Minsk guide Minsk directory

Minsk, the capital of Belarus, lies 340 km northeast of Warsaw and 120 km southeast of Vilnius. The first documentation of Minsk goes back to 1067, but all that survives from the old city are some 17th-century buildings. The layout of modern Minsk is symmetrical, with broad embankments bordering the Svisloch River. Minsk was an important centre of communication and 80% of the city was destroyed by World War II. Minsk is reminiscent of the Soviet era with its prominent KGB building, and Soviet images and symbols lining its clean streets. However, the night life is exciting in Minsk, with slick new nightclubs playing drums 'n' bass, and sushi bars you'll love to eat in.

Since most people don't speak English in Minsk and the tourism industry takes a backseat here, it would be a smart thing to learn a few key phrases in Belorussian and Russian! And it would also be most wise to make all arrangements at least two weeks prior to your arrival.

This Minsk destination guide and our Minsk tour suggestions will tell you all you need to know about the best places to visit in Minsk. There is also some general travel information to help you plan your Minsk holiday, and be sure to check out the local highlights of Belarus's European neighbours, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Things to See & Do in Minsk

Minsk Downtown
Nezavisimosty Avenue
Mir
Polotsk
Pinsk
Grodno
Aleksandrovsky Square
The Churches of Minsk
Pischalovskij Castle – Prison Hotel
Ballet and Opera
The Heritage of Minsk
Other City Highlights
Belarus Visa Support
Minsk Botanic Garden
Zaslonow Children Railway
Zhirovichi Holy Assumption Monastery

Minsk Downtown

After World War II, the downtown section of Minsk was completely rebuilt, and is a rare example of Soviet architecture. Although all the buildings here were built in different years, they are one in their architectural composition. It is this unity that prompted UNESCO to consider part of MINSK downtown – from Independence Place till Victory Place, as one of the World Heritage sites.

This central area of Minsk is about 3 km in length and all these Soviet style buildings are located on Nezavisimosty Avenue (known earlier as Skoriny Avenue). Among these famous buildings you'll find the Central City Shop (GUM), the KGB building, the renowned Minsk Circus, and the House of Trade Unions.

Nezavisimosty Avenue

This is the main avenue in Minsk and is worth visiting for its Soviet style buildings.

Unfortunately, UNESCO could not carry out its plans to make Minsk downtown a World Heritage site. In 2002, the Minsk government covered the pedestrian subways near the Central City Shop with modern roofs which ruined the architectural integrity of old Minsk downtown.

Currently, UNESCO has included three monuments in Belarus on its World Heritage list -- the Mir Castle Complex, the Nesvizh Palace, the former residence of the Radziwill family at Nesvizh, and the national park, Belovezhskaya Pushcha which has yew trees 500 years old.

Mir

In the small town of Mir, 120 km (75 miles) from Minsk, you can see the 15th century Mir Castle which is a World Heritage Site, as well as the Jewish Cemetery. Nearby in historically rich Nesvizh, which still has its old buildings; don't miss out on yet another World Heritage Site - Nesvizh Palace, one of the most beautiful buildings in Belarus. Elaborately laid out gardens and many lakes surround the castle. Just a short distance away is the Catholic Church, the grand creation of Bernadoni, the 16th century Italian architect.

The two World Heritage Sites in Mir – the Mir Castle, and Nesvizh Castle, are the most beautiful castles in the country

Polotsk

The Slavic town of Polotsk was a centre of Christianity during the time of Rus, the first Russian state. It was founded in 862 AD and is the oldest city in Belarus. The Church of St. Sophia here is an excellent example of 11th century architecture. There are two castles nearby which you will want to see, as well as St. Ephrosinia of Polotsk, a convent from the 12th century, and the Epiphany Monastery built during the 16th- to 17th-centuries.

Pinsk

The second biggest city in the Brest region, Pinsk lies 300 km (186 miles) south of Minsk. Pinsk boasts a plethora of monuments with historical, architectural, and cultural significance. The city is in the centre of the Belarusian Polesye - a low-lying area of water and mist, and is well known for its natural beauty.

Grodno

Grodno is the fifth largest city in Belarus and the important places to see here are the Old Town Centre, the Kalozh-Church and the Old Castle, both of which were built in the 11th century.

