Minsk is known as the cleanest city in the entire post-Soviet space. Also, tourists often talk about the “spirit of the USSR” that hovers in the city. And although this is not unique to Belarus, the “Soviet Union” in its best manifestation has been preserved here. However, local residents are already quite tired of such analogies. So if you are going to Minsk, pay attention not only to the city’s past, but also to its present. And we have put together a list of places and activities that you should definitely get to know in the Belarusian capital.
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Brush up on modern history
There is a particularly exalted attitude towards the Great Patriotic War in Belarus, which is why there are many monuments about the events of 1941-1945, and Victory Day is also widely celebrated. Actually, the war began from this country: on the morning of June 22, 1941, German troops attacked the border Brest Fortress. You can learn about further history in the new museum, which opened only a couple of years ago and has not yet become boring for tourists.
Interesting excursions from local residents in Minsk
The old building, located in the city center, was demolished: the museum moved to Pobediteley Ave., 8. No money was spared on the museum - the interior decoration is very modern, and it contributes to the atmosphere. For example, projections are used to complement exposures, and it turns out very cool.
Day three
The third day of your stay in the capital of the Republic of Belarus can be left for a walk through museums or go to explore the outskirts of the city. If you decide to stay in the city and devote this day to exploring museums, then you should pay attention to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War , National Art Museum , National Historical Museum , Museum of the History of Belarusian Cinema , Museum of Miniatures “Mini Country” , etc. You can also take a walk along the street with graffiti and murals (Oktyabrskaya Street) and look into the gallery of modern art (Gallery “Ў”).
For more details, see the article Museums of Minsk
Getting to know the area
By going outside the city, you can become much more deeply immersed in the history of the republic, look at other beauties of the country and get closer to its great architecture and various attractions.
A sacred place for every Belarusian is the Khatyn memorial complex , located in the northeast, 60 km from Minsk. The infamous village, which was burned with all its inhabitants (149 people) in retaliation for the murder of several German soldiers, demonstrates the tragedy of the Belarusian people. Also on the territory of the memorial complex is the “Village Cemetery”.
The monument "Mound of Glory" , dedicated to the largest offensive operation "Bagration" in July 1944, is located 35 km from Minsk. The height of the memorial is just over 70 meters. In 2004, the monument was inaugurated again after reconstruction work.
to get to the largest Berezinsky Nature Reserve , but this natural complex more than compensates for the long journey. Part of the global network of UNESCO biosphere reserves and spread over 85 hectares, it surprises with its ecosystem. Dense forests, clean meadows, ponds and swamps with many animals and plants allow you to see the pristine nature of the Republic of Belarus.
Dukorsky Maentak , located 30 km from Minsk, is a great place for a family holiday. On the territory of the estate and park complex you can see the estate’s workshops, visit the museum, see the upside-down house, visit the stables, touch the 400-year-old oak tree, make a wish at the “wishing tree” and visit the meadow of fairy tales.
Almost 100 km from Minsk there is a castle and park complex “Mir” , which is also a defensive fortification and residence in the city village of the same name. On its territory there is the Mir Castle itself, dating from the 16th century, ramparts built in the 17th century, and a chapel from the early 20th century.
Nesvizh Castle can be visited on the same day as Mir Castle, as they are located relatively close to each other. This palace and castle complex was built at the end of the 16th century by Prince Radziwill with the participation of the Italian architect G. Bernardoni. On the territory of this castle complex there is the castle itself, its fortifications and a large landscape park.
What else to see in 3 days can be found in the material Sights of Minsk
Photo: © Daria In Tourism
For more information, see the Minsk Guide
Try real potato pancakes
Belarus has long been called a potato republic, and if the image has stuck, it’s for a reason. Most folk dishes are prepared with potatoes, including the signature dish - potato pancakes. The recipe is extremely simple: spices are added to grated potatoes to taste, then they are molded into the shape of ordinary pancakes and fried in a frying pan. However, the result is surprisingly different in different establishments.
