires that you have, medical insurance when you enter Ukraine. And the government (really its private) policy does provide a quite a bit of coverage to take care of you until you can get home ... think evacuation insurance which probalby wont work in Ukraine.

What are the odds of needing any of it? Pretty low, but the reality does still exist.

Posted by
15727 posts

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

Posted by
5029 posts

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".

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