Lutsk is one of the most ancient cities located in the western part of Ukraine. It is the perfect stop to spend a night or two for those who are planning to visit the Tunnel of Love, one of the most photogenic train tracks in Ukraine.
Most people who travel to the Tunnel of Love either stop in Rivne or Lutsk. While Rivne is a bit bigger, Lutsk offers more things to do for travelers, and I would recommend you choose Lutsk over Rivne for a stopover before you travel westward to Lviv.
Without further ado, here is everything you need to know to travel to Lutsk, including the 8 best things to do when you are there. Let's begin with my Lutsk things to do map and itinerary.
- Lutsk Things to Do Map
- Where to Stay in Lutsk?
- Quick Summary: Things to do in Lutsk
-
8 Best Things to Do in Lutsk
- 1. Visit the Tunnel of Love on a Day Trip
- 2. Visit the Lubart's Castle
- 3. Walk along the Lesi Ukrainky Main Street
- 4. Visit Cathedral of the St. Peter and Paul
- 5. Visit the Dominican Convent
- 6. Check Out the House with Chimeras
- 7. Drop By the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
- 8. Have Breakfast at Frans.ua
- More Lutsk Activities
- Ukraine Travel Video
- When to Visit Lutsk?
- How To Get To Lutsk, Ukraine?
- How To Get Around Lutsk, Ukraine?
- How Many Days to Spend in Lutsk?
- How Much Money Do I Need for Lutsk, Ukraine?
- Is it Safe to Travel to Ukraine?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Lutsk?
- What to Pack for Lutsk, Ukraine?
- Further Reading for Ukraine
Lutsk Things to Do Map
Quick Summary: Things to do in Lutsk
8 Best Things to Do in Lutsk
1. Visit the Tunnel of Love on a Day Trip
Let's be honest, one of the reasons you would stop in Lutsk is to go to the Tunnel of Love, and it only takes half a day to get there and back by public transport. That is why I put this at the top of the list.
I have written an extensive guide on how to get to the Tunnel of Love via public transportation, so you can check it out if you are interested. Be aware that during the summer, there are tons and tons of mosquitoes ready to suck your blood dry, so pack an insect repellent before heading there.
I would recommend you to take the 10:00 AM bus from Lutsk to Rivne and get off at the intersection between Tsentralna Street and the H22 highway, and then it is only a 30-minute walk from there.
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To get back, you can flag down a marshrutka heading to Луцьк (Lutsk) at the same intersection where you got off to get to Lutsk. The whole process should take half a day, during which you can spend the rest of the day exploring Lutsk.
Where to Stay in Lutsk?
2. Visit the Lubart's Castle (Lutsk Castle)
One of the most important tourist attractions in Lutsk is Lubart's Castle. The castle was built in the mid-14th century by Liubartas (Lubart), the last ruler of united Galicia-Volhynia.
The castle may seem familiar even if you haven't visited it before because it is proudly displayed on the 200 UAH banknote.
There are several structures you can explore within the castle wall, such as the armory, the towers, and the museums. You can even go up to the top of the main tower if you get a tour guide at the entrance. Unfortunately, there were none when I was there, so I didn't make it to the top.
It takes approximately an hour to see most of the castle. The entrance fee is only 20 UAH, so it's a no-brainer to visit the castle if you have a day in Lutsk.
3. Walk along the Lesi Ukrainky Main Street
Lesi Ukrainky is the main pedestrian street where you will find a plethora of restaurants, clubs, and cafes for you to indulge yourself in.
Lesi Ukrainky Main Street is also a place where locals like to hang out in the evening and at night. So, if you are looking for some action or nightlife, this is the place to be.
In the evening, there will be several street performers along the main street to keep you entertained while you find a place to sit and have a nice dinner, all while watching people go by.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
4. Visit Cathedral of the St. Peter and Paul
One of the most prominent Roman Catholic Cathedrals in Ukraine is the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. Despite being mostly Orthodox, Ukraine has its fair share of Catholics in the western part of the country due to the annexation of the Kingdom of Ruthenia by the Kingdom of Poland in the 14th Century.
