Notes

BELARUS GUIDE TO TOUR
Belarus is an enormous country located within Eastern Europe between Ukraine & the Baltics. There are very few tourists who visit this country. Belarus is currently ruled by Europe's "last dictator" however, visiting Belarus has become much easier in the last few years because of its more permissive visa regulations.


Bialowieza (the oldest European forest in Europe) is home to more than 50% of the country's forests. There are numerous lakes and rivers in Belarus, where you can fish, canoe or kayak. Belarus is often overlooked by those who love nature, and it's rare to see many travelers trying to find the space.


And Minsk the capital of Belarus is a vibrant and inexpensive city full of Stalinist architecture , juxtaposed with antiquated cities and flower-filled churches. Be sure to enjoy the cafe culture and vibrant nightlife for a few nights before heading to more tranquil cities like Brest and Hrodna or to the countryside where the rare European bison roam.


While there is mild tension between Belarus and the rest of Europe, the country is an affordable destination for those looking to get away from the tourist trail and explore a region untouched by the crowds of tourists that are found in Western Europe.


This Belarus travel guide will aid you in planning your trip and saving money so that you make the most out of your Belarus trip!


The Top Things to Do in Belarus

1. Grodno


The city of Grodno is located in the west of Belarus. The Kalozha Church (12th century), which is considered the oldest church in Belarus, draws most visitors to the region. The exterior of the church is bland. However, the interior is decorated with colorful geometrical decorations and crosses. The flooring is composed of green, yellow, and brown plates. Make sure you spend a few hours in the Old Castle's Grodno History and Archaeology Museum, which walks you through the rich history of the area. The museum contains artifacts of the region, like Neolithic spears and the medieval armor of knights, mammoth skulls as well as rare and old books. Admission is 5 BYN.


2. You can take an excursion for a day to Dudutki


The Dudutki Ethnological Museum Complex, located outside Minsk It is a "living museum". While the majority of the structures date back to the 19th century, the museum recreates rural Belarusian life from the 17th-20th centuries. The complex is comprised of a courtyard with creamery (where you can taste homemade cheese), a bakery (again fresh samples!) The complex also has pottery shops, a woodworker’s workshop, and a bakery where you can get fresh samples! It also offers samorgon that is a powerful moonshine that's made only within Dudutki territory. The museum is home to various celebrations throughout the year like a blacksmith's festival, various traditional feast days, Pancake Week (the final week before Lent), special Christmas activities as well as a Pancake Week. The cost is just 14 BYN. However, you can also visit it with a guidebook for just 23 BYN (which I recommend because English signage is quite limited).


3. Take a break and visit Pripyatsky National Park


Pripyatsky's National park is renowned for being the "Lungs of Europe", because of its natural terrain of swamps. The park covers over 156,813 acres and has more than 250 bird species. In addition, there are 900 kinds of plants as well as 50 mammal species, including elks, wild boars, lynxes, red deer, and European bison. There's plenty of things to do, such as fishing and boat tours, hiking and guided hikes. There is also a museum which has ethnographic exhibits as well as natural photography exhibits, animal and plant collections. For around 75 BYN, you can stay for a night in a forest lodge with a knowledgeable guide. Most guided hikes or boat tours begin at 8-10 BYN.


4. Visit Brest Fortress


Brest Fortress (in Brest) was constructed between 1833 and 1842. During World War II, thousands of German troops occupied the fortress. It was held back by Belarusian citizens, soldiers, and for over a month. The fortress is now a memorial to the soldiers who defended the fortress. It is possible to visit the damaged walls and memorial statues, as well as the crumbling walls. There are a few historic museums that are on the premises too (including the Defense Museum and the Museum of War). While entry to the fortress's areas and museums is free, every museum is charged 5 BYN.



5. Tour Mir Castle


The 16th century Mir Castle is a favorite for Belarusians and many locals think it is the prettiest castle in Belarus. The castle's pond is reflected in the white and red brick exterior. The castle's towers and its towers are stunning. The interior has been completely restored to reflect how life was like during the Radziwills era, 1568-1840. The Radziwills, a powerful magnate family from Lithuania who owned large areas of property in Belarus and other countries were born. Beautiful gardens are located throughout the grounds. The castle's outdoor areas (courtyard and parks.) are completely free. To listen to an audio guide, admission costs 3 BYN.


6. Visit Nesvizh Castle


Built over 400 year in the past, it's an amalgamation of Baroque and Romanesque architecture. The palace, which was once housed the Radziwill family, was constructed during the 16th-19th centuries. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Belarus. It is home to the traditional English rose gardens, a gorgeous central courtyard, and yellow walls surrounding the castle. https://travelagency.by/ was renovated in the 19th century and is incredibly luxurious with gilded ceilings and dark wood-paneled walls. ornate antique furniture and chandeliered reception rooms. lavish bedrooms, elaborate porcelain fireplaces as well as mounted hunting trophies as well as a myriad of family portraits. The Radziwill family's tombs can be found within the 16th century Catholic church and is one of the oldest Baroque buildings outside of Italy. The cost of admission to the site is 15 BYN, and 3 BYN to get an audio guide.


