A Travel Guide to Belarus

Since it is landlocked, the country is majorly flat and has large tracts of marshy land. Although a landlocked country, Belarus is home to 11,000 lakes. The three major rivers running through the country are the Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper. The climate in the country is somewhere between the maritime climate and continental climate. Plan your holiday according to the temperature that suits you. The lowest temperature recorded during winters is -4-degree Celsius, while the summertime average is 18 degrees Celsius.

Looking to visit Belarus, the answer to this question as to why visit Belarus is here. Firstly, the people here are amazing and very friendly to get along. They have a great desire to help others around them. So spending a vacation around Belarusians is best thing ever. Secondly, you will enjoy the youth culture here. There is a great mix of culture as you can find hipster cafes here, then you have underground music shows to native film screenings.

Thirdly, go for the beautiful architecture of Belarus, which was rebuilt in the 1950s as it was destroyed during World War II. The city organizes various guided tours, but you can also opt for a private tour. Fourthly, the indigenous food of Belarus is finger-licking delicious. Another reason to be here is that Belarus allows many nationalities for a five-day vacation, visa-free. Also, it is easy on the budget.

Now I will be putting down places to see in Belarus if you happen to be in the country:

This museum lies in the capital city, Minsk, Belarus. The museum showcases the sufferings in the city and how bravely they fought under the Nazi occupation. It still holds airplanes and real tanks used during World War II. 80% of the city was destroyed during the war, and it was rebuilt in the 1950s. Around 2.3 million people were killed in Minsk, Belarus, during the war, including 1.5 million civilians. Everything in the museum is labelled in English, and also there are audio guides to explain everything in English.

The museum was opened on 25th October in 1944 just after liberation from Nazis and had become the first museum to open during World War II. The museum has 24 exhibition halls, and in 2012 it had 142,676 items to showcase. A new building in the museum was inaugurated in 2014, and the President of Russia attended the ceremony. This museum lies at number one place on my list because you get to know the background of the country and what all it went through over the years at this place.

Minsk, Belarus, is famous for its Stalin Empire style architecture. Some of the best buildings here include Belarusian Government Building, KGB Headquarters, Main Post Office, Victory Square, or the National Library, blacks of flats in the shape of corn and National Theater, to mention a few.

The capital city of Belarus has a lot of things to offer. You should not miss Independence Square, which has an area of 7 hectares and is the largest public square in Europe. You should spend an evening roaming around here so you can see beautiful fountains and dancing lights. A must-visit spot is Independence Avenue, which is an area where you can find amazing restaurants, cafes, shopping spots, clubs as well as music events.

Minsk is also famous for its pretty parks and gardens. And if you are traveling with your children, you should visit Gorky Central Children’s Park, which has fairground rides and an observation wheel, which lets you enjoy vibrant views of the city. You should visit the National History Museum and see cultural sights go to the National Art Museum.

The National Library of Belarus lies here in the Minsk city. The library's main section is 236 feet high and has 22 levels of book collections and a big conference room, which has a seating capacity of 500 people. The LED lights glowing at night through the structure, make it a popular destination among the tourists.

Another amazing place in Minsk is the Minsk Sea. It is artificially created, and on the edges of the sea, you can find sandy beaches, indie cafes, and restaurants to relish local food.

The word castle makes me so excited, and you will love this palace-like castle with lakes on either side and a park complex. It lies 183 meters above sea level. Formerly it was home to Radziwill Family, but after rebuilding and renovation, it is now open for public. You can spend a couple of hours inside the castle, which has 30 staterooms, one courtyard, and everything here is labeled in English. Just buy a ticket and get inside the castle. In 2004 this came into the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site.

Outside the building, you have a sprawling park, which is developed in the English rose garden style. There are street food vendors available too in case you feel hungry or want to enjoy a picnic with your family. The place is good for cycling. You can rent a cycle outside the castle entrance.

During World War II, a small group of soldiers fought bravely against a superior Nazi force at this place and became legends. As a dedication to these soldiers, the fort consists of museums and Soviet memoirs. This place is also known as the Hero Fortress because of the strong defense provided by the soldiers during the German invasion. It is a pretty spot at the junction of the Bug and Mukhavets rivers. It is known for its brutalist concrete statues and architecture.

For the grounds the entrance is free, but for separate museums, you will have to pay separately. Bicycles are offered on rent to explore the complete complex. You can find souvenirs inside the museums.

Among the powerful sites to see inside the fort are the big star-shaped gate, a stone soldier projecting from a rock known as 'Courage,' a memorial which is known as 'Thirst,' which showcases a sick soldier drinking river water and an imperial stone giant. The main museums hold various precious things to tell about the brave story of the soldiers who fought bravely and lost their lives for the nation.

Located in the Brest city, this railway museum was opened in 2002 to show the railway system followed in Belarus. It lies very close to Brest Fortress and hence should be on your list if you have come till the fort. The museum has 56 trains and has steam locomotives, steam cranes, diesel trains, and you won't believe even a snowplow!

It is the country's first open-air museum and witnesses many festivals throughout the year. So check out the listings before you make a visit and do not miss the event if it is happening around. This place is also used as a movie shooting location.

