Things to do in Belarus

Walk among towering ancient oaks and Europe's last primeval lowland forest, home to a reintroduced herd of European bison.

Admire the 16th-century red-brick residence, an eclectic mix of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles, surrounded by a reflective lake.

Roam the ornate halls and landscaped English park of this UNESCO-listed Radziwiłł residence.

Enter the bullet-scarred Kholm Gate and monumental Soviet war memorial on the site of the 1941 fortress defense.

Stroll past pastel-coloured 19th-century houses, artisan shops and cosy cafés along the Svislach river in the historic craftsmen's quarter, lovingly reconstructed to evoke old Minsk.

Ride up inside the monumental Stalinist twin towers on the railway square, adorned with a colossal clock and a statue of a Belarusian partisan girl.

Clamber over authentic Soviet tanks, artillery and fortifications at this interactive historical complex on the western frontier.

Try hand-grated potato pancakes, the national comfort dish, served hot with sour cream and forest mushrooms.

Paddle silent, winding rivers through Europe's largest intact transitional mire forest, spotting elk, beaver and rare birds.

Step inside the lavishly decorated 17th-century Jesuit church, crowned by a dynamic sculptural altar and the tallest wooden high altar in Europe.

Sift through piles of Soviet cameras, military medals, vinyl records and ornate samovars at the sprawling 'field of miracles' flea market, a treasure hunt for history buffs and hipsters.

Hike deep gullies and white chalk ravines carved by water, contrasting sharply with pine forest and the Pripyat River bend.

Head to the revitalized industrial quarter 'Ok16' where you can taste locally brewed ales amid street art, workshops and indie galleries, capturing Minsk's vibrant creative underground.

Take a self-guided bike tour spotting gigantic, colourful socialist-realist mosaics on residential blocks and public buildings, depicting cosmonauts, harvests and ideals of progress.

Discover sentinel-like stone crosses, some dating to the 12th century, rising from the marsh at the legendary Turov meadow during spring flooding.

Marvel at this distinctive 17th-century fortified shrine with a defensive attic, blending Belarusian Gothic and Byzantine elements on the shore of picturesque Lake Ikazn.

Enter the city's main Orthodox cathedral, former Bernardine church, with a stunning iconostasis, multicoloured frescoes and a miraculous icon of the Mother of God, the heart of religious life.

Join midsummer festivities with wreath-making, bonfire jumping and folk songs; revived pagan traditions blend with Christian heritage in a joyous community celebration under the starry sky.

Ride the glass elevator to the observation deck of the iconic rhombicuboctahedron-shaped library, offering a 360° panorama of Minsk.

Savour homemade fruit liqueurs infused with local berries, horseradish or honey in a candlelit brick cellar in the historic centre of Grodno, paired with zrazy meat roulades.

Join an early morning forage for boletus and chanterelles in dew-soaked pine and birch woods, learning generations-old secrets of the noble Belarusian mushrooming tradition.

Navigate the historic 18th-century waterway connecting the Baltic and Black seas, passing locks, sleepy villages and kingfishers.

Visit the simple brick house where the painter was born and the nearby museum filled with his dreamlike lithographs and etchings, capturing his eternal love for his native city.

Watch world-class Russian ballet in a beautiful neoclassical auditorium adorned with crystal chandeliers and gold leaf, a treat for culture vultures in the heart of Minsk.

Descend to cave cells of one of the most important Orthodox monasteries in the region, housing the miraculous tiny stone icon of the Mother of God, surrounded by serene spring-fed ponds.