Belarus

Belarus was long a closed-off country in Eastern Europe that was not frequenting the minds of many travelers.  My first trip to Belarus was back in 2013 and the visa process was a nightmare and an ordeal I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemy. 

I went back to Belarus in 2014 during a short visa-free period as the country hosted the World Hockey Championships. 

Minsk quickly became one of my favorite cities.  Belarus has since opened up and is allowing travelers in for 30 days, visa-free, which is remarkable. 

This is a list of 12 worthy places to visit in Belarus – a country that is one of Europe’s emerging tourist destinations.

Towns and Cities to Visit in Belarus

There are several awesome cities and towns to visit in Belarus and one of these days I intend on exploring them all (okay… well a lot of them). 

Below are some towns and cities to visit in Belarus- some of them are my recommendations and some others belong to other travel bloggers and travelers who helped put this post together.

Minsk

There are several great places to visit in Belarus, but you will likely find yourself in the capital city, Minsk, at some point when you’re there. 

Minsk long kept out of the European travel spotlight and the difficult visa situation helped maintain that for decades. 

It wasn’t until about a year or two ago that Minsk even hopped on travelers’ radars as the city became visa-free if you flew into and out of the international airport for a maximum of five days.

I first met Minsk in early 2013 after I was unable to get on the plane in 2012 due to not having a Russian transit visa. 

The city was the cleanest city (free of litter… air pollution was present) I had ever stepped foot in.  There was no graffiti and it was just wildly unique to any other place in Europe at the time.

What was the most shocking thing about Minsk for me was the demeanor of the locals.  Having been to every country surrounding it except Russia (I later went that year), I expected Belarussians to be slightly colder and a bit unfriendly. 

I, shockingly, found the complete opposite.  Belarussians and the people of Minsk were some of the friendliest and most outgoing people I had ever met on my travels.  It stunned me.

There is a lot of things to do in Minsk for all types of travelers.  During the warmer months, green parks line the city and you can find people paddle-boating or enjoying cotton candy in them. 

During the winter, you will find several museums, cafes, and bars that will keep you occupied and warm.  Opulent Soviet-era architecture is everpresent and the streets are large, pretty walkable, and clean. 

There is also a metro system that connects the city if you want to forego walking.

Grodno

Grodno is a city like no other in Belarus. Located close to the border with both Poland and Lithuania, the city is at a crossroads- being influenced by different cultures and having a troublesome history.

Until World War Two, Grodno was part of Poland and until now there remains a big Polish community living in the city.

Grodno might be the prettiest city in Belarus with cobblestone streets, baroque churches, and also few Soviet remnants that don’t overwhelm.

On the other side of the river from the center, you can see a completely different face of the city where life goes by slowly and the area is full of small and colorful wooden houses.

It’s best to visit Grodno in the late spring or in the summertime when the atmosphere is vibrant and the city is alive until late hours. Now, with the visa-free regime, it’s very easy to travel to Grodno not only through Minsk Airport but also directly from Poland and Lithuania.

You are allowed to stay there for up to 10 days which is enough to see the city properly and discover the surrounding area full of beautiful nature too!  **Kami from Kami and the Rest of the World (Poland)

Babruysk

Lying a three-hour train journey from the Belarussian capital city of Minsk, Babruysk (also spelled Babrujsk or Bobruisk) is an often neglected city located deep in the eastern part of the country.

The city itself boasts a modern train station, some stunning untouched architecture, plus views and relaxation by the Berezina River. Babruysk is the seventh biggest city in Belarus yet sits in the shadows of the big three – Minsk, Grodno, and Brest.

When visiting Babruysk, be sure to visit the iconic green library (Katsnelson House), the famous Lenin Square (where a proud statue of the man himself sits) and the magnificent golden-domed St. Nicholas’s Cathedral.

The train ride from Babruysk to Minsk is also an enjoyable trip, passing farms, fields, and lakes on the route.

