Where to visit Belarus by car in the summer. Independent travel around Belarus. Where and how to rent housing in Belarus
It’s an amazing fact that the sights of Belarus a month ago were not even considered in my rhythm of life, and I didn’t even think about traveling independently by car around Belarus to its monuments and interesting places.
But the circumstances were such that at the beginning of April I decided to go to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, for the weekend. And already in the process of preparing for this trip, the thought came to both the sights of Belarus and the possibility of traveling by car around this country.
Suddenly, school memories of the beauty of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the legendary Brest Fortress came back to mind. After analyzing the Minsk-Brest route, I discovered many more interesting places that could easily be seen along the route by car.
This is how my excursion route gradually took shape, in which in just one week I was able to visit many amazing historical and modern places, walk through ancient parks and climb narrow stone stairs in the ancient towers of knightly castles, see many unusual representatives of the animal world and even meet with a fairy tale in the person of such an unusual character as Santa Claus! 🙂
Well, now, first things first... To find out more about any excursion or tourist attraction, you can follow the link.
It was spring. Nature gradually came to its senses after its winter sleep. It was drizzling in the early April gloomy morning in the Moscow region. The airfield of Vnukovo airport and the planes getting wet on it also looked sad.
Flight UT835 on the Moscow-Minsk route from UTair departed as scheduled. At 10 o'clock in the morning we boarded a small plane. Outside the windows the Moscow morning was still gloomy, but in my soul, oddly enough, it was sunny and a little exciting about the unknown.
This always happens at the very beginning of a trip. And this is the feeling that probably attracts you on every journey.
The flight lasted only 1 hour 20 minutes, and I began to study in more detail the details of the preliminary route of my independent trip. I carried out the initial steps, such as transfer from the airport, renting an apartment in Minsk, and booking a car at home. But the entire excursion program was not yet thought out at all.
What can you see in Belarus by car? In front of me were interesting sights of Belarus and the general direction where I would like to go. And where I would stay, how long it would take to inspect each object, on what day I would end up in what place - it was still very vague.
Day 1-4. Hello, Minsk city
First impressions
And now I’m already there, at the international airport of the Belarusian capital, in Minsk. It is also cloudy here, but dry and warmer.
The first thing I decide to do is acquire local currency. Money in Belarus is a completely different matter. Receiving full millions for your Russian rubles... it's cool! You immediately feel like, if not Rockefeller, then at least his relative. 😀
Having given 10 thousand Russian rubles, I received almost 3 million Belarusian rubles in return.
It turned out that this is a very pleasant activity - “rustling” with millions. 😆
It's good to have friends! Especially in those places where you plan to visit. My old friend met me at the airport and very quickly took me to the capital, telling me as well as any guide about the main intricacies and secrets of Belarusian life. 🙂
The first feeling from the view outside the windows is amazing cleanliness! And this despite the fact that it is also still the off-season here, that is, fresh grass does not cover winter debris. There's simply nothing to cover here. In contrast to the Russian highways, it looks amazing!
We arrived in Minsk very comfortably, and I went to meet the owner of my rented apartment. I will tell you a little more about renting housing and a car, as well as about traveling by public transport and taxis at the end of this article.
I spent the first 4 days in Minsk: 2 of them were mainly devoted to studying, and the rest of the time I just walked around the city. I came to the apartment in the evening, just to spend the night. There was so much I wanted to see that I said to myself: “I’ll rest at home.”
Now let's move on to the sights. Additionally, all of them are indicated on the map at the bottom of this article; it will be easier to navigate what is where and how to easily get to each attraction.
And I’ll start my review of the trip with a trip to.
Walking around the city
Independence of Belarus
Perhaps it would be more logical to start from the main square of the city - Independence Square (or, as it is funny called in Belarusian, Independence Square). What beauty all around!
Over the course of its long history, the square has changed its name 14 times. Until 1991, it was, like all central city squares, Lenin Square. Now, decorated with fountains, it attracts the attention of tourists with its unique beauty. And locals love to stroll here in the evening, when the lights turn on and the square is illuminated with delightful light.
A huge shopping center with parking has been built underground here. Independence Square gives rise to Independence Avenue, which runs almost through the entire city. Here is the main building of the country - the Government House.
The first Belarusian skyscraper is how Minsk residents proudly and respectfully call this building. A seven-meter monument to V.I. Lenin still stands in front of the entrance. During the war, the monument was destroyed, but after the Germans surrendered it was quickly restored. And the building itself, like the nearby Catholic Church of Saints Simon and Helen, became one of the few buildings that survived the war years without much destruction.