7. Go kayaking


Stracha and Isloch, two of the most popular rivers for kayaking are Stracha and Isloch. Both rivers have more difficult trails for paddlers with experience. For trips that last for a long time you can go on the river Saryanka within two days. Minsk has many rental shops for kayaks, however they should be booked ahead, particularly in summer when it is the most popular. Expect to pay around 70 BYN to book a two-day (weekend) rental. This price includes paddles life jackets, airtight bags with pumps, as well as free delivery within the Minsk area. Day tours are priced at around 150 BYN to Minsk.


8. Learn to bake.


Belarusians are passionate about their bread, and even possess their own Museum of Bread in Botvinovo! The museum is interactive and offers hands-on, interactive experiences which allow you to not only master the basics of bread making but you can also make traditional bread with wood stove. The price is $12 BYN or $17 BYN with the guide.


8. Take a walk through Hrodna's Old Castle


Hrodna’s Old Castle was constructed in the 1580s for different Polish monarchs as a place of residence. The ruins can be viewed from the Neman River and you can still see them even although the majority of them were destroyed by the 1800s. The walls of the castle are all that is left, however there's still a reconstruction effort underway to restore it to its original splendor of the 16th century. Grodno State Museum of History and Archaeology (the main focus of the complex) is the main area of interest. It tells the story of the region's history. It houses one of Belarus's most comprehensive collections of artifacts , with more than 200,000 items. Highlights include a set of mammoth tusks Neolithic spears, a collection of arrowheads dating from the 3rd-4th century BCE as well as a dugout boat, and weapons that spans the entire ages. The grounds are open to everyone, with museum admission costing 5 BYN. A lot of signs are in English too.


10. Visit the Belarusian State Art Museum


The Belarusian State Art Museum Minsk includes more than 30,000 pieces within its collection. It is home to works by Soviet social realists and Russian masters like Valentin Volkov and Yudel pen, who mentored and taught Marc Chagall, a famous French-Russian artist. You will often find exhibitions that rotate of Chagall's work there, as the artist was raised and born in Belarus. The back of the museum is filled with local art dating from the 1940s until the 1970s. Adult admission is $8 per person. Audio guides are $3.


11. Go to the Stalin Line Museum


The Stalin Line was a defense line extensively fortified, and ran for 1,000 km (620 miles) across the Soviet Union's western frontiers. The line, built between 1928 and 1939, comprised four fortified zones in the vicinity of the cities Mozyr and Minsk. The museum, which is open to the public, is approximately 1.5 hours away from Minsk on the site of the line. The museum is home to renovated trenches as well as historic bunkers. Fortifications are also accessible. English signs explain the history. Even if your interest is not in military history, there are plenty of fun activities you can do. This includes riding in a helicopter, tank and shooting live ammunition. There's also a huge collection of military-related technology like warplanes, weapons, and other tools. Adult admission costs 15 BYN and 7 BYN for schoolchildren. 28 BYN is for a three-hour walking tour.


Belarus Travel Costs


Accommodation-Hostels are only available in Brest and Minsk. A four-bed dorm is priced at around 22 BNY per day. It is possible to pay between 45 and 65 BYN per night for a room with a private bathroom. If you want Wi-Fi be sure to verify the amenities before booking.


There are many options for budget hotels, guest houses, breakfasts and bed and breakfasts throughout the country. A double bed in a double-room cost between 85 to 120 BYN per night and usually includes breakfast.


In larger cities Airbnb is widely available with rooms that are private beginning at 25 BYN per person. But, they could be twice as expensive when you reserve in advance. If you want to rent a whole apartment or house, expect to pay at 70 BYN.


Camping is accessible throughout the nation for people who travel with the use of a tent. For a simple plot of land for two persons camping costs approximately 12 BYN per head. Belarus allows wild camping however there are no restrictions on camping in public spaces.


Food As with it's Eastern European neighbors, traditional food in Belarus is full of flavor, with plenty of potatoes (and vegetables generally) as well as stews, cheeses, different types of sausages and pancakes. People prefer pork over sausage. Russian pelmeni dumplings made of unleavened, thin dough, are very popular. Vodka is a popular choice to wash them down.


Belarusian food is reasonably priced. You can get a cheap dinner at a local restaurant at a cost of 6-8 BYN. Restaurants in the area serve seafood and meat dishes at less than 7-10 BYN. For 10-12 BYN, you can take home a delicious and large traditional salad.


Drinks: A drink served with your meal is 3-4 BYN. A glass of wine will cost you around 7-9 BYN. Cocktails can cost between 9-14 BYN. A cappuccino costs 3.50BYN.


For a combo dinner for a combo dinner, expect to pay about 10 BYN for fast food (think McDonalds). Street food like pancakes, sausages or draniki (with meat) is typically less than 2 BYN. While a kebab can be bought at 11-13 BYN. Pizza is 10-13 BYN.


Higher-end restaurants offer meat dishes at 30 to 35 BYN and seafood meals for 35 to 65 BYN. Desserts are offered for 10-15 BYN. A three-course dinner at one of these restaurants generally runs 85-100 BYN.


A week's supply of essential ingredients to cook your own food will cost you around 50-65 BYN.


Activities The price for museums and attractions (such a palaces and castles) typically ranges between 5 and 15 BYN. A audio guide is 3 BYN. Guided tours and excursions typically cost between 15-30 BYN. Kayak rentals are available at a cost of 35-40 BYN for an hour. Wild camping, hiking and backpacking are for free.

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