Gomel

A small Belarusian town, no different from other small Belarusian towns? I used to think that too. But then life turned out in such a way that I visited Gomel four or five times a year. During these trips, he managed to become my family in his own way. So now I know and will definitely tell you where to find sculptures that are psychedelic in controversy with the creations of Dutch masters, where to go for inexpensive, but insanely tasty pancakes, what a night city is amazing ... And something else. :)

In general, in the first paragraph I was a little cunning. Gomel is not so small: in fact, it is the second city of Belarus after Minsk. It is unlikely that many will choose it as the place for holidays or vacations, however, if fate, like me, is still brought to Gomel, try to get the most out of the trip. In the end, much of what is here, you will not find in Europe.

How to get there

Gomel is not far from Central Russia, so you can get here not only by plane (as for me, this is generally the most inconvenient way, but more on that later). Choose what suits you in price, speed and comfort.

By plane

Via Kaliningrad

Gomel has its own airport, but do not rush to rejoice: in 2017, direct flights from all Russian cities there are carried out only by Kaliningrad (twice a week). A one-way ticket will cost about 80 USD (5,000 RUB), and you will spend about 1.5 hours on the way.

We talked about how to get to Kaliningrad by plane in a review article on the city and in more detail here.

You can get from the airport to the city in several ways:

• by taxi - the cost is unlikely to exceed 4 USD (7 BYN, Belarusian rubles), and you will spend about half an hour on the way; You can order a car both in the airport terminal and in advance, for example, here;
• by bus - routes go only on flight days and are called "Gomel-Airport", and they depart from the bus station;
• by car - you need to go along the P129 highway, you will have to drive a little more than 3 km from the city border.

Via Minsk

If you do not live in Kaliningrad and do not want to travel with a connection in this city, you can fly to Minsk (direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg fly there, more about how to get to the capital of Belarus is described in this article).

From there, you can get to Gomel in several ways:

• by train - check the availability of tickets on specialized sites and set off. You will spend three hours on the road, and the ticket price will fluctuate around 15 USD (1,000 RUB) (by the way, the station, unlike the airport, is located in the very center of the city);
• by bus - A slightly longer, but also cheaper way.
• by car - Minsk is separated from Gomel for more than 3 hours on the way, of the advantages - traffic jams are rare.

By train

In my opinion, the train is an ideal way to get to Gomel in terms of price and quality. However, it all depends on your preferences, as well as from which city you are going from.

From Moscow

Trains to Gomel leave twice a day: at about 15:00 and at 21:00. Departure is from the Belorussky railway station. You will have to spend 12-13 hours on the way, and the ticket price ranges from 40 USD (2,500 RUB) for a seat (they, by the way, are taken apart first of all) to 160 USD (10,000 RUB) for a luxury coupe. I personally prefer the night train: in fact, you go to bed in Russia, and you wake up already in the center of Gomel.

From St. Petersburg

Two trains also run from the Northern capital: at about 15:00 and at 17:00. Departure is carried out from Vitebsk station. Please note that the first one follows to Kiev, so you need to buy places in it in advance. Prices roughly correspond to Moscow prices, but they will have to spend a little longer on the way - 16-17 hours. As in the case of Moscow, I recommend taking a later train.

How to get from the station to the city center

Gomel station, in Belarusian bearing a little funny name Gomel-Pasazhyrskі, is located in the very center of the city.

The most famous hotels and cafes are located nearby, and the main attractions are within walking distance - for example, walking to Central Park takes 20-30 minutes.

By bus

This method is suitable for those who tolerate the night road well: to go to Gomel by bus in any case will be quite a long time. Since they, unlike trains, are not adapted for sleeping, I advise you to prepare for the trip. Take along an inflatable collar pillow and even a lightweight plaid to make the road as comfortable as possible.

From Moscow

Several buses leave from the capital daily to Gomel, and there are also ongoing flights. Approximate travel time will be from 10 to 13 hours - depending on the route, number of stops, traffic situation and so on. You will have to pay 20-25 USD (1 300-1 600 RUB), which, as you know, is cheaper than a train and even more so an airplane). You can specify the schedule and buy a ticket on specialized sites. Of the most famous and large companies whose buses travel from Moscow to Gomel and vice versa, the following can be noted: GOA, S Veterok Tur, GrandAvto Pro, Tormenta, FIDI Express. Also, the route can be found at small companies and private carriers. In Moscow, buses depart from different metro stations. In my opinion, the companies do not have significant differences, so just choose what suits you best by time and / or place of departure.

How to get from the station to the city center

Buses arrive, as a rule, at the Gomel bus station or station square. In any case, these places are located in the city center five minutes from each other.

