Brest is one of the oldest cities in Belarus, founded more than a thousand years ago. With a population of 350,000 people, Brest is very close to the border with Poland. Located just a couple of hours away from Minsk, the city might appear sleepy and somewhat bizarre to first-time visitors. However, there are plenty of things to do in Brest, which I plan to cover in this travel guide.
Although most people tend to ignore it, Brest is one of the most legendary cities in the former Soviet Union. It’s home to the only Hero Fortress, which is an expansion of the Hero Cities concept. A Hero City status means that it resisted the Nazi Occupation during World War II and was awarded to 12 cities. The list was expanded in 1965, including the Brest Fortress, which took the equivalent title of Hero Fortress.
That said, most visitors travel to the city for its stunning Hero Fortress. This sizeable memorial complex is actually a reason by itself to visit Brest. It’s impressive, and you’ll most likely spend the most significant part of your time there if you’re on a day trip to Brest. However, the city has more to offer, and it’s a pity to leave without strolling around.
So, in this travel guide to Brest, you will find information about the city’s attractions and sightseeing tips. Moreover, I’ll share the best places to stay and where to eat, plus some organized tours and activities out of town. Last but not least, if you’d like to read my impressions I wrote a travelogue about Brest, where you can also see more photos.
So let’s start with the best things to do in Brest and the travel guide to the iconic Belarusian city.
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A travel guide to Brest, Belarus
How to travel to Brest
So, let’s see here how you can get to Brest. Your options are:
By train
The easiest way to travel to Brest is by train. Due to its strategic location, you can visit Brest from several cities in Belarus and the nearby countries.
The train journey from Minsk to Brest takes slightly more than 3 hours, and it’s enjoyable. If possible, travel during the day and see the beautiful Belarusian landscape unfolding outside the window. The countryside is gorgeous, and the trains in Belarus are very reliable. A one-way journey will cost you less than 10 euros/dollars, and the trains offer free wi-fi onboard. It’s something that you won’t find that often in European trains (at least not in economy class).
A short note: the railway station has a great architectural interest. Apart from being the first station to receive electricity among all Russian Railways, it’s also impressive as a building. The Brest Railway Station building resembles an old medieval castle with four water towers.
You can book your train tickets at the official website of Belarusian Railways.
By bus
Belarus has a good bus network, and you can visit almost every corner of the country by bus. Moreover, you can visit Brest from the neighboring countries like Poland. During my stay in Belarus, I didn’t use the bus -I preferred the train- so I can’t really advise you about the services offered. However, the bus will be an acceptable alternative if you want to visit a town where the train doesn’t stop.
By plane
There’s a small international airport, but the chances are it won’t be that helpful. The air traffic is really limited to just a couple of countries (recently Egypt and Bulgaria) and some occasional flights to Kaliningrad. Therefore, a direct flight from your hometown to Brest seems unlikely. Instead, it’s better to fly to Minsk and from there take the train.
Where to stay in Brest, Belarus
For a compact city, Brest has an adequate number of hotels. While you should not expect something very fancy, the truth is that you can find options for every budget. In general, most hotels are cheap, but there’s one that stands out. Below you will see where I decided to stay, and I’ll also share the best alternative for your accommodation in Brest.
Where I stayed in Brest
So, I stayed at the Molodezhnaya Hotel, which was one strange place. It’s not that I regret staying there, but I can’t recommend it passionately either. Yes, it was clean and centrally located, but other than that, it was nothing to remember. It’s a small hotel, and it feels in decay. That said, if you arrive with a mindset of relaxing and enjoying, it’ll probably disappoint you.
On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, you can consider it: a room will cost you less than 30 euros per night here. In addition, you can have breakfast (served at Chemodan cafe) for an extra 3 euros.
The best hotel in Brest, Belarus
Since booking a hotel will be the main expense in the city, I would strongly recommend the Hermitage Hotel. It’s a hotel that really stands out, and a night there will cost you approximately 70 euros. The elegant 4-star Hermitage is situated in the city’s heart, it has a spa, and breakfast is included. Plus, it has a fantastic restaurant. So look no further if you want European standards in quality and safety.