However, the real treat here is for nature lovers, as the Berezina Preserve on the edge of Babruysk has been listed as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

As well as all of this, Babruysk is located near to the Chernobyl Exclusion zone and day tours can be booked.  **Jonny from Don’t Stop Living (Northern Ireland)

Novogrudok

Novogrudok is a town rich in history. Novogrudok was the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and where King Mindaugas was crowned.

The main attraction is the castle ruins on Castle Hill which also offers a great view of the surrounding town. From the hill, you can see the Farny Catholic Church of Transfiguration where the Polish King Jagiello was married.

Novogrudok was the hometown of the poet Adam Mickiewicz, and there are a house museum and a sculpture of him near the ruins.

The town is spotted with other old churches built with various architectural styles, including a wooden mosque—one of very few in Belarus. In the forests surrounding Novogrudok all the way to Lida is where the Bielski brothers had a partisan camp where more than 1,200 Jews were able to survive WWII.  **Jamie (USA)

Lida

Lida is a very easy town to visit either as a day trip from Minsk or as a stop on the way to or from Grodno. The main attraction is Lida Castle, the first stone castle built in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Built in 1330, the castle has been destroyed and rebuilt many times and finally restored by Belarus in 2010. The castle houses a museum with a unique exhibit on medieval torture devices and also offers a chance to practice archery.

Apart from the castle, there is a museum—Spadchyna—that has a traditional puppet theatre and a craft workshop.

There is also a brewery and museum of the Lidskae beer company that offers tours for visitors. Of course, Lida is not without remnants of the Soviet days.

On Lenina Street is a memorial to soldiers who fought in WWII surrounded by a lovely park.  **Jamie (USA)

Brest (and Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park)

The city of Brest is located in southwestern Belarus, close to the border of Poland.  Home to over 300,000 residents, the city is known for the Brest Fortress, or ‘Hero Fortress’ as the Soviets called it. 

Brest has an interesting history and played a significant part in WW2.  Presently, it is one of the most popular cities to visit in Belarus and the historical sights attract a variety of visitors annually.

Close to Brest (around 70km north) is the renowned Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park.  This dense and lush forest is home to the European bison and has played a significant part in the history of Central and Eastern Europe. 

The forest is shared with Poland (referred to as Białowieża Forest in Poland).  New rules came into effect in 2018 and citizens of 77 countries can visit Brest for 10 days without a visa. 

Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vitebsk

In the northeast of Belarus, you will find Vitebsk.  I visited the charming city during my first trip to Belarus and I still can’t wrap my head around how it all happened.  I

was supposed to travel to Gomel, a city in the south known for being a little ‘greyer’.  At the time, I had to travel to Belarus with itineraries planned by a travel agency (it was required by the government at the time) and when I told her I was planning to travel to Gomel, she immediately stopped me and said she wouldn’t do that to me.

Instead, she sent me to Vitebsk. 

I was slightly irritated at the time as I had my hopes on Gomel and seeing as much concrete as I could… but I hadn’t heard of Vitebsk and it was still in the east of Belarus (I wasn’t interested in visiting the west at the time).

I arrived in Vitebsk and was blown away.  The people were friendly despite a very obvious language barrier and the city was rather charming despite being built up in a newer manner. 

I found cool cafes and bars in the city as well as several museums and parks that I’d be keen to sit in during the warmer months. 

I just really, really liked Vitebsk and would like to see more tourists visit the city in the future.

Cultural and Historical Places to Visit in Belarus

Belarus has an abundance of places to visit that are not just cities and towns. 

Below are some sights recommend by other travel bloggers and travelers that can be visited in Belarus that have historical or cultural importance to the Eastern European country.  Two of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Nesvizh Castle

There was no family more powerful than the Radziwiłł family – and their castle at Nesvizh was, and still is, one of the most important sites in Belarus.

Nesvizh Castle is about 110 kilometers from Minsk and it can be visited as a day trip.

What you’ll find is an incredible castle surrounded by a moat with an enormous complex of rooms that have been expanded over hundreds of years.

The castle was built in the 16th century but is now in an excellent condition after being restored and then designated as a World Heritage Site.

From the outside, it’s impressive. The castle is on the side of a lake but has its own moat around it. The yellow buildings facing in towards a central courtyard all rise up between the fortifications.

