Belarus

Understand

thumb|300px|Independence Square in [[Minsk]]

Get in

thumb|375px|Visa free access anywhere for citizens of countries marked in green. Visa free entry for entry through Minsk Airport only for countries marked in ochre 300px|thumb|Church of the Transfiguration, Rakaŭ Although Belarus has an open border with Russia, third country nationals are not permitted to cross the border between Russia and Belarus overland; they are required to fly to travel directly between the two countries.

Get around

300px|thumb|Getting around [[Bobruisk in Belarus]]

With an area of , travelling around Belarus should not take a lot of time. A car ride to Brest from Minsk should take you about 4 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

See

300px|thumb|[[Brest (Belarus)|Brest fortress]]

The appeal of Belarus are little known, but the off the beaten track character of this unfamiliar country is exactly what makes it special to the people that visit. Much of the historic heritage was lost to World War II violence or to post-war communist planning, but there's more to see than one might expect at first glance. Take Minsk, the country's surprisingly modern and distinctively Eastern European capital, bustling with nightclubs and modern restaurants but simultaneously a monument of Communist architecture and city development, as it had to be completely reconstructed after the war. It's home to the fine Belarus State Museum, Independence Square (where democratic protests make world news every so many years) and the former KGB Headquarters but also the humbling Zaslavsky Jewish Monument. Far more western is the border city of Brest, where you'll find the 19th-century Brest Fortress, the site of a long and severe Operation Barbarossa battle and a monument of the Soviet resistance against the Germans.

There are four World Heritage Sites, although one, the Struve Geodetic Arc which provided the basis for the first meridian measurement, offers little more than an inscription to see. Of more interest for visitors are the late medieval Mir Castle Complex and Nesvizh Castle. They are the best of the country's castles, but a few more can be found if you're interested. For a glance of 19th-century life, visit the Dudutki Open A…

Do

Watch football: 16 teams play in the Belarusian Premier League, with four based in Minsk. The national team play at Dinamo Stadium in Minsk city centre, which is also the home ground of FC Minsk. The playing season is April-Nov. The Premier League gained attention in 2020 when it continued through the Covid pandemic, so it attracted TV spectators and betting from a global audience whose local games were halted.

Eat

thumb|300px|Draniki (potato pancakes)

In a nutshell: potatoes, pork, beef, bread.

If you are looking for a national gourmet meal, then you are in the right place. Most of the products and ingredients are organic, and radiation levels are constantly checked in the food to avoid contamination.

Take fresh bison, and if you do not have any, you can use elk instead. From an 18th-century Belarusian cookbook

Modern Belarusian cookery is based on old national traditions, which have undergone a long historical evolution, with similarities to the Russian cuisine. But the main methods of traditional Belarusian cuisine are carefully maintained by the people.

Dishes made with potatoes, which are called "the second bread", are common in Belarus. The Belarusians bring fame to their beloved potato in their verses, songs and dances. There are special potato cafes in the country where you can try various potato dishes. Many salads include potatoes; they are served together with mushrooms and/or meat; different pirazhki (patties) and baked puddings are made from it. The most popular among the Belarusians is traditional draniki (known as "latkes" to North Americans, but eaten only with sour cream, never apple sauce), thick pancakes prepared from shredded potatoes. The wide spread of potato dishes in Belarusian cuisine can be explained by natural climatic conditions of Belarus which are propitious for growing highly starched and tasty sorts of potatoes.

Meat and meat products, especially po…

Drink

thumb|"Belaya Rus" vodka

Typical non-alcoholic drinks include kefir, which is a sort of sour milk, similar to yogurt, kvas and kompot.

Vodka (harelka), bitter herbal nastoikas (especially Belavezhskaja) and sweet balsams are the most common alcoholic drinks.

Krambambula is a traditional medieval alcoholic drink which you can buy in most stores or order in a restaurant. It's a pretty strong drink but its taste is much softer than vodka.

Medovukha (or myadukha) is a honey-based alcoholic beverage very similar to mead.

Sbiten is a combination of kvass, another common soft alcohol drink, with honey.

Berezavik or biarozavy sok is a birch tree sap which is collected in March from small holes in birch tree trunks, with no harm to the plants. There are several variations of this very refreshing alcohol-free drink, which is a good thirst-quencher in hot weather.

Sleep

Don't leave valuable items, such as computers, mobile phones, or wallets/cash in hotel rooms as there have been reports of thefts by housekeepers.

Stay safe

thumb|The old Belarusian national flag, which is widely used by the opposition

Belarus is generally a safe country, largely because crime is punished severely by the government. Street-level crime is rare and usually does not affect tourists. You should still apply common sense and be vigilant of your surroundings.

Stay healthy

Medical care is generally poor and is well below western standards. Furthermore, the system is generally inaccessible to those who aren't proficient in Russian and/or Belarusian. Even if you have travel health insurance it might not be valid in Belarus.

Ambulances are poorly equipped and unreliable; a wait time of 30 minutes or more is not unusual. The fastest way to secure Western European-level care is medical evacuation to the European Union.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasingly serious health concern in Belarus. Consider consulting with a doctor about getting vaccinated before traveling to Belarus.

The impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the food chain is an ongoing study. Food inspectors check food not only for bacterial contamination but also its radiation levels. Most food is considered safe, except if sourced from the banned regions within 50 km of the Chernobyl plant or the second hotspot around the intersection of the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian borders.

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Buy bottled water.