A plan for Minsk

History

Minsk is one of the oldest Belarusian cities. Its age is counted from 1067, when it was mentioned in a medieval chronicle for the first time. In the 13th century, Minsk peacefully joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. By the middle of the 16th century, it was an important economic and cultural centre in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It suffered badly during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667) and the Great Northern War (1700–1721). Minsk was annexed by Russia in 1793. It enjoyed a speedy development throughout the 19th century as one of the provincial centres of the Russian Empire. By the end of the 19th century, the city had over 90,000 inhabitants, with Jews constituting more than half of its population. Other substantial ethnic groups were Russians, Poles and Belarusians. Ethnic Belarusians dominated in rural areas on the country.

In the early years of the 20th century, Minsk was a major centre for the worker's movement. The 1st Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, the forerunner to the Soviet Communists, was held there in 1898. It was also one of the major centres of the Belarusian national revival, alongside Vilnius. The First World War devastated Minsk. By 1915, it was a battle-front city.

The first attempt at an independent Belarusian state, the Belarusian Democratic Republic, was made in Minsk in March 1918. In 1919, Minsk became the capital city of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic, BSSR, one of the founders of the Soviet Union (1922-1991). Minsk was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1941-1944. Before the Second World War, Minsk had a population of 300,000, but this had fallen to around 50,000 by 1944. After the war, Minsk was almost completely rebuilt. The historical centre was replaced in the 1940s and 1950s by Stalinist architecture, which favoured grand buildings, broad avenues and wide squares. Many magnificent and precious buildings, including churches and synagogues, were lost in the post-war decades of disregard to the pre-Socialist past.

Museums

1 Belarusian National Arts Museum (Belarusian: Нацыянальны мастацкі музей Рэспублікі Беларусь), Vulitsa Lenina 20 (Kastryčnickaja metro station Кастрычніцкая 0.4 km; Kupalaǔskaja metro station Купалаўская 0.3 km). Wed-Mon 11:00-19:00. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Minsk. It offers an excellent overview of fine arts in Belarus. Many art description tags are in English. The main collection is spread across two buildings. The first building visitors come to houses a significant collection of the 19-century Russian art. The back building houses masterpieces of the Belarusian art from the Medieval times to the present, as well as temporary exhibitions. Audio guides (3 rubles, December 2018) are available from the bookshop at the entry, however they only cover a small number of the key exhibits in the permanent collection. 8 rubles.

2 Belarusian National History Museum (Belarusian: Нацыянальны гістарычны музей Рэспублікі Беларусь), vul. Karla Marksa (вулiца Карла Маркса) 12 (Kastryčnickaja metro station Кастрычніцкая 0.6 km Kupalaǔskaja metro station Купалаўская, Plošča Lienina metro station Плошча Леніна 0.6 km), ☏ +375 17 327-3665, histmuseum@tut.by. 11:00-19:00 (last entry 18:30). The largest collection of material and spiritual culture of Belarus from the ancient times to our days. The museum has a good souvenir shop. Permanent exhibition - 7 rubles. Optional guided tour - 7 rubles; discounted entry for students and children. Additional charge for temporary exhibitions.. (updated Mar 2018)

3 Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum (Музей ВАВ, Беларускі дзяржаўны музей гісторыі Вялікай Айчыннай вайны), praspiekt Pieramožcaŭ, 8, ☏ +375-017-327-11-66, museumww2@tut.by. Tue Thu-Sun 10:00-18:00, Wed 12:00-20:00, closed Mon. A large collection of exhibits about WWII in Belarus. Adults 8 rubles, students 4 rubles, free on 1st Tuesday of a month. (updated Jan 2018)

1 Children's Railroad (K. S. Zaslonov Children's Railroad in Minsk (Belarusian: Дзiцячая чыгунка (Dzitsyachaya chyhunka); Russian: Минская детская железная дорога имени К.С.Заслонова (Minskaya detskaya zheleznaya doroga imeni K.S.Zaslonova)), prospekt Nezavisimosti, ~84a (Park Čaliuskincaǔ - M: Park Čaliuskincaǔ station (Парк Чалюскінцаў)). This is a 750-mm (2 ft 5½ in) narrow gauge railway loop passing through the Chelyuskinites Park. The railway line counts 3 stations (listed from north to south): Zaslonovo, Pionerskaya (or Pionerskaja) and Sosnovy Bor (or Sosnovyj Bor); and a pair of rail loops after the end stops. (updated Apr 2020)

Football: several Minsk teams play soccer in the Premier League, the country's top tier. The national team play at Dinamo Stadium, capacity 22,000, about 500 m south of city centre. That's also the home of top-tier club FC Minsk; other big club fixtures also occasionally use it. Other clubs in the city are Dinamo Minsk, Energetik-BGU (formerly Zvezda), and Isloch. The playing season is Mar-Nov.

