A tour around Minsk available to tourists is very interesting and diverse. The city offers a lot to see: there are priceless architectural monuments of past centuries, important historic sites, and entertaining museums. A genuine example of neo-Gothic architecture is the Church of Saints Simon and Helena. The construction of the church started in 1906, and it took 4 years to complete it. Today, it is one of the most remarkable architectural monuments in the city.
The tourists that love shopping usually start their walk around Minsk with a visit to GUM. When it opened in 1951, it had a distinctively luxurious interior design. It was this place that … 
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The ancient city with an interesting history, Minsk is famous by numerous cultural centers and great atmosphere that is perfect for relaxed rest. Minsk was almost completely destroyed during … Open
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Over 140,000 invaluable relics, including partisan magazines, military awards, weapons, a large collection of colours and historical documents, are displayed here. An excursion to the Belarusian National History and Culture Museum will also be very interesting. It stores interesting ethnographic and war history collections, which include quite a lot of archaeological exhibits. Another landmark worthy of attention is the Book Museum. It showcases over 400 folios and about 70,000 old books. Those were just a few important landmarks in Minsk that we recommend you to visit.
In Minsk, everyone can pick entertainment for his liking. The Minsk Zoo is exceedingly popular among travelers with children. This zoo is not very big, but has a beautiful design and an … Open
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The first thing tourists see when arriving in the capital of Belarus by train is the Gates of Minsk. The Gates are two buildings that are located symmetrically to the station and resemble a gate. They were built by the architect Boris Rubanenko in the style of Stalin's Empire. The buildings were constructed in the 1940s. In the capital of Belarus, there are a lot of interesting sculptures. Some of them are dedicated to people that are famous not only in the country, but also all over the world. For example, you can see here a monument to the founder of the Red Cross, Henri Dunant, and monuments to Yakub Kolas and the characters of his works. There are also memorials dedicated to tragic events (a monument to Holocaust victims) and “sculptures of ideas” (City Scales Sculpture or Crying Guardian Angel).
It’s not easy to choose Minsk’s best restaurants, as there are a lot of them, but travellers still have a few favourites. For example, Grand Cafe, an international cuisine … Open
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In front of the National Library, there is a reduced copy of the main attraction of Paris, the Eiffel Tower. By the way, it is a children’s favorite place. The same is true with Strana Mini. It is a museum where you can see the reduced copies of all Belarusian attractions. Another unusual attraction that will impress history enthusiasts is an old red-brick water tower. It is located near the locomotive depot in the industrial district of Minsk. The New Gothic construction is an amazing example of early 20th-century architecture. Moreover, it is the only civil building that has survived since that time. There is one nuance: the historic building is decorated with modern graffiti.
Local culture is a unique mix of pagan and Slavic traditions. Although most natives are Christians, they continue revering their ancestors’ traditions and respect pagan culture. All … Open
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You can acquaint with local traditions in the Slavutyja Maystry gallery. Here, you can see beautiful items made by local craftsmen of cotton, wood, leather, and straw. Another wonderful culture venue where you can learn more about local culture is the Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Lifestyle located in the city surroundings. The museum includes several sectors: the center of Belarus (Minsk and the Minsk Region), Podneprovie (Gomel and Mogilev), Poozerye (Vitebsk), Ponyomanye (Grodnensk), Eastern and Western Polesie (Brest and part of the Gomel Region). The complex includes residential buildings, a forge, a mill, a warehouse, bell towers, and a church. The interior of all buildings is designed in the style of the late 19th-early 20th centuries.
Staying in Minsk, travellers can visit a huge number of entertainment and sports centres as well as any of the numerous bars and clubs. Visitors to the Bronx club can not only enjoy … Open
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As for other museums, you should also visit the Alivariya Brewery where you can learn about Belorussian beer and brewing. By the way, it is the oldest brewery in Belarus. It has been working since 1864. Numismatists will be impressed by the money museum named Groshi. Here, you can see the collection of paper money and coins of various periods, from the period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to nowadays. The Boulders Park & Museum opened in 1985 is worth being mentioned too. You should also visit the Museum of Yanka Kupala and Maxim Bogdanovich Literary Museum where you can learn more about Belorussian culture.
1. All large hotels, shopping malls, and restaurants accept international credit cards. If you need cash, you can get it from one of the numerous ATMs that can be found near all large … Open
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In 2014, the Carriage Museum was opened. It houses the wonderful collection of carriages of various periods. Another interesting culture center is the MIA Museum. Here, the visitors can learn about the activity of law enforcement bodies of the country. In Minsk, much attention is paid to contemporary arts. The Art Belarus Gallery will really impress you. If you want to enjoy theatrical performances and symphony concerts, you should visit the Big Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Belarus Philarmonic Hall or the Museum of Yanka Kupala. The Loshitskiy Park or Botanical Garden is perfect for walks. There are a lot of wonderful park areas in any district of Minsk.
Iconic cultural sights of Belarus
The historic center of Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is called Vierchni Horad (Upper City). The city got self-administration in the 15th century in accordance with the Magdeburg rights, and so the building of a new center of the city started. This was the location of houses of noble people and numerous churches of different religions. Styles mixed, creating a unique atmosphere in this area. However, two world wars almost completely destroyed the original look of the city. Only in modern times, some architectural masterpieces were restored thanks to the efforts of renovators and residents of the city. This part of Minsk becomes increasingly popular with both locals and guests of the city. It has already become a good tradition to organize numerous music festivals, theatrical performances, and fair trades in the Upper City in summer. As a rule, these events are organized by charities that raise funds for ill children.
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