Kosmonaut Hostel is an excellent choice for lodging in Lviv for either short- or long-term stays. The hostel’s kitsch retro theme sparks an engaging informality and offers an insight to Western travelers that people deep behind the Iron Curtain are just like you and me despite the volumes of political bluster from both sides. The hostel, housed in a building erected by the Hapsburgs, is approximately three hundred years old but doesn’t look a day over two hundred fifty.

The Location

The hostel is located in the city’s old quarter and is one and a half block from Svobody Square. The hostel is one block away from the tram line that connects to the train station and is also one block away from the city bus line that goes to the bus station that serves international destinations. Follow the directions to the hostel that the staff sends out closely so you can arrive without hassle. Take three minutes to learn how to read “Center” in Cyrillic and you will never be lost in Lviv. All you need or want is close by — shops, cafes, museums, wild architecture, electronic gadgets, and superb Ukrainian culture and cooking. The best time to orbit Svobody Square seems to be right after work and the area rates high in personal safety.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The rooms are large, airy, and are offered in a variety of arrangements from private double to twelve-person dorm. Arrangements can be made for large groups or single sex dorms. The beds are Ikea bunk beds and the linen is in very good condition. The three bathrooms are being remodeled to the detriment of the thematic Soviet crustiness and hot water is plentiful, so go right ahead and act decadent. The laundry machine works, detergent is for sale, towels are dispensed with a deposit, and iron and relevant board are available. Wi-Fi is available in rooms and a terminal is available in the lobby. Smoking is allowed outside.

Common Spaces

The common spaces consist of the lobby and kitchen. The lobby is a temporary place and is spacious enough to complete its mission. This is where you’ll find the front desk, email terminal, and a small offering of English language books and the locked left luggage room. The kitchen is mostly modern with a new fridge, microwave, and drinking water dispenser and doubles as lounge. The hotplates are slow in warming and the hot water pot releases scale into the pot, but other than that it’s a fine place to cook a meal after buying fresh food at the market. The staff check for cleanliness and order during the day so don’t be a Kosmo-naughty. People are eager to talk at the kitchen table until 11 p.m. when enforced silence occurs. As stated in its ads, free breakfast is included and leftovers are kept so you can snack all day.

Summary

You’ll have all of your needs met at The Kosmonaut, comrade, so have a blast. The enthusiastic staff are available twenty-four hours a day and are fluent in a variety of languages. Everything you need is close by and the hostel posts a daily events menu to make you aware of offerings you may have otherwise missed. Lviv is indeed open to the world and is eager for your attention.— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
June 2009