It’s what’s inside that is the highlight, though, You can walk through dozens of rooms that show the wealth and the status of the Radziwiłł family, with the grand public rooms and the intimate private areas.

This is an incredible insight into the history of Belarus and the grand families that controlled this area until that dramatic shift in history in the middle of the 20th century.  **Michael from Time Travel Turtle (Australia)

Mir

Belarus is often called the “land of castles” due to numerous fortifications built in the 16-17th centuries to protect the territory from enemies.

One of the most famous castles in the country is in Mir. It was included into UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage sites in 2000. Mir town was part of Poland prior to 1939.

You can see some accents of central European architecture in the streets with colorful houses. Nevertheless, the main highlight of the town is Mir castle complex.

Mir castle is a combo of three architecture styles: Renaissance, Gothics, and Baroque. It happened due to the change of ruling dynasties who contributed to the construction of different parts of the fortification.

The castle suffered in several battles and it was almost burned with the invasion of Charles XII in the 18th century. Despite its complex history, it was opened to the public in 2013 after a complete renovation.

Nowadays, the castle serves as well as a venue for some cultural events. There is a free entrance to the complex, lake and park.

Museum has a ticket of 12 BYN during weekdays and 14 BYN on weekends. If you are fond of history, I found the audio guide quite informative. Mir town is part of Grodno district or 1.5 hours drive from Minsk.

You can plan it as a half-day trip from the capital. I recommend visiting Mir from May to October when the weather remains pleasant.  **Natalia from My Trip Hack

Khatyn Memorial Complex

There are over 8 thousand complexes in Belarus commemorating the victims of World War II, and Khatyn Memorial Complex embodies them all.

On March 22, 1943, Nazis in the pursuit of partisans came across the village of Khatyn, and instead of searching for the partisans, they decided to burn the whole village.

About 149 people were killed; only two children survived and one adult—Joseph Kaminsky who found the body of his son and carried him out of the ashes.

The main sculpture in the complex is a representation of this event, but it is also not made in the likeness of Kaminsky so as to personify all victims of the war.

Concrete foundations represent the homes of Khatyn, and names and ages of the family members are inscribed on the chimneys which are also topped with bells that ring every 30 seconds.

There is a village graveyard memorializing 185 villages that were burned down and never rebuilt; a Symbolic Trees of Life lists the names of 433 villages that were burned but later rebuilt.

The left side of the complex is lined with commemorative plates naming more than 260 death camps and places of mass extermination in Belarus.

Lastly, three birch trees stand alongside an eternal flame burning in the memory of every fourth Belarusian who died in the war. The complex is open all the time.

There is a small museum showing the construction of the complex and a shop selling guidebooks and DVDs of the complex (closed on Mondays).  **Jamie (USA)

Stalin Line

Stalin Line is an open-air military museum built on the basis of the Minsk fortified region of the Soviet Union during WWII.

Here it is possible to see and touch combat equipment, see evidence of war damage, ride a tank, and even shoot artillery. There are reconstructed machine-gun blockhouses open to tour and recreated foxholes to explore.

The main showcase is the famous tanks T-34 and T-34-85, but there is also a host of aircraft and air defense vehicles to view.

Upon arrival, head to the information office to see if there is someone who can give a free, guided tour.  **Jamie (USA)

Natural Places in Belarus

Many people don’t realize that Belarus has natural beauty in its borders and it is actually home to some special ecosystems in Belarus. 

 Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park, arguably the country’s most well-known natural wonder, was listed above with Brest, but there are other places in Belarus that can be visited for the outdoors lover. 

I hope to expand on this list once I get to explore more of Belarus in the upcoming year.

Braslaw Lakes

If you find yourself in Belarus in the summertime and you’re looking for a place to cool down, consider going to the Braslaw lakes and national park.

It’s a large forested area with some 30 large and small interconnected lakes that snuggle the borders of Latvia and Lithuania. This also makes the area a great choice as a last stop before crossing the border on your last visa days.

