Oleg Vyshniakov - Ukraine and Israel. Don't forget to visit gala concert of LvivKlezFest.

A lot of Ukrainians and tourists are planning to spend the upcoming weekend in Lviv. And there is no wonder, because on the 30th of August in Lviv a gala concert of LvivKlezFest will take place. (http://www.klezfest.lviv.ua) Lviv has been already hosting this international music festival of Jewish culture for seven years. LvivKlezFest is really worth seeing: it is a stunning performance with music, dances, master classes and refreshments. This year festival is being held from the 18th till the 31st of August. So if you have not had time to enjoy the spectacle yet, hurry up, because ahead is the last one and the most significant event of the festival. I understand that due to the current situation a weekend trip to another city is above the budget for many Ukrainians, but hospitable Lviv is an exception. There are plenty of ways to spend your time in Lviv not spending much money. Due to wide range of hotels and hostels you can choose a lodging that will suit your taste and budget.

A few tips how to see Lviv’s sights spending less money:

1) Tourist Information Center in Lviv (http://www.touristinfo.lviv.ua/): there you can get a free city map as well as a list of events for today;

2) Rynok Square is a free WI-FI zone, so you can download on your gadget a free two hour tour throughout the city. Just follow the route and the electronic guide will take you sightseeing; http://lviv.travel/ua/index/what_to_do/lvivin2hours

3) Don't forget to take a look at Lviv from the highest point of the city - Vysokiy Zamok;

4) Lviv galleries and antique shops on Virmenska Street are free to visit. There you can find the following art objects: galleries Dziga, Zelena Kanapa, Pory Roku, Art Gallery of Gary Bowman, Shchos Tsikave Art Gallery, and the famous Cafe-museum Gasova Lampa. 

5) You have to visit city parks as well. The park named after I. Franko is one of the oldest and the most  beautiful parks of Eastern Europe. The Culture Park named after B. Hmelnytskoho, Strysky Park which is the largest and the most picturesque park in the city. This is the favorite place of the natives.

Here you can find a lake with swans, glass-house with tropic plants, railway for children and many other interesting things.

6) The churches and cathedrals of Lviv. Dominician Church, cathedral church, St. Andrew’s church, St. Yura Church, Armenian Cathedral, Jesuit Church. You will be charmed by the grandeur and uniqueness of these architectural masterpieces.

7) Within  LvivKlezFest the festival of Jewish cousin will be hold in the Arsenalna street on 30 of August. Every two hours the excursions through Jewish square will be arranged near Podvalna, 5 street. The Gala Concert Opening Ceremony will start at 2 p.m. in Rynok Square.

See you in Lviv.