For all other accommodation options in Brest, please see here, or use the interactive map below.
Where to eat in Brest
I tried to eat at a couple of places while visiting Brest. Yes, the city is not exactly a culinary capital, but the food is delicious, as it’s always the case in Belarus. If you are a fan of local specialties (like Kletski, the Belarusian dumplings), you will surely find a place to enjoy a meal. So, here are the places I can recommend in Brest for dinner or a quick lunch.
- Avenue Cafe. This is a nice option to watch people passing by while having lunch. It is located on the main pedestrian street and offers outdoor seating. The coffee is okay, and the food too. The best thing, though, is the highly professional service.
- Paragraph. That’s another cafe on the pedestrian street, ideal for a lunch stop. Here the coffee is delicious, and has a small food selection, but the service is really slow.
- Svajaki. A traditional Belarussian restaurant with homemade food and insanely low prices. A full meal with beer will cost you 8 euros/dollars. Try it out: it’s very original and feels genuinely local. However, you’ll have to pay cash; they don’t accept credit cards.
- Jules Verne. This is, hands down, one of the nicest restaurants you’ll visit in Belarus. Excellent menu and service, be prepared to pay a little more, though. See the menu and photos of the Jules Verne restaurant in Brest here.
Things to in Brest, Belarus
So, in this section of the travel guide, I’ll cover the best things to do in Brest. Apparently, when we talk about this famous Soviet city, we should separate these things into two sections. The first is about the Hero Fortress, and the second includes everything else.
So, here’s what you should see when visiting Brest.
The best things to do in Brest: Visit the Hero Fortress
Well, If you consider visiting Brest, it’s 99% because of the Brest Hero Fortress and the memorial complex. Don’t miss the chance to visit the fortress -from all the things to do in Brest, this one is a must. Spend enough time there, let the place narrate its story, feel the vibe, and reflect upon our times. A taxi from the city center will cost you about 5 rubles, but you can also reach it on foot. If you don’t speak any Russian or Belarussian, download Google Translate: the taxi drivers don’t speak English.
Brest Hero Fortress Construction
The construction of the Fortress started in 1833 based on a draft of the military engineer Karl Opperman. It’s a star-shaped fortification, and its original name was Brest-Litoŭsk Fortress.
The Hero Fortress during WWII
On June 22, 1941, the German army attacked the Brest Fortress without warning. It took just a couple of hours till the fortress was completely surrounded. However, the battle of Brest Fortress lasted eight days, and the number of casualties was severe. According to historians, more than 2000 soldiers died while defending the castle. The German casualties were approximately 430 soldiers.
The defense of Brest Fortress was the first big battle of Operation Barbarossa. It’s a significant event in WWII history (known as the Great Patriotic War in former Soviet countries) because the Germans thought they’d occupy the city in a couple of hours. However, the fact they needed more than a week slowed down their operations significantly and drove them to defeat.
The Hero Fortress today: A War Memorial Complex
More than twenty years after the War’s end, the city of Brest started to construct the memorial we can see today. The Brest Memorial was inaugurated on September 25, 1971.
The War Memorial Complex is highly significant for both locals and foreigners. It’s a place of grief and pride, narrating how the Nazis were, in the end, defeated. Today, you can see barracks and gunpowder bunkers and walk around the premises where 20th-century history was written.
Apart from that, you can also see new monuments commemorating the resistance. Specifically, there’s the Obelisk, the sculpture “Thirst,” and the famous sculpture “Courage.”
Other things to do in Brest
Apart from the Fortress, the Museum of Confiscated Art, or in the direct Russian translation, the Museum of Saved Values, deserves definitely a bit more attention. The museum showcases 300 items confiscated from smugglers by Brest customs officials. Plan your visit and enjoy the experience. You’ll find it at 39 Lenin Street.
(As you might read on my trip report, I had problems defining the ticket price, but it should not cost more than 2-3 rubles. They might ask you for extra money if you’d like to shoot photos (and that’s where the confusion starts). It’s not that much, probably 1-2 rubles more, but the language barrier prevented me from understanding.)
