Europe · Eastern EuropeOutline guideCountry in Eastern Europe
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Belarus (Belarusian and Russian: Белару́сь) is a former Soviet state whose history begins in the 10th century CE. While not on most tourists' radar, Belarus preserves beautiful castles, pristine nature, and Soviet heritage. It maintains close ties and an open border with its neighbor Russia.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Belarus.
Cards and cash
This means that Western credit/debit cards like Visa, MasterCard and American Express do not work in Belarus, you cannot withdraw money from ATMs using a foreign credit/debit card, and wire transfers to and from Belarusian bank accounts are not possible.
Tipping
The tipping situation is not particularly clear.
Belarusian, Russian
Belarusian and Russian are the two official languages, but Russian is more widely spoken. Although a majority of Belarusians (54% in 2019) consider Belarusian their native language, only 26% normally speak it at home.
There are 3 major GSM providers in Belarus, all of which offer prepaid SIM cards for Internet access and phone calls.
Mobile networks
Tap water is not safe for drinking.
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.
Belarusians tend to be more traditional than Western Europeans.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Minsk (Belarusian: Мінск, Russian: Минск) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Belarus. Its population is about two million people in 2024.
Brest (Belarusian: Брэст; Russian: Брест) is a border town in the south-west corner of Belarus, near Terespol in Poland. Brest is a city closely linked to the history of Central and Eastern Europe and the ever-changing borders.
Polotsk (or Polatsk) is a city in Belarus, in Vitebsk Oblast. First mentioned in 862, it is the oldest city in Belarus.
Gomel (Belarusian/Russian: Го́мель; also transliterated Homieĺ based on the Belarusian pronunciation) is the second largest city in Belarus (around 500 000 inhabitants), and is the capital of Gomel Oblast.
Pinsk is a city in Belarus in Brest Oblast located at the confluence of the Pina and Prypiat rivers. First mentioned in 1097, it enjoyed reasonable local importance for centuries, being at different times a seat of Orthodox bishops, a location of a big Jesuit college, and home for a thriving Jewish community.
Grodno (Belarusian: Гродна Hrodna, Russian: Гродно Grodno) is a city in Belarus, on the Neman River, close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania (about 20 km and 30 km away respectively).
Mogilev is a city in Mogilev Oblast.
Nesvizh (Niasviž) is a city in Minsk Province, Belarus.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (Belarusian: Белавежская пушча) is in the Brest and Hrodna regions of Belarus.
Mir is a town in the Kareličy region of Grodno Oblast in Belarus. Prior to the 2nd World War it was known as an international centre of Jewish learning (Mir yeshiva).
Places in Belarus on the World Heritage List.
Struve Geodetic Arc
Listed 2005
Białowieża Forest
Listed 1979
Mir Castle Complex
Listed 2000
Kaloža Church
Tower of Kamianiec
Church of St. Michael in Synkavičy
Transfiguration Church in Polack
Church of Nativity of Virgin Mary in Muravanka
Church of the Holy Trinity in Čarnaŭčycy
Paskevich burial chapel
Thirst
Monument of Courage
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Brest Oblast (Belarusian: Брэсцкая вобласць) is a region in the western part of Belarus.
Homel Oblast or Homyel’ Voblasc’ is a region in the south-eastern part of Belarus.
Grodno Oblast, or Hrodna Voblast, is a region in the western part of Belarus.
Mogilev Oblast is a region in the eastern part of Belarus.
The traveller's main entry point. The capital city, Minsk, is situated here.
Vitebsk Oblast (Belarusian: Віцебская вобласць) is a region in the north-eastern part of Belarus. The western part of the region is occupied by the Braslau Lakes National Park.
Public transport and paid services in Belarus.
By train
Travelling by train around the country will get you to a lot of desired destinations relatively cheap and fast.
By bus
Inter-city buses are cheap, relatively comfortable and relatively punctual but may be more expensive and less comfortable than trains. Bus schedules can be found online here and here.
By minibus
Little minibuses (known as a маршрутка, marshrutka), typically painted yellow, are generally cheaper than buses. Seats on inter-city ones can be reserved by phone or by walking up and paying cash.
By car
Traffic in Belarus is reasonably quiet, but you should exercise caution when driving your own car.
By taxi
There are many taxi companies. Yandex Taxi, which can be accessed via its mobile app or the Uber mobile app, is the most popular and offers good prices if booked via the app.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Belarus.
Finding apps for Belarus…
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Minsk · International · MSQ
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Minsk
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | -5° | -3° | 2° | 11° | 18° | 21° | 23° | 22° | 17° | 9° | 3° | -2° |
| Avg. low | -10° | -10° | -5° | 1° | 8° | 11° | 14° | 13° | 8° | 2° | -2° | -7° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 53 | 43 | 45 | 48 | 85 | 80 | 103 | 83 | 50 | 66 | 54 | 51 |
| Humidity | 97% | 96% | 91% | 82% | 80% | 79% | 80% | 78% | 80% | 88% | 94% | 97% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$30
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$90
Per person, per day
Luxury
$230
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $15 | $50 | $135 |
| Food and drink | $5 | $15 | $40 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $35 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 4 of 4Do not travel
Do not travelto Belarus for any reason due to unrest and other risks. The U.S. government has extremely limited ability to help detained U.S. citizens. You may not receive consular access. You could also face arbitrary detention with no contact with the outside world. Ordered departure On February 28, 2022, the U.S. Department of State ordered the departure of U.S. government employees. It also suspended operations at U.S. Embassy Minsk. There are no consular services, routine or emergency, until further notice. The U.S. government has severely limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Belarus. U.S. citizens in Belarus who require consular services should leave the country immediately. Please contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country. Dual citizenship Belarus does not recognize dual nationality. Belarus will not recognize your U.S. citizenship if you are a dual U.S.-Belarusian citizen or have a claim to Belarusian citizenship. Belarus repeatedly has blocked U.S. consular officers from visiting detained dual U.S.-Belarusian citizens. The Belarusian government has prevented dual U.S.-Belarusian citizens from departing the country. In some cases, it has forced dual citizens into mandatory military service. Demonstrations In Belarus, freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly are not protected rights. U.S. citizens should avoid demonstrations. Belarusian authorities have used excessive force to disperse demonstrators, including people peacefully demonstrating. Bystanders, including foreign nationals, face the possibility of arbitrary arrest…
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Advises against all travel to the whole country
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus. You face a significant risk of arrest if you have at any time engaged in any activity now considered illegal by the Belarusian regime. There is also a low risk that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to Belarus. Find out more about why FCDO advises against all travel. Limited UK government support In the unlikely event that conflict starts, FCDO’s ability to support British nationals will be severely limited. Dual nationals Belarus does not recognise dual nationality. If you have both Belarusian and British passports, the authorities will consider you Belarusian, even if you enter the country on your British passport. Dual British-Belarusian nationality will not reduce your risk of arrest, questioning, or detention if you have engaged in any political activity related to Belarus. This limits the UK government’s ability to help you. See Safety and security. Travel insurance If you choose to travel against FCDO advice, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and potential expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice…
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Belarus.
Nature & adventureThere are four national parks in Belarus. The Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park is a trans-boundary park between Belarus and Poland.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyWorld War I, usually called the First World War in the Commonwealth and called The Great War in its time, was one of the largest armed conflicts in history.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyWorld War II or the Second World War took place over many continents: while the Pacific War took place in Asia and Oceania, the European theatre saw combat from September 1939 to May 1945.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesStruve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
Wikivoyage
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