Naroch and Belorusskoye Lake district are almost ideal destinations for summer travel. There are…
- neat beaches with snow-white yachts by the water;
- and excellent hotels with their own spas.
The local forests are full of legends about fabulous giants that throw stars from the sky into the water at night. And among the ordinary half-asleep villages there are palaces and churches, like the mute remains of vanished kingdoms.
You can go to these places for many different reasons – and, sometimes, very unusual ones. For example, here you can learn about the history of Belarusian whiskey or spend the night in authentic 19th century huts. Naroch is also the birthplace of craft cheeses and one of the most popular places in Belarus associated with UFO stories.
However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves too much. In this article, I will try to show you the Naroch region as you did not know it. Let’s get started, and we’ll figure it out as we go along.
Reason No. 1. Scenic route and romantic travel
If you have a car, then you can fully enjoy the romance of travel on the way to Lake Naroch. There are two popular routes from Minsk to these regions.
- The first one passes through Molodechno along the R-28 highway;
- The other one stretches along the bank of the Vilia River along the R–58 road.
If you choose the first route, make sure to stop at on the way.Radoshkovichi to visit the famous alpaca park or look at the huge church (1859), where Yanka Kupala was once baptized.
And if you are ready to make a short detour, you can also add the village of Zalesye to your route, where Mikhail Oginsky’s estate stands on the banks of the Dry River.
The R-58 highway also has its points of interest. Personally, I remember the brutal church in the village of Ilya…
And pleasant picnics by the shore of the Vilia River.
Another important part of the route is the town of Myadel (the largest settlement in the Naroch region). There is a great beach near Lake Miastro, and on the outskirts of the city on a low hill stands a beautiful temple and monastery of the Carmelites.
Photo author Kasia Syromolot (@palasatka). Source — 34travel.me .
I wrote more about these routes and how to get to Naroch WITHOUT my own car in the previous article. You can find it here. In the meantime, I’ll move on.
Reason No.2. Naroch beaches, pools and spas
There are also many different ways to have a good time at Lake Naroch. First of all, I recommend going to Urliki beach (near the Priozerny sanatorium).
It was recently renovated. They made comfortable decking, installed shower stations and changing rooms – and turned this place into one of the most famous beaches in the country.
Today there is a restaurant, an observation tower (2 BYN) and even its own glamping. There is a marina and several sports fields just to the side. At the same time, the beach itself remains free (with the exception of a separate VIP area). Therefore, today it is one of the most popular places near the shore of Naroch.
On sunny days, I think the program is clear. Well, if you’re not lucky with the weather, then you can go on a tour of local sanatoriums. Almost every one of them has its own swimming pool, sauna gallery and SPA center. There are three most popular options here. These are:
- The thermal park of the sanatorium “Sputnik” (30 BYN) with outdoor heated pools, spacious Jacuzzis and saunas with panoramic views of the coniferous forest;
- Sosny Sanatorium, whose spa complex is located right on the shore of the lake;
- And The SPA center of the Priozerny sanatorium with a sauna gallery, several pools and a warm outdoor Jacuzzi. Two hours here will cost you 50 BYN. All the details are on this page.
To continue the topic, we can also mention the various guest houses with private pools on site. For example, about…
- cottage complex Prestige home (@prestigehome_naroch) 3 km from Urliki beach;
- or this “Fabulous manor under an oak tree”, which also has everything for a comfortable stay.
I think having a private pool at home is always a big plus. Therefore, if you have not yet decided where you will live on Purpose, you can look at similar options.
Reason No.3. The opportunity to live in a special place
In general, there are a lot of unusual places to stay near Lake Naroch. And each of them in itself can be a great reason to travel.
For example, I really like the Malinovka farm, where you can live in authentic 19th-century huts!
And cozy A-frame houses, which are great for a romantic weekend.
A separate story is the glamping of the Priozerny sanatorium, which looks like an alien research base. It is located right on Urliki beach and consists of such futuristic “geo-domes” (but with all the necessary amenities).