Depending on your mode of transportation and gear, you can get a remote dacha in the forest, a lakeside (free) camping spot with grill, an apartment in Braslaw town, or a farmstead (усадьба) on the edge of town. All options are decently priced.

The lowest-budget activities you can do in the region are hiking, swimming, and hitchhiking with the friendly locals to different lakes and points of interest.

Check out the Gora Mayak (Гора Маяк) and Zamkavaya Gora (Замкавая Гора) viewpoints, since Belarus is quite flat.

With an added budget, you can rent a kayak or bicycle, practice wakeboarding, visit or stay at one of the sanatoria, and dine out lavishly with lake fish or forest game.

Most of all, enjoy the calmness and green of a place that would be overrun with tourists if it was in a more popular European destination.

A highlight of a summer evening spent in Braslaw is to watch the sunset and swim with the locals, with a bottle of Georgian wine (сухое вино = dry wine, everything else is sweet or semi-sweet!) and some snacks.  **Iris from Mind of a Hitchhiker (Netherlands)

I hope you have added Belarus to your Europe travel list and that some of these places to visit in Belarus have inspired you to book your ticket in the near future. 

Have you been to Belarus?  If so, where else would you add?  Please leave a comment and let me know!

Many people that read my blog remember my first trip to Belarus in March 2013, which was a trip that was initially booked for 2012, and due to some visa issues going through Moscow, ended up being pushed out to 2013.  I talked about that trip a bit, but nothing in great detail.

Well, I ended up back in Belarus this past May.  Never imagining I would be allowed back in the country for various reasons, I was pretty stoked when the country became visa free for the month of May due to the World Hockey Championships being held in Minsk.  I was sitting in Helsinki in a hotel room when I got the message from my friend Kami over at Kami & the Rest of the World informing me of the visa-free travel during the month.  Immediately after receiving the message from her, I booked a plane ticket to Vilnius and was going to attempt entering a country that I never thought I’d be able to get back into.  Ever.

Needless to say, I ended up getting through train customs from Vilnius without any issues this time.  I even had my friend, Juliet, join me for the trip, which made it even more special.

This trip was only for four days or so, and truthfully, it may have been the trip of the year.  My previous trip had a lot of hype to live up to, and this trip managed to do just that.  The hospitality of the people was not a fluke.  The sun was constantly shining and the city was alive and proud to be hosting the World Hockey Championships.  It made it a real joy to be there.

Belarus is, sadly, a very forgotten about country on the European continent.  Unfortunately, most people affiliate the country with its political actions and ideals and forget that the people that live there are just like anyone else around the world.  My first trip to the country was a bit about the politics and to see what the country looked like on the inside since not many westerners have visited.  My second trip there was to go back and meet the people I had met during the first trip.  It had nothing to do with politics or seeing a country that remains erased from the minds of most citizens around the world.

When I think of Belarus, after having taken two trips to the country, I don’t think about politics.  I think about other things.  This post is about those things.

1.  The People

I have previously written a post about how the country defied my expectations.  The biggest way it defied my expectations was in regards to the people who live there.  I expected a colder society that was hard to break on the outside and soft and warm on the inside.  But the people are soft and warm on both the outside and inside.  I would never have guessed that, given the fact that every single country surrounding Belarus is the opposite (in my opinion).  The hospitality and smiles knocked me off of my feet.

Like I mentioned above, this was no fluke.  It was more than evident the second time around.  Daria, a beautiful Belarussian girl and language student at the university in Minsk who had previously found my blog while working on a school project, offered to take Juliet and I out to lunch with her mom and show us around the area when I was there.  It was nice to see the city again while getting to know a new friend.  Juliet, Kami and some of her friends, and I ended up at my favorite bar in Minsk and were just part of the local crowd.  Drinking, singing, doing shots with locals… it was all the reasons I fell in love with the country in the first place.

2.  Cleanliness

Okay, so I do realize that this often has to do with the government regime, but who cares?  The city is clean.  Maybe not in terms of air pollution as the capital city has an industrial side to it, but the ground is spotless.  No graffiti, no litter, and no cigarette butts.  And if there is a piece of trash that has blown onto the ground from a nearby trash can, locals won’t hesitate to pick it up and put it back in the bin.  Belarus is a beautiful country with a special ecosystem and I love seeing that the locals take care of it, even when no one is watching.

