“10 Best Things to Do in Minsk” will show you a giant statue of Lenin, a tank on a pedestal, and the active KGB headquarters. You’ll sample great Belarusian home cooking, have a vodka or three in the thriving nightlife, and end up in a comfy hostel bed, all for $40 a day.
Where is Minsk located? Minsk is the capital of what country?
These are some of the most asked questions on Google about this modern, attractive European capital. It’s so far off the tourist radar, people have no idea of even what country it is in. “Minsk Russia” is another popular search query. That gets more searches on google than “Minsk Belarus”! Americans might only know Minsk from a series of Seinfeld episodes about a fictional film “Rochelle, Rochelle” (“A young girl’s strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk”), or possibly the Friends episodes where Phoebe’s boyfriend has to go to Minsk, and none of the flatmates know where Minsk is. But all that is about to change. Belarus tourism is on the rise. Things to Do in Minsk will show you how to get the most out of your visit to this fascinating city.
The Last Dictatorship in Eastern Europe
I had dreamed about travel to Minsk for years, but until just recently, the country’s bureaucracy was not very welcoming to tourists. Belarus tourism was stuck with the old Soviet style visa requirements long past the fall of the Soviet Union. You had to get an “invitation”, submit all your pre-booked travel plans, pay a $160 visa fee, mail in your passport with photos, include piles of paperwork, then register with the police. It was clear they didn’t really want you. After all, Belarus has long been known as the “Last Dictatorship in Europe”. Alexander Lukashenko has ruled with an iron fist for over 25 years.
But then, suddenly in the fall of 2016, something within the mindset of the country’s leadership changed. Visa-free access to the Hrodno region was given to foreign tourists for up to 5 days. This seems to have been a success, as thousands of visitors came to buy goods and services, and none of them attempted a coup d’etat. The following February the government announced they would allow visa-free travel for up to 5 days if you fly in and out of Minsk airport. Belarus tourism began to take off. I jumped at the chance to peek behind the iron curtain, and see this city of Soviet iconography and street art.
The people of Minsk
Belarusians are friendly and curious to meet tourists. Whenever I would order a drink in English, heads would swivel around, and someone would ask “Where are you from? America? Wow, welcome to Belarus! What are you doing here?” Belarusians do not get the same opportunities to travel that we take for granted. While their country has begun to open up to us, the Western world has not yet opened up to them. The only countries in Europe that citizens of Belarus can travel to visa-free are Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Serbia. As such, some Belarusians have never met someone from outside the former Soviet Union. You’ll be an interesting oddity to them, and that’s kinda fun. I got a vibe of small-town kindness from lots of people, which is rare in any city of two million.
Today, Belarusians are caught between the overpowering influence of Moscow and the inviting freedoms of the European Union. Belarus has no borders with Russia, their citizens can come and go as they please. Russia provides over 50% of all imports, and buys the bulk of their exports. They are tied to Russia historically, economically, and linguistically. Yet, the people long to able to travel and work anywhere in the EU, much like their neighbors in Poland and Lithuania. Even Ukrainians have the visa-free access to the EU that Belarusians covet.
But Belarusians also see how far Russia is willing to go to prevent its neighbors from falling into the sway of NATO and the EU. They see what is happening in Eastern Ukraine, and in Crimea. They know how quickly that could happen in their own backyard. Politically, Belarusians must tread a fine line so as not to anger the Russian Bear.
What is Minsk Like?
Minsk is a lovely and historically interesting city, well worth a few days of exploring. It is spotlessly clean. This is one of the first impressions of the city; wide streets, tree-lined parks, and almost no trash or grafitti anywhere. In five days of walking, I never once wandered into what I would term a “bad part of town”.
It is a city still defined by the horrors of the Second World War and the stark, brutalist architecture of the Soviet era. During the Soviet re-conquest of Minsk from the Nazis in 1944, 80% of all buildings were destroyed. Afterwards, Minsk was rebuilt completely from scratch. The historical center was replaced by Stalinist architecture, which favored grand buildings, broad avenues and wide squares. Practically all the buildings you see are no more than 70 years old. A staggering 25% of the people of Belarus died in World War II, by far the highest rate of loss by any country in the war.