From St. Petersburg

Petersburgers, like Muscovites, can choose from several buses on a route according to a schedule. On the way, you will have to spend about 14 hours, the price is approximately comparable to Moscow. Different companies depart from several metro stations in the Northern capital: Elektrosila, Moskovskie Vorota, Baltiyskaya, as well as from Obvodnaya bus station and arrive in the Gomel station area (the location is indicated on the map above).

By car

From Moscow

Muscovites can get to Gomel by car along the Kiev highway: the travel time will be 8–9 hours (when building a Google route, its length is infernal - 666 km).

The road surface will be pretty good to Bryansk, but after this city there will be some problems with roads in some places. Many motorists also recommend the M1 highway as better and faster, despite a small circle in terms of mileage.

Crossing the border will not cause any difficulties and, in fact, will be purely nominal. Many drivers tell how they understood that they were in Belarus only by changing traffic signs.

As for gas prices, they are approximately comparable to Russian ones. Yes, and to refuel, by and large, you basically have to precisely in the territory of his native state.

From St. Petersburg

It will take about 12-14 hours (almost 1,000 km) to go along the E95 and M8 highways. The situation with the border is exactly the same as in the case of a trip from Moscow. By the way, a little life hack: it is better to stop for rest and a snack in Belarus. Save a day and get to know the country. :)

hint: Gomel - time now16: October 13Difference in hours: Moscow & plus; 0 Kazan & plus; 0Samara & plus; 1 Yekaterinburg & plus; 2 Novosibirsk & plus; 4Vladivostok & plus; 7

When is the season. When is the best time to go?

The weather in Gomel is not very different from the rest of Belarus: a slight minus in the winter and the absence of special heat in the summer.

The best time to visit Gomel is, of course, summer. The temperature will fluctuate around +20 ° С, however some days will be very hot. The main drawback, perhaps, is precipitation: albeit short-lived, but very plentiful.

National holidays in Belarus are not much different from Russian, so you can easily make a trip for the New Year or celebrate the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Therefore, I will not bother you with advice, but I will tell you better in more detail about each season. :)

Gomel in the summer

As I wrote above, it is perhaps best to go to Gomel in the summer. The temperature at this time fluctuates around + 18-22 ° C, which is quite comfortable. From June to August there are heavy rains, but they pass quite quickly.

In the summer, the city has a lot of not only tourists, but also local residents: on the streets and in the parks you are waiting for crowds of people who went out to bask in the sun. However, with all my love for Gomel, he is far from overcrowded in Paris or Rome.

Closer to July, Belarusians begin to sunbathe and even swim on the Gomel beach - it is located on the banks of the Sozh River opposite the famous Palace and Park ensemble of the city. I’ll tell you more about him.

Gomel in the fall

The autumn in Gomel is quite pleasant: there is not much rainfall (although for me, accustomed to the rains of St. Petersburg, it rarely happens) and it is quite warm. Closer to November, the temperature still drops to 0 ° C, but snow is rare.

If you chose this particular time of the year for your trip, try to get to Gomel in September. Then you will be able to capture more heat and sun.

By the way, autumn has a purely aesthetic plus: under a carpet of fallen leaves, the city is transformed and seems sunny-golden.

Gomel in the spring

Gomel seemed to me personally in the spring ... Well, a little unusual. Too unlike the gray city waking up from hibernation on itself in the summer or in the fall.

On the other hand, this time will clearly appeal to those who like to watch the renewal of nature. If the last sentence is about you, then go to Gomel in the spring and go for a walk in the city park.

Gomel in winter

If you decide to go to Gomel in the winter, you will find at least one undoubted plus - at this time there are few tourists in the city (it seemed to me personally that it seems that there are less local residents).

Try to go at the end of December, then you will be able to get acquainted with the city preparing for the New Year, ride a skating rink, walk along the garland-lit paths, play snowballs ... In general, feel the atmosphere of the holiday in Gomel style.

Gomel - monthly weather

Hint: Gomel - weather for the months of January −6.2 February −5.6 March −0.9 April ± 6.7 May ± 13.8 June ± 16.9 July ± 18.2 August ± 17.1 September ± 12.2 October ± 6.7 November ± 0.9 December - 3.6

Areas. Where is better to live

Gomel - the city is rather small, it has only four districts (on the map I marked them with the corresponding numbers):

1. Central,
2. Railway,
3. Soviet,
4. Novobelitsky.

Let's take a closer look at what each of them is suitable for.

Central District

As you might guess, looking at the name, this area is the most interesting and prestigious. Even most of the hotels that Booking offers are located here. :)

An undoubted advantage of this area is its location: it is close at hand to the main attractions of the city, interesting places, cafes and restaurants, shops and so on. Naturally, this is reflected in the price: the most expensive hotels are located in the Central District. For example, here is the most expensive hotel in Gomel - Park-Hotel Zamkovy.