Ice hockey: HC Dinamo Minsk play in KHL, the predominantly Russian league that also has teams from Beijing and Astana.

Parks and gardens

2 Botanical Garden (Belarusian: Цэнтральны батанічны сад. Russian: Центральный ботанический сад), Vulica Surhanava вул.Сурганава, 2v (M: Park Čaliuskincaǔ station (Парк Чалюскінцаў) 100 m (330 ft)), ☏ +375 17 292-69-15. Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00. A popular destination for a relaxed day in central Minsk. It is compact and mostly accessible, it has several outdoor and indoor cafes. An amusement park in Park Čaliuskincaǔ is next door. 8/4 rubles. (updated May 2019)

3 Park Čaliuskincaǔ (Belarusian: Парк Чалюскінцаў; Russian: Парк Челюскинцев, IPA: [park tɕeˈlʲʉskʲintsef]), Praspekt Niezaliežnasci, ~91 (M: Park Čaliuskincaǔ station (Парк Чалюскінцаў)). An urban forest park. The park's area is 78 hectares (190 acres). The park contains an amusement park. Other attractions include a Children's Railway, operated exclusively by teenagers, and a cinema Raduga (Russian: Радуга). There is a Minsk Metro station "Park Čaliuskincaǔ" next to the park. The park is adjacent to the Botanical Garden.

Due to the common history, traditional Belarusian cuisine is similar to that of the rest of Eastern Europe but particularly Polish and Lithuanian. Soups, dumplings, baked potato, mushroom and meat dishes, pickled vegetables and salads are often on the menu. Beer and naliŭki (berries, fruits and various spices liquors) are traditional here. Minsk has a good selection of Belarusian traditional restaurants. Among others, Georgian and Central Asian restaurants have a good reputation.

While meat has always been an integral part of traditional Belarusian meals, vegetarians and vegans are increasingly well served in Minsk. Belarus is a landlocked country; seawater fish is expensive.

Most, if not all venues in Minsk accept bank cards even for small amounts. Tipping up to 10% for table service is common, but not compulsory. Many cafes and bars have tip cups; leaving tips there is not compulsory either.

Budget

1 Supermarket Centralny Buffet (Універсам "Цэнтральны"), praspeiekt Nieszliežnasci, 23 (M Kastryčnickaja, Kupalaǔskaja), ☏ +375 17 323-88-76. 09:00-22:00. This is one of the oldest supermarkets in Minsk and is well worth of visiting just for its interiors reflecting the Soviet heritage of the city. The buffet on the ground floor has changed very little over the decades. It serves simple hot food, coffee, alcohol and Soviet-style cakes and pastries. Eat them standing by the window watching passers-by on the main Minsk avenue, Praspeiekt Niezaliežnasci. In the summer, an outdoor cafe is available too. This place is always busy, it is hugely popular with locals for reliable food, alcohol and low prices. The central location, just by the exit from two main metro stations, makes it very convenient for tourists. (updated Dec 2019)

2 Draniki, Plošča Svabody, 4 (M Niamiha 0.2km; M Kastryčnickaja or Kupalaǔskaja 0.3km). 11:00-00:00. Belarusian cuisine: draniki, cepelinai, salads, liquors (naliŭki) and beer. It is good for a quick meal. Large groups will feel particularly at home in the basement with more seating. English menu. 6-14 rubles mains. (updated Sep 2019)

Cafes

Getting decent coffee in Minsk is not difficult. In addition to local and international coffee and bakery chains (Paul, Thierry, Golden Coffee), there are plenty of independent coffee shops and stalls around the city, in shopping malls and museums. Many convenience stores and supermarkets offer coffee too. Most coffee shops close by 23:00.

1801 Coffee (1801 Koфе), Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci, 95 (M Park Čaliuskincaŭ), ☏ +375 29 255-50-05. 08:00-23:00. A trendy coffee destination boasting freshly roasted coffee beans. A watch salon of the local brand, Luch, shares the space. (updated Dec 2019)

Grand Cafe, Vulitsa Lenina 2, ☏ +375 44 7031111. 12:00-00:00. A high end restaurant on Lenin Street. Try the roasted duck or salmon with asparagus. They offer a no-smoking section, menus in English and most of the servers speak good English, too. Making a reservation is recommended, especially on weekends.

