belarus Travel Guide
Often described as “Europe’s last dictatorship” this former soviet republic, on the very outskirts of Eastern Europe, is unique in that it seems determined to isolate itself from the rest of Europe and would rather come under the Russian sphere of influence. The unfamiliarity and the communist feel is the main appeal to travellers. From the Stalinist capital of Minsk, which truly still feels like a part of the USSR, to rolling fields of cornflower, thick forests, picturesque little countryside villages, and with the genuinely warm, hospitable, and friendly locals, Belarus is sure to give you an unforgettable and unique experience. Belarus is one of the least visited countries in Europe, largely thanks to its former stringent visa requirements. These requirements changed in 2016 when Belarus introduced a 5 day visa free program. In 2017 over 54,000 tourists visited Belarus visa free.
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 Belarus |
Top 5 Destinations in belarus |
 Minsk |
 Brest |
 Nesvizh |
 Vitebsk |
 Mir Castle |
Top 5 Nature Destinations |
 Belovezhskaya Pushcha |
 Braslaw Lakes |
 Prypyatski |
 Narachanski |
 Bialowieza Forest |
Other Destinations |
Brest – right on the border with Poland, Brest is a historic site of many cultures.
Gomel/Homel – the second most populous city of Belarus.
Grodno/Hrodna – an interesting city close to the Polish and Lithuanian borders.
Minsk – the capital, with Stalinist architecture, grand buildings, broad avenues, and wide squares.
Mir Castle – a beautiful UNESCO inscribed castle.
Mogilev/Mahilyow – third largest city in Belarus, with many different architectural styles.
Nesvizh – the main sight here is the UNESCO listed Nesvizh Castle.
Polotsk – one of the most ancient cities of the Eastern Slavs.
Vitebsk – the fourth largest city in Belarus, with many grand buildings and churches.
Exploring the Stalinist architecture of Minsk: City Gates, House of Government, City Council, KGB Headquarters, Lenin Street, Post Office, Palace of the Republic, Trade Unions Palace, Residence of the President, and Victory Square just to name a few.
Exploring Minsk’s Metro: with 29 vividly decorated stations and incredibly cheap tickets, this could easily make a day of sightseeing.
National Parks |
Belovezhskaya Pushcha – this national park includes the UNESCO inscribed Bialowieza Forest, the last primeval forest of the European woodlands that once stretched across the European Plain. It is home to a large number of European bison, the largest land animal of the European continent.
Braslaw Lakes – a unique ecosystem with a large area of pine forests and a number of lakes.
Prypyatski – a natural landscape around the Pripyat River, of which a large part is swampland.
Narachanski – centered around Lake Narach, this park is home to a large number of bird and mammal species.
UNESCO Sites |
Cultural (3)
Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (2005)
Mir Castle Complex (2000)
Struve Geodetic Arc (2005)
Natural (1)
Bialowieza Forest (1979, 1992, 2014)
Typical Costs |
Accommodation
Hostels: €5-10
Hotels: €16+
Activity Costs
Museums and attractions are generally very cheap, charging only a couple of euros for entry.
Eat/Drink
Beer: BYN3-8 / €1-3
Coffee: BYN2-5 / €1-2
Sitdown Meal: BYN2-10 / €1-4 (local restaurant), BYN8-20 / €3-8 (touristy restaurant)
Tipping:
Transportation
Belarus has a fast and cheap train network that will take you to most destinations of interest. Minsk has a good and very cheap public transportation network consisting of buses, trams, trolleybuses and a metro system with 2 lines and 29 stations. Every one of Minsk’s metro stations is vividly decorated, some with exhibiting Belarusian national motifs, others Soviet socialist themes, and some with high-tech decoration themes. Taxis are cheap, though if you don’t speak Belorussian or Russian, it’s probably better to use apps such as Uber.
Budget
Tight: €15
Relaxed: €30
Guidebooks |
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Useful Websites |