I think spending a night in such a place is an unforgettable adventure.
Reason No. 4. Churches, palaces and centuries-old history
Naroch today is a quiet resort village where dried fish is sold right by the roads, and typical high–rise buildings are hidden among pine forests.
But once you jump in the car and drive a little bit, you will realize what a long history lies behind the external silence of these places.
First of all, I recommend heading north to the agro–town of the same name (4 km from the resort village of Naroch). The Neo-Gothic Church of St. Andrew (1897) stands right on the main street, and 300 meters from it is the ancient Church of St. Elijah (1881) with expressive rubble stone masonry.
Another 17 kilometers to the north – and here you are in the village Kamai, where the majestic Church of St. John the Baptist rises among the simple wooden houses. The huge fortress church was built back in 1606 (!) and was never closed either during the World Wars or during the Soviet era. The thick walls, massive towers and narrow loopholes of the temple allowed it to withstand long sieges. And in one of the walls of the church there is still a shell from the time of the First World War – as a reminder of the turbulent history of the region.
Aytar zdymkai Karyna Ginko. Krynica’s social network @hosciechka.
Other attractions of the village are an ancient organ and a stone cross (15th century).Carved from an ancient pagan idol. Watch them and you can move on. To the village Lyntupy, where there is another Neo-Gothic temple (1914), as well as the beautiful palace of the Bishevsky family.
Lyntupy, St. Andrew’s Church. The author of the picture is @jack_pers90.
It was once built by a local nobleman in the hope of impressing a certain French actress. But she remained indifferent, so Jozef Bishewski died a bachelor.
Today, the palace stands proudly in the very center of the village. The estate has preserved a park, a three-arch bridge, outbuildings and a brick smokehouse tower, which is now depicted on the coat of arms of the village.
The author of the picture is @nastya_hursevich.
When the Lyntups are left behind, head further towards the village of Zasvir. Here, too, you can make a short stop to see the 300–year-old church and the ancient monastery of the Carmelites. It will turn out to be an excellent full–day travel program, where all the points of the route go one after the other, forming a ring north of Lake Naroch.
Church in Zasviri, source — tomkad.livejournal.com .
The total length of the road is just under 90 km. If you love history and protected areas, the Naroch region will give you many pleasant discoveries.
Reason No.5. Whiskey, cheese and Narochan gastronomy
It’s hard to believe, but you can also come to the northern Lake district to learn about the history of Belarusian whiskey. The local Naroch distillery appeared in 1845 and is now known throughout Belarus for its premium Single Barrel varieties. The production itself is located in a brutal (and even slightly cinematic) rubble stone building. Inside there is heady semi–darkness and long rows of wooden barrels.
Photo from the distillery’s social media.
Currently, whiskey, gin, calvados and traditional Belarusian vodka (rye vodka with apple and pear leaves) are produced here. And the factory itself (in the agro-town of Naroch) has become a popular place for excursions and photo shoots.
You can view all the details on the company’s website narochdistillery.by .
Alcohol is not for you? Then go explore the exciting world of Belarusian cheese. Moreover, there are several similar industries in the Naroch region.
The most famous of them is located in the village of Yezhentsy and is called “Cheese yard“. There are guided tours, master classes, and 10 types of craft cheeses (including varieties with nettles and cuttlefish ink).
You can find out all the details on social media @biomilk.cheese, as well as by phone +375 (29) 667-11-87.
A large cheese factory is also located in the agro-town of Naroch (4 km from the lake).
Tours are also conducted here, but with a noticeable industrial vibe. You will be guided through the production halls, will be told how cheeses with noble mold ripen and will arrange a professional tasting. In general, everything would be fine, but (!) you can only get on such an excursion with an organized group (from 6 to 25 people). As a rule, local sanatoriums organize such trips for their guests.
