I first realized that traveling with children is noticeably different from the usual ones in Grodno (when my daughter Alice put her hand in my coffee mug). Walking around Istanbul for many hours with her was almost impossible. And for a whole week in the Sochi mountains, she liked only alpacas.
Therefore, I suffered this article like no other. Today we will figure out where to go in Belarus with a child? What places can we personally recommend? And where in our country will it be interesting for both adults and children?
If you understand as well as I do how difficult it is to plan a trip with a child, then this article will be like a plantain for your wounded heart.
Idea No.1. Grodno, Korobchitsy and a bit of mysticism
is the Belarusian city with the largest number of preserved ancient monuments.
Of course, Alice successfully ignored all his churches and churches. But the story about the ghosts in the Old Castle really interested her.
In addition, we really liked this immersive tour of the historical city center.
We were dressed in black robes, provided with maps and led outside the walls of the night monastery. The guide pretended to be a magician and soared in clouds of smoke; amber lanterns added a touch of mysticism to the walk. And my monkey almost never got distracted all the time.
Our trip to was also fun and cheerful for usBoxes. This is no longer Grodno, but its nearest suburb (but it is very easy to get here). Travel time is 30 minutes. Buses run here from the bus station every half hour. Check the flight schedule on the websiteticketbus.by (but in fact there are even more flights than indicated there).
The Korobchitsy themselves are a large open-air entertainment complex (with a zoo, a blacksmith shop, wooden ships, musical sculptures, a “castle”, a stable and Baba Yaga’s hut). On weekends, magicians even perform there and arrange rodeos. You can view the map of the complex and all the details on the maentak website.grodnomk.by .
Idea #2. Deepriz Park: we’re going to dance with lemurs
I’m not a big fan of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. But I really liked the Deepriz Animal Park. There are houses with grass roofs, fabulous fortresses, and bright shows in honor of various holidays (like Christmas or Carnival).
But the main feature of the complex is the open location “Lyasnye tayamnitsy“, where dozens of animals walk absolutely freely. If you want to feed the deer, if you want to dance with the lemurs, if you want to kiss the llama on the nose.
Photo from the social networks of the park “Deepriz”; the author of the picture is @mariya_delikatnaya.
More than 100 species of birds and animals live in the park (from Belarusian bison to Venetian cranes). The full list is available on the websiteanimal-park.by . Ticket price: 30 BYN for adults and 15 BYN for children.
How to get to the park? 1.5 hours by train to the station “Baranovichi Polessky” (7-16 BYN) + half an hour by bus (No. 4 or No. 15) to the stop “Spetsavtobaza”. If you need a place to stay overnight, pay attention to this hotel. It is inexpensive and located in the very center.
Idea #3. Belaz plant and its mechanical monsters
There is an opinion that it is possible to send children to the factory no earlier than eighteen. But we went ahead of schedule and took the child to the factory at the age of 4. And she really liked it there!
Our choice fell on the BelAZ Zhodinsky plant, known for the fact that it is here that the largest cars in the world are assembled. Just imagine wheels taller than a man and huge iron hulls as tall as a 3-storey building. If BelAZ-75710 could still transform into a huge armed robot (as in the movie “Transformers”), I would be completely delighted. But even without that, the trip to the Zhodinsky plant was an interesting experience for us. That’s why I recommend you to go there too.
How to get there? With an excursion from the center of Minsk. Details and prices can be found here.
Idea No. 4. Polotsk: the bearded Bun and the spirit of Francis Skarina
I think everyone knows that Polotsk is the most ancient city in Belarus. St. Sophia Cathedral, the cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk and the geographical center of Europe are located here. But my daughter was completely uninterested in all this. But she looked at the mechanical head of the elder at the University of Polotsk as if it were a real miracle.
The first model of such a mechanism was created in the 16th century by Polotsk professor Gabriel Gruber. The head opened its eyes, moved its eyebrows and answered any questions in 4 languages. Today, the oldest university in Belarus has a recreated copy of it. You can talk to her (and even ask when Neymar will move to Krumkachi). But to get toThe “elder” is allowed only during excursions. I told you how to sign up for them here.