3.  Stolitsa Shopping Center

Sure, it’s weird that a shopping center is even on this list, but I think it definitely deserves a spot.

The locals are proud of Stolitsa (Столица).  It is an underground shopping mall that is situated in the middle of Independence Square in Minsk.  I’ll be honest, when I was told to meet someone there the first time, I had no idea it was underground and it took me ages to find the place!  Once I found it, however, I went back numerous times on both trips.  The mall is home to clothing stores, a grocery store (that even offers souvenirs such as chocolate infused with liqueur), an ATM, and plenty of places to eat.  My favorite place to eat in there is called Cafe Maestro (кафе Маэстро).  Many people will head across the city to Lido (ЛИДО), but I personally always preferred Cafe Maestro to Lido.  Both are cafeteria, self-service style eateries.

Inside of Stolitsa, you can also find Sun Cafe (САН-кафе), and a delicious pizzeria on the bottom floor.  Stolitsa can be reached by taking the metro to Ploshchad Lenina and walking a bit.

4.  Komarovsky Market

Every CIS country I have visited seems to have a large market of some sort.  And I love it.  Komarovsky Rynok (Комаровский рынок) is one of the largest I have seen on my travels and I really enjoy visiting there when in Minsk.  You will be stopped from taking photos inside, but you can sneak one or two from your phone if you’re lucky.

The inside of the market is filled with meat, local produce, and varieties of nuts and herbs.  Photos will never do this place justice as it is massive.  When I have visited similar markets in Central Asia and beyond, I have realized that many of the vendors are foreigners trying to sell their goods.  In Belarus, it appeared that most were locals.

The outside of the market is always busy with people and activities for children, regardless of what time of year it is.  It just proves that there is so much to do in Minsk!

Komarovsky Market can be reached by taking the metro to Ploschad Yakuba Kolasa.  It is only open from 1000 until 1700 and is closed on Mondays.

5.  Hany Bany

This is my favorite bar in Minsk.  I went here on my first trip to the city in 2013 and came back twice on my last trip.  It is extremely small and tends to be crowded.  But, the crowd will make you feel like part of the family immediately upon walking in the door.

When I was last here, I had suggested that Kami and her friends from Poland go there with me and I was a bit nervous that they may not like the place as atmospheres change over the course of a year.  Luckily, they enjoyed the place as much as I did.  Our large group (around ten of us!) walked into the bar and there were no seats.  The entire bar, staff and patrons, moved things around, changed seats, and sat two people on each chair, just to accommodate us and ensure we felt welcome there.  Needless to say, shots of vodka were passed around freely after that.  Our little Polish and American group (Juliet and I being the Americans) interacted with every single person in the bar in some way, shape, or form.  Without a doubt, Hany Bany (ХАНI БАНI) remains my favorite bar in Minsk.  Hany Bany is a bit hidden, but can be found in close proximity to Ploschad Lenina.

6.  The Beer

I am going to assume if you’re reading this that you have not had the grand experience of enjoying a Belarussian beer.  It is not exactly exported freely around Europe (although I did have the pleasure of finding one in a Latvian supermarket recently).

You’re missing out.

The ‘large’, national breweries are out-of-this-world good.  Craft beer is not exactly a huge hit in Belarus yet but is on its way up quickly.  And it’s impeccable.  I’ve been to breweries in Vitebsk, but the most variety in Belarus is obviously found in Minsk.

I’m still longing for a frothy and chilled Alivaryia…  or any of the Belarussian beer I have had.

7.  The area around Nemiga

Take the metro to Nemiga and just walk around.  You can enjoy the beautiful river, sports arenas, historical churches, cobblestone walkways lined with cafes and restaurants, and even visit the somber Isle of Tears.

Check out Insomnia Bar (Бессонница), one of my favorite bars in all of Minsk.  The inside is trippy and reminiscent of what one might experience in Alice in Wonderland.  It closes at 5am and I met one of my Belarussian friends in here on my first trip, so the atmosphere, while seemingly pretentious at first, is actually quite friendly and inviting.