The museum remains closed on Mondays, and the rest days, the timings are from 10 am to 6 pm.

This being the largest art museum located in Minsk city of Belarus. The collection inside the museum is divided into two parts, namely one of the national arts and the other from different countries of the world. The museum, in total, comprises 30,000 works of art that make up twenty different collections. The artwork of various Russian artists can be found here, including Valentin Volkov's "Minsk on July 3, 1944" (1944–1945) featuring Red Army's entry into the destroyed city.

There is a big collection of icons by great artists showing life under the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Behind, there is a little extension to the museum containing local art from the 1940s to the 1970s.

The museum remains open from 11:00 am till 6:30 pm every day.

This place in Belarus is famous among photographers because of the uniqueness of the built. This memorial complex was built on the 25th Independence Day of Belarus that is in 1969. This was made in honor of the soldiers who fought bravely and died during Operation Bagration, which liberated the country from the Nazi rule in 1944.

You can easily notice the Mound of Glory if you are on the Minsk-Moscow highway and lies 21 km from the Minsk city. The 230 feet mound is made from the scorched soil of hero cities. The hero cities is an honorary title for the cities who fought bravely against the German rule. Since the Operation Bagration was carried out by four fronts of the Soviet Army, hence the four tall bayonets depict their victory and heroism. The four tall bayonets are surrounded by a huge ring whose inner surface is decorated by mosaic tributes. The outside of the ring shows the faces of soldiers and various military signs.

To take a closer look at the complex, the visitors can get at the top of the structure. The complex is open 24 by seven throughout the year.

The next on my travel guide is standing tall since 1276, built by the artist Oleska. It is a landmark in the town of Kamyenyets in the Brest region of Belarus. It is often known as the White Tower. The name White Tower is supposedly derived because of its proximity to Belavezhskaya Pushcha Forest (this forest is one of the last and largest forests that once laid across Europe) and not on its color. As the tower is built with red bricks.

This tower has an interesting story. To keep a strong position on the northern border of Volhynia, the prince found a place on the steep stony bank of the Liasnaja River and ordered Oleska to build a castle. Such towers were also built in cities like Brest, Grodno, Turaw, and Navahradak, but all of these got destroyed during World War II. Only this tower, built-in 1276, still stands strong!

The tower is 30 meters high, and the bricks are 2.5 meters thick, and it has a pitched roof. The service and residential rooms in the red brick tower at 5 levels were donjon's earlier.

You should visit this place because, since the 1960s, the top floor of the tower holds the Brest Regional Museum. Get to know more about the country's history and how brave they were during World War II. From the top of the tower, you get a beautiful view of the forest and river nearby.

Enough of the history of Minsk and Belarus, here comes a place where you can enjoy the scenic beauty of Belarus and know about the diversity of wildlife present here. The park lies on the river Pripyat and hence the name Pripyatsky National Park. It was founded in 1996 to preserve the natural landscape around the river. Largely the park's area is covered by turf swamps.

Every year in late August or early September, people here get along to celebrate for good clean country fun at the Polosye Festival organized in this village. If you happen to be at this park during this time, it is well and good else; also, this park is a definite visit if you are in Belarus.

The various facilities offered by the park are forest lodging with guides for birdwatching, boating, fishing, or, in the winter, ice-fishing (followed by vodka and a sauna). From September to May, there are two-hour safaris that run in the forest when there is a chance to spot a bison. A one-hour river cruise takes you in the waters of the Pripyat River and some of its tributaries, and you get to witness some beautiful birds along with the scenic beauty of the river and greenery around.

Since Belarus lies landlocked between 5 countries, traditionally, it had dishes influenced from all five. The two main factors initially on which cooking was based were active farming, extensive use of local produce, and influence from neighboring countries. For about centuries, Belarusians ate limited amounts of meat. It was served only during festivals.

The traditional dishes at present have now been revived. Today the restaurants in Belarus serve dishes from Belarusian, Asian, and European cuisines and modern culinary trends. The Belarusian cuisine is characterized by complicated and lengthy processing of products. The cuisine here has many dishes made out of potato-like babka and kolduny. It has a large variety of vegetables and meat soups and cottage cheese dishes.

Here are the few dishes you must try in Belarus: Draniki (potato pancakes), Tsibriki paired with beer, Sashni, Zurek, Machanka, Borscht, Shkvarki, Kasha, and Spring Salad. Belarusian cuisine uses a lot of vegetables and especially my favorite potato!

Soludhuka, Kulaga, and baked apples are the best desserts available in Belarus. The most popular alcoholic beverage in Belarus is Vodka.

Lying close to nature and so many beautiful architectural sites to see, Belarus has become a popular site among tourists and locals. The government has also made it easy to roam around this country by making it visa-free. Go for amazing nightlife in Minsk city, excellent museums and the architecture which is above extraordinary! Minsk also has been a popular destination for global summits and sporting events such as European games. The food served here in Belarus is delicious in whichever place you are. You get to witness the dense forest, a beach, wildlife, and beautiful species of plants and birds. And above all, this place has the most hospitable people you will ever find.

You will be brimming with positivity post visiting this country by listening to the brave stories of its soldiers fighting throughout World War II.