Concluding the topic of gastronomic excursions, I will write a couple of lines about the ethno-cultural complex Nanosy. Here you can rent a house for the weekend
Or you can just come for a pleasant excursion. It has its own mill and an exhibition of folk life; a stable where horse shows are regularly held, as well as a samovar house and a large collection of antique moonshine distillers. Guests can enjoy tastings of traditional alcoholic beverages, bread-making workshops, and, of course, Narochan cheeses. The details and the cost of the excursions can be viewed on this page.
Reason No. 6.Fantastic nature and Belarusian Nessie
However, one way or another, but the main reason for a trip to Lake Naroch is its stunning nature. And here are some ideas for how to enjoy it to the fullest. For example…
- you can go for a night walk on luminous boots (22:00-23:00);
- or sailing (@yachty_naroch) to see the famous lake from an unusual angle.
Both walks start from Urliki beach. In the summer of 2026, the prices were as follows:
Neon SUP boards – 50 BYN/hour; yachts – from 180 to 240 BYN/hour.
Another great option for exploring the nature of Narochansky The edges are a trip to the Blue Lakes Nature Reserve. For many years in a row, these places have been considered one of the most beautiful and at the same time mysterious in Belarus. The structure of the reserve includes 15 glacial lakes, past which there are two eco-routes (for 4 and 7 km). And from generation to generation, local residents have associated numerous legends and legends with them.
One of them tells about devils living at the bottom of Dead Lake. (Allegedly because of them, there are almost no fish in the reservoir, and the bottom is a bottomless black pit).
Another legend is connected with the lake monster, which was seen in 2002 on Lake Bolduc. Since then, the lake has gained the unspoken fame of the Belarusian Loch Ness, and reports about the strange water monster were even published on Online.
Photo source — golubyeozerabelarus.by .
A separate topic is UFO stories, which are also often seen over the Lyntups and Blue Lakes. The Vitebsk courier wrote about will-o’-the-wisps over Dead Lake, and enthusiasts from the UFOCOM project even started a whole archive with paranormal news coming from the vicinity of Naroch. The most famous reportage tells about “Smoke on the water and fire in the sky,” which was allegedly seen over the local lake Ilginya. I didn’t know myself, but it turns out that Narochansky Krai is considered one of the most popular places among Belarusian ufologists.
One way or another, the Blue Lakes Nature Reserve is an unequivocal “must see” of the entire Naroch region. There is andLake Glublya with an unusual blue color of water; and three dozen rare plants included in the Red Book; and the Stracha River, which is considered the most stormy in Belarus (that’s why he is very popular with fans of kayaks).
You can read more about these places on the official website of Naroch National Park narochpark.by .
Reason #7. “Everything, everywhere and at once”
My story about Lake Naroch turned out to be quite long, but every time I wanted to put the final point in it, there were points in my notebook (with a plan) that I haven’t told you about yet.
For example, I never wrote about…
- Apothecary’s garden (near the village of Gatovichi), recreating medieval medicinal gardens of European monasteries;
- And horse ranch “Moon Valley”, where children (and all fans of the series) will surely enjoyYellowstone”).
In short, then there will be “Everything, everywhere and at once” – a lot of different tips that I have not found a place for somewhere else. After all, you definitely need to know that…
The best restaurant in Naroch is located on the Urliki beach. But the Lambada and Montana cafes, on the contrary, shocked me with their tiny pizzas and prices 2 times higher than in Minsk.
The cheapest hotel in Naroch National Park is called “Myadel” and is located in the town of the same name (18 km from the famous lake). Yes, I know, it’s not a walking distance. But the prices are lower here, there is a nice beach and Lake Myastro nearby. And you can get to the resort village in half an hour by car or a suburban minibus (ticketbus.by ).
As for inexpensive apartments and guest houses, you can find themhere. For example, I liked these apartments. But in summer, it’s better to book them in advance.
At the very end, I will also advise you to download the Belarusian navigator MAPS.me (or another application with offline maps). In the Narochan forests and on the same “Blue Lakes” it will be useful to you. And with these words, I can only say goodbye. I told him everything I knew. Dobby is free now.
