Minsk

Eco-friendly travel guide to Minsk advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Minsk, Belarus.

Minsk at Night

Air quality: 3.5 / 5

Exploring by foot: 3 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 3.5 / 5

Public transportation: 3 / 5

Parks: 3.5 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 3 / 5

Safety: 3.5 / 5

Accommodation: US$10 - $120

Budget per day: US$150 - $250

Responsible Travel

The city of Minsk is very well known all around the world for being the capital of Belarus. The popularity of this capital city is around 2 million people, and many tourists visit this city annually.

Shopping is essential for every tour, and it will help you get the best experience of the place. There are many local shops in the city that sell unique products. Another thing that you need to try in the city is the local food. As a part, this city is dependent on tourism, and it will help them very much if you buy street foods from the local food shops. It will help you to get a lifetime experience in the city. Make sure to visit these shops and buy them if you like, and it will help the local people very much.

There are many city parks around in the city of Minsk that will take you closer to nature. You will be able to get fresh air and a nice green view surrounding you.

It will help you to stay healthy and keep the city pollution-free. You do not have to find many different places to find a green hotel. You will find many green hotels in the city that are very eco-friendly and comfortable for your stay.

Air Quality and Pollution

People who belong to a sensitive group might experience moderate symptoms when staying in the city for a long time. The air quality and pollution of the city might be acceptable for most individuals. But compared to different cities of western countries, the condition is bad. This city's air has reached a high level of pollution, and tourists need to be cautious if they have health conditions like asthma or others.

It will help you ensure your health's safety and have a good time in the city. The air quality index in the city of Minsk is 74, which is considered to be poor. The pollutants in the air have crossed the limitation established by the WHO. You might want to take some safety precautions and some medicines with you when visiting the city.

Respect the Culture

On your tour to the city of Minsk, one of the best and attractive things is the place's culture. Being the capital of Belarus, this city is the cultural center of the country. You will get to see different ethnicities in this city, mainly Chinese, Malays, and Indians. So, you will be able to see many different traditions here of all the different cultures.

Without witnessing the culture, you will not be able to get the best experience of your tour. You will get to meet new people, traditions, lifestyles, culture, and many other things. Apart from the landmarks and beautiful places, this city's unique culture is another thing that pulls the tourists here.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Victory Square: Victory square is located in the center of the city of Minsk. The square crosses Zakharau Street and Independence Avenue. The Victory square is known as the key landmark of Belarus, such as Moscow’s Red Square.

Belarusian State Museum Of History Of The Great Patriotic War: Belarusian State Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War is the Museum of World War II. It is located in Prospekte Pobeditelei, Minsk, Belarus. The Museum was established in the year 1944. It was built after the end of the Occupation of Nazis.

Belarusian National Arts Museum: Belarusian National Arts Museum is a trove of local Russian and Belarusian arts. It is located in Vulica Lenina, Minsk, Belarus. It is one of the famous and largest museums in Belarus, which is located in Minsk. It was built in the year 1939. The director of this museum was Vladimir Prokoptsov.

Gorky Park: Gorky Park is basically famous for its open-air theatre and its café. It is located in Vulica Frunze, Minsk, Belarus. Gorky Park is basically a public park which is located near the victory square. The park was established in the year 1800 by the Garden’s Governer.

National Library Of Republic Of Belarus: National Library of the Republic of Belarus is the Library with an Iconic design. It is located in Praspiekt Niezalieznasci, Minsk, Belarus. The library is the biggest and populous library in Belarus. This library has 23 floors in it. The founder of the library was Roman Motulski.

National Academic Bolshoi Opera And Ballet: National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet is a huge grand venue for opera, ballet, and music. It is located in Plosca Paryskaj Kamuny, Minsk, Belarus. It was founded in 1933 by the architect Amed Losif Langbard.

Minsk Botanical Garden: The Botanical garden is a peaceful park with walking paths and greenery everywhere by the numerous plants, trees, and flowers. It is located in the city of Minsk, Belarus.

Island Of Tears: Island of tears is an artificial island with a memorial in it. It is one of the famous islands in the city of Minsk, Belarus. This island has the heartbroken memory of the soldiers who died in the war. It is a somber place to visit.