10 Best Things to do in Minsk:
#1 Go on the Free Walking Tour Minsk
You should plan on joining Free Walking Tour Minsk your first day in town. You’ll get to see all the main sights around the old town and learn about the city in just a couple of hours. Then you can decide which spots deserve further exploration. You’ll see the Upper City and Holy Spirit Cathedral, Victory Square and the Eternal Flame, the Svislach River Embankment market, Church of Saints Simon and Helena, the Island of Tears, the National Library, National Art Museum, the Minsk Metro, and walk down Independence Avenue to Independence Square with the big Lenin Statue. You’ll also get to see some things you’d never notice on your own, like the (active) KGB headquarters! It’s an excellent Minsk city tour. These guides are very knowledgeable, and you get a chance to ask a real Belarusian questions about life here. The tour meets at 11am every day in front of City hall in the Upper City (Svabody square), near the statue of Voigt “The bronze man”. Leave a generous tip, especially if the tour group is very small.
#2 See Some Tanks at The Great Patriotic War Museum
This is the best WWII museum I’ve ever seen. The one must-do in Minsk. It has every type of weapon used by the Russian Army. Extremely well done info-graphics explain the timeline of the war. You’ll learn a lot about the Eastern Front. Most people have no idea how awful it was. Budget six hours if you like tanks. I could have spent two days in the Great Patriotic War Museum. Open 10am to 5:30pm every day but Sunday. Entry is $4.
#3 See some Tiny Wonders at the Museum Strana Mini
If you liked making model airplanes, or collecting action figures as a child, this might be the museum for you. It has intricate miniature dioramas of 30 of the most famous buildings and places in Belarus. Open 11am to 8pm daily. Entry is $7
#4 Get Some Culture at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus
The building alone is worth checking out on a walking tour. You’ll have to buy a performance ticket to see the inside. If you brought some dressy clothes, you can see a top-notch production of Swan Lake for as little as $4!
#5 Walk through Gorky Park and ride the Ferris Wheel.
Gorky park is a lovely big park with paved paths through forest. If you wander past the statues and park benches long enough; a giant 185 foot Ferris Wheel materializes over the trees.
#6 Shop at GUM
Do some shopping at this Soviet era chain department store built in 1951. It’s like opening a window to 1985. Many goods made in Belarus can be found here, but you’ll have to throw elbows with the babushkas to get to the best stuff.
#7 Visit the Upper City (Old Town)
You’ll see some of this area on your walking tour, but it’s a great place to spend a few more hours just strolling around. Lots of historic 19th century buildings, churches, sculptures, and little gastropubs and coffee shops to pop into for a rest. It is a very small “old town” by the high standards of such cities as Krakow or Prague. Nearly all of the buildings have been painstakingly rebuilt to replicate what much of the city looked like in pre-war days.
#8 Stroll the Svislach River
If you really like walking, you can walk all the way from the Upper City, down along the river past the marketplace and some patio bars and shops, until you finally reach the The Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War. It’s a long walk, but pleasant on a sunny day. You can stop for a beer, or to hire a paddle boat. A great place for a bike ride or a jog too.
#9 Take a Day trip To Mir and Nesvizh Castles
No too far outside of Minsk, you can drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Mir Castle and Nesvizh Castle. It’s possible but difficult to get there via public bus, so a tour might be a better option.
#10 Join the Minsk City Pub Crawl
Go on this affordable and fun tour of the city’s bars and clubs. Every Friday and Saturday at 830pm, an English speaking local guide takes you on a fun tour of the best nightlife spots. You get free welcome shots at each venue, and it’s only $20!
10 Best Things to Do in Minsk – Need to Know Before You Go:
Backpacker Daily Budget (Hostel bed, three cheap meals, three beers, two public transport rides, one tourist activity):
$40. Belarus is not quite as cheap as its neighbors Ukraine or Poland, but it is cheap by Western European standards. If you stay in one of the well reviewed hostels, that’s $10 a day. Restaurants like Vasiliki are a terrific value, you can get an amazing meal for $6. Cheap breakfasts are available in bakeries, so three meals a day can be had for $16. Beers are more expensive than you’d expect at $3, but I bet you can find them cheaper than I did. So, three beers is $9 at the most. You can take three Metro rides for $1. You can visit the Great Patriotic War Museum, or attend the National Opera for just $4! That adds up to a great day in Minsk for $40.
