April 20, 2024

Top 5 weekend travel ideas - visa-free countries for Belarusians!

May is approaching with the long-awaited long weekend. Some will go to plant potatoes at the dacha, others will go to the river to barbecue. But if you are reading this article, the idea of giving yourself a good rest and a lot of pleasant impressions has clearly settled in your thoughts. You've really come to the right place! After all, we share the best options for spending a long (or not so long) weekend and select tours from Minsk without a visa.

1. Armenia

The most hospitable country on our list (Georgians may disagree). Belarusians are happy to see them there without any “buts” for up to 180 days of continuous stay. And there’s juicy khorovats, fragrant lavash, blackberry wine - and all this with postcard views of Ararat!

Armenia is the choice of advanced time managers. Night flights to Yerevan and back will allow you not to waste a second from the daily schedule. Belavia provides departures from Minsk at 23:55 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Return at 05:55 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

In a few days, Armenia will reveal its whole soul to you. And you don’t even need to travel far. Numerous excursions for a modest fee will take you to the temples of Garni and Geghard (read what’s interesting about them here ), the unique natural monument “Symphony of Stones”, to Lake Sevan and to the national shrine of Khor Virap .

And one more great news! Based on a combination of factors, Armenia is the cheapest holiday abroad without a visa.

If you are planning to visit Armenia, you can stay in cozy hotels that offer comfortable accommodation and a hospitable atmosphere for relaxation:

2. Azerbaijan

We take a backpack, a passport, a good mood - the checklist for a trip to Azerbaijan has been completed! In the richest country in Transcaucasia, Belarusians will be happy to see 90 days without a visa. Belavia operates flights there five days a week: from Minsk on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Even without early booking, it is possible to find tickets for $350-400 for a round trip combination. Flights are at night, so we will also save time for walking around Baku.

What's in Baku? The city stands out sharply among neighboring capitals. There, modernity meets history, thousand-year-old stones mix with glass and concrete. This is the charm of the capital of Azerbaijan. It looks like the east, but the east is modern. Stroll through a traditional bazaar under the shadow of the Petals of Baku (also known as the Flame Towers) and take home pockets full of gifts.

If you are planning to visit Azerbaijan , you can stay in a variety of hotels that offer comfortable accommodation and a hospitable environment:

3. Georgia

Where would we be without her? Belarusian tourists have long chosen Sakartvelo. And with good reason: the level of tourism services in the country has increased significantly, it increasingly complies with European standards, without losing its authenticity.

Georgia is one of the most loyal visa-free countries. You can stay there 360 days a year, go to your neighbors for a couple of days and return to your sunbed in Batumi.

And what, exactly, besides the beaches of Adjara? Of course, vineyards, intoxicating with just their view, wonderful hearty cuisine in any restaurant and an endless variety of both natural and architectural attractions. In Tbilisi itself, it is worth seeing the ancient Narikala fortress, the huge Trinity Cathedral, the Bridge of Peace and Freedom Square. Without moving too far from the capital, we recommend going to the ancient capital - Mtskheta, the Ananuri fortress, and the cave city of Uplistsikhe.

Flights to Tbilisi operate every day. You can also fly to Kutaisi and Batumi .

If you are planning to visit Tbilisi, Kutaisi or Batumi, the choice of hotel is yours. We offer an extensive selection of hotels in each of these cities, where you can choose the appropriate option for your stay:

4. Kazakhstan

Do you think that in the vast expanses of Kazakhstan there is only sand and rare tents of nomads? No matter how it is! Break the stereotype by visiting one of the most modern cities in the post-Soviet space - Astana. The city literally grew up on the desert, which is simply impossible to imagine, beholding the brilliant creations of engineering: the “tree of peace” Astana-Baiterek, the glass tent Khan-Shatyr, the pyramidal Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the presidential residence Akorda.

Any Belarusian can enjoy this hymn to innovation for 90 days without a visa. What a shame the weekend won't last that long. But nothing prevents you from returning to the “city of the future” for a full vacation.

Belavia offers flights from Minsk on any day of the week except Wednesday and Thursday.

Choose where to stay in Kazakhstan with our selection of hotels:

5. Türkiye

Every day, on several Belavia flights, a visa-free Belarusian can travel to continental Europe, Istanbul. These flights are especially popular, which, unfortunately, affects the price - on average $600 for round-trip tickets.

But cultural ecstasy awaits you on the spot: the Grand Bazaar, the main Christian temple, and now the Hagia Sophia Mosque, Suleymaniye, Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces, the Galata Tower. If not your legs, then your fantasy will take you to the Asian part of the “city of two worlds” and plunge you into a completely different, Asian Turkey. And let’s add to all this the endless potential of shopping in Istanbul shopping centers and tricks with Turkish “ice cream” and dondurma (read a selection of activities in Istanbul here ). We guarantee that you will want to stay there not only for the weekend, but also for the entire 30 days allowed by the visa-free regime.

Istanbul is a huge city, so be sure to book your hotel in advance to ensure a comfortable stay in this exciting city:

 

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