However, as I have already said, Belarus seems to me a relatively inexpensive country. I think that most tourists can easily afford to stay in the Center to save themselves from a bunch of problems, starting from the need to understand local public transport and ending with the search for a cozy cafe for dinner.

Zheleznodorozhny District

Residential urban area, there are not so many hotels here, and those that are, as a rule, are close to the center. Perhaps choosing a hotel in the Zheleznodorozhny district, you will be able to save money, but I would advise you to first consider all the offers in the Center. Most likely, there you will find a suitable price-quality ratio option. It’s convenient to choose and book accommodation at Bucking. You can see the prices for apartments here, and compare the cost of hotel rooms at this link.

Personally, I don’t really like this area because of its notoriety: in the 90s there was a very turbulent situation, crimes were often committed, a reputation of a “gangster place” appeared ... In general, although everything has been settled for a long time, even in a good hotel I personally lived here would not be very nice.

Sovetsky district

It is also a residential area: there are very few hotels. With apartments, things are a little better, but most are still concentrated in the Central region. By the way, in Gomel there are no hostels at all: and why are they when you can rent a room for the night at a very cheap price?

In general, the area is quite pleasant, at one time the city authorities were seriously engaged in its improvement. So even if you stay elsewhere, you can go here and, for example, take a walk along the Avenue of benches or the Avenue of lovers.

Novobelitsky district

As in the previous two areas, accommodation options are very few. It is understandable: the area is not at all touristy, although it has its own interests, for example, the church of St. Alexander Nevsky or the atmospheric recreation area "Ponds".

Below I will tell you more about how much the housing in these areas will cost, and I will also orient you on the amounts of other expenses. :)

What are the prices for vacation

Cheap! Everything is cheap in Belarus! And this is the first country on travelask.ru to which I can apply this epithet in my articles. The amount somewhere in Europe is enough to rent one room here would be enough for two or even three rooms in a hotel of a similar class. I’m silent about the amazing Belarusian restaurants where, by paying a relatively small price, you can eat up to the dump.

Actually, I was in Gomel even before the denomination and found times when you could carry thousands of Belarusian rubles in your pocket and understand that with this money you can at best buy ice cream and a bottle of water. Now everything has become simpler.

Accommodation

A double room in a very good hotel in the center will cost 65-75 USD (about 135 BYN), however in the Central region you can find good options within 25 USD (50 BYN). Apartment prices are approximately comparable, unless more options can be found at relatively low prices - up to 20 USD (40 BYN). I personally saw the cheapest option for renting apartments entirely for 11 USD (21 BYN), but it was quite far from the city center.

Food

The prices in the cafe are acceptable: a soup in a budget, but high-quality institution will cost less than 1 USD (2 BYN), hotter with a side dish - less than 3 USD (6 BYN). For 2-3 USD (4-6 BYN) you can find a good business lunch.

In Gomel grocery stores, prices are on average lower than Russian prices, especially when it comes to products made in Belarus.

City Travel

Public transport is also pleasantly pleasing: about 0.25 USD (0.5 BYN) for a single ticket. I will tell you more about each type of urban transport in the corresponding section below.

How to save

As for life hacks, then there are hardly any special city secrets. I would advise you to choose the right places for eating and shopping (not all of them are equally good in terms of price-quality ratio), and also correctly calculate the Belarusian ruble exchange rate (this is not as usual as in the case of the dollar or euro).

hint: Cost of food, accommodation, transport and other currency: Euro, € US dollar, $ Russian ruble, rub Prices in restaurants and cafes

Eating (lunch / dinner) in a reasonably priced restaurant	457 rub
Lunch / dinner for two, 3 course, middle class restaurant	1381 rub
McMill at McDonald's or similar combo lunch	326 rub

More details

The main attractions. What to watch

In my opinion, the main attractions of Gomel can be circumvented in just a couple of days and there is no special reason to hire a guide or sign up for an excursion here.If you visit the city in the warm season, be sure to leave time for a walk in the park and a mini cruise on the Sozh River - they are considered to be almost the main attractions in the city.

