Cozy and peaceful Vitebsk captivates at first sight. Hills and parks, clean houses and pedestrian bridges over the Western Dvina, theaters and festivals held here attract tourists from different countries. Well, the locals, who sincerely love their city and are proud of it, say that even those who are just passing through Vitebsk will certainly stop to see at least some of the local beauties.
How to get to Vitebsk
It would be difficult for a city that hosts tourists all year round and hosts a large-scale festival in the summer without an airport. And it is in Vitebsk, called Vitebsk-Vostochny, because it is located 10 km east of the city, and has international status. However, don’t rely too much on the air route here: the airport receives charter flights in July, during the festival, and handles private jets throughout the year. Regular passenger communication with other cities of Belarus is just beginning to be created.
By train
Therefore, today the easiest and most reliable way to get to the city is the train. Vitebsk is the point of intersection of railways to Gomel, Polotsk, St. Petersburg, Smolensk. Direct transfers can be reached from Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Latvia and, of course, Belarus. Some trains run every day, some less frequently.
By bus
Buses are also useful for those who are going to visit Vitebsk. In just 5 hours you will be there if you leave the capital of Belarus, about 9 hours from Moscow and 10 hours from the capital of Riga.
Transportation
According to toppharmacyschools.org, the Vitebsk railway station, clean and in 2010 excellently renovated, is located on the street. Cosmonauts, 10. In front of it lies the Station Square, from which the street begins. Kirov, and nearby, on the street. Kosmonavtov, 12, is the city bus station.
You can move around the city on traditional trolleybuses, buses, fixed-route taxis and trams. Vitebsk residents are rightly proud of their tram line, which is not only the oldest in Belarus, but also ahead of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Recently, promises to reduce tram routes have been heard more and more insistently in the city, but so far there are still 9 of them.
Cuisine and restaurants of Vitebsk
As in the rest of the country, cafes and restaurants in Vitebsk delight with the prices and quality of the dishes served. Numerous cheburek and hot dog kiosks, branches of the Belarusian chain of pizzerias MarcFill, eateries “Arena-Pizza” and Planeta Burger on the street serve as fast food. Suvorova, 5. It is easy to have a bite to eat and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the Coffee House (Suvorova str., 2) or the cutest Melody cafe (Lenin str., 65).
An excellent example of a cafe specializing in Italian cuisine can serve as “Gulliver” (Zamkova str., 2), and the “Golden Dragon” on the street. Krylova, 8/10, “responsible” for Chinese cuisine. If you think that on vacation you need to pay more attention to local cuisine, then the restaurant-brewery “Lyamus” (Peremohy Ave., 1), “Zelena Gora” at Frunze Ave., 44 and the colorful “Traktir” are at your service.
Shopping and stores
The time most suitable for ideal shopping in the national style is July, when the Slavianski Bazaar festival takes place. Then Vitebsk turns into a real “City of Masters”: this is the name of an open-air fair where craftsmen sell their products. Moreover, some of them are made literally before your eyes, from a wide variety of materials.
However, during the rest of the year, you can also buy various souvenirs with Belarusian flavor in the city; a crafts center is always open between the Western Dvina and the railway station. Experienced shopaholics will certainly be interested in the unofficial but well-deserved title of Vitebsk as the shoe capital of Belarus. You can buy high-quality shoes of local (and not only) production in Belvesta or Marko branded stores, as well as in shopping centers of the city. Among them, the Central Department Store (or “Vitebsk department store”) on the street. Castle, 19, “Passage” on the street. Lenina, 35, “Europe” on the street. Smolenskaya, 5-1.
Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk
The main entertainment for tourists and locals is, of course, the annual international July festival of arts ” Slavianski Bazaar “. Concerts are always held in the summer amphitheater, a concert venue built in the natural “bowl” of a large ravine. This cultural event is so significant that a museum is dedicated to it. This museum, as well as the Museum of the Upper and Lower Castles, is located in the Dukhovskiy Kruglyuk – the tower of the Lower Castle, 11A Frunze Ave. So, even if you did not manage to get to Vitebsk for the festival, you can always touch it here. Or visit other events, which are held a lot: festivals of children’s creativity, fashion designers, choreography. What is there, and without it, there is something to see in the city!
Entertainment and attractions of Vitebsk
Town Hall Square (be sure to admire the city from the observation deck of the town hall), the Church of St. Barbara, the Holy Intercession Cathedral, the Nicholas Cathedral, the Three Bayonets memorial, numerous sculptures and fountains of the city, and much more.
Vitebsk is the birthplace of the famous Marc Chagall and, of course, the city has the House Museum of the artist. In addition, you can visit other museums: Local Lore and Literature, Art and private collections. You can go out of town, where only 16 km away is Zdravnevo, the Museum-estate of Ilya Repin. The impressions from excursions will last for a long time, as well as from walking along the streets and bridges of this green city, relaxing on its embankment and communicating with friendly and hospitable locals.