Cheap Beer index:
$3.06 (6 Rubles) for a 16 ounce pint of delicious brown ale in was the cheapest I found. Surely there must be cheaper spots, but I couldn’t find them.
Best Time to Travel to Minsk?
You certainly want to be here in the summer. June, July, and August are ideal with highs in the low 70s. Not only is it nice and warm, but also the days are long, with sunrise around 4:30am and sunset at nearly 10pm. Minsk winter is COLD. In December, January, and February it doesn’t get above freezing. June and July are the rainiest months, but not too wet at about 3 inches a month.
What languages are spoken in Belarus?
Belarus’s two official languages are Russian and Belarusian. Russian is the most common language used at home, used by 70% of the population, while Belarusian, the official first language, is spoken at home by only 23%. Signs are Cyrillic. Some young people speak English, but don’t expect to rely on English anywhere. Time to learn a few words of Russian or practice your hand signals for “I need the bathroom!”
Do you need a Belarus visa?
No. Visas are not required for nationals of USA, UK, AUS, and CAN for a visit of up to 30 days only if flying into/from Minsk Airport. Also, you must NOT be arriving or departing to an airport in Russia (this seems to be due to Belarus and Russia having no border controls and acting as a sort of confederation) You must be able to show evidence of finances equivalent to 25 Euros for each day of stay (having a credit card will suffice). You must hold a medical insurance policy with at least 10,000 Euros of coverage valid throughout Belarus. If not, you will be required to purchase a policy at Minsk Airport upon arrival. (This is very cheap, like $2 a day.) Lastly, you must register with the local office of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of the Interior if staying longer than five working days.
- Registration must be completed within five business days of arrival.
- If you are staying in a hotel, the hotel will complete the registration for you.
- If you have a short term rental of an apartment or house, be sure to check with the rental agent; they may be able to assist you.
- If you are staying in a private home, you must complete the registration process yourself.
- If you fail to register or if you remain in Belarus longer than 30 days you will face administrative action which may include a fine of up to €550, deportation, and prohibition from entering Belarus in the future.
Once you land in Minsk, you can travel anywhere in the country, but you must exit the country from Minsk airport. You get 30 calendar days, so if you land at 1130pm, that half-hour used up one of your days. There is also an option to enter overland from Poland or Lithuania for up to ten days visa-free, but you can only visit the Hrodna or Brest regions. Belarus has been gradually loosening its visa controls since 2017, so expect more options soon. Travel to Minsk, Belarus is getting easier every year.
Getting to Minsk:
You will have to arrive via Minsk National Airport (the Minsk airport code is MSQ) due to the current visa-free restrictions. Many airlines fly here, and cheap flights from other European cities are easily found.
The airport is 26 miles outside the city. To get into the city from the airport:
- You can take a 90 minute Bus #3 into the center of town for about $2.
- Or you can call an Uber for about $13
- Get an airport taxi for $15 for a 45 minute ride to the city.
- Or you can pre-arrange a private airport transfer, with a meet-and-greet in the terminal for $28.
Getting around Minsk:
Minsk Metro
Minsk has a clean, efficient and cheap subway system that opened back in 1984. It consists of two lines and 29 stations, with a transfer station in the center of the city. One ride is just 31 cents! You purchase a little red plastic token for .65BYN, drop it through the entry turnstile, and then ride wherever you like. 900,000 people a day take a ride.
Bus, Tram, and Trolleybus
Tickets are a similar price at .60BYN. You purchase them directly from the driver or at a nearby kiosk. You must validate the ticket after you get on by stamping it in the yellow validator onboard. Route maps are available online.
‘Marshrutka’ or minibus
These are little vans that you hail and get on and pay the driver directly. However it is unlikely you will know where these are going. You’ll have to practice your Russian with the driver to find out.
Uber
Certainly the easiest way to get around. Plenty of drivers are working in Minsk, and I used Uber to get places quickly, cheaply, and with no language barrier. If you have never used Uber, sign up HERE to get $5 off your first ride.
Taxi
Rather than hailing one on the street, it is more common to telephone a taxi service. Drivers and dispatchers are highly unlikely to speak English. They do use meters by law. The average price is $4-5 for 8-10 km ride. I can’t imagine why any tourist would choose a taxi over an Uber just due to the language issue, and the need to make a phone call.