Real potato pancakes are prepared in any restaurant of Belarusian cuisine: say, “Vasilki”. If you want an establishment of a higher level, then the route should be taken to the Grunwald restaurant.
Visit the festivities in the Upper Town
Something went wrong with pedestrian streets in Minsk. Quiet and rich in museums and pleasant establishments, Karl Marx Street only lasted a couple of seasons. As a result, everything moved to the Upper City. This place is a few steps from Oktyabrskaya Square, which is the geographical center of the city and Nemiga region, with romantic places for walks. On weekend evenings, street concerts, dance evenings, and street performances were held there.
Stories, routes and tourist tips
What to see and where to visit in autumn Minsk - tourists who have visited the city at this time of year can help with this task. In their stories and advice, they share real experiences. Based on such material, it will be much easier to plan your route to the sights of the capital. For easy searching, the site has a filter for reviews, stories and tips from tourists by month.
A series of stories by Anna Kudryavtseva about the autumn trip:
- “Minsk_Walk along the Trinity Suburb”
- "Minsk_Upper City"
- "Minsk _ Independence Avenue"
- “Minsk _ Independence Avenue, end of the walk”
Photo albums from Natalia Konnova
- “Walk around Minsk - part 1”
- “Walk around Minsk - part 2”
All reviews about holidays in Minsk on Tourist. RU
If you have any questions while preparing for your trip to Minsk, you can ask the experts in the Questions and Answers .
Photo: © Anna Kudryavtseva
Visit all establishments in the Upper Town
There are several streets in Minsk where literally every building will have a bar or cafe. One of these places is the Upper Town. On Herzen and Zybitskaya streets you will definitely find an establishment to suit your mood and taste. Here is the popular youth bar "Attic", and the cocktail bar "Mists", and the beer restaurant "At the Town Hall", the "Insomnia" bar in the style of "Alice in Wonderland" and a lot of other places.
The establishments located near the embankment of the Svisloch River are located in the city center, but it is quiet and cozy there, and there are practically no cars.
Where to go from Minsk in autumn
Having finished exploring the sights of autumn Minsk, it’s worth going a little further and visiting the outskirts of the capital or other regions of the republic. In mid-autumn, it's time to go outdoors to admire the golden landscapes. One of such places may be the Sula Park Museum , which is located a few kilometers from the village of Rubezhevichi. Or go to the village of Naroch , near which there is the Naroch National Park with the lake of the same name .
Near Nesvizh Castle there is a magnificent park of the same name. While in Nesvizh , you can drop by in passing to Mir to admire the castle in this city. Throughout the republic in its different parts there are many interesting estates that have received the status of historical and architectural monuments. For example, in the Grodno region, near the city of Smorgon , this is the museum-estate of F. Bogushevich and M. K. Oginsky. Not far from Grodno there is the estate “Royal Farm of Tizengauza” - an architectural monument of the 18th century.
More excursions can be found on the project Experts.Tourister.Ru
Visit the art gallery "House of Pictures"
Tourists are usually advised to visit museums related to the history of Belarus. We will recommend the House of Pictures, a new gallery that is interesting for two reasons. Firstly, this is the largest private gallery. Secondly, its interior resembles the best European galleries.
Sometimes original exhibitions are held here: for example, the collection of perfume aromas “Smells of Life” was exhibited all winter. The works of many Belarusian artists are also presented here.
Best hotels in Minsk
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Evaluate the variety of brands in the shopping centers “Castle” and “Galileo”
At first glance, this is a controversial recommendation: why, supposedly, should a tourist look at what his country probably already has? But we would like to dispel one prejudice. Sometimes Belarus is presented as a “small-town” country where you can’t really buy anything. Now, this is not true. In addition to the dear GUM, which has preserved the charming Soviet style in architecture and internal structure, Minsk has quite a few large shopping centers with famous brands. It is enough to walk around the “Castle” and “Galileo” to be convinced that in Belarus you can buy not only straw bast shoes and “embroidery” (a shirt or dress with a national ornament).