Aleksandrovsky Square

This is a small public garden with a rich historical background in the centre of Minsk, and is a popular place for people of the city to gather in. Once known as Central Square, it was renamed probably because of its proximity to the residence of Aleksander Lukashenko, the head of the country.

The Churches of Minsk

Belarus has been influenced by both the Catholic and Orthodox Church. Many Catholic churches were constructed during the Great Lithuanian Princedom and the Polish Kingdom in Minsk and elsewhere. The magnificent Cathedral of the Holy Spirit was built in 1642, but the consecration had to wait for 40 years because of the Muscovite invasions. The Russian church used it as a monastery in 1852, and today it's a must-see in Minsk. Interestingly, the Church of St. Simon and Helena, known as the Red Church, was built by a noble Polish family (1908-1910) as a symbol of their grief over the premature death of their two children after whom the two smaller towers are named.

Pischalovskij Castle – Prison Hotel

Minsk has the distinction of having a castle for a prison. The Pischalovskij Castle was the grand abode of the criminals of Minsk 180 years ago when it was built. It still is. A truly Gothic piece of architecture, it's named after its architect, Pischala, and is surrounded by a high stone wall with buttresses. The Pischalovskij Castle still houses prisoners.

Ballet and Opera

Ballet and opera is world class in Minsk and extremely popular with young and old alike. The National Academic Opera and the National Academic Ballet are both housed in a magnificent building that is located on the summit of Troitsky Hill. You can see it from almost anywhere in Minsk. Compared with the Moscow Ballet Theatre, the Ballet Theatre in Minsk is really huge. Belarusian ballet is world-famous.

This fame was brought about by the ambitious efforts of Valentin Elizaryev, a 26-year-old choreographer from St. Petersburg who took charge of the Belarusian ballet 30 years ago. In the Minsk ballet troupe he found a team that was fired by his ideas and ready and willing to turn them into reality.

The ballet and opera is very popular in Minsk and both take place in the magnificent building that overlooks the city from the summit of Troitsky Hill.

The Heritage of Minsk

Experts say that in Belarus there are over 150 historical architectural ensembles. But in Minsk only one has survived. It is the Loshitskij complex estate, one of the most sentimental places in the capital.

The place was built in the 16th century on the confluence of the rivers, Svisloch and Losh, by the descendants of Gedemin, who established the Belarusian-Lithuanian Power. Great local sentiment is attached to the Loshitskaja estate primarily because of the tragic tales connected to it. Among its many princely owners was Sir Evstafij who beautified the estate in 1884, and added exotic plants to its gardens. When in 1905, his beloved but adulterous wife (a Polish noblewoman) drowned herself in the Losh, he planted a Manchurian apricot – the only one of its kind in Belarus – in the gardens, and then left the estate. The magnolia tree here is said to flower every year on her birthday.

Other City Highlights

Vulitsa Kamunistychnaja 4, the former residence of the assassinator of President John F. Kennedy, holds a sinister attraction for visitors. Wanting to deflect to the Soviet Union, the American Oswald was directed by the Soviet authorities to Minsk. In Minsk Oswald became known as Alek, made Marina Prusakova his wife, and had fathered a child with her. The family returned to the United States in June, 1962.

St. Mary Magdeline Church (Tsarkya Svyati Mary Magdaleny) is located in Vulitsa Kisjaleva 42. Metro: Njamiha. Constructed in 1847, in the Orthodox architectural style, it has an octagonal bell tower.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church - Vulitsa Rakovskaja 4. Metro: Njamiha. Erected in the 17th century, this has beautiful interiors. It was restored in 1871, and is the city's oldest church.

Belarus National Museum of History and Culture - Vulitsa Karla Marxa 12. Admission fee: 7,000 BYR. Open Thursdays to Tuesdays from 11 am to 7 pm. You can see a lot of interesting artefacts, etc. in this museum, but unfortunately the explanation panels are in Belarusian.

Palats Mastatsva (Art Palace) - Vulitsa Kazlova 3 - Admission Free. Open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. The palace exhibits modern art, second-hand books, and stalls of antiques.