Top 5

1. Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble. Business card and the main place of the city. It is considered one of the largest, most beautiful and interesting museums not only in Gomel, but throughout Belarus. Stretching almost a kilometer along the right bank of the Sozh River, it has absorbed all sights of interest (I’ll tell you more about some of them below): here you can find the Cathedral of Peter and Paul, the colorful Winter Garden, and the palace of the Rumyantsevs and Paskevichs ... Everyone can find what to your liking. I advise you to allocate at least half a day to visit the Palace and Park Ensemble so that you can do everything calmly. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from approximately 11:00 to 19:00. Do not rush to immediately run to the church or palace, take a walk along the winding paths of the park, go down to the river and allow yourself to finally not rush anywhere.
2. Sozh River. By this item, I mean a small cruise that will allow you to enjoy the city and its surroundings from the water. I saw two ships - one-deck and two-deck - both moored and sailed on the Kiev descent. The walk itself takes about 40 minutes. For me with my seasickness this is the most!
3. Monuments of Gomel. I honestly thought for a very long time, but I couldn’t isolate any monument or even a district! Unusual sculptures - one of the first that I learned about Gomel. There is a monument to the clown Karandash (at the Gomel State Circus), and the Iron Beatles (at the entrance to the Festivalny Palace of Culture), and the monument to Wallet (at the Belarusbank building) ... In general, a complete set!
4. Alley of benches. It is located in the Festivalny Park (I will talk about it below) and demonstrates an unimaginable flight of fantasy. A bench in the form of a women's cosmetic bag? You are welcome! Giraffe Bench? No question at all!
5. Bauman bridge. An unusual choice for a list of attractions, is not it? This bridge attracted me not so much with its outstanding design as with its atmosphere. Walking through the Central Park, I went straight to him, went through Sozh ... And in the middle of the river I realized that I would be telling friends and acquaintances about this place.

Beaches. Which are better

Yes, there are beaches in Gomel! And not even one! The Sozh River and the rather warm weather in summer make them a favorite vacation spot for local residents. In the heat of the day, I personally really wanted to join them. Here are the places of rest on the map (by the way, they are all free):

• Central beach. The main and most popular beach of the city is located in a park area (go down to the river in the area of ​​the foot bridge and you will see it right away). Sand cover, several years ago barges with clean sand were specially brought here. The central beach is equipped with everything necessary for relaxation: there are changing cabins, small cafes, benches, umbrellas and even fountains with drinking water. Due to the developed infrastructure, as well as a convenient approach - a shallow depth combined with a gentle current - this beach has become popular among families with children. In addition, rescuers are on duty here.

• Lubensky beach. Unlike the previous one, this beach is located on the lake. Sand cover is bordered by concrete slabs, which laid out the coastline. There are also cabins, umbrellas, lifeguards and other attributes of a convenient beach holiday. But with shops and cafes here is tight, so I advise you to stock up on water and food in advance.

• Volotovsky beach. This beach was opened relatively recently. It also boasts a cleaned sandy coastline and the presence of the necessary infrastructure (umbrellas, kiosks, locker rooms, etc.). Of the undoubted advantages - proximity to the center.

• Prudkovsky beach. Another beach in the Central District, equipped for tourists and locals. It also has everything you need for a good day.

• Other beaches. Gomel has many other beaches, there was even an attempt to create a paid recreation area. However, when choosing a place, consider a few points. Firstly, there can be a strong current on the beaches located along the Sozh River - do not overestimate your strength in swimming. Secondly, during the hot summer days there are a lot of people on the Central Beach, so it might be worth considering alternative options. Thirdly, the smaller and newer the beach, the worse its infrastructure is developed. And if changing cabins are almost everywhere, then cafes or shops with food may simply not be there.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

Gomel has many churches and temples, but many of them were built in the 21st century. Obligatory to visit (it will be free) are the following:

• Peter and Paul Cathedral. The cathedral is interesting not only in itself, but also in terms of its location - it is located in the Central Park of Gomel, in a picturesque location on the banks of the Sozh River. Inside the building are Orthodox shrines, among which are particles of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the locally revered St. Manefa of Gomel. Opening hours and visit: you can go inside without problems, the cathedral opens at 08:00 with the first service (on Sundays and holidays - at 06:30), and closes shortly after the evening service, which will be held at 17:00.

• Church of St. Elijah. Located near Central Park, the exact address: st. Komissarova, 44. It is interesting in that it is the oldest surviving Old Believer church in all of Belarus. Of course, at different times it was repaired and reconstructed, however, the original unusual Russian style and wooden facades were preserved. Opening hours and visit: Divine services are held on Sundays and public holidays at 07:00 and 15:00, closer to sunset the church closes.

• Temple of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. Pretty young (the bell tower was completed only a few years ago), but a very unusual and beautiful temple. It is here that the icon of the same name is located. Be sure to go inside to enjoy the murals. The temple is removed from the center and is located at: st. Bykhovskaya, 110. Opening hours and visit: daily at 08:00 a liturgy is held here, and at 17:00 - an evening service, soon after which the temple is closed for visiting.

• Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Another church, built already in the century before last. Like many others, in Soviet times it was closed and dilapidated, but was subsequently restored. I personally liked not only the temple itself, but also its location: the white-green facade very successfully fits into the natural landscape. Exact address: st. Bryansk, 4. Opening hours and visit: The schedule of services (they are held on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays) is the same as the previous church.