There is also a beautiful tribute to the great Russian writer Nikolai Gogol: on Gogolya Street, you’ll see many small statues that refer to the writer. An excellent opportunity to check your knowledge of Gogol’s oeuvre.
You will also find the Monument of the Millenial on the same street. Brest celebrated 1000 years of history in 2019, and the locals created the monument to commemorate the city’s special anniversary.
Last but not least, Brest also hosts a fascinating Railway Museum. It is the first open-air museum in Belarus, featuring several locomotives. You can combine it with your visit to the Brest Hero Fortress since it is located nearby. You can find a few more info on their website if you speak some Russian; otherwise, you will have -once again- to use Google Translate. Check the Brest Railway Museum here.
Selected tours and activities in Brest and beyond
I will add here a few selected tours and activities in Brest and beyond. Although you can see everything on your own, the truth is that the language barrier will prevent you from understanding Brest’s rich history. These are guided tours from Minsk or Brest and are offered in English. If you don’t want to stay overnight in Brest and prefer having a driver, these tours are for you. In general, you will make more out of the Hero Fortress experience with a tour guide because just a few people speak English.
So, my recommended Brest tours are:
Brest City and Fortress Guided Tour. As the tour’s title says, this is a city tour, where you’ll visit local attractions and landmarks and -of course- the world-famous Brest Fortress. Its duration is 3 hours and starts conveniently at noun. See more info about the city tour here.
Private Tour from Minsk: Mir Castle, Nesvizh Palace, and Brest Fortress. If you don’t want to spend a night in Brest, you can also book a day trip from Minsk (and you’ll return there at night). In this private tour, you will visit three legendary locations in the Brest area: the Mir Castle, the Nesvizh Palace, and, of course, the Hero Fortress. Check the details of this private tour here.
Private tour from Brest city to Belovezhskaya Pushcha national park. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is one of the largest parks in Europe. Your driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Brest and drive you to the park. You have the option to explore it either on your own or with an English-speaking guide. Check the prices for the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Tour here.
Private Tour: Brest Fortress & City – Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. If you stay for just a few days in Minsk, you can also have a private tour including all of Brest’s main attractions. That said, a driver will pick you up from your accommodation in Minsk and drive you to Brest, where you will see the Hero Fortress complex. Then, you will also visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha park. You will return to Minsk late at night. This is a full-day tour –check the prices here.
How to budget for Brest, Belarus
Brest is a relatively cheap destination, and you won’t have to splurge. Your primary expense will be your hotel room, and if you don’t choose the Hermitage Hotel, you can keep your budget low. However, I can only recommend the Hermitage for some comfort and peace of mind, even if this translates to a slight rise in the budget.
So, let’s break down your expenses, assuming you’ll start your trip from Minsk. The train from Minsk to Brest is cheap and won’t cost more than 8-10 euros per way. If I were about to stay at the same hotel, I’d have to pay 30 euros. On the other hand, the food is reasonably priced, like in Minsk. With approximately 15 euros, you can have a splendid meal, but it’s possible with even less: at Svajaki, I paid 8 euros for a starter, a main dish, and a beer.
Now, if you add on top the entrance fees and the occasional taxis you might need, I would calculate less than 90 euros for a 2-days trip to Brest: this included traveling to and from Brest, your hotel, food, plus tickets to places of interest. If you could spend an extra 40 euros (so, ~130 in total), you can book a room at Hermitage and have a much better stay.
I actually plan to do that when I revisit Brest. Overall, Brest is a relatively cheap city, and if you travel to Belarus, don’t miss the chance to visit it. The Fortress is impressive, and the city itself deserves a stop.
So, that’s it with my Brest travel guide. Let me know in the comments if you visited Brest and what you think about its stunning memorial complex.
More about Brest: The Heroes of Brest
More about Belarus: Minsk travel guide, My Minsk travelogue, Lee Harvey Oswald in Minsk
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Last Updated on July 14, 2022 by George Pavlopoulos