Catholic church with a sad history
Nearby stands the Church of Saints Simeon and Helen, built entirely of red brick.
In memory of two children who died early from illness, it was built with their own money by inconsolable parents - Edward and Olympia Voinilovich. Once Elena saw this beautiful building in a dream, and in the morning she drew it. And now it is rightfully considered one of the decorations of the Belarusian capital.
If you're nearby, be sure to go inside. It is very beautiful and a little mysterious here. Beautiful sculptures, bronze details of the temple, superbly painted walls and vaults, amazing stained glass windows - all this creates a solemn atmosphere. And in combination with the music of the organ, one of the oldest in Europe, it’s simply an amazing experience.
The temple contains one of the seven copies of the Shroud of Turin. An extensive library of ancient books has been collected. The ashes of the founder of the church, Edward Voinilovich, also rest here. Right at the entrance there is a statue where Archangel Michael - the patron saint of Belarus - pierces the winged serpent of darkness with his sword.
Right there, very close by, is another monument, “The Bell of Nagasaki”, it was erected in memory of those killed in nuclear disasters. Very dramatic!
Belarusian Bastille
Now it carries out the death penalty for criminals - execution. Quite unusual: an execution in the center of a metropolis... although! “Crosses” in St. Petersburg, Lubyanka with its cellars in the center of Moscow...
Blessed place
Next, your attention will undoubtedly be attracted by the white stone.
This majestic building was originally built as a Catholic church. But over time, after some repairs, it became Orthodox. In addition to other Orthodox shrines, the cathedral houses the icon of the Mother of God, now called the Minsk icon.
It was once written by the holy Apostle Luke. Many events happened in the life of the icon; she visited many churches. According to legend, the Svisloch River sailed to Minsk and was placed, not immediately of course, in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. And now this miraculous Image helps everyone who turns to it for help in difficult life situations.
And so I went to the prygazhuni embankment (that’s how the word “beauty” will sound in Belarusian) of Svisloch! How beautiful it is here!
The birds are singing, the sun is shining, making the water surface shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Seagulls fly and scream, ducks swim near the shore. If you have a desire and a bun in your purse, you can feed them, then they will swim closer.
Beautiful weather and, what is immediately noticeable, the surroundings are perfectly clean and tidy! And not only here! It is immediately clear that the janitors do their job conscientiously, and Minsk residents, of course, care about the cleanliness of their hometown. Well done!
Happy memory to the heroes!
A small shaped bridge leads to an artificial island located not far from the shore. A monument to soldiers who died on the battlefields has recently been unveiled here. At first, this monument was conceived as a tribute to those killed in Afghanistan.
But, unfortunately, there were many more terrible events in the world where Belarusian soldiers took part. This monument is dedicated to all of them.
The figurine of the little Weeping Angel is very touchingly made, crying inconsolably for those who died, who could not return to their beloved and loving wife, mother or bride.
Trinity Suburb - history and legends
Directly opposite is a very beautiful place, which still retains the spirit of old Minsk. This is the Trinity Suburb - the historical center of the city.
There are a lot of benches to sit and breathe fresh air and a large number of all kinds of cafes and restaurants. And yet such beauty is hidden in the greenery of the trees.
“Girl with an Owl” is considered a symbol of the Trinity Suburb. The girl is holding an owl, and she herself is standing on a branch of a flowering fern, with a lizard sitting near her feet. The entire sculpture is located on a large stone, and two more lie nearby. There are only three - the town of Troitskoye.
According to the existing legend, it is at this place that every poet or artist must make a choice for himself what is more important to him:
- a girl personifying the muse;
- owl is a symbol of wisdom;
- a flowering branch is a symbol of glory;
- lizard is a symbol of monetary wealth.
What choice would you make?
And here’s another thing... Not far away is the city’s first public toilet. Yes, yes, sorry. I will now tell you why it attracts special attention. According to existing legend, in 1912 a very famous architect Sienkiewicz built a palace for a noble count. But he refused to pay, and did not pay a penny for the work.
Then the angry architect decided to take revenge on the greedy count and built a public toilet in Alexander Square with his own money. An exact scaled-down copy of that same castle. Now this small house sells tickets to the Yanka Kupala Theater. But from 1912 to 2012 - exactly one hundred years - it was used for its original purpose.
The pride of our contemporaries is the Belarusian “Diamond of Knowledge”
Of course, I really wanted to take a close look at the famous National Library of Belarus. This unusual structure really interested me.