8.  The Minsk Metro

I’ve mentioned it a few times already, but the Minsk Metro is cheap, reliable, and the best way to get around this sprawling city.  Much of Minsk is walkable, of course, but once you discover the ease and efficiency of the Metro system, you won’t want to waste your time walking around too much.

The Metro, completed in 1984, consists of two lines that cross in the middle.  During my first trip, it was rather difficult to navigate around as some stops were in Russian and some were in Belarussian (only my Russian skills work).  But, because of the World Hockey Championships, the government has made the Metro more accessible to tourists by adding English signs.  Yayyy!

The style is typical and Sovietesque- deep, grand, and practical.

There are many reasons I love Minsk.  I would easily put it in my top five European cities list.  And despite only spending perhaps 2.5 weeks in total in the city, I feel more at home there than most places I have ever visited.  This list could easily contain fifty different items, but these truly are my Minsk favorites and part of the reason I love traveling there.  If I have it my way, I will make a huge effort to get back there in 2015.  Without visa-free travel to the country, I am unsure if I will be permitted back, but we will see…

If you’re interested in traveling to Belarus and need a visa to enter, check out Katie’s post about obtaining a Belarussian visa

 

Vitebsk was not actually a city I chose to go to.  To get to Belarus, my boyfriend and I had to go through a tour agency to obtain our letters of invitation to the country.  They also assist you in planning your stay in the country.  When I told Tatyana, our tour agent, that we had planned to go to Minsk and Gomel… I think she probably laughed.  Gomel, Belarus is the country’s second largest city and lies near and within the Belarusian Chernobyl zone.

I also heard that no one travels there (curiosity often gets the best of me).  I remember getting an email back from her asking what I wanted to do in Gomel and I responded with, “Check it out and go to bars”.  I only threw the ‘bars’ in there to give a little validation for our reason of traveling there.  And she basically responded with, “I think Vitebsk will be more your scene and you can thank me later for it”.  We knew we wanted to head east in Belarus and not west to Grodno or Brest, so we obliged and listened to her advice and planned our trip to Vitebsk.

That could not have been a better decision.  I don’t know what Gomel had in store for us, but I know that it would not have beat the time we had in Vitebsk.  This city has a charm and magnetism that I have rarely felt in previous travels.

When we arrived in Vitebsk, I pulled my usual of having nothing planned except knowing the name of the hotel we were staying at.  I always refuse to take taxis because I like to save my money and use it on other things.  We arrived at the train station and had absolutely no idea where to go.  And there is less English floating around Vitebsk than there was in Minsk.  And no one spoke English in Minsk.

We wandered around for a little bit and finally started to try to ask locals at a tram stop where Hotel Luchesa was.  They all felt incredibly bad for not being able to give us a direct answer.  Aside from needing to know where the hotel was, they looked even more puzzled about why an American and a Norwegian were traveling in their city.  Two young guys were finally able to give us hand signals that they would take us there.  We waited for twenty minutes and then hopped on one tram with them.  We got off ten minutes later and hopped on another tram with them.  This took us directly to our hotel.  We tried to give them some money for their generosity and taking the time out of their evening to show us to our hotel and they refused it.  Friendly and helpful locals always make your first impression of a place so positive.

The next morning we were curious to see what Vitebsk had in store for us.  We began walking into the city (the hotel lies a little outside of the main center) and were just amazed at how picturesque and stunning it was.  There were several bars and restaurants around the Old Town and we couldn’t wait to get some food.  We went into one and when Andre and I began speaking English with each other, an old friend we had met at a bar in Minsk came up to us from another room as she heard our voices.  Yuliya, who is originally from Vitebsk but lives in Minsk and looks like a blonde Angelina Jolie, took us to meet her mom and daughter and then helped us identify some good dishes on the menu and even placed the order for us.  Seeing that Vitebsk is four hours from Minsk, it was a great surprise to run into her and get another chance to connect with her while in Belarus.