Minsk Town Hall: Minsk Town Hall is the city or town hall in the city of Minsk, Belarus. It is located in Plosca Svabody, Minsk, Belarus. It is 19th century classical styled governmental building for public tours. It is becoming a famous tourist place in the city of Minsk, Belarus.

Saint Simon And Saint Helena Church: Saint Simon and Saint Helena Church is the historic red catholic church with mass. It is located in Ulitsa Sovetskaya, Minsk, Belarus. It is founded in the year 1910. It is founded by an architect named Tomasz Pajzderski.

Victory Square in Minsk

Explore

People say that all work and no play would make one dull. This city ensures that it has places that play roles in calming and relaxing the mind. The city has many things to offer apart from the many historical and culturally renowned places packed with tourists. There is so much to do in this city, so tourists should have a schedule plan ready so that activities will not be jumbled. The various parks, beaches, museums, and landmarks will help you get deep insights into the local culture and its beauty.

City Parks

The views are one thing you cannot take away from parks. The city is big, and it has a big collection of parks and other such places. It has big open spaces and greeneries where you can spend time with your children and other family members.

Here are some famous city parks in the city:

Victory Park
Janki Kupaly Park
Park Drozdy
Caliuskincau Park

Victory Park in Minsk

National Parks

Here are some of the famous national parks in the city:

Braslav Lakes National Park
Naroch National Park
Pripyat National Park
Polesie State Radiation And Ecology Reserve

Braslav Lakes National Park

Beaches

The city of Minsk is basically a city of famous beaches. It has some islands and beaches around it. But there is nothing to worry about because a few districts are there near to the city where you will get the finest beaches. The city of Minsk is famous for its stunning beaches, and therefore it attracts thousands of tourists from across the world.

Kamsamolskaje Voziera Beach
2Nd Beach Of Tsna Water Park
Club Beach
Drozdy Beach Wakepark

Landmarks

You must try and visit as many as you possibly can. While the list is quite long, we are mentioning a few of them for our readers' benefit. Here are some of the famous landmarks in the city of Minsk:

Strana Mini Muzey Miniature
Zaslawskaye Reserviour
Losycki Park
Holy Spirit Cathedral
Minsk Zoo

Manor of Lubanski family, Lošycki park

Museums

Visiting museums would be the icing on your holiday package, especially if you are in this city, as it shows that you have adequately explored the city.

Here are some of these museums given are as follows:

Money Museum Grosi
Museum Strana Mini
Belarusian Folk Museum Of Architecture And Rural Life
Alivaria Brewery Museum

Eat

You will find that the locals prefer to eat healthy and nutritious food with lots of vegetables and meat. Apart from these traditional and modern cuisines, the local street food is a must-try one that will leave your mouth lingering with their flavors. The city of Minsk is not complete without having some good food in the city. You need to taste some of the best and local foods of the city to understand the local people's culture and tradition very closely. As the city has a mixed culture, you will get different types of local food. The prices of most foods are low compared to many other cities in different countries. You will find that vegetarian, and non-vegetarian dishes are popular, and you will not find much trouble conveying your food preferences. Here are some famous local restaurants, vegetarian and vegan as well as street foods.

Traditional Local Restaurants

If you want to waste no time eating international foods while in Minsk and take your focus to try traditional foods. Here are some famous local restaurants which serve their authentic traditional foods are given below:

Bistro Deluxe
Kamyanitsa Restaurant
Kuhmistr
Vasilki

Vegetarian and Vegan

If you are a vegetarian, you do not need to worry when you are in this city as there are many restaurants to attend to your needs. Eating healthy vegetables and different vegan dishes helps travelers to stay healthy and fit. With these places, you will get to enjoy traditional meals properly with your regular choices. If you are one of them, you do not need to worry much as there are many different vegan restaurants available in the city.

Green+Go
Monkey Food
Om Namo
Veggie Bar

Street Food

There are some of the street foods available that are very popular all around the world. One of the best things about the city is the street foods that give the best tradition and culture. Different cities have various food they classify as street food. Suppose you are a street food enthusiast and would want to try some in this city. You know those foods you can easily get at the roadside without the need for a fancy restaurant—those classified as street food.