Indeed, the shape of the library building resembles a cut diamond. “The Diamond of Knowledge,” as Belarusians also call it, contains 9 million book volumes. This unique building is equipped with the latest technology.
There is a playroom for children, and a special recreation room for adults; there are gyms, a cafe and a restaurant.
At an altitude of 73 meters there is an observation deck from where you can admire the beautiful views of Minsk.
In the evening, the lights turn on and the façade of the building turns into a huge multi-colored screen. The spectacle is amazing!
Day 5. On the way to Brest
My training is completed, and the main attractions of Minsk have been explored. Now you can safely go on new adventures! The issue with renting a car was resolved very successfully the day before, and it is waiting for me under the windows of my rented apartment.
I will tell you details about renting housing, cars and other necessary things at the end of the article.
In the morning, having collected my things, casting a farewell glance at the awakening Minsk
and having said goodbye to the hostess, I leave Minsk in a rented car towards Brest. The main goal of today is Belovezhskaya Pushcha, about which so much has been heard over the years of life back in the Soviet Union.
And only now my old dream of walking through a protected forest and looking at live bison is starting to come true. I described my route in more detail in.
In total, I have traveled 447 kilometers today. And here are the sights that we managed to see along the way.
Nesvizh - the patrimony of the Radziwills
Nesvizh Castle
Moving along an excellent highway, I turn towards Nesvizh, about which I have read many reviews.
And now, having covered 120 km from Minsk, I am there. In the city I am greeted by beautiful swans and the striking of the clock on the city tower in the city center. Every 15 minutes they remind you of the past time.
The small town of Nesvizh has been known for a very long time. But it began to develop especially quickly when it began to belong in 1533 to Jan Radziwill, a representative of the majestic, influential and very rich family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
For centuries, the Radziwills owned vast lands, towns and cities belonged to them. Kings without a crown - that's what their compatriots called them.
Indeed, the Radziwills occupied the highest government and military positions. The opinion of representatives of this clan influenced the fate of the entire state. And the king himself could envy their untold wealth.
4 parks surround the Nesvizh Radziwill Castle. And each has its own history, its own specially decorated territory, its own monuments, original sculptures, its own legends.
So I took a walk in these parks.
It’s very beautiful, young leaves are blooming on the trees, the birds are singing.
But cold…
Brest Fortress - a citadel of courage
On June 22, 1941, the soldiers of the Brest Fortress were the first to come under fire from the Nazis and for more than a month, completely surrounded, without food or water, without medicine or ammunition, they held the defense, not allowing the Nazis to go further.
After the war, the fortress was not completely restored. To eternally remind descendants of the feat of the defenders of the Motherland, an entire memorial complex has been created here, and the Eternal Flame burns without going out.
On November 3-4, 2016, the memorial complex celebrated memorable dates. The Defense Museum is 60 years old! And the State Institution Memorial Complex “Brest Hero Fortress! - 45!
Brest – a city of unusual museums
There are also about 900 species of plants growing in the reserve, including rare and endangered species. Some trees are over 500 years old. 227 species of birds delight visitors with their beauty and iridescent singing.
But the greatest pride of Belovezhskaya is the bison living here.
Today, here is the largest population of these forest giants in Europe. And, among other things, I was surprised by the fantastically clean air in Pushcha. I have never seen such an amount of oxygen anywhere else! Just a fairy tale!
Belarusian Santa Claus lives here
By the way, there is a fairy tale here too! Believe it if you want, or better yet, check it, but here, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Father Frost and his assistants live in his wonderful residence and happily receive numerous guests.
The good wizard's estate includes the owner's house with workshops where gifts are made; the house where the Snow Maiden lives; a magic well that makes wishes come true; a windmill that grinds everything bad, sculptural figures of heroes from your favorite fairy tales and much, much more.
At any time of the year, guests are absolutely always welcome here. Previously, an incomparable spruce grew here for more than 120 years. Its height was 40 meters. Unfortunately, she died several years ago. But in her place a new young beauty has been installed. Children and adults enjoy dancing around it.
At the residence of Father Frost, you can take part in fun games and competitions, taste delicious potato pancakes and other national dishes.
You definitely won't be bored! So if you're in the area, be sure to stop by! Santa Claus lives about 10 km from the main entrance to the protected forest!
