Minsk may be the biggest city in Belarus and the 12th largest in Europe, but it has an unexpected calm. You won't find it hectic and chaotic like the slightly larger cities of Rome, Budapest or Paris. The city of Minsk is full of life and the pace of the city and its inhabitants is fast, yet you are never overwhelmed by it or find yourself hurrying to keep up with it. Buildings, streets, and Minsk hotels are in good condition; the railway, metro stations, and shops are modern; the parks are maintained well. You won't be disturbed by homeless people and poverty, or encounter beggars in Minsk.
You will certainly find Minsk interesting. It is so different from the cities of the western world, and its neighbouring eastern European cities, that it is bound to create a lasting impression in your mind.
You won't find 'third world' ambience in Minsk. The people of this city may earn low salaries but the cost of living is also low; therefore, they lead a pretty comfortable life. Mobile telephones are on the rise, restaurants, bars, and places to stay are filled to the maximum on weekends, and there's the jet set that can afford to fly to Paris for the weekend. Minsk downtown is a busy place in summer or winter with hordes of people indulging in the gamut of things to see and do. Restaurants, bars and cafes in Minsk cater for all kinds of tourists. Many of them offer dishes of both European and Belarusian cuisine.
Minsk is a city of importance, being the capital of both Belarus and the CIS - the Commonwealth of Independent States. The largest city in Belarus, Minsk is located on the Svislach and Niamiha rivers. It used to be the capital of the former Byelorussian SSR from 1919 to 1991.
Minsk has wide, clean streets which are a pleasure to stroll down or take a Minsk tour of, and its public spaces are well maintained. If you happen to have just visited one of the Baltic states or Poland, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the perfect state of the pavements. You won't have to worry about crime and safety in Minsk because civil order is rigorously enforced here and the people have strong civic pride.
Being in Minsk is a bit like travelling back in time. You'll see new hotels in Minsk decorated in the style of the 60s which remind one of a set from a James Bond film. People here take a childlike pleasure in things that would seem too old fashioned even to your parents. Minsk is certainly a city with old world charm. A great way to experience this charm is on a tour in Minsk.
After 80% of the city was destroyed by World War II, Stalin had it rebuilt in the 1950s according to his style. This is why you will find that a large part of Minsk is full of huge Soviet buildings that look like blocks. For those interested in the Soviet Union, Minsk is a place that offers a true picture. In the 13th century, Belarus was the hub of the great principality of Lithuania, with its capital at Novgorod. The great poet, Adam Mitskevich, was born in a 14th century castle in Novogrudok.
Don't miss the neighbourhood of Troitskoye Predmestye which gives you a good idea of how Minsk looked in the older days. The 19th century houses with their brightly coloured facades take you back to that time. Also worth seeing are wonderful instances of baroque architecture including the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (1642), the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul (1613), and the Maryinsky Cathedral, which has been restored to look like the original. About 10 km from Raubichi, you'll come across the beautiful Minsk Lake, surrounded by dense forests of pine. The lake is peppered with islets. You can use our Minsk map to choose your hotel in Minsk based on its location so you can stay close to some of these wonderful sights.
When one thinks of Russia, the colourful onion domes of its Orthodox churches immediately flash through the mind. You'll find plenty of these Russian Orthodox churches throughout the country, and especially in Logovsk which is about 40 km from Minsk, Krasnoe (60 km/38 miles), and Molodechno (80 km/50 miles). At Khatyn you can see the memorial built in the memory of its destruction in World War II by the Germans. The well-known 15th century Monastery of the Assumption graces the village of Zhirovitsa which is 190 km (119 miles) from Minsk. A convent and a theological seminary form part of the monastery complex.
The favourite rendezvous for the people of Minsk is the fountain called 'A Boy with a Swan' in the centre of a public garden. It is nicknamed 'Panikovka' in tribute to Panikovski, a character from a cult book - 'The 12 Chairs', whose hobby is stealing geese. The book is authored by IIf and Petrov. So famous is this fountain that sometimes the people refer to the entire garden as 'Panikovka'. Recently the garden has been spruced up, and balustrades have been added to the fencing of Ukrainian red granite.
A great way to get to this part of Europe is through
Prague. You could also use Minsk as a stepping stone to other amazing Northern European destinations such as
Latvia,
Estonia and
Finland!
Our company,
Holiday Travel PLC, provides a great number and variety of Minsk tours that cover most outstanding sites in Minsk city and Minsk region as well as the rest of Belarus. Among the hotels in Minsk city and in rural areas one can easily find something that would meet their budget and expectations. Find your
Minsk hotel and save money by booking with us!
Minsk Hotels-link Booking Service is locally owned by Holiday Travel, located not far from the city centre. We stay in contact with most decent hotels in Minsk and the Minsk region and constantly upload new prices for accommodation on this web-site for you.
We will do our utmost to make your holiday in Belarus enjoyable and unforgettable!
We can tailor and send you a guide with Belarus travel details you may need on request.