Museums Which are worth a visit

Gomel is not a very museum city, but there are places that simply cannot be passed:

• Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace (4 Lenin Square, Central Park). Do not be in a hurry to be surprised that the palace is located in the section of museums - after the death of Rumyantsev, the collections and art objects collected here determined the fate of the building. Later, the existing expositions were supplemented, so the Art and History Museum was founded. Opening hours and visit: like the entire Palace and Park Ensemble, it is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from about 11:00 to 19:00. Interiors of the turn of the 18th-19th centuries were recreated in the building, and the concert hall is often used to hold thematic evenings and meetings with artists. The cost of the admission ticket will depend on the category of population and the number of ensemble objects that you want to see. A single ticket for an adult, which includes the ability to visit the main exhibitions, will cost 3.6 USD (7 BYN). More information about the tariffs can be found on the official website of the ensemble.

• "The Hunting Lodge" - Museum of the History of Gomel (Pushkin St., 32). The summer residence of Count Rumyantsev, and now one of the most famous museums in the city. True, there are only 7 exhibition halls, but there is something to see - ancient interior items, a collection of antique watches, photographs of the last century, donated by the inhabitants of Gomel ... Opening hours and visit: On Monday the museum’s day off, on Tuesday, when I visited Gomel, it was open only for excursion groups, so individual visitors can plan their visit on any day from Thursday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (by the way , be careful: the last tourists are admitted at 17:30). The ticket price can be clarified on the official website, an adult ticket, for example, will cost 2 USD (4 BYN).

• Art Gallery G.Kh. Vashchenko (Karpovich St., 4). Here you can find works by both Gabriel Kharitonovich himself, in whose honor the gallery is named, and young Belarusian artists. The experience is definitely unusual and interesting, but whether you need to spend time on it is up to you. Opening hours and visit: daily from 10:00 to 19:00, a full entrance ticket will cost 2.5 USD (5 BYN), preferential - a little more than 1 USD (2.5 BYN).

• Vetka Museum of Old Believers and Belarusian traditions (branch, Lenin Square 4, Central Park). The main museum is located in Vetka, however in the center of Gomel there is a branch. Expositions allow you to get acquainted with the life and life of Belarusians, to see how they changed over time. A good choice, for example, for families with children, for whom it will be more interesting to consider everyday objects than to miss the art gallery. Opening hours and visit: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, except Mondays and Tuesdays - these days are days off. An adult ticket will cost about 1.5 USD (3 BYN), however this museum is included in a single ticket to visit the Palace and Park Ensemble. Perhaps it will be more profitable for you to take the latter.

• Gomel Regional Museum of Military Glory (Pushkin St., 5). There is an exposition of military equipment from different years outside the museum, and inside is a thematic exposition dedicated to the military glory of the Gomel region. Do not make my mistake and do not think that the exhibits refer only to the Great Patriotic War: here, for example, there is a whole hall dedicated to the 1812 war. Opening hours and visit: from May to September - from 11:00 to 19:00, in other months - from 10:00 to 18:00. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, however, an exhibition of military equipment is open daily. The cost of a single admission ticket for an adult will be about 1.5 USD (2.9 BYN), you can find out more about promotions and prices for different categories of visitors on the museum's official website.

Parks

Gomel is a rather green city, there are many parks, squares, alleys, gardens ...

On the map above, I noted the most famous of them, namely:

• Central Park (Park of Culture and Rest named after Lunacharsky). The main place in the city, it is here that the Palace and Park Ensemble is located. I will not talk about architectural structures again - I paid enough attention to them in the previous sections. Although one still touched. We are talking about the observation tower, which is located near the winter garden in the southern part of the park. Be sure to go up there and admire the surroundings from a height. There are many picturesque alleys and paths in the park, Sozh flows very close, so even on a hot day it is a pleasure to walk there. You can meet rare trees, for example, red oak and ginkgo biloba bilobate ... Do not know what it is? Go to Gomel and see! :)

• Festival park. It is dedicated to the victory over Nazism, therefore one of the parts of the park is the memorial (it contains the mound of Glory and thematic monuments). Otherwise, it is no different from other places for walking. One of the main attractions of the park are benches of the most unimaginable shapes and colors. Also here is the "Alley of Lovers".

• Other parks. In general, there are many parks and squares in Gomel (the Jubilee Park, the Third Millennium Alumni Park, the Student Park, etc.), however, the main ones are precisely the two that I already mentioned above.

Tourist streets

There are no purely tourist streets in Gomel, such as, for example, Champs-Élysées in Paris. And the city, in truth, is not designed for a large flow of travelers.

Conditionally tourist can be attributed to all the streets of the Central region, but I would not advise you to spend a lot of time on a walk along it: it is unlikely that you will meet many interesting things.