Sights of Minsk on the map:
The list will include all the main attractions of the city: churches, cathedrals, museums, squares, iconic places and much more. And everyone will choose for themselves what is interesting to them and what is not.
All points on the map are clickable and the map is scalable. Enjoy it for your health.
If you look at the map, you can see that all the main attractions of the city are located very closely in the center: this is so. TOP 20 most interesting places can be visited without using public transport.
And if the water park and zoo are not interesting to you, then all other attractions can be reached by metro.
Take a dip in the Lebyazhy water park
The largest and almost the only Minsk water park is located on the outskirts of the city - Pobediteley Ave., 120. The entertainment complex is really large: five levels, total area - more than 30 thousand square meters. There are eleven slides in total with a total length of about one kilometer.
The water park will satisfy any request: there is a children's and family entertainment center, a beach party area, a wave pool with imitation sea waves and much more.
Where to go for a walk and have fun with children
The city has many places suitable for walking with children.
Gorky Park
The oldest public park in Belarus was founded on this site in 1805 and was called the Governor's Garden. It occupies an area of 28 hectares. At the entrance there is an arch in the form of a 12-column portico. It is decorated with vases, stucco moldings and a balustrade. Behind the arch is the main square of the park, reaching the Svisloch embankment.
There is a monument to Maxim Gorky under the willow tree. There is a bypass canal and other bodies of water in which ducks swim. There is an observatory, and the planetarium hosts themed evenings. The park was created primarily for children, so there are many attractions, children's car rentals, roller skates, and skateboards. Adults are attracted
The Ferris wheel is 54 m high and offers views of most of the city. A motor ship plies along the river. Getting to Gorky Park is easy. Metro station "Ploshchad Pobedy" There are many parking lots around the park for vehicles, although on Sundays it is difficult to find a free space.
Toy railway
It is located near Chelyuskintsev Park, adjacent to its northwestern part. You can take the metro to the Park Chelyuskintsev or Moskovskaya stations and 7 min. walk. The road begins at Zaslonovo station, in the building of which there is a small museum.
The length of the road is 4.5 km, two more stations have been built - Pionerskaya and Sosnovy Bor. A real train consisting of a diesel locomotive and several carriages runs along the road. All the necessary work - station manager, driver, conductors, conductors - is performed by children.
Zoo
The zoo began in 1984 with the MAZ zoo corner. Now the zoo is home to 400 species of different animals. The Exotarium presents 80 species of representatives of the fauna of the forests of the tropical rivers of South America, the Amazon and Orinoco. The aquarium is home to 200 species of freshwater fish from Africa, Asia and South America.
The terrarium contains reptiles, amphibians and insects. There is a dolphinarium on site, where Pacific dolphins, sea lions and seals give performances. At the Village Estate site you can pet domestic sheep and goats, and on the outskirts of the zoo there is a Dinopark with reptiles that have been extinct for 250 million years.
The zoo is located on the outskirts of the city, between Tashkentskaya and Uborevich streets, in the floodplain of the Svisloch River. You can get there either by car or by public transport. Buses and trolleybuses go here from the Auto metro station.
The development of the city continues. Already in this century, the National Library with a beautiful park nearby, the Minsk Arena complex, and the new building of the Museum of the Great Patriotic War were built in Minsk. The original residential areas of Novaya Borovaya and Mayak Minsk have appeared, and Minsk-Mir is being built.
Existing parks and squares are being improved and new ones are being created. There are more and more beautiful, interesting places for walks.
Author: Cheretun Mikhail
Take a photo from the observation deck of the National Library
The “Diamond of Knowledge” is much more often associated with Chupa Chups, but let’s leave the design decisions to the conscience of the architects. Almost any book can be found in the 23-story building, and tourists are usually attracted by the observation deck on the roof of the library.
Climbing to the top floor, you will see an excellent panorama of the city. However, in Minsk there is a shortage of high-rise buildings with free access to observation platforms, so there is still not much to choose from. But the view from the library is really good.