Another interesting place for family companies is Polotsk “The Printer’s House“, created in the “Living history” format. You go in there and it’s like you’re falling into the Middle Ages.
Photos from the website gorod214.by .
Candles are burning everywhere, printing presses are standing, and people in ancient costumes meet you at the door. They will tell you how books were made in the Middle Ages and how particularly important letters were sealed; they will show you how to make paper by casting and help you make your first scroll as a keepsake. You can read more about the project and sign up for a tour on social networks @polack_medieval.
How to get to Polotsk? By train from the central station for 16 BYN. See the schedule on the website RW.BY . As a place to stay for the night, you can choose this room in the Sofia hotel. The price per night is 65 BYN.
Idea No.5. White meadows
An ethno-village in the Grodno region and at the same time a colorful example of “All inclusive in Belarusian”. You will be allocated a house in a traditional style. The local “hostess” will cook lunch for you 3 times a day in a wooden tavern. And in the evening, a free sauna will be heated for the whole family. As for children, there is a whole range of entertainment for them here – from a mini zoo to boat trips. At your disposal is “everything that is in the village.” It is a good option for a family trip.
Find detailed information about the village on the websiteluga.by .
Idea No.6. Dudutki and Sula
You can immerse yourself in the life of the Belarusian village in the ethnographic complex “Dudutki“. Here children can climb the mill, watch how bread is baked, make toys out of straw and ride horses. In fact, it is such an open–air museum. Adults are tasting moonshine. Children ride on a cart. An idyll.
The cost of excursions to Dudutki can be viewed here.
The Sula Interactive History Park is another popular Belarusian “skansen”. But here the emphasis is not on the life of peasants, but on the life of the Belarusian nobility.
Tourists are taken on ships on a small lake, taken to armory workshops and miniature castles, jousting shows and performances are organized in the house of the witch. If you choose one of the two complexes, I would choose Sulu. But you, of course, think for yourself.
The cost of excursions to the Sula Historical Park can be checked here.
Idea #8. Go in search of Napoleon’s treasure
There is a legend that retreating from Moscow, the French troops buried a treasure in the Belarusian forests, not far from Borisov. Many years have passed, the trophy gold has not been found, but the legend continues to live and even guided tours are being conducted on its basis.
Tourists are taken from Minsk, taken to the Zanivki farm, where Bonaparte’s headquarters was once located, and something between an excursion and a performance is arranged for them. There will be shooting from a rare musket, and historical artifacts, and a cunning old man with a treacherous werewolf who is trying to throw the search mission off the right track, and much more. If you like historical reconstructions, then you will definitely enjoy this tour. You can read all the details about the project here.
Bonus. Where to go in Belarus with a child? Several places near Minsk
If you definitely do not want to leave far from the capital, then here are some more ideas for very short trips.
For example, you can go with the whole family to the “mountains” of Logoisk – ride funiculars and climb rope towns.
Or take a train to Zaslavl in half an hour.
It is usually remembered in the context of the local castle, ancient history and the unique museum of “malyavanok” (Belarusian painted carpets). But there are also fun children’s entertainment here. An example of this is the local museum of mythology and forests, where they tell about mermaids and mermaids, pagan deities and forest spirits. To be honest, the exposition there is quite small. But the local forester (who looked like Duncan MacLeod in his old age) just stole my heart.
You can read more about the museum on the websitezaslaue.museum.by .
Another interesting place is “Dukorski maentak“, located near Maryina Gorka. There is a famous inverted house (with shoes on the ceiling), a zoo, a straw weaving workshop and other family entertainments. There is only one disadvantage here – you can only get to Dukora by car. Therefore, this “Maentak”, like the films of David Lynch, is not a thing for everyone.
PS
That’s all. Let’s say goodbye. I hope my story helped you decide where to go in Belarus with your child. Well, if the soul asks for the continuation of the banquet – also read this article. There will be a story about children’s locations in Minsk.