What to see in 1 day

In principle, one day is enough to explore the main interesting places in Gomel. I will assume that you start your journey from the railway station (because the buses from the airport also arrive there) and I’ll draw up such a plan:

• morning (08: 00-10: 00) - a walk in the central part of the city (move towards the Central Park) and breakfast in one of the local institutions (I will tell more about them below);
• first half of the day (10: 00-14: 30) - a walk in Central Park, a visit to the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble and the observation tower, a cruise along the Sozh River;
• lunch (14: 30-18: 30) - in fact, the meal itself (business lunches in Gomel start at about 11-12 hours and end at 16:00), a visit to one of the museums (I would suggest the Military, but it all depends on your interests);
• evening (18: 30-21: 00) - dinner, preparation for departure, visiting other attractions from the list above (note that many museums and churches will be closed at this time), if time and effort are left. :)

What to see in the surroundings

There are several interesting places near Gomel that I would recommend visiting if you have a free day.

Лобlobin (100 km)

The main attraction of Zhlobin is the Ice Palace, but among tourists and guests of the city it is more famous for a large number of soft toys that you stumble across everywhere: here is one of the largest factories in Belarus for their manufacture.

You can get there by car, bus or train, your trip in any case will not be very long.

Manor of Khaletsky and Voynich-Senozhetsky (20 km)

The manor is a summer palace, which served as the residence of the noble families of the same name. When I was last in Gomel, I heard that restoration work is planned in the estate, so check if it is open before you go on a trip.

It is most convenient to get there by car, but it is possible to do this by bus.

Vetka (20 km)

An absolute must visit in Vetka is the Museum of Folk Art, which I talked about in Gomel in the corresponding section. Other attractions include the Merchant Groshikov’s House and the Transfiguration Church.

Vetka is located in the same direction as the Manor, so you can combine their visit. You can get there by car, but there are also minibuses whose routes connect these two points.

Chechersk (60 km)

In Chechersk, be sure to look at the city hall - Belarusians call it the most unusual in the whole country. You can also pay attention to the Historical and Ethnographic Museum and the Holy Transfiguration Church.

The ways to get there are the same as with the rest of the places around Gomel: car and bus. However, the first is more convenient because you will not be tied to a tight schedule, and moving around cities will become more mobile.

hint: Routes to neighboring cities Gomel - Gomel 0 km Gomel - Rechitsa 42 km Gomel - Gomel region 1 km Gomel - Novozybkov 63 km Gomel - Chernihiv 105 km

Food. What to try

Gastronomic traditions

Belarusian cuisine is tasty and satisfying, and in the case of Gomel, it’s also cheap. More information about the national dishes of this country is described in the corresponding article, so I will focus exclusively on the restaurants and cafes of Gomel, where you can try them (by the way, not only them!).

In inexpensive restaurants and canteens, you can have a hearty lunch within 3-4 USD (6-8 BYN), especially if you have a business lunch. In luxury locations, the price tag will be measured in thousands. True, there are not so many such places in Gomel.

Where to buy food

For those who like to cook themselves, I’ll talk about grocery stores Gomel. There are a lot of them, especially in the Central region. Of the most famous networks, one can mention Vesta, Dobronom, Euroopt, and Native Side. There are also many small firms that have literally one or two stores. Honestly, I did not see much difference between them and usually just went to the one that was on my way. By the way, the Euroopt supermarket at the address: ul. Khataevich, 9. Unlike most places in Gomel, it is open around the clock.

Gomel also has several of markets. The most famous and largest are Central, Davydovsky, Prudkovsky.

There is a standard set of products. I personally was not at them, because during one of my first visits to this city I was told terrible stories about violations related to the storage of meat and other products. However, if you are less impressionable, you can go to one of these places and share your experience in the comments to this article. :)

Recommended Places

I admit honestly: even while living in Gomel in a rented apartment, I preferred to eat in local cafes and restaurants. It was this city that showed me how delicious (and cheap!) Belarusian cuisine is. Below I will talk about those places that I liked and remember most of all.

Budgetary

• "Old Man" (Sovetskaya St., 12) - self-service folk restaurant (like a dining room: take a tray and go along the racks, picking food), a very large selection of dishes, drinks and desserts at cheap prices;
• "Cram" (Sovetskaya St., 19) - another café-dining room with low prices and an excellent selection of not only food but also alcoholic beverages;
• "Befana " (Lenin Ave. 20) - a cafe with Italian cuisine, as for me, dishes are sometimes made with a noticeable Belarusian influence, but in general everything is decent;
• "Burger Club Loft" (ul.Kirova, 47) -one of the few burgers in Gomel, where it is tasty and fast, as well as good prices.
• "Burger Master" (Railway Station Square, 1) -An ideal fast food for those who need a quick and inexpensive meal in the center.