You will be able to get some of the best street foods in every corner of this city. You will be amazed to see the street food options, and it will surely wake up the real foodie in you.

Drink

You also will be able to come across many fruit juice stalls where you can enjoy almost all types of fruits that keep your body cool and in good health. You will be able to get various beverages, various wines, and many other local drinks that will help you know the locals well. If you find a bar or pub in the city, you will not have to look much as it is plenty. Both local people and foreigners visit bars, pubs, and cafes to get the best experience of having different drinks. If you would like to restrict yourself to only soft drinks, Minsk's city offers options for the best of coffee, tea, and other beverages apart from branded soft drinks.

Tap-water

There are many shops available in Minsk that have a huge collection of bottled water, both local and international. Like many other western cities, the tap water of the city is safe for travelers to drink. It is better to drink water from the packed bottles instead of the local ones. In places where you cannot get the bottled water, make sure to boil the tap water from the nearest places or carry one boiled tap water bottle with you as it is safe to drink once boiled. Apart from drinking, use the boiled water to brush teeth or wash your mouth. Many locals might suggest filtering the tap water before drinking it to get the bad properties out and make it clear to drink. They are not so cheap, but you have to use them if you are worried about your health. But it is better to avoid the tap-water as you might still get sick after drinking the filtered water as a traveler.

Organic Cafés

The city has stood up to the task of catering for all segments of the population, including those with a preference for organic foods. Organic foods are one of the healthiest foods that come without any chemical uses. As an eco-friendly traveler, you do not have to worry in this city about having organic foods. Since some people would prefer to eat organic, it is not out of place to have organic cafes in different cities. There are many different restaurants and cafes in the town that have organic dishes and other organic ingredients.

Beetle Juice Café
Café Zerno
My English Granny
News Café
Fresh Cafe

Breweries

The local people in the city love to drink. The city offers a few breweries collections, and it is one of the last places that a beer lover wants to visit. As the city has a high alcohol tax, you will not find many shops on the road. However, there are some places that you can visit to get international craft beer options. It is tough to get the license to brew in the city, and there are only two and a half brewers available in the city.

However, there are some places that you can visit to get international craft beer options.

Mad Frog Brewery
Alivaria
Bierbank
Rakovskiy Brovar

Activities

Apart from that, the city offers different places like twin towers, lakes, gardens, and famous parks that will help you to get close to nature. If you are more into sports, then there are many parks in the city, where you can visit to have some of the best sports experience.

As the people of this city like to stay healthy and fit, you will see many gyms and yogas. Historic and world-famous places are there in the city that you can visit and perform activities. You can also ride bikes, hike mountains, go fishing, and perform many other outdoor activities in the city. Minsk's city also offers different places like beaches, historic places, national parks, and famous parks that will help you get close to nature. As there are many forests and parks available, the thrilling experience of exploring deep forests and witnessing wild animals is also there.

Yoga and Retreats

There are many yoga institutes in the city where you can train under a qualified and experienced yoga teacher. With increasing awareness of the need for a healthy and fit lifestyle, the local people are gaining interest in yoga. Taking a break from the hectic journey and relaxing at their yoga retreats help very much to get your energy back. From online to offline yogas, the city offers you various options to get in good shape here. Many tourists like to take care of their health on their tour and join local yoga centers to care for it.

Yoga Place
Yoga Studiya Om
Aarogya
Yoga Club
Yoga Tut Studio

Accommodation

The city center is the most crowded spot in the city where you will see many shops, different local foods, and other tourists. No matter what type of accommodation you are searching for, you will find most of the types here. Staying and spending days in a city depends a lot on the hotels and motels of the place. Staying in a hotel that provides different services helps you get the best time in the city and have a great experience. You will also get some hotels in the city that offer the best view of the city. You will find many accommodation options in the city from different places, but it's best to book a hotel that is close to the city center. It will help you to reach different attractive spots easily. As an eco-friendly traveler, you will also get the option of green hotels to make your stay healthy and well.

Green Hotels

Many foreigners fail to realize that they have a role to play in protecting the environment, and it does not matter if it is your place of origin or not. If you are an environmental enthusiast, we know that you would search for green hotels in the city to ensure that you have an eco-friendly stay in the city.