After our meal, we wandered around, hopped in and out of bars, and watched the most awe-inspiring of sunsets.  And I probably said at least thirty times, “I love this city!” to Andre.

Day-drinking and vodka with the locals eventually took its toll and we missed out on seeing the rest of the city and had to head back to the hotel.  The next morning was spent trying to find a way out of Vitebsk and back to Minsk as we had accommodation arrangements already solidified in the capital, so we saw no more of Vitebsk, unfortunately.  While I definitely overstayed my welcome in Minsk, I would like to think that I saw hardly anything in Vitebsk and need to plan another trip back there in the near future.

READ ALSO:  What to do in Minsk for Travelers

As most of you already know, Belarus was super high on my travel dream list for a very long time.  Many of you also know that I had previously planned a trip there for December 2012, which did not end up happening, and I consequently rebooked it for March 2013.  I had so many thoughts and expectations prior to traveling to the country.  Many of which, turned out to be so far off that it left me in a state of shock.

Expectation #1:  People are unfriendly. 

I have no idea why, but I just assumed that Belarusians would be profoundly cold and unfriendly.  When I obtained my first visa in Latvia, they were not the most cordial of folks, so it left a sour taste in my mouth.  On the contrary, the tour group I had worked with to get my letter of invitation to visit, as well as the Belarusian Embassy of Finland (where I obtained my second visa), were super friendly.  I chalked it up to being just a fluke.

Realizing Belarusians were a friendly and hospitable society took me approximately ten seconds once actually arriving in the land.  And by ten seconds, I mean I actually didn’t have my documents together for the border crossing into Belarus from Lithuania and the border control folks were completely accommodating of my neglect and still wished me a great trip to their homeland. (Not having my documents together=not having my mandatory medical insurance because I was misinformed by the embassy of where it needed to be purchased).

It didn’t end there.  I met more people in Belarus at bars, on the street, in hotels, and at stores than I have EVER met in my entire life traveling to a place.  And they had a huge fascination with an American visiting their country.  I received all kinds of questions about why in the world I would want to visit their homeland.  When I explained I was curious and fascinated about Belarus, they couldn’t fathom that that was the correct answer and demanded more.  Oddly enough, that really was the reason and I couldn’t give additional information to the reason for my visit.  But the best part?  They all tried taking care of me and ensuring that my trip to Belarus was nothing short of exceptional.  They succeeded, by the way.

In Minsk, I went to a bar and was served flat/dead beer.  I felt horrible, but had to ask for another beer.  When I did, and translated ‘This beer is flat’ on my iPhone to the bartender, multiple people in the bar came up to me and apologized on behalf of their country that I was served a dead beer.  I laughed and explained that this could happen anywhere in the world and I wasn’t upset.  They still apologized one more time on their way out of the bar just to make sure we realized it was a bar thing and not a Belarus thing.  I liked this bar so much that I went back the next night.  And the bartender joined my boyfriend and I out on our night on the town once the bar closed.  Yes, this is that kind of country.

I could write and write and write about this and talk about the 1,000 ways I realized Belarusians are some of the friendliest people in the world, but I personally think that it warrants its own post.  To be continued…

Expectation #2:  Minsk is filled with Soviet-era bloc buildings.

Imagine how shocked I was when the city wasn’t.  So it had its fair share.  But it was nothing in comparison to many of the other countries I have visited.  The people make, on average, $300/month as a salary.  The city and its architecture didn’t necessarily reflect that.  Of course many buildings are from the Soviet-era, but the architecture looked grand and was much larger than anything I was used to in Norway, or even the US.  It was unique.  It was grey, naturally.  But it was special…just as the people of the wonderful country.

Expectation #3:  Belarusian bureaucracy sucks. 

I learned the hard way that this was actually kind of true.  Coming soon on a funny, but rather pathetic, post.  I will note that it wasn’t so funny at the time.  It is funny now that I’m sitting in another country other than Belarus.

Expectation #4:  Wi-fi would be in abundance.

Absolutely, positively, NOT true.  On the rare occasion that I had wi-fi, it never worked well.  Or when it did work well, I couldn’t use the television in conjunction with it.  And when I tried writing something that seemed negative towards Belarus or downloading something (in a legal manner), my wi-fi stopped.  Hmmm.

