Things to Do in Belarus

About Belarus

Belarus has Europe's largest old-growth forest and barely any tourists. The country sits between Poland and Russia, shaped by Soviet history that never quite left. Minsk is all wide boulevards and Stalinist architecture. Locals drink coffee in small cafés that don't advertise. The city works—no one is trying to sell you anything. Outside the capital, you'll find medieval castles and lakes. Some villages look unchanged from fifty years ago. European bison still live in Białowieża Forest, one of the last herds on the continent. The Soviet monuments are everywhere. You can't avoid them. They tell you what this place was and still is in many ways. Orthodox churches dot the countryside. Bells carry across flat plains. The landscape isn't dramatic—it is quiet and goes on forever. Most people here won't have met many foreigners. That changes how they treat you. Conversations feel real, not rehearsed for the thousandth time. This isn't a place with good spots marked on every map. You can't use some app to find the real feel. You just spend time here and see what happens. Belarus gives you something rare: a country that didn't optimize itself for visitors. No one smoothed the rough edges. That makes it harder and more interesting.

Travel Tips

Transportation: Use Minsk's efficient metro system (30 kopecks per ride) and marshrutkas (shared minibuses) for city travel. Book trains between cities in advance online at rw.by. Rental cars require an International Driving Permit, and road signs are in Cyrillic—download offline maps beforehand.

Money: Bring euros or US dollars to exchange for Belarusian rubles at banks or official exchange points—avoid street exchangers. Credit cards work in major cities but carry cash for rural areas. ATMs are widely available in Minsk but scarce in smaller towns.

Cultural Respect: Remove shoes when entering homes, dress conservatively in Orthodox churches, and avoid photographing government buildings or military sites. Learn basic Russian or Belarusian greetings—locals deeply appreciate the effort and will respond with remarkable warmth and helpfulness.

Food Safety: Tap water is safe in cities but bottled water is recommended in rural areas. Try traditional draniki (potato pancakes) and machanka (pork stew) at local restaurants. Avoid undercooked meat and unwashed produce from street vendors. Dairy products are generally excellent and safe.

When to Visit

Belarus experiences a continental climate with distinct seasons offering different appeals. Summer (June-August) brings the warmest weather (18-25°C) and the famous White Nights Festival in July, but expect 20-30% higher accommodation prices and occasional thunderstorms with 60-80mm monthly rainfall. Late spring (May-early June) offers ideal conditions with mild temperatures (12-20°C), blooming countryside, and 40% lower prices than peak season. Autumn (September-October) delivers impressive foliage, comfortable temperatures (8-15°C), and harvest festivals, though rainfall increases to 50-70mm monthly. Winter (November-March) transforms Belarus into a snowy wonderland perfect for winter sports ensoiasts, with temperatures dropping to -5 to -15°C and minimal precipitation. The Slavianski Bazaar cultural festival in Vitebsk (mid-July) and Kupalle summer solstice celebrations (July 6-7) are unmissable cultural experiences. Budget travelers should target November-April for 50% savings on accommodations, while families prefer the stable weather of June-August despite premium pricing. Photography ensoiasts find October's golden forests and January's snow-covered landscapes equally compelling, with the added bonus of fewer tourists year-round.