Here are some of the green hotels in the city given below:

Voyage Hotel
Slavyanskaya Hotel
Orbita Hotel
Hotel “Sport Time

Hostels and Guest Houses

Here are some comfortable and affordable guesthouses as well as hostels in the city. You will get plenty of options for hotels in the city, from low to high, three-star to five-stars with different offerings. Both online and offline bookings are available in most of these hotels. They are given below:

Andrew Loft Guest House
Newhostel.By
Hostel Stary Minsk
Hostel Cuba

Apartments

You will have many such options available to you. However, not all apartment owners may feel comfortable renting out their properties to foreigners, but things are changing. Renting apartments will not be much of a problem in the city as you will get many opinions. You can take the help of different services to rent apartments at an affordable price. It will help you get a better service and save finding one in the city. They would like to earn some passive income from their apartments that otherwise would have remained vacant. Choosing a renting apartment helps to save a lot of money and stay comfortable in the city. It is best to find and book the apartment before stepping into the city.

Couchsurfing

It is easier to discover the hosts before going to the city, and it will help you save time. You will be able to enjoy the city and its culture like the local people. To find the hosts in the city of Minsk, you can take the help of different services. Travelers like to find Couch surfing in different cities, which helps them stay in the city for a long time and save a lot of money. Couch surfing is a community of travelers from different places worldwide who offers other travelers to stay in their home and roam the city. Many people are offering Couch surfing in the city of Minsk that you can take the help of.

Camping

It is one of the best accommodations that you can choose in Minsk's city to stay near nature and save a lot of money. You will be able to get the raw adventure in the heart of nature by camping in these places. Many tourists like to do adrenaline rushing adventures in different places they visit. Minsk's city is filled with landmarks, parks, and museums, and many different suitable spaces give the best camping experience. Here are some perfect places for you to camp in the city of Minsk.

Camping Ground
Scomyslickaja Dubrava
Zarechany
Dubrava
Belcamp.By

How to Get There

You can book the tickets using different transformation systems' online services to reach the city without any complications smoothly. You need to know every single detail of different transport options, which can help you in your journey. You will get different options like cars, airways, trains, and many others. However, most people from different countries choose the airways as the best option for reaching the city of Minsk and saving a lot of time in the process. Here are some transportation options and details about them given below.

Air

The Minsk National Airport is the airport in the city and manages all the national flights and domestic flights coming into the city. The airport is one of the busiest airports globally and has flights operating to and from all the major destinations. The airport is well connected to all the country cities, so you don’t have to worry about eco-friendly travel. Compared to all the other transportation options, the air is the most convenient way to save a lot of time and helps you travel comfortably. Make sure to book a ticket early from the departing date as the bookings might get full if you are late.

Minsk International Airport

Bus

However, the bus journey from different countries might be too hectic for the travelers as they have to change many buses on their way to the city. It is best to avoid the option of a bus if you are traveling from different countries. The bus is always a perfect option to travel to different cities and also it comes with a cheap fare that helps to save a lot of money. If you travel from the other cities in the country, you will get many options to reach the city as it is very well connected with other cities. Make sure to book the bus tickets online before your tour date to confirm your seat on the bus.

Buses in Minsk

Train

You will be able to see all the beautiful sceneries from the windows and along with great comfort. As the train tickets tend to get booked very fast, you need to be very early to book a seat for yourself successfully. The city of Minsk is very well connected with different countries by railway.

International trains are very widely available in this city but book the tickets online to not end up on the waiting list. You will be able to get the train from this city from the neighboring countries very easily.

Hitchhiking

This is known to be one of the best hitchhiking places for travelers. But the place is not too easy to reach for people, so many people avoid it. If you want to get to the city by hitchhiking, you will get many different options like the big toll gate in the south of the city. It is one of the best hitchhiking among all the other ones to help you get to the city. They might have to take a lot of walking to reach their starting from crossing the rail tracks to covering the bridge, which is a very long walk.

Others

A journey is not a very good start on tour, so it is better to stick with the option of flight or train. There are many other transport options available to you if you are traveling from the cities in the country or other countries. You can also book a cab to travel from other cities to the city of Minsk. Most people avoid these options because they are both time taking and costly. You can always reach the city by the road having four wheels or two wheels. It will take you a lot of time, but you will need a lot of time compared to other options to reach your destination.