Expectation #5: Belarus shuns all anything that comes from abroad, especially a western land.

When I first arrived in Belarus I met with a guy from Iran who was studying in Minsk.  He told me the government and some of the people shunned anything that came from a western land, particularly the USA.  Of course, at this point, once brought to my attention, I fixated on this fact.  And I found it not true.  I found more American goods in the grocery stores there than I ever have found in a Norwegian one.  And I found that when people realized I was from the US, or even just from another country, they got very excited and had a list of questions to ask me.  Times like this are why I absolutely love traveling and interacting with other cultures.  Mostly because I had the same questions rounded up for the locals.  Most of which couldn’t be answered, unfortunately.  Which leads me to say that the Belarusian government is not as fond of America as the citizens of Belarus are.

Expectation #6:  The food is bad.

Ugh…this is partly true?  I shouldn’t say it is bad…but it is a lot of potatoes.  Even more than in Norway.  I still can’t picture it on a plate.  They also use a lot of dill, which is something I’m not particularly fond of, despite living in dill-happy Scandinavia.  But, for every bad dish I had, I had a good dish.  Too bad the good dishes were foreign-inspired.  But, in retrospect, I really didn’t have as many Belarusian dishes when I was there.  It is probably unfair of me to judge.

Expectation #7:  Minsk lacks culture and nightlife.

Couldn’t be farther from the truth.  While I found that the culture was more happening in certain areas of the city more than others, it was absolutely present and ready to be explored!  And there is no shame in being a day drinker.  All cafes offer beer.  And if it is 10:00am and you think you’ll be the only one drinking, think again.

And a Belarusian will buy you a shot of vodka if they find out you’re a visitor to the country.  It must be engrained in them from birth.

Expectation #8:  There is no litter or graffiti.

Very much the truth.  The streets were pristine and everyday there were people out there cleaning them and chopping away the ice on the sidewalks.  When I saw someone putting out their cigarette, I never once saw someone throw it on the ground and step on it.

Expectation #9:  Belarusian rubles will get the best of you.

The exchange rate is 1 USD = about 8,640 Belarusian rubles.  I have never been a millionaire, but I was one as soon as I touched an ATM in Belarus.  While the large bills will draft out for you when you first arrive, it doesn’t take long for you to end up with a wad of cash like this in your purse as I did.

This doesn’t just confuse travelers to the country…it confuses Belarusians as well.  When I was at lunch with three of my friends in Belarus, we were comparing prices in Norway vs. Belarus.  When I would try to calculate on my phone what the costs are in Belarusian rubles, they would laugh and shake their head and say, “Just give it to me in USD…we can’t even handle our own currency.”

Expectation #10:  Belarus is a difficult country to travel in.

If you speak Russian, this couldn’t be farther from the truth.  If you don’t speak Russian, it can prove to be rather difficult.  I can read some Cyrillic so I managed just fine.  The metro system is simple and consists of two lines that cross in the middle.

The country is not necessarily set up for tourists quite yet and that is where it can become difficult.  If you’re at the train station looking for the international cashier, you may end up in the wrong line a total of five different times.  If I can read some Russian then why is this difficult?

The signs lack consistency and float back and forth in between Russian and Belarusian.  Just as you think you’ve mastered one train station, the next one is in Belarusian and it sends you into a frenzy all over again.  (But if you SPEAK Russian, things will be just fine because Belarusians generally do not ever speak Belarusian).

While there were difficulties here and there, I remained rather patient and didn’t end up frazzled often.  The people around you will do their very best to assist, even though it will most certainly be beyond their language capabilities.

My overall impression of the country?

I loved it.

There were parts that I didn’t like that I will talk about in future posts…but the people and atmosphere more than made up for it.  Belarus is a prime example of why one should never judge a book by its cover.  The only way to get the information for yourself is to travel there with an open-mind.  And enough money to buy ‘thank you’ shots of vodka for the locals who will so graciously take care of you while you’re in their country.