The way of life of a Belarusian family in the museum of the village of Pererov
The Museum of Folk Life and Ancient Technologies is another interesting place that I was able to visit here. It is located in the village of Pererov. This museum complex was created on the basis of an old 19th-century manor, which was restored in the spirit of that time and filled with things that no rural family could do without.
Every corner of the house used to have its own purpose. There were always icons in the house - the image of the Savior and the image of the Mother of God. Each family member had their own rights and responsibilities. Men and women have their own crafts. For example, in the museum, your attention will be drawn to an ancient loom for double weaving. This art is currently included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Belarus.
And here you will be treated to real moonshine. This is one of the few places in Belarus where moonshine brewing is officially permitted, and there is a license for the moonshine still installed here.
You will learn about all this, about the traditions and customs of our ancestors.
Day 8. Belovezhskaya Pushcha-Kossovo-Ruzhany-Synkovichi-Zhirovichi-Baranovichi
The time has come for me to leave this amazing natural reserve. Belovezhskaya Pushcha did not disappoint, but, on the contrary, enchanted me even more. And now I want to return there with even greater desire.
Well, my path now lies towards Minsk. But along the way, Belarus has prepared many more attractions for me. These are amazing and Orthodox shrines. It’s difficult to do everything in one day, so I’m planning to stretch my trip to the capital over 2 days.
During this day, I traveled 389 km from Belovezhskaya Pushcha to my overnight stay in the city of Baranovichi.
Kossovo Palace "Knight's Dreams"
And in Kossovo there is a castle that once belonged to the magnates Puslovsky. For its luxurious interior decoration and external grandeur it was called the “Knight's Dream”.
The palace had some features that made it unique and inimitable. For example, in the Main Hall the floor was glass. And you could see fish swimming under it. Under the floor there was a huge aquarium.
There was a lion living in the castle. At night, the owners let him out, and he moved freely throughout the palace.
Over the entire history of its existence, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. It suffered severe damage in a multi-day fire during the Great Patriotic War. It is currently undergoing reconstruction, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. But now!
Directly opposite, on the shore of the lake, stands the estate of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a national hero of the four countries he visited: Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and the USA, and also an honorary citizen of France. Now he would be called a professional revolutionary. The house in which he was born and lived for some time has been turned into a hero's museum.
This is a two-story house with 8 rooms. Near the house there is a huge stone with a memorial plaque in honor of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The museum houses items found during excavations at this site that once belonged to the Kosciuszko family.
A collection of stamps dedicated to Tadeusz, a copy of his saber and other valuables. Here you can buy souvenirs, take part in various events and... get married. Yes, now you can officially register your marriage here.
By the way, this place is simply wonderful! Welcome to visit.
Ruzhany and its castle-fortress
But the town of Ruzhany, known since the 15th century. In 1598, it was bought by the famous politician, creator of the Statute - a set of laws of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Lev Sapieha. He built a grandiose palace here, which combined elements of a fortress and a luxurious castle.
The entire treasury of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the weapons arsenal, documents of state importance, food supplies and barrels of wine were stored in the huge basements of the palace.
The castle was rebuilt many times and changed owners. At one time, the pride of the palace was the presence of a theater within its walls. The theater troupe consisted of 60 actors and 40 musicians. The theater's productions were famous throughout Europe. The palace often hosted noble guests: kings, ambassadors of distant countries and other celebrities. According to legend, there was an underground passage that connected Ruzhany Castle and Kossovsky Castle.
Zhirovichi Monastery
For more than 500 years, the Holy Dormition Monastery has existed in Zhirovichi. And its story began with a small icon on a stone, which is currently one of the most revered in the world of Orthodoxy.
According to legend, once upon a time, shepherds saw an unusual glow in the crown of trees. It was a small Image of the Mother of God, which the shepherds took to the owner of the land. A little later, a temple was built on this site. This is how the history of the monastery began.
Today it is a whole architectural complex, famous not only in Belarus, but also far beyond its borders. Never in its entire long history has the temple closed its doors to pilgrims.
Now the complex combines 2 churches, a bell tower, the Theological Academy and Seminary and other adjacent buildings. A Pilgrim's House was also built, where people who come to pray to the miraculous icon will be able to rest and spend the night if necessary.
Well, my overnight stay today is planned in the city of Borovichi, where I booked an apartment. Tomorrow I will continue my route with renewed vigor.
Day 9. Mir Castle – history and modernity
In the Grodno region of Belarus, the Mir Castle, built in the 16th century, stands tall.