Moving Around

If you are traveling to Minsk's city, you need to know the available options that you can use to move around the attractive places in the city. Some of them take less time, and some others are cheaper. The most common ways of moving around in the city are walking, riding cycles, and taking electronic vehicles. There are many different transportation options that you can choose to get the best experience in the city. So, here are some details about these transportation methods.

Walk

If you do not want to miss a little bit of this place, then you need to walk down the streets. Compared to other transportation processes, walking takes less time to reach important places. You do not have to be stuck in traffic or wait for the signal to go to your destination. Make sure to carry some essentials like food and water while planning to tour the city on foot. Walking might be the best option to witness the local culture and people of this city. You will be able to find many walking lanes that are separated from the car roads and well-connected around the city.

Bicycle

There are many parks in the city where you can ride your bicycle as much as you want. The lanes and roads are very well maintained by the city officials, helping the riders ride safely and comfortably in the city. If you want to take care of your health and prevent pollution on your tour, then a bicycle is the best travel option. There are many rental services online and offline that will give you a bicycle on rent for limited days. Make sure to book them faster to avoid any hectic issues last time. Riding a bicycle is undoubtedly one of the best eco-friendly options that help keep nature clean and help you get to your destination faster.

Electronic Vehicles

They are expensive compared to the other transportation mode, but they also help you reach your destination faster. It is the best option if you are visiting someplace far within the city using high roads. You can get different electronic vehicles in the city, so this should not disturb your mind. The city is highly urbanized, and they are in touch with the latest features in the world. It is expected that everyone would have safety procedures at the back of their mind, and you would not want to use something like an electronic scooter on a busy road to obstruct cars. Thus, electric vehicles are not strange to any of the locals. Knowing that you can get an electronic vehicle if you desire, the next question for foreigners is how safe it is to use such in the city. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this travel medium, just like other ones. From taxi to self-driving cars, you will be able to get many electronic vehicles in your way.

Public Bus

You will be able to find many buses in the city, and all of them help give a very nice and comfortable riding experience. Buses are very frequent in this city, and you will get ones easily from the bus stands. If you want to save money while traveling to different places in the city, then a bus is the best option for you as a mode of travel. Most of the buses are very much available in the districts. Most of these buses run near the city's popular sites to help travelers move from one place to another. The best thing about this transportation mode is that it helps you get to the destination very fast in a cheap fare that saves time and money.

Tram, Train and Subway

Trams, Trains, and subways classify amongst the public transportation system in Minsk, and it is a common form. As we have repeatedly mentioned earlier, it is one of the cheapest means of transportation in the city, and we can vouch to a large extent that it is safe to use. If you have made friends with a local or fellow foreigner, you can pair up when entering or using a train so that you do not feel an extended time while on it. Conversations always whirl time away. It is easy to get and use if it is your desired choice, and they go to various locations within the district.

It also allows you to have better views of different parts of the city. If you do not have a train in your country, visiting the city of Minsk will enable you to use one, and you should not pass up the chance as it does not come easily. The timing might be longer than usual with any other means of transportation, but you will get to your destination.

Sustainable Shopping

There are many shops and markets in this city that will help you to get recycled items at a reasonable price. A tour of a place is never complete without having good shopping. It helps to give you the best experience and witness the culture up close. Eco-friendly sustainable stores that promote zero-waste are increasing rapidly in the city, and many locals are tying hearse products. You will be able to get some branded eco-friendly stores too in the city of Minsk. You will be able to get many different local shops that sell traditional items. Make sure to buy from the local shops to support them and help them make a living. As an eco-friendly traveler, make sure to try the eco-friendly shops such as recycled or second-hand items.

Food Markets

Roaming the food markets is always good, as you will be able to get close to the locals and learn about different cooking and eating ingredients. Sometimes, foreigners want to try out recipes of their host city personally and seek out the special items and ingredients—the place where you would go to get food items in the food market. We would assume that you already know some of the city's local delicacies since we have talked about some of them.