The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul was built in the 15th century in a Classicist style with an emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and geometry of the structure, reflecting the architecture of Ancient Rome, as you can see from the picture.
It may not be as impressive as other cathedrals in Europe, but since it is near Lubart's Castle, you can stop here for a bit before continuing on to explore Lutsk further.
5. Visit the Dominican Convent
Another great place to stop by in Lutsk is the Dominican Convent, which is only a 5-minute walk away from the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul.
The Dominican Convent is the first Catholic monastery in Volyn, a historic region in Central and Eastern Europe, situated between southeastern Poland, southwestern Belarus, and western Ukraine.
The building dates back to around the late 16th century AD and is built in a Classicist style, with a beautiful combination of red velvet and white paint giving it a standout look from the rest of the churches here in the city.
By walking to the Dominican Convent, you will also get to see the neighborhood around it and how people actually live in this area, which is always interesting to see when visiting an off-the-beaten-path city like Lutsk.
6. Check Out the House with Chimeras
Photos by Boris Mavlyutov.
The House with Chimeras in Lutsk is one of the most picturesque residential buildings in Lutsk. What stands out most about the house are all the different styles of sculptures that decorate it.
From mystical animals and fairy-tale creatures in different styles, including gothic, renaissance, modern, and more, the house is almost as psychedelic as the one you find in Barcelona.
Although the ones you find in Barcelona are designed by Gaudi, this one is built by a local sculptor, Nikolai Golovanov, who lived there and used the house as his workshop.
7. Drop By the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity
Photos by Prymasal.
If you backtrack your way up Lesi Ukrainky Main Street far enough, you will be at Theatre Square where, if you look to your right, you will find the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, another great piece of architecture to see while in Lutsk.
The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is another Catholic-turned-Orthodox cathedral built in the 18th century in a Baroque style, where you will be able to see both the Orthodox and Catholic influences in its interior decor.
Be sure to get inside and look up at the beautiful interior of the cathedral when you are in Lutsk.
8. Have Breakfast at Frans.ua
Last but not least, if you are looking for a nice place to sit and relax with a cup of coffee, breakfast, or a plate of pastries, Frans.ua is a great place to do so.
They are open from 7:30 AM to 10 PM, making it a great place to drop by for breakfast and grab a cup of coffee. They have several bakery items and pastries for you to choose from, and it costs around 15 - 25 UAH (0.5 - 1 USD) each.
They also have both outside and inside seating, making it a perfect place to escape the summer heat during the day or enjoy the street performances along Lesi Ukrainky Main Street in the evening.
When to Visit Lutsk?
The best time to visit Lutsk is in the summer from June - September. Thankfully, Ukraine has not suffered from overtourism like the rest of Europe yet, so visiting in the summer, especially in a sleepy city like Lutsk, is highly recommended.
How To Get To Lutsk, Ukraine?
How To Get To Kyiv from Abroad
First and foremost, to get to Lutsk, you will have to get yourself to Kyiv or Lviv, and there are several ways you can do it.
If you are coming from the US, there is a direct flight from New York to Kyiv via Ukrainian Airline that you can take directly to Ukraine. You can also fly via several European airlines such as KLM, Lufthansa, or Air France.
If you are in Europe, you can either fly with a low-cost airline like Ryanair or simply travel by train from any of the main European hubs like Berlin, etc. However, the time it takes to travel will increase considerably if you choose to use trains (24 hours from Berlin to Kyiv).
Last but not least, if you are in Asia, the simplest option is to fly directly from Bangkok to Kyiv via Ukrainian Airline. They are cheap and fly directly to Kyiv in 11 hours.
Whenever it comes to finding a flight to Ukraine, I often use a combination of Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route that best fits my schedule, and I would recommend you do the same if you are looking for a flight to Ukraine.
How To Get from Kyiv To Lutsk
From Kyiv, you will have to take a marshrutka to Lutsk. You can book your bus/marshrutka on 12Go.com.
Depending on which bus you picked, the pick-up location will differ. But if you want to go the easy route, you can follow what I did and book the 11:00 AM bus to Kovel operated by Voyag-Luks. They should stop in Lutsk on the way to Kovel.
