Belarus travel guide
Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe of forests, lakes, wetlands and farmland, bordered by Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. Its capital, Minsk, was rebuilt after the Second World War on a monumental scale, while the countryside holds castles, old churches and one of Europe's last primeval forests. Visitor numbers are low, and anyone considering a trip should first read their own government's current travel advice.
Places worth the trip
Minsk
The capital's broad Independence Avenue is lined with post-war Soviet architecture in a grand neoclassical style. The rebuilt Trinity Suburb by the Svislach river shows older pastel houses, and the National Library is a striking glass building shaped like a rhombicuboctahedron.
Mir Castle
A sixteenth-century red-brick castle with towers and a moat, mixing Gothic, Renaissance and baroque styles. It is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Nesvizh Palace
The former residence of the powerful Radziwiłł family, a palace and fortress surrounded by ponds and landscaped parkland. Like Mir, it is on the UNESCO list and is often combined with it on a day trip from Minsk.
Białowieża Forest
A vast ancient woodland shared with Poland and known as Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. It is home to the European bison, Europe's heaviest land animal, and to oaks that are centuries old.
Brest Fortress
A nineteenth-century fortress on the border with Poland, now a large memorial complex dedicated to the defenders who held out at the start of the German invasion in 1941.
Polotsk
One of the oldest towns in the region, first mentioned in the ninth century, with the hilltop St Sophia Cathedral above the Western Dvina river.
Braslav Lakes
A national park in the north with dozens of glacial lakes linked by streams and surrounded by forest, used for boating, swimming and walking in summer.
Interesting facts about Belarus
- Forests cover around 40 per cent of Belarus.
- The painter Marc Chagall was born in Vitebsk in 1887, and the city has a museum and art centre dedicated to him.
- Belarus has thousands of lakes, many of them in the glacial Lakeland of the north.
- Several points of the Struve Geodetic Arc, a nineteenth-century survey chain used to measure the shape of the earth, are in Belarus and are listed by UNESCO.
- Belarusian and Russian are both official languages, and both are written in the Cyrillic alphabet.
Best time to visit Belarus
Late spring and summer, from May to September, are the most pleasant times, with long days and warm weather for lakes and forests. Autumn brings colourful foliage and mushroom-picking season. Winters are long and cold, with snow from roughly December to March, which suits cross-country skiing but makes days short.
Getting around
Minsk has a metro, trams, buses and trolleybuses, and is easy to get around. Trains link Minsk with Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk and other cities, and are generally punctual and inexpensive. Buses and minibuses serve smaller towns. Mir and Nesvizh are commonly visited on organised day tours from Minsk. Car hire is available, and main roads are in reasonable condition.
Practical details
- Capital
- Minsk
- Currency
- Belarusian rouble (BYN)
- Languages
- Belarusian, Russian
- Plug types
- C, F
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Around 10 per cent in restaurants is common where service is not included. Rounding up taxi fares is appreciated.
Staying online in Belarus
Mobile coverage is good in Minsk and other cities, and along main roads, with 4G widely available in urban areas. Coverage becomes thinner in rural areas, forests and wetlands, including parts of the national parks. Wi-Fi is available in most hotels and many cafés in Minsk. Some websites and online services may not be available, and internet access has at times been restricted. Payment cards issued abroad may not work, so check before you travel. Download offline maps, install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Belarus eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Belarus, V2
無制限
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Belarus, V2
無制限
Unlimited Plus eSIM Data for 1 Day for Belarus, V2
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Belarus, V2
Useful apps
- Yandex Go: Widely used for taxis in Minsk and other cities, with fares shown before you book.
- Yandex Maps: Detailed maps and public transport routes in Belarusian cities.
- Google Translate: Russian and Belarusian translation, with camera mode for Cyrillic signs and menus.
- XE Currency: Check Belarusian rouble exchange rates, as you may need to rely on cash.
Belarus travel FAQs
Entry rules, flight routes and border crossings have changed several times in recent years. Read your own government's current travel advice and check entry requirements with official sources before considering a trip.
Modern phones generally work on Belarusian networks, and coverage is good in cities. A travel eSIM installed before you fly can give you mobile data on arrival, though some online services may not be accessible.
Cards issued abroad may not be accepted, depending on the issuing country and bank. Check with your bank before you travel and plan to have enough cash in a currency that can be exchanged locally.
Russian is the most widely used language in daily life, and Belarusian is also official. English is limited outside hotels and some restaurants in Minsk, so a translation app is useful.