Go now

Slow travel at its finest in the medieval streets and churches of Lviv

Why go?

While the east of Ukraine is often in the news for the wrong reasons, western Lviv should be in your travel plans for the right ones. Its fairytale elegance could be lifted straight out of the pages of a Brothers Grimm story, and with Ryanair launching flights from Stansted, now’s the chance to write your own adventure.

Christianity has long shaped the city here, with churches of all flavours peppering Lviv. From the rococo ambition of St George Cathedral (Greek Catholic) to the pea-green domes of Assumption Church (Orthodox), to the gothic leer of the Roman Catholic Latin Cathedral, each deserves a look – especially the wall paintings in the Armenian Cathedral.

Many of these buildings line the Unesco-listed Old Town, a walkable web of courtyards, medieval alleys, buzzing cafés and museums. But the city’s storied facades – a legacy of its wealthy Habsburg heyday – lend themselves to a slow pace.

The same goes for Lviv’s green pockets. Stroll the tree-lined Prospekt Svobody (Freedom Avenue) or even the Lychakivs’ke Cemetery, where grand funereal monuments rise up like exhibits in a giant outdoor museum. It’s this languid vibe that sets Lviv apart, as you stroll a city as storied as it is compelling.

Where to stay?

Leopolis Hotel is close to Rynok Square. Doubles from €130 (£115); leopolishotel.com

Get there now!

Ryanair begins thriceweekly flights from London Stansted to Lviv from 2 Nov. From £47 return; ryanair.com

Or how about this…

VLM will fly daily from Stansted to Ostend-bruges, Belgium, from 1 Oct. From £78 return; flyvlm.com

British Airways will fly four times a week to Marrakech from London Heathrow from 28 Oct. From £100; britishairways.com