Wander through ancient castles, taste delicious draniki and wash them down with mead, feel the influence of neighboring countries, stroll through the ancient streets — all this can be seen and felt in the atmospheric and very European Grodno, which is looking forward to your visit.
Content
- How to get there
- Why go
- Where to stay
- What to see
- Where to eat and drink
- What to bring
Why go
- See the most European city in Belarus (and one of the most beautiful);
- visit the medieval Old Castle, where the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas had his residence in the 14th century;
- find out why Grodno is called the capital of Belarusian Catholicism and visit the Cathedral of Francis Xavier;
- stroll through pedestrian Sovetskaya Street, where every building is an architectural monument;
- try all kinds of draniki, cartographers and sorcerers.
The most European city in Belarus. Photo: PHkorsart/Shutterstock.com
How to get there
The best way to get to Grodno from Russia is by train. It departs from the Belorussky railway station of the capital on even numbers, the journey time is almost 14 hours, and the ticket price starts from 4,800 rubles. A direct train ride from St. Petersburg from Vitebsk Railway Station will take about 20 hours, and the fare will cost about 5,300 rubles.
If trains are not suitable, you can consider a bus that goes through Minsk.
Travel time is 15-17 hours. Tickets — from 1,750 rubles.
You can also fly by Aeroflot, Pobeda or Belavia to Minsk, and from there get to Grodno by train or bus. Russians do not need a visa to visit Belarus, it is enough to have an internal passport with them.
Where to stay
- Boutique Hotel Novy Svet: a great option 700 meters from the center. From 5979 rub. per night for two guests.
- Viatur Apartments on Ozheshko: stylish apartments with a high rating. They are located in the historical district — a beautiful view from the window is provided. From 5477 rubles per night.
Apartment “Viatur on Ozheshko”.
- Studio Apartment on Kirova: a cozy, bright studio in the very center. Contactless check-in and fresh renovation. From 4758 rubles per night.
- EcoHouse Guest House: a pleasant hotel in the heart of the city, close to attractions and restaurants. From 7927 rubles per night.
- Hotel VS Design: a newly renovated hotel with contactless check-in. From 6681 rubles per night.
Hotel VS Design.
What to see
The Old Castle
You can start exploring the city by visiting the Old Castle, the only surviving royal palace in Belarus. It was built in the XI century on the high bank of the Neman and survived the Mongol attacks and the rule of the Lithuanian princes. The castle was rebuilt more than once and went from Gothic to Renaissance, retaining its grandeur.
Now the Grodno State Historical and Archaeological Museum is located here, where exhibits dating back to the 12th century are on display. Among them are archaeological finds, household items, weapons and coins, as well as artifacts reflecting the history and culture of the region.
You can start exploring the city by visiting the Old Castle. Photo: Ula Ulachka/Shutterstock.com
New castle
Old Church
The towers of the church rise 50 meters, and inside there are preserved ancient frescoes and a clock with a pendulum. If you want to look at the building from the outside, then go to the hill behind Yanka Kupala University (Faculty of Foreign Languages). Locals come here to drink coffee, listen to music and look at one of the most postcard panoramas of the city.
The Orthodox Church in Grodno is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in the country. Photo: Dance60/Shutterstock.com
Borisoglebskaya Church
Zamkovaya Street
We recommend taking a walk along the oldest Castle street. Along it there are cute gingerbread houses, souvenir shops and cafes at the Kommunarka confectionery factory. At the very end of the cobblestone sidewalk, the path to the “Swiss Valley” begins. This is a picturesque park complex, which is also called Gilibert Park in honor of the French physician and biologist Jean Emmanuel. And all this in parallel with the views of the Neman River is a beauty!
There are cute gingerbread houses, souvenir shops and cafes along the street. Photo: Ula Ulachka/Shutterstock.com
Sovetskaya Square
is another one of the oldest and most beautiful streets in Grodno. The square has an interesting layout — it has not changed since the Middle Ages. Architectural monuments, cultural and religious sites are concentrated here. Try to visit the first stone tavern in the city or the Ratushny store, and if you have time left, visit the modernist merchant’s house.Muravyov.