Construction was started by wealthy landowner Yuri Ilyinich. But after his death, his 4 sons also did not live long. One was poisoned, the other died of illness - this is how the Ilyinich family died out. And the Radziwills began to own the castle. But they, after some time, sold it. The last owner of the castle died in 1938, and since then it has been in a state of neglect.
A whole trail of fantastic legends and scary stories literally envelops the beautiful castle. This is the legend about a stone similar to the head of a ram, which, according to some laws of magic, is called upon to protect the castle and its owners; the story of a cut down garden and cruel reprisals for it; stories about ghosts, yes, there are more than one; and of course about the countless treasures hidden somewhere here. There is such a mysterious place in Belarus.
Do dudutki come from the word “dutki”?
In the afternoon I part with the car that I rented and which has been my faithful assistant for a whole week. Therefore, I am going on the next excursion as part of a tourist group.
While our bus travels to the museum complex, the guide talks about Minsk and other attractions of Belarus. How interesting it is to listen to him now, when I have just visited many objects in person, and the impressions are still so fresh! I enjoy plunging into my memories of my independent trip.
40 km from Minsk, in the Pukhovichi district, there is the Dudutki Museum Complex. Here you can get acquainted with the crafts of our ancestors, try dishes according to ancient recipes, ride horses and even fly on an airplane.
There is so much on display here that it is impossible to do everything in the 2 hours allotted to us by the guide! Read on for details on how you can have fun at.
The time that I could devote to traveling around Belarus is over. It's time to go home. It’s a bit of a pity, I would like to stay here for a few more days - there are so many more interesting things to see! But nothing prevents me from coming here again, and maybe more than once.
What passport do you need?
Do you need a passport to travel to Belarus? This is the first question that is probably asked by everyone who plans to visit Belarus for the first time.
The very good news is that Russians do not need a foreign passport to enter Belarus. Enough Russian. You also don’t need a visa when crossing the border; you don’t even need to put a stamp in your passport.
The only important point. If you are purchasing tickets, for example, for a plane, and specifying the details of a foreign document, then in this case you will need to present it when boarding. If the data is indicated from a Russian passport, then other identification documents will not be required for Russian citizens.
And for citizens of other countries, a visa can be obtained directly at the Minsk National Airport, having previously sent their documents here. But, of course, it is better to clarify all these questions in advance.
Where and how to rent housing in Belarus
It turned out that renting an apartment in Minsk is very simple. Through this you can book a room in numerous hotels, and on the service you can choose accommodation in any area of the city. By the way, it turns out to be much cheaper than a hotel room. And if you travel not alone, but in a company, then the benefits are very significant.
I rented a very cozy apartment in Minsk near the metro.
From here you could get to any point in the city by any means of transport, and in 20 minutes you could walk to the center. Hotels in this area were significantly more expensive.
But, having returned back to Minsk from my car trip, I booked the hotel ““. It was located far from the center, but its location and cost suited me quite well, since I could get around in a rented car without any problems.
In other cities of Belarus you can also rent housing, but here the choice will be smaller. Here is my apartment in the city of Baranovichi.
I liked its location: close to the highway. It was very convenient to spend the night and hit the road again in the morning.
I wrote in detail about the amazing hotel complex on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha in.
Transport in Minsk
Transport links in the capital of Belarus are excellent. There are buses, trolleybuses and numerous minibuses running around the city. There is also intercity communication. But I had no “communication” with this type of transport.
I enjoyed using the metro, which was the easiest way to get to any desired point in the city.
For a tourist entering the Belarusian subway for the first time, it is very easy to navigate: there are only 2 lines: red and blue. All stations are named quite clearly, although they are written in the local language.
It is also very convenient to use a taxi. They work on a meter, and if you travel short distances, you get 1 trip around the city within 200-300 Russian rubles.
I also ordered a return transfer to the airport. In this case, the taxi cost me 390,000 Belarusian rubles. (this is 1320 Russian rubles or 20 $)
You can get to Minsk National Airport and back more inexpensively by train (for only 25,000 Belarusian rubles). The advertising poster reports this.
In this case, you arrive from the airport to the Minsk railway station, from where you can get to your desired location in the city by public transport. The big disadvantage is that these trains do not run often.
Car rental in Minsk
Of course, the most convenient way to travel is by car, and in Minsk you can easily rent a car for any convenient period. After studying prices at different rental companies, I settled on a company with an optimistic name: “Maya the Bee.”
