Things to do in Belarus

25 things to do in Belarus

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the ancient Białowieża Forest (Belovezhskaya Pushcha) on the Belarusian side

  Walk among towering ancient oaks and Europe's last primeval lowland forest, home to a reintroduced herd of European bison. The mossy silence and colossal trees create an almost mythical atmosphere.

  Brest Region, near Kamanyuki

• Stand in awe before Mir Castle Complex

  Admire the 16th-century red-brick residence, an eclectic mix of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles, surrounded by a reflective lake. The restored halls tell tales of the Radziwiłł magnate family.

  Mir, Grodno Region

• Visit the magnificent Nesvizh Palace and its park

  Roam the ornate halls and landscaped English park of this UNESCO-listed Radziwiłł residence. The golden chapel and secret passages offer a glimpse into the lavish life of Lithuanian-Polish aristocracy.

  Nesvizh, Minsk Region

• Pay respects at Brest Hero-Fortress

  Enter the bullet-scarred Kholm Gate and monumental Soviet war memorial on the site of the 1941 fortress defense. The stark, giant concrete soldier head and haunting soundtrack stir deep emotion.

  Brest, Brest Region

• Wander the cobbled lanes of Trinity Hill (Trinity Suburb) in Minsk

  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.

  Minsk

• Climb the Minsk City Gate towers for a panoramic view

  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. The top reveals the capital’s wide boulevards.

  Minsk

• Ride the Stalin Line open-air military museum and reenactment

  Clamber over authentic Soviet tanks, artillery and fortifications at this interactive historical complex on the western frontier. Seasonal battle reconstructions with blanks and fighter jets thrill visitors.

  Losany, near Zaslawye, Minsk Region

• Taste real draniki in a rural farmstead kitchen

  Try hand-grated potato pancakes, the national comfort dish, served hot with sour cream and forest mushrooms. The best are devoured in a wooden guest house deep in the countryside.

  Dudutki Museum Complex, Minsk Region

• Kayak through the Naliboki Forest wilderness

  Paddle silent, winding rivers through Europe's largest intact transitional mire forest, spotting elk, beaver and rare birds. Wild camping on sandy banks is an unforgettable back-to-nature escape.

  Naliboki Forest, Minsk Region

• Admire the baroque beauty of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Grodno

  Step inside the lavishly decorated 17th-century Jesuit church, crowned by a dynamic sculptural altar and the tallest wooden high altar in Europe. The leaning clock tower adds quirky charm.

  Grodno

• Browse vintage Soviet-era curios at Minsk's weekend market on Zhdanovichi

  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.

  Zhdanovichi, near Minsk

• Walk the dramatic chalk cliffs of the Mozyr Ravines

  Hike deep gullies and white chalk ravines carved by water, contrasting sharply with pine forest and the Pripyat River bend. The rare landscape feels like a mini grand canyon.

  Mozyr, Gomel Region

• Sip Belarusian craft beer at a former factory turned art space in Minsk

  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.

  Minsk, ulitsa Oktyabrskaya 16

• Cycle the vast Soviet mosaic panels on Minsk's buildings

  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.

  Minsk

• Visit the ancient Turov stone crosses on the Pripyat floodplain

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

  Turov, Gomel Region

• Explore the Gothic-Orthodox fusion Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Ikazn

  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.

  Ikazn, Vitebsk Region

• Marvel at the Holy Spirit Cathedral dome in Minsk

  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.

  Minsk

• Experience traditional Slavic kupala night rituals on the banks of the Svislach

  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.

  Various places; often near Minsk or rural villages

• Step inside the impressive National Library of Belarus for sunset views

  Ride the glass elevator to the observation deck of the iconic rhombicuboctahedron-shaped library, offering a 360° panorama of Minsk. The LED light show on the facade after dark is mesmerizing.

  Minsk

• Sample a tasting menu of traditional Belarusian nalivki in a rustic cellar

  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.

  Grodno

• Hunt for wild mushrooms with a local babushka in the forests of Vitebsk

  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.

  Vitebsk Region, near Polotsk

• Cruise the Dnieper-Bug Canal by rented boat

  Navigate the historic 18th-century waterway connecting the Baltic and Black seas, passing locks, sleepy villages and kingfishers. A slow, peaceful immersion into rural life.

  From Kobrin to Pinsk, Brest Region

• Discover Marc Chagall’s childhood home and art centre in Vitebsk

  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.

  Vitebsk

• Attend a ballet performance at the opulent National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre

  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.

  Minsk

• Explore the subterranean chapels of the Zhirovichy Monastery

  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.

  Zhirovichy, Grodno Region