Mid level

• Karchma "Budzma" (3 Privokzalnaya St.);
• "Old time" (Krestyanskaya St., 14);
• FaSol (Sovetskaya St., 36);
• Lucky cat (Lenin Ave. 10);
• Marconi (Victory St., 4).

Expensive

• "Provence" (st. Biletsky descent, 1);
• Kellis (Sovetskaya St., 29a);
• "Pure Beer Restaurant" (st.Lizyukov Brothers, 4a).

Holidays

In general, Belarusian holidays are close to Russians, so I’ll focus on the “celebrations” that are significant for Gomel:

• The first is Day of the city. In Gomel it is celebrated September 17th, however, the celebrations last for several days. Various competitions are timed to this event, usually related to national culture and traditions, various exhibitions and workshops are held, shows and concerts will take place, and in the evening, of course, everything ends with a bright firework.
• Secondly it Independence Daythat follows a similar scenario and is marked 3 July. A bright national holiday can be an excellent occasion to get acquainted with the culture and life of Belarus!
• Thirdly, this is an unusual folk festival "Bath"he is also celebrated in July. His guests are waiting for sports, acquaintance with the culture and way of life of past years, the opportunity to know their fate in the form of fortune-telling and predictions ...
• Well and of course New Year! I think you all know very well how his Belarus brothers celebrate - just like us! :)

Security. What to watch out for

By the standards of Eastern Europe Gomel - pretty safe city. So tips for avoiding trouble will be quite classic:

• do not carry a lot of cash with you,
• watch your things
• do not show aggression and so on;

But there are some unusual points, for example:

• try to say "Belarus", not "Belarus" - it is the first name that is correct in the Belarusian language. Some locals may be hurt by this mistake.
• also do not drink alcohol on the street (I think everything is clear here).
• Problems can arise if you photograph government buildings or military installations.
• if you were unable to avoid talking with the local police, be polite and do not try to "negotiate." The laws here are respected by everyone and do it quite zealously.

Things to do

For those who think that there are no interesting activities in the Belarusian town, Gomel prepared some surprises (I confess, I myself was one of such people). Firstly, casinos are still allowed in Belarus, so gambling tourists, without violating the law, can try their luck in this field. Secondly, sport is developed in Gomel: depending on the season, you can go to the games of a local football or hockey team. Thirdly, there are all the classic "mast visit" of a tourist. But let's talk about everything in order ...

Shopping and shops

With shopping in Gomel, well, to put it mildly, not very well. There is no need to talk about branded stores (the most “luxury” of what I saw was a NAF NAF boutique), but in the city center there are quite a large number of places where you can buy clothes and shoes made in Belarus. The majority of outlets are located on the streets of Katunin, Gagarin, Komsomolskaya and Sovetskaya. However, do not consider them trading in the traditional European sense: there are much fewer shops here than just residential buildings.

Of the large shopping centers can be distinguished "Secret" and Katuninskylocated in the Central region, as well as located closer to the Soviet region "Mandarin Plaza". They are suitable if you need to replace torn jeans or buy a warm sweater, but I would not recommend going there purposefully to spend half a day on shopping.

As for the local brands that you should pay attention to, everything is simple here: choose not a brand, but Belarusian knitwear as such. There are many things with a good price-quality ratio, so it all depends on which design you like and suits you personally.

Bars Where to go

In Gomel, it’s not so easy to find a place that will work all night: it’s unlikely to just come and sit in the nearest institution. In addition, there are very few of them here. Anyway, I got the impression that even young people here after 00:00 prefer to stay at home.

Here is the list of bars that I would recommend to visit (in truth, it includes almost all of Gomel's bars - there are, I repeat, very few of them):

• Harry Potter Pub (st. Dostoevsky, 1);
• "Everything as he loves" (st. Biletsky, 4);
• Becker Bar (st.Sotvetskaya, 11);
• "Lodger" (Biletsky descent, 1);
• "Cherry" (street Irininskaya, 21).

Most bars are open daily, open around noon, and close around 00: 00-01: 00 (and even on weekends!). Only a few establishments (e.g. Red pub on 10 Lenin Ave.) are open until the morning. Food prices here are one and a half to two times higher than in ordinary cafes, but the cost of alcohol depends very much on a particular place.

Clubs and nightlife

The nightlife in Gomel is not developed: there are practically no clubs in the classical sense, and indeed many establishments even close at the weekend at midnight. If you still really want to break away and dance, I can offer an alternative - bars with dance floors. The most famous of them:

• 7Fridays (Lenin Ave., 6);
• Kelly's (Sovetskaya St., 29a);
• Nemo club (Naberezhnaya St., 2/1).