Pharmacy Museum at the Jesuit complex
Today, you can buy medicines and cosmetics of excellent quality in a room of about 50 square meters. The local bestseller is Garadzenskaya Garbata herbal tea, tea drinks made from berries, herbs and various fruits.
Museum of Daily Life of Janusz Paroulis
This private museum was founded by Janusz Parulis, a local collector. His goal was to preserve and promote the historical and cultural heritage of the region. The museum has more than 100,000 interesting exhibits, from old photographs of the city to gramophones. Each item has a story that the owner tells himself.
This private museum was founded by Janusz Parulis, a local collector. Photo: Stella Chirkova/vedi.by
The old railway bridge over the Neman
This is an unspoken place of attraction for romantics, photographers and seekers of beautiful sunsets. There are no guided tours here, but the view of the river, the city and the trains is top-notch!
The Staircase of Love
The “Staircase of 100 steps” is hidden between Zamkova and Darwin streets and leads to the Neman. The place is intimate, atmospheric and almost always deserted (except for newlyweds and lovers rushing here for beautiful shots).
The “Staircase of 100 steps” is hidden between Zamkova and Darwin Streets and leads to the Neman. Photo: izi.travel
Travel in Belarus
We have compiled a route for traveling around Belarus with different cities and locations in case you are going to these parts for a week.
What to eat and drink
Be sure to try it here:
- draniki — no comments here, because it is the basis of Belarusian cuisine;
- potato casserole with bacon, onions, meat;
- stewed cabbage with carrots, cranberries and apples;
- lard with garlic and black bread;
- potato tarts are something like potato pies with various fillings;
- kibiny (or kibinai) — local pies stuffed with sliced lamb and onions, baked in the oven;
- warlocks is a dish similar to draniki, but with meat filling;
- shakotis — traditional Lithuanian, Polish and Belarusian egg dough cake of interesting shape;
- kvass, herbal tincture and mead.
Draniki. Photo: ElenaVah/Shutterstock.com
Where to try traditional cuisine:
- Litviny Restaurant: a gastronomic journey into the culture, traditions and history of Belarus. Each section in the menu is associated with mythical heroes.
- Kumpyak tavern in Lida Castle: It’s very atmospheric, there are all the classics of traditional cuisine and a seasonal menu of farm products.
- Restaurant “Prince’s Yard” in the dungeon of Mir Castle: It’s like going back centuries. And the cuisine is excellent — you’ll find both traditional draniki and equally hearty borscht here.
- Cafe “Draniki Garodnya”: a large selection of the main Belarusian dish.
- “Warmth”, “Dzhezva”, “Temple”: we go here for excellent coffee and a cool interior.
What to bring
- Grodno honey is a local product known for its quality and taste.
- Natural salt has historically been mined in Grodno, and it can still be purchased in various forms: with additives from herbs, mushrooms or berries.
- Mead or other tincture is a great gift for lovers of strong drinks. In the city, you can find options on herbs, cranberries, lingonberries or horseradish.
Mead or other tincture is a great gift for lovers of strong drinks. Photo: NatalyaBond/Shutterstock.com
- Sweets — high-quality marshmallows, of which there are dozens of varieties and flavors, halva, Grodno toffee, marmalade, sweets from the Grodno Factory will be a wonderful reminder of the trip.
— handmade products reflecting Belarusian traditions. In Grodno, you can find cool jewelry, ceramics, straw souvenirs, glass, candles made of wax with herbs and other cool gifts. - Fabrics and embroidery — traditional Belarusian items are distinguished by their quality and longevity. The local flax is especially good.
- Belarusian Lapin cards are playing cards that were produced decades ago at the Lapin factory in Grodno and are now back on the market. They are drawn in a special way: the images of the kings are inspired by real representatives of Polish and Belarusian history.
Handmade by local artisans — handmade products reflecting Belarusian traditions. Photo: struvictory/Shutterstock.com
The plan for an interesting weekend (or even more) is ready. Don’t forget to book a place on the Island — in Grodno it is as cozy and nice as the city itself.
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Cover photo: stasiyaKom/Shutterstock.com