Some of them in the city of Minsk are:

Korona
Vse Svoye
Rublevski
Euroopt Market
Halal Market
Mini Store

Flea Markets

If you are one of them, you do not have to worry much as you will get many flea markets in Minsk. Shopping with a twist is always very good for the tourists, and they often look for flea markets wherever they go. Some of the best flora markets that can help you get some of the best crafts, antiques, and hidden gems are given below.

Zhdanovichi Shopping Center
Kamarouski Rynak
Mini Rynok
Tsum Minsk

Second Hand Stores

While many travelers always buy second-hand clothes, ornaments, and other essentials, local people have started to adapt to these things. Using second-hand products is a great way to decrease wastes and help the city become eco-friendly.

Here are some of the famous second-hand stores:

Second Hand
Adzenne
Moda Maks
Vintazh Stil.’
Rkonom Siti

Eco-Fashion

If you want to try some eco-friendly fashions that will help you stay healthy in the city and make the city safe, you can try many options available in the city. Eco-fashion is the use of sustainable materials that protect the environment to make clothes. These shops promote zero waste and recycling that helps to keep the environment safe.

Recycling

Since Minsk is one of the top sustainable cities globally, you should know that they are always proactive towards recycling. During your stay in the city, you will notice that the government has facilities to ensure the enforcement of recycling, and the locals gladly comply because they understand its importance. Recycling is a great way to make the environment clean from pollution and wastes. As a foreigner, you should join hands with the locals and imbibe the recycling culture. Many wastes are polluting the sea and making it hard for sea creatures to survive. Also, these wastes are slowly polluting the whole earth. So, many countries and different cities have started to take care of the environment by recycling things.

Waste

In the past free years, the locals are also trying to cope with the changes and adopt recycled products. As the pollution index is poor in this city, improving the environment is very important. They understand that it is their responsibility to keep their environment clean, and whatever they do can either make or mark their atmosphere. These people strive to have a city conducive to living and know that it is impossible without an adequate waste management organization.

According to the different reports, the waste accretion of the city is tons per year. But the city is trying to lower the waste produced by different things. They are trying to promote recycling products, and there are many shops in the city that offer mind condition recycled essentials. Most travelers like to buy those recycled products to keep the waste low. As an eco-friendly traveler, you will get green hotels, green shops, to organic restaurants here that will help you to keep the waste minimum.

Work and Study Abroad

The city is very well known around the world in different countries for being the capital of Belarus. Taking the help of online job finders also helps very much to find the best available jobs easily. The city is quite developed from different sectors, which include work and study too. Apart from that, these students also have a permit to work in the city while studying to earn pocket money and fess. These universities and colleges offer good courses to students, and they have different offers for international students that attract students from all over the world. There are many jobs available in the city that these students can take and earn a good amount of money. The number of international students is very high in the city as some of the best universities and colleges here. When it comes to international students, you will find plenty of them here as the city's education system offers higher education at an affordable price.

Exchange Student

Although most exchange students who come to the city are from neighboring countries, some take part in other faraway countries. Exchange student study is getting more and more popular in Minsk, as many students are deciding to go to the city for higher study. Many other countries do not have this opportunity and study options like this one. Shortly, the exchange student concept is set to grow more and positively impact the educational system. There are many exchange student opportunities that are there in the city for students to choose from. There is a specific semester in the city that is getting famous and inviting students from other countries.

Au Pair

You will get an excellent response from the local people when searching for au pair if you know where to search for them. Au Pair is available in Minsk, but you will need to find a little bit hard to get a hold of them. This is one of the best options for students and foreigners to stay in the city. Not only it helps the person, but it also helps the host to do their daily work. It is a perfect chance to earn money and continue studying in a foreign country for students. People who are planning to stay in the city from different countries can take the help of the au pair in the initial stage to earn money and get shelter. Take the help of different services that help to find the perfect au pair for you as per your choice. This is a good accommodation option available for tourists also.

Volunteering

Volunteering is one of the best ways to keep the city clean and get to know the local people very well. There are hundreds of organizations in the city of Minsk that provide volunteering options. Suppose you wish to indulge in a volunteering act while in the city, you would not have difficulty getting any. As the city is trying to improve the environment, you can volunteer after visiting the city to keep it clean. You will also get help to get your language skill up one notch. There are many different services available that can help you to get volunteering.