Extreme sports

This type of recreation is not developed in the city.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

In Gomel, you can find a lot of useful souvenirs for all friends and family members. Here are some ideas:

• belorussian knitwear - A great option for those who want to make a souvenir really useful and necessary, shops can be found on the central streets of the city and in large shopping centers (I spoke about them in the section on shopping), the price depends on the product, for example, a simple dress can cost about 60 USD (30 BYN);
• crafts of local masters - you can buy them, for example, in the Vetka Museum (I wrote about it in the corresponding section), a commemorative magnet will cost 2-3 USD, but for the sake of more serious souvenirs you have to fork out;
• sweets of the Spartak factory - one of the largest factories in Belarus was founded here in Gomel, in addition to company stores, you can purchase its products in a supermarket, prices correspond to the average cost of confectionery;
• china - the only plant in the country for its production is located in the vicinity of Gomel, by the way, you don’t need to go there for products, you can find it without problems in city stores, the price depends on the particular product, but in any case it will be rather big;
• beer - both the Gomel "Rechnitsa" and any other Belarusian, are sold in grocery and specialized stores, the price per liter is about 2 USD (4 BYN).

How to get around the city

The central part of the city can be easily walked around: the path from the station to the park, for example, will be about half an hour (however, I would recommend you not to rush and visit other attractions along the way). If you need transport, there will not be any special problems: by and large, it operates in Gomel on the same principle as in Russia.

Taxi. What features exist

Taxi in Gomel is quite common, and the prices for it are pleasantly pleasing: according to my subjective feeling, trips here are cheaper than in Russia. A list of major companies with telephones can be found on specialized sites. It is better to call the car in advance, however, in the main places of tourist congestion - at the station, near the park, etc. - Often free cars are on duty.

Payment is accepted mainly in cash in local currency.

Of the unpleasant moments, I can point out a petty scam: during one of the trips, I came across a taxi driver who openly extended the route in order to earn more money.

Buses

Buses, trolleybuses and minibuses are the main transport in Gomel. They go regularly and without problems, from about 06:00 to 00:00. The route network covers the whole city, you can get acquainted with it here.

Fare

The fare will be 0.2 USD (0.45 BYN) for regular routes and 0.25 USD (0.55 BYN) for express routes. There are also different travel options, for example, for a decade or a month (go here for details). Tickets can be bought both in the transport itself (from the conductor or from the driver), and at kiosks, which are often located at stops. In the second case, you will pay a few cents cheaper. Do not forget to validate the ticket if you did not buy it from the conductor.

Summarizing

In general, I personally found traveling around Gomel on buses quite convenient: as a rule, the nearest stop will be very close to you, and the center can be reached without changes. Yes, and the ticket is not so expensive. And recently, buses with free Wi-Fi appeared in the city - beauty! :)

Vehicle rental

There are no particular problems with renting a car in Gomel: at the very first request, Google will give you several relevant sites, you can search for rental offers here.

The big plus is that the Belarusian traffic rules are not very different from the Russian ones, so you will feel pretty confident on the roads.

As for prices, here everything is also quite nice. For example, Renault Logan will cost about 20-30 USD per day (depending on the rental period). From time to time, there are quite stringent requirements for collateral and driving experience, but here it all depends on the company you have chosen.

Gomel - holidays with children

As for me, Gomel is just as suitable for traveling with children as any other city in Belarus. That is, you will find something to occupy your beloved child, but his stay here will not make much sense. On the other hand, there are pluses: a small child will be familiar and understandable, there will be no language barrier, there are no crowds on the streets ...

For those who still decided to go to Gomel with a child, I made a list of places that you will be interested in visiting (by the way, I advise you to study the Poster of events for children before the trip, maybe you will find something else there):

• Gomel amusement park. It is located in the Central Park of the city (I already wrote about it above). There are all the classic entertainment of the post-Soviet space: Ferris wheel, carousels, cars and so on. Nice bonus - communication with nature in the form of swans in a pond and squirrels that you can feed from hand.
• Puppet Theatre (Pushkin St., 14). Visitors will find performances based on classical and not very plots, as well as the opportunity to visit the Puppet Museum (included in the ticket price). In front of the theater is one of the famous monuments of Gomel - the heroes of the fairy tale "Pinocchio".
• Gomel Circus (Sovetskaya St., 27). I think there is no need to tell in detail: clowns, trained animals, acrobats, jugglers - all this and much more awaits you in the city center.
• Vetka Museum of Old Believers and Belarusian traditions (4 Lenin square). I spoke about this museum in detail above. A great option for those who want to make a trip to Gomel also informative. Here you can get acquainted with Belarusian folklore and Slavic life.
• Museum of Autograph at the Central City Library named after Herzen (Sovetskaya St., 26). It’s unlikely that young visitors here will be interested, but teenagers will appreciate the opportunity to see the signatures of famous people of the past and present.

Ski vacation

Watch the video: Lenina Avenue Gomel Belarus (April 2024).