Minsk museums in 1 day
The museum program in Minsk can be so rich and varied that one day is definitely not enough. As always, when choosing a museum, it is best to be guided by your preferences and interests.
If you only have a day for the museum program, then it is better to choose several options that are in close proximity to each other. Tickets to the museum can be purchased on the official website of the selected institution. Fortunately, today almost every museum has its own website.
It is worth visiting the Belarusian Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War , which is located on Pobediteley Avenue. This is the world's first museum about the history of the Second World War. Within the walls of the building there is a huge collection of artifacts and exhibits from the war. The museum opened in 1944.
The Historical Museum of the Republic houses within its walls more than 500 thousand exhibits related to the history, politics and culture of the country. The exhibition features displays about the formation of the history of the region - from the settlements of the first people to the present. Also in the exhibition halls you can find collections of coins, uniforms, weapons, antique musical instruments and many other interesting exhibits. Several branches operate on the basis of the Historical Museum, some of which are the Museum of Belarusian Cinema , the house-museum of the 1st Congress of the RSDLP and the Theater Museum.
The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus is one of the most visited in the capital. The museum houses a large collection of paintings and sculptures. The museum was opened in 1939. Today, one of the branches of the Art Museum has become the Vankovich House-Museum. In the building of a former noble estate, a museum dedicated to the work of Valentiy Vankovich has been opened.
You can also pay attention to the unusual cat museum or visit the carriage museum. The Mini Country Museum contains iconic landmarks of the republic in miniature format. Children and adults will enjoy visiting the Quantum Science Museum .
You don’t have to do a quick tour of the capital’s museums, but go beyond its borders and plunge into the culture and national life at the ethnographic museum in Ozertsy . It is quite possible to see the main attractions of this complex in 1 day. Other interesting museums in the vicinity of the capital: Dudutki museum complex , Dukorsky Maentak , museum of boulders .
More information in the material “Museums of Minsk”
Photo: © albygan
Ride along the bike path
The asphalt bike path runs through the entire city - it starts from the Drozdy reservoir near the Moscow Ring Road in the north-west of the capital and diagonally follows to the south, to another reservoir in the Chizhovka area.
The bike path is notable for the fact that it is laid along the green zone of the city, and in some places it goes out onto the embankment of the Svisloch River. Clean air, no cars, and a separate area for pedestrians. The length of the bike path is approximately 27 kilometers. Will you overcome?
Embankment
The first embankment was built on the banks of the Svisloch in 1955. These are sections of the river along the right bank from the Zybitsky Bridge (Maxim Bogdanovich Street) to Zakharyevsky (Independence Avenue). Here Yanka Kupala Park overlooks the embankment. On the left bank, the embankment runs along Marat Kazeya Park, Kommunisticheskaya Street and in Gorky Park.
Between them, in the middle of the river, the largest fountain in Minsk was opened in 2021. This is a gift to the city from Sberbank of Russia. The fountain has 200 jets, some reaching a height of 30 m. A special installation displays images on the created water surface.
The right bank of the river from Masherov Avenue to Nemiga has been developed. It houses the Sports Palace, built in 1966 with indoor and outdoor ice rinks. Near the Sports Palace there is an “Amphitheater” fountain and a platform where festivities are held on holidays.
On the opposite bank, near the Trinity Suburb, the embankment was reconstructed in 2021 from the bridge to the Island of Tears. Original benches, metal fences, lanterns were installed, and an observation deck was made.
Look into the Red Church and the White Church
The full name of the Catholic church is the Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, but it is often called simply the Red Church. The building looks monumental, located next to the Government House and two universities - BSPU and BSU. The building looks spectacular not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
The main temple of the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, it is located in the same Upper Town. The miraculous Minsk Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of Saint Sophia Slutskaya, granddaughter of Anastasia Slutskaya, a famous figure in the history of Belarus, are kept here.
What to see in Minsk: photos, description, prices, opening hours
The order in the list does not matter. The rating and recommendation for visiting is a subjective assessment of the author, which should help you in this difficult task