Walking
is pleasant, but the city is quite spread out, so you’ll walk a lot if you want to get to everything. Mix in some Metro rides and Uber.
Belarus Currency and how to get it:
Belarus’ currency is the Belarusian Ruble (2.13 BYR=$1 USD) available at numerous ATM’s. For more info on your cash-versus-credit card options when travelling, check out my post on How to Access your Money in Foreign Countries.
Stay Connected:
In the Minsk Airport arrivals area, you can get an MTS Smart Guest SIM card for 14 Rubles ($6.57) which includes 2GB data for 1 month, another 1GB for the 2nd month, 1000 minutes talk time within the MTS network, and reduced international call rates.
Minsk hotels and hostels:
Minsk has several well-reviewed hostels. The city is very spread out, so really any spot next to a subway line is a good location.
- Hostel K&C has dorm rooms for $10 a night. This new small 8-bed hostel is clean, quiet, and close to Victory Square and a metro station.
- MyHostel has dorm rooms for $10 a night. It’s right between the Train Station and Lenin Square
- Trinity Hostel & Tours has dorm rooms for $10.50 a night.
- Riverside Hostel & Tours has dorm rooms for $10.50 a night.
Where to eat in Minsk:
Traditional Belarusian food is very tasty, and you must try some while in town. While I would never recommend a KFC, the one in Minsk is a must-visit, if just for the photo-op.
- Gastropub Gambrinus is located in the Upper City, and makes the best burger and beer combo I’ve had in a long time. They have dozens of beers to choose from I liked it so much I came back a second time. (It’s not the cheapest option)
- Vasilki is a big traditional Belarusian restaurant right on the main street. It serves down home comfort food at very reasonable prices. It was so cheap here, I ordered way more than I could possible finish, just to be able to try everything. The waitresses were helpful and suggested the best-selling specialties. If you like potatoes, eggs, pancakes and sausage, you’ll like it here.
Minsk Nightlife:
Minsk nightlife is excellent. Belarusians drink a MASSIVE amount of alcohol. They rank among the top three countries in the world for total consumption. But, Belarus does not have a thriving beer culture. Hard alcohol (spirits) make up 50% of alcohol sales, low quality / high alcohol wine 35%, and beer only 15%. Rather than sipping a beer or two each day, Belarusians favor occasional binge drinking of huge quantities of the cheapest, highest alcohol-content vodka or whatever homemade swill is available. That said, there are several bars with excellent microbrews.
Zybitskaya street is certainly the place where Minsk nightlife gets going. A dozen bars dot this area of town.
- TNT Rock club has live rock bands on weekend. I saw a local rock band playing covers of American and British music here. The place was absolutely packed, with a great atmosphere.
- Bar Doodah King has live rock nightly around 11pm. This is a more low-key bar. The house band played rock to a small seated crowd. Excellent microbrews on tap.
- Ice Bar is a popular late-night downtown spot. Located inside one of the imposing buildings on October Square.
- Rich Cat is a discotheque on weekends. Popular with a younger crowd.
Get a Belarus guidebook:
The Belarus Bradt Travel Guide is the best, most up-to-date guide out there.
What to Pack:
You can wear whatever you’d normally wear anywhere in Europe. Nothing special is needed for Belarus. To learn how to pack light and be prepared for anything, check out my post The Worldwide Travel Packing List.
Is Minsk safe?
Yes. Belarus has a low rate of street crime. Violent crime against foreigners is rare. Here are some things to consider to stay safe:
- Avoid any demonstrations against the government. They may be broken up forcibly.
- Do not take photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest. Most likely, you’ll just be made to delete the photo on the spot, but it could cause further detainment.
- Do not leave your drink unattended in bars, casinos and night clubs. There have been reports of travelers being drugged and subsequently robbed or assaulted.
- Use only ATMs located inside major banks, to avoid possible attached skimming devices.
- Avoid using credit and debit cards, stick with cash. There have been reports of foreigners having their ATM or credit cards skimmed resulting in fraudulent charges or money stolen from their accounts.
- Carry a laminated photocopy of your passport at all times. Police have the authority to stop you and request identification.
- Same-sex relations are not illegal in Belarus, but discrimination against members of the LGBTI community is widespread. It is best to keep a low profile.
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