by Hanna Hrydziushka
Starting January, 1st, 2018 the visa-free travel time for foreign citizens will be extended up to 10 days in several areas of Brest and Hrodna regions! 10 days visa free there is a long time?! Well, with these tips the days will fly by!
Hrodna region
Here you can travel without visa up to 10 days to:
- Augustow Canal
- Hrodna City
- Hrodna District
- Svislach District
Augustow Canal in Hrodna region. Photo source: belarus.by
For another eco-tourism experience come to Augustow Canal! It’s a hydraulic engineering installation from the 19th century. There are only two other canals like this in the world: one in the UK and the other in Sweden. It’s a great place for doing some sport activities like hiking, biking, water tourism, and also just chilling out and enjoying the nature around. Also the canal crosses two landscape reserves – one of the most environmentally clean places in Belarus.
Hrodna city looks a bit different from other Belarusian cities because it wasn’t damaged as much during WWII and therefore many traditional buildings and narrow streets have been preserved. Take note of the many catholic churches, most of which were destroyed by the Soviet government after the war, but restored later. Belarusians like to come here for a weekend and walk around, because this city breathes the spirit of freedom and inspires great things!
Hrodna city. Photo by Yurij Lichak
To visit the Augustow Canal or the tourism and recreation zone Brest foreign citizens need to bring a document valid for travels abroad and a document which allows visiting the specified territory individually or as a group.
Brest region
Here you can travel without visa up to 10 days to:
- Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
- Brest City
- Brest District
- Kamenets District
- Zhabinka District
- Pruzhany District
Zubr (bizon) in Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Photo by Aleksandr Kashtalian
Discover the primeval Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park in this region! It has very old oak trees dating back more than 500 years and around 250 different kinds of animals living there in their natural surroundings. The most famous inhabitants are the bison, or ‘zubr’. This is the largest animal bred in Europe! You can see this massive zubr in a zoo in this park. During the winter you can even visit the home of Santa Claus. A great way to impress your kids!
Brest city is located near the border with Poland and is also quite closely located to Ukraine, combining three different cultures. Some say this city is more European than Minsk is especially in Saveckaja Street where you can find many cute shops and coffee spots.
Brest city. Photo by Frantsishak Kanabrotski
If you are interested in World War II history visit Brest Fortress, a very important place for the Soviet resistance. It was built in the middle of the 19th century and became a Hero Fortress for the courageous Soviet soldiers during the fight against the German army in 1941. Nazi’s planned to seize the fortress in 8 hours, but it stood firm for more than 30 days.
Brest Fortress. Photo by HiFive Belarus
Read more:
Top-10 best places to visit in Belarus
How to prepare your trip to Belarus