The Voyag-Luks marshrutka leaves from the Kyiv Autobus Station near Kyiv Central Train Station, which is easily accessible from the city center, and it will cost you 350 UAH.
Be aware that the Voyag-Luks marshrutka doesn't leave from the platform, which I presume is reserved for big buses, but from the parking spot in the middle of the bus station instead. So don't waste time trying to find which platform to stand on. Simply go ask the people in the ticket office or one of the drivers standing around in the parking spot.
I would recommend that you arrive 30 minutes earlier so that you will have time to figure out where your marshrutka leaves from. Keep in mind that they use Cyrillic alphabets here in Ukraine, and if you can't read it (like me), keep an eye out for Луцьк (Lutsk) or Ковель (Kovel) signs in front of a marshrutka.
Tips: If you are traveling in the summer, choose a seat where the windows can be opened because it gets really hot in Ukraine during the summer, and marshrutka doesn't have the best ventilation.
How To Get from Lviv To Lutsk
If you are coming from Lviv in Western Ukraine, there are several marshrutkas daily (8 marshrutkas per day as of 2019) connecting the two cities together. It leaves between 7:10 AM and 6:30 PM, costs around 6 USD, and takes 4 hours. You can book your bus/marshrutka on 12Go.com.
No matter where you are coming from, you will most likely be dropped off at Lutsk Bus Station, where you can take a local bus from there to the city center.
How To Get Around Lutsk, Ukraine?
Most of the tourist attractions in Lutsk are within walking distance, but what do you do if you want to travel further or get from Lutsk bus station to the city center? Local buses are the way to go, and here is how to navigate the bus system without knowing a word of Ukrainian or Russian.
For local buses in Lutsk, Google Maps works really well in finding which bus number to take, so I would recommend you use that if you have data on your phone.
To get from Lutsk bus station to the city center, you can walk to the Bus Station #1 bus stop, take the number #17A or #28 bus, get off at Senatorky Levchanivskoi Bus Stop, then walk east along Senatorky Levchanivskoi street and you will be right at the Main Shopping Street.
Local buses in Lutsk work the same way everywhere in Ukraine, where you simply press a bell button near the exit door to stop and pay the driver in cash when you get off. The bus in Lutsk costs 6 UAH per trip.
How Many Days to Spend in Lutsk?
Spending 2 nights will be enough for Lutsk as you will have one full day to explore Lutsk and the Tunnel of Love. My recommendation is to go to the Tunnel of Love in the morning and come back to explore the rest of Lutsk in the afternoon.
How Much Money Do I Need for Lutsk, Ukraine?
The good thing about Lutsk is that it's pretty cheap compared to a city like Kyiv or Lviv.
For food, if you are looking for a good meal, you can expect to pay around 50 UAH (2 USD) only. To give you an example, a good one-person sized pizza costs between 45 - 65 UAH.
For accommodation, if you don't mind staying in a hostel, one night can cost as low as 177 UAH (7 USD).
For public transportation, it will cost you only 6 UAH (0.25 USD) per trip.
For a day trip to the Tunnel of Love, the marshrutka ride to Klevan will cost you 55 UAH per trip, while there is no entrance fee to the area.
With this information, we can calculate the minimum amount of money you will be spending for 2 nights in Lutsk. For 2 nights accommodation (177 x 2 = 354 UAH), 5 meals (50 x 5 = 250 UAH), 2 local bus rides (6 x 2 = 12 UAH), and a day trip to the Tunnel of Love via public transportation (55 x 2 = 110 UAH), we can expect to pay around 726 UAH or 29 USD minimum for the entire trip to Lutsk, excluding transportation to Lutsk from elsewhere.
Is it Safe to Travel to Ukraine?
Most of Ukraine is safe to travel to, as the conflicts are strictly contained in the eastern parts of the country. Therefore, it is safe to travel to 90% of the country.
Lutsk is particularly safe, especially for tourists, as they do not receive a lot of foreign tourists. Therefore, you are less likely to encounter scams as you would in Kyiv.