Mastatsky Salon, Praspekt Francyska Skaryny 12 - Open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 am to 8 pm. This is an art gallery which features the work of local artists, and overpriced souvenirs.

Minskae Mora (Minsk Sea) - This is a man-made reservoir located 5 km north from the heart of the city. You can catch some sun on the free public beach, ride the waves on a pedal-boat or rent a catamaran. You'll find a regular bus service from the central bus station. By car you can drive north to the Minsk Sea along the P28 and watch for directional signs after Ratomka village.

Ice Skating Rink in front of the Palats Respubliki - You'll find crowds of ice skaters here in winter. The rink is open from 8 am to 10 pm and you can rent a pair of skates for about 3,000-5,000 BYR.

Belarus Visa Support

We provide quick and efficient visa support*

To get a tourist visa at a consular department of Belarus in your country (please check here if you don't have one), you should submit there the original or copy** of the following:1. A valid passport, a visa application to Belarus and a photo (download it here);
2. An invitation from our company (where the services you have booked are declared - transfer, booking of a hotel, a tour, etc. - at least 2 services).

* our visa support costs USD 45 per person (includes booking and documents processing).
** facsimile copies can be sent to the EU, US and Japan citizens, but in other cases the embassy would ask for the original.

If there is no diplomatic mission in your country or if it is urgent, you can apply for visa at the Consular department at Minsk-2 National Airport. The original documents are submitted by our travel agency (but the travel fee is slightly higher - USD 50).

If you are paying a private visit to your friends it is still more economical to apply for a tourist visa - you will save on a consular fee and spare your friends the hassle caused by registration and other administrative procedures.

The practice shows that we can arrange visa support to Belarus even within 48 hours prior to your arrival.

Minsk Botanic Garden

The State Scientific Institution “Central Botanic Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus” is one of the oldest botanic establishments and is the most complete public garden in Belarus. It was founded in 1932 and today covering 380 acres, the Garden is full of varieties of tree, shrub and flower. There are 10,000 different plant species at the Garden, some entirely extinct in the wild. From the beautifully tended parkland there are views on a lake with swans in it.

Being one of the biggest institutions of this kind in Europe, the Garden is aimed at preservation of living plant species and carries out various research works in plant acclimatisation, physiology, biochemistry and ecology, and pays special attention to the problems of environmental protection. Today the Minsk Botanic Garden is renowned as a centre for horticultural research, and changes are still being made.

Zaslonow Children Railway

No, it is not a small indoor railway – everything from trains and rails to staff (who are railway school pupils) is real. The railroad workers call it “small Belarusian railroad” and if you are travelling here with your kids, don't miss this attraction.

The length of the road is about 15km with three stations: Zaslonovo, Pionerskaya and Sosnovy Bor. The first one is situated near Park Cheliuskintsev Metro Station. During the journey you will hear the history of the Belarusian railway (provided you understand basic Russian) and will admire typical countryside view with a lot of green while still being within the city limits. Sosnovy Bor station is very picturesque, so don’t waste your time! The railroad is open May-August, and works on Wednesdays and Thursdays 11:00 - 14:00, Sundays – 11:00 – 17:00.

The ticket costs $1, the journey lasts for half an hour.

Zhirovichi Holy Assumption Monastery

Zhirovichi is a village in Slonim Region, it lies 10km off Slonim near the Schara River. The village is renowned for its monastery, which is about 500 years old. The first wooden church - Holy Assumption Church – was built on a place, where shepherds saw an icon, beaming with unusual light. Very soon the neighborhood was inhabited by peasants, attracted by this miracle, as well as rich forests and pastures.

The complex, all wooden at first, was rebuilt from stone in the 17th century. At the end of 17th century Zhirovichi Monastery was considered the most affluent in Belarus and Lithuania and was as popular with the members of the United Church like Chenstokhovsky Monastery was popular with the Catholic. The building of temples in Zhirovichi went on until the middle of the 19th century. By that time the complex included Holy Assumption Church, Appearance Church and Exaltation of the Cross Church, a three-storied monastery with a seminary, chapel and many utility rooms. There also was a small printing-house. Outside the monastery there were a garden and ponds.

The Zhirovichy complex is renowned for its healing springs that draw pilgrims even from outside the country.

Minsk Destination Guide