Golden Coffee, Pr. Nezalezhnasti 18, ☏ +375 17 237 41 87. 07:00-02:00. This cafe is on the main strip and one of the few that has both an outside and inside patio. And it is the place to see and be seen. The food is exquisite and they provide free Wi-Fi (till 18:00 when it automatically goes off for some reason). Also two other locations.

Zerno (Зерно), Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci, 46 (between M Jakuba Kolasa and M Plošča Pieramohi), ☏ +375 17 271-32-63, cafezerno@gmail.com. 07:00-23:00. Excellent coffee, quiches and cakes, as well as seasonal drinks like mulled wine and zbicień in the winter and iced coffee - in the summer - attract a large number of loyal customers. The small place is always busy. Staff speak English. Pay at the bar and take a seat - your order will be served to your table. Wifi. 5 rubles coffee, 7 rubles cakes. (updated Dec 2019)

The central area of Minsk is easily manageable on foot. Public transportation comprises buses, trams, trolleybuses, railway city lines and the Minsk metro (underground). Minsk public transport is cheap and reliable. For navigation, Google Maps does a good job.

Public transport

Tickets

Single trip tickets and margetic cards for uploading carnets and period passes can be purchased from metro ticket offices, Minsktrans (state public transport company for Minsk) offices in front of most metro station exits and from Minsktrans kiosks at many bus stops. There are a large number of carnet and pass combinations depending on the length of the intended stay and plans for travel. The metro-only magnetic card costs 1 ruble (refundable) plus cost of travel; the Minsktrans magnetic card costs 2.88 rubles (refundable) and is valid for metro, bus, trolleybus, tram and railway city lines (September 2019). For details, see the Minsk metro fairs guide in Belarusian and Russian.

A single trip ticket for bus, tram or trolleybus is paper-based and costs 0.60 rubles if purchased from a ticket office or kiosk, 0.65 rubles if purchased from the driver (September 2019). Tickets have to be validated straight away. In metro, a single journey is 0.65 rubles (September 2019) paid by tokens bought at a window or self-service kiosk inside the station. Visa and MasterCard bank cards can be used for contactless pay-as-you-go payments. Magnetic cards with carnets or period passes have to be scanned upon boarding buses, trolleybuses and trams; if successful, the scanner displays Аплочана (Belarusian for paid). There is no need to scan cards at the end of the journey. Validators for paper tickets and scanners for cards are separate machines. In metro, scan a card at the gate to your right and enter the station.

By bus

There are a few express buses (their route number is followed by Э - for Belarusian Экспрэс) in Minsk. They are not covered by the majority of available period passes, but can be added for a small payment.

Minsk is a safe and clean city. If you are in need of assistance, there is a strong police presence in the downtown area. Emergency medical help can be accessed 24/7, either in designated hospitals or by phone.

All Minsk Metro stations are equipped with security scanners and police are always present there. Passengers with large bags and, particularly, backpacks, are routinely asked to submit their belongings for scanning. The procedure is quick and the police are usually polite. Both the police and Metro staff keep an eye on not letting drunk passengers in, particularly in the evening. Even if you are tipsy, be prepared to answer about your destination station and address. Alternatively, use a taxi, buses, trolleybuses and trams.

The Belarusian law prohibits taking photographs of the government buildings. Locals tell stories of tourists approached by officials after attempting to photograph the monumental KGB headquarters on Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci.

Attending political and any protests may not be safe for tourists. Even bystanders may be detained by uniformed and plain cloth police. The judge is likely to accept the police story.

Belarus is safe for LGBT travellers most of the time. Belarusian law neither recognises nor bans same-sex relationships; it has some provision for transgender people. Homophobic and transphobic abuse is not recognised as a specific hate crime; any such incidents would be treated as generic hooliganism. This has its impact on society: most people would not mind having LGBT people around but would regard any explicit signs of affection disturbing. This may also lead to violence. In the past, there were reports of vigilante groups using dating apps; the police challenged those crimes. Taking reasonable precautions should be enough to stay safe.

The Belarusian law prohibits the distribution of pornography. While it is not used to routinely police people's belongings and video-streaming habits, there were odd cases of prosecuting Belarusian citizens for posting explicit content on social media and even in password-protected profiles.