All in all, there is nothing to worry about when it comes to traveling in Ukraine. I didn't feel threatened at all while traveling in Western Ukraine.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Lutsk?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Lutsk, Ukraine without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Lutsk, Ukraine:
The hostel I stayed at and most restaurants I have been to don't have a fast internet connection like Kyiv. So, if you are looking for a reliable way to stay connected, I would recommend getting a local SIM card, especially if you are planning to be in Ukraine for a while.
You can either get the one from Vodafone or Kyivstar. They both offer similar plans with data ranging from 2GB to unlimited, costing between 55 UAH - 220 UAH.
For more information about Ukraine local SIM card: Ukraine Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Lutsk, Ukraine?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Lutsk, Ukraine:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
That is it for the 8 BEST Things to Do in Lutsk, Ukraine. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Lutsk, Ukraine! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Lutsk, Ukraine independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Ukraine
Looking for more information for your trip to Ukraine? Here are a collection of articles about Ukraine that might help you with your trip planning:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for Europe? Here is the 3 Months Itinerary for Europe.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Ukraine is one of the few hidden gems left in Europe, and in order to see the country and all it has to offer, you will need a complete travel guide. Here is a One Month Itinerary for Ukraine.
- Ukraine has recently loosened up its borders a little for non-European travelers with an E-Visa program. Here is my experience applying for an E-Visa for Ukraine and things I wish I knew before applying.
- Of course, one of the reasons why you are visiting Ukraine is to learn more about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and what better way to learn about it than to go into the field and see it with your own eyes. Here is a complete guide on how to visit Chernobyl.
- If you think Kyiv is only suitable for Chernobyl and Brutalist architecture enthusiasts, then you are in for a big surprise when you discover how amazing the city is. Here are the top 18 things to do in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Are you a coffee snob like I am? If so, then you will love Kyiv and its unmatched indie cafe culture. Here are 8 best indie cafes you should check out in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- The Tunnel of Love is one of the most photogenic attractions in Ukraine, and it would be a shame to miss it on your trip to Ukraine. Here's a complete guide on how to visit the Tunnel of Love independently.
- Lviv is the cultural capital city of Ukraine. It is what St. Petersburg is to Russia, Prague is to Czechia, and Krakow is to Poland. It is the most European city out of all Ukraine, and it has so many things to do that you will need a great guide to navigate it. Here are 10 Best Things you should do in Lviv, Ukraine.
- Lviv is another great city to go cafe-hopping if you love coffee, and here are my Top 10 Cozy Cafes in Lviv that you should check out.
- Getting bored of cities? How about we go and hike some of the stunning trails in the Carpathian Mountains? Here is a complete hiking guide to Yaremche and the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains.
- One of the most impressive architectural wonders in Ukraine is Chernivtsi National University in Chernivtsi, a remnant from the Austro-Hungarian Empire era that still survives today. Here are 7 Best Things to Do in Chernivtsi, Ukraine.
- Kamianets-Podilskyi, an island city home to Kamianets-Podilskyi Castle, one of the most beautiful castles in Ukraine, is a place that seems like it came straight out of a fairy tale and a place that you should not miss. Here’s a backpacking guide and the top 8 things to do in Kamianets-Podilskyi.
- Odesa is known as the Pearl of the Black Sea, and in order to understand why, you will need to dive deep into its history and even further down underground into its infamous catacombs. Here is a complete guide to tourist attractions and 8 great things to do in Odesa.
- You may not have heard of Kharkiv before, but once you see what I saw when I was traveling in that city, your mind will be blown away by how beautiful it is. Here are the 10 best things to do in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
- Did you know that Kharkiv is also home to the prettiest metro stations in Ukraine? Here are 8 of the most beautiful metro stations to check out in Kharkiv.
- My words are not convincing you about traveling to Ukraine? How about you see it for yourself with my Ukraine travel video? Ukraine Beyond Travel Video
- Want to know where to go after Ukraine? How about visiting Poland? Alternatively, you can drop by Kosice in Slovakia or go bar-hopping in Budapest, Hungary. We have travel guides for those destinations as well.
- For all articles about Ukraine, visit the Ukraine Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Eastern Europe-related articles on my Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- You can also see all my Europe-related articles here: Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.