What to See and Do in Minsk, Belarus
Minsk is the capital of Belarus and the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The city sits at the heart of the country, in the Minsk Hills, along the Svislach and Nemiga Rivers. Minsk is a modern city, with many cultural sites, historic places, monuments, and theatres. All these make it a wonderful place to visit.
Transport
You can get around by bus, train, Metro (subway), or a rented car. All are reliable and inexpensive. In fact, the subway, Minsk Metro, is the most reliable transport system around Minsk. It consists of two lines (the red line and the blue line) crossing the city center. Each subway station is decorated uniquely, and the oldest stations of the red line are listed architectural landmarks. If you like, you can also rent a car to travel around the country. Regional trains from the Central Station are also cheap and reliable.
Historic Buildings
Minsk includes several historic buildings.
Former Residence of Lee Harvey Oswald: This one-time home of the assassin of the US President John F. Kennedy lies in Independence Square. It is located on the West Bank, just across Svislach River.
KGB Headquarters: This impressive building is situated in a landmark building in the center of Minsk, on one of the main shopping streets. Also, near it are other buildings from the Stalinist era.
Museums and Galleries
There are many museums and galleries in Minsk.
Dudutki: You can visit this open-air museum south of Minsk for a glimpse of Belarusian country life in the 19th century. It is also a good place to see the traditional art and craft of Belarus.
The National Museum of Art: This is one of the city’s most prestigious museums, boasting more than 27,000 works of art. The collection includes ancient and modern Belarusian art, as well as Russian, European, and Oriental artworks. Many of the objects are named in English.
Parks
Minsk is a green city that boasts numerous parks. Most of these parks are small, but a few large recreational parks are located within the downtown area. Among those is Gorky Park that was established in 1800. It contains lawns and formal gardens, in addition to a lake, an observatory, a planetarium, and a family amusement park.
Souvenirs
Woven and embroidered linen goods are the most typical souvenirs that you can get in Belarus. They can be purchased in specialist shops or any large department store. Also, souvenirs made of wood, straw, and leather are traditional too.
Staying Safe
Minsk is a very clean and safe city compared to neighboring capital cities like Kiev and Moscow. Unlike most central and Eastern European cities, there are few homeless and drunkards wandering the streets of Minsk.
Transport
Historic Buildings
Museums and Galleries
Parks
Souvenirs
Staying Safe
