50 things to do in Belarus
Here are 50 ideas for an unforgettable trip around Belarus – from iconic tourist destinations to lesser-known attractions, from immersing yourself in the local culture to thrilling adventures.
The list is based on recommendations from local residents and is designed to help visitors truly discover the country’s historical heritage, authentic traditions, natural wealth and, above all, the unique cultural identity and legendary hospitality of the Belarusian people.
See how many items on this checklist you can check off during your trip.
♦ Watch a real lamplighter light the streetlamps on Sovetskaya Street in Brest
♦ Hear the voice of the Middle Ages in the corridors and towers of Mir Castle
♦ Spot the Mona Lisa in the fresco “History of the Belarusian Fire Service” on the facade of the fire station in Grodno
♦ Try to estimate the size of the globe by visiting the world’s longest monument – the Struve Geodetic Arc
♦ Visit the House-Museum of the First Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party in Minsk, a symbol of the Soviet era
♦ Rub the finger of the wish-granting wizard-astrologer on Stars Square in Mogilev
♦ Check the time on the oldest functioning tower clock in Europe, dating back to the 15th century, located in the tower of St. Francis Xavier Church in Grodno
♦ Compare the replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Ivie with the original in Rio de Janeiro
♦ Jump over a bonfire and float a wreath of flowers down a river during Kupala Night, the traditional Belarusian midsummer celebration
♦ Visit an old Belarusian manor and immerse yourself in ancient traditions
♦ Learn to distinguish the sound of a double bass from that of a cello at the “Classics at the Town Hall” concerts in Minsk
♦ Make a wreath from cornflowers
♦ Try weaving a traditional rushnyk (embroidered towel) in the village of Neglyubka, Gomel Region
♦ Spend the night in a cabin aboard a floating hotel in Turov
♦ Discover the recipe for the most delicious cocktail on Minsk’s liveliest street, Zybitskaya Street
♦ Enjoy the view from the tower of the church in Gervyaty
♦ Learn a football chant at a match at Borisov Arena stadium
♦ Enjoy industrial landscapes along the city tram route in Mozyr
♦ Go on a safari in Braslav Lakes National Park and photograph a moose
♦ Visit the Tadeusz Kosciuszko House-Museum in Kosava – dedicated to the traveler and revolutionary whose name was given to, among other things, the highest point in Australia and hundreds of streets in cities around the world
♦ Test your vestibular system in Ella's upside-down house at the Dukora Estate
♦ Take a photo with the monument to condensed milk in Rogachev, holding a can of condensed milk
♦ Buy souvenirs decorated with traditional Belarusian ornament
♦ Take home a vyshyvanka (traditional Belarusian embroidered shirt) as a piece of Belarusian culture
♦ Go up to the observation deck of Minsk's most avant-garde building – the National Library of Belarus
♦ Sit in the cab of a steam locomotive at the Brest Museum of Rail Equipment
♦ Walk sober along the “Alley of Sobriety” in the village of Mosar, Vitebsk Region
♦ See Fabergé eggs and other exhibits at the Museum of Saved Art Treasures in Brest
♦ Count the towers of the Kosava Palace
♦ Build a collection of photos in front of the graffiti on Oktyabrskaya Street in Minsk
♦ Put on bog shoes, walk across a marsh, pick cranberries and see cranes
♦ Take a ride in a BelAZ dump truck in Zhodino
♦ Take part in a potato harvest
♦ Leave a note under the Wishing Stone in Nesvizh Park and make a wish beside the statue of Barbara
♦ Measure with your steps the longest suspension bridge in Belarus, located in the town of Mosty, Grodno Region
♦ Take a photo with the one-headed Tsmok (Belarusian dragon) sculpture in Lepel
♦ Find the geographical center of Europe in Polotsk
♦ Take a photo in front of the monument to the unique Belarusian letter «Ў» in Polotsk
♦ Recall the history of Ancient Rus' in one of the oldest churches in Belarus – the St. Boris and St. Gleb Church in Grodno
♦ Listen to Belarusian folk music at one of the country’s music festivals
♦ Visit the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle near Minsk
♦ Take a photo of the salt hills of Soligorsk at sunset
♦ Make a traditional Belarusian vytynanka paper-cutting craft as a souvenir
♦ Try cranberries coated in sugar
♦ Try traditional Belarusian potato dishes: draniki (potato pancakes), kalduny (stuffed potato dumplings), babka (potato casserole), and other potato bakes
♦ Take a look at the balcony of the house near Victory Square in Minsk where Lee Harvey Oswald, the suspected assassin of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, once lived
♦ Visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha and meet the Belarusian Ded Moroz (Father Frost)
♦ Find out what “hot ice” means at a Dynamo hockey match
♦ Explore the philosophy behind Marc Chagall’s paintings in Vitebsk, the hometown of the world-famous artist
♦ Step into the Soviet era at the Memorial Museum-Workshop of sculptor Zair Azgur in Minsk