Why car rental has such an unusual name became clear later when I signed the rental agreement. It turned out that this office was registered under the name of the individual entrepreneur Pchelka Denis Viktorovich. These are the positive surnames in Belarus. 🙂
To get a car, you just need to have a driver’s license, make a copy of your Russian passport, and sign an agreement! Yes, and don’t forget to pay, of course! But not only the amount specified in the contract. There is also an additional deposit, which in my case amounted to 10,000 Russian rubles (it was returned at the end of the rental).
And now the keys to the silver Peugeot 206 are in my hands.
When renting a car, there were some surprises: the condition was to drive no more than 350 km per day. This is the first time I've heard this! Well, okay, in general, this suited me. I can't travel that far in a week. After all, the longest distances are from Minsk to Brest and back; all other sights can be seen along the way, only deviating briefly from the main route.
If, as a result, it would not be possible to meet these limits, then you would have to pay an additional $10 for every extra 350 km per day.
The cost of 95 gasoline in the country, on average, was 40 Russian rubles per liter ($0.6).
There was also unexpected news about rental conditions that I had never encountered before when booking a car abroad.
It turns out that the car must be returned perfectly clean or you will have to pay an additional $25 to the rental price. Fortunately, there was a car wash near the hotel where I lived the last few days. And for $5 they washed the car perfectly. 🙂
How much does a vacation cost (results and prices)
This time, according to my subjective feelings, the final cost of the trip was quite high. No, prices in Belarus are quite acceptable, and in some places even lower than European and even more so Russian ones. It’s just that this time I traveled alone, so all costs were solely at my expense.
After all, for example, accommodation and car rental cost almost the same: for one or for two people. And the costs in the 2nd case are easily divided in half.
Here's what I got during my 10 days in Belarus (I give prices in Russian rubles):
Accommodation:
- Apartment in Minsk for 4 nights 6,560 rubles (1,640 rubles for 1 night);
- for 3 nights 3,770 rub. (1260 RUR for 1 night);
- Apartment in Baranovichi for 1 night 1,300 rubles;
- for 2 nights 3,100 rubles (1,550 rubles for 1 night).
In Belarus, in any city, there is a huge number of different housing options. It’s very easy to rent an apartment or room on the service, or book a hotel through the service.
Transport:
- Air tickets Moscow-Minsk-Moscow - 8,980 rubles;
- Car rental for 6 days 12,900 rubles (2,150 rubles for 1 day);
- Gasoline 3,700 rub.
The length of my route by car was (total mileage) 1400 km, 90 liters of gasoline were spent.
Excursion program:
- Entrance tickets to all attractions cost me 1,620 rubles.
- Ordered excursions, including audio guides - 4,320 rubles.
And here are the results:
The money came and went, and now we no longer remember it. But the impressions of a great time were left! And this is the most important thing why people strive to travel! 🙂
The map below shows all the sights of Belarus that I was able to visit. You can see more details about each of them.
Belarus is famous for its forests, lakes and rivers, but they are not the only ones that attract tourists. There are many ancient castles and monuments that combine perfectly with modern buildings. To experience all the beauty of this country, you should travel in the summer and by car.
What to see in Belarus?
Belarus is a small state located in the center of Europe, but which attracts more and more tourists every year. This is an excellent holiday option for residents of Russia, because no visas are needed and there is no language barrier.
For travel convenience, we will review what to see in Belarus by car in the summer. Let's highlight the most popular cities and places in this country:
- Minsk;
- Stalin's Line;
- Khatyn;
- Brest Fortress;
- Grodno;
- Skidel;
- Polotsk
Each of these points has its own characteristics, which makes them unique. Below we will take a closer look at each of them.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus
Usually a trip to Belarus begins from its capital - Minsk. This is a beautiful and amazing city, so every tourist will find here something that he will like. Let's look at the places you definitely need to go to:
The most popular places in Minsk have been highlighted, but that’s not all. There are also many museums, theaters, shopping centers and much more.
Stalin line
A historical complex dedicated to the victory of the people in the Great Patriotic War. This memorial was opened in 2005 on the site of fortifications that stretched along the western borders of the USSR.
Getting there by car is quite easy: along the P28 highway “Minsk - Molodechno”. The complex is located 28 kilometers from the capital.
On Stalin's lines It will be interesting for both adults and children. Here you can climb the trenches, visit technical rooms built in the likeness of those that were during the war, etc. You can also ride a real tank and shoot from a cannon or any other weapon.
Khatyn - destroyed village
To honor the memory of those who fell during the Great Patriotic War, it is worth going to Khatyn. This is a memorial complex built on the site of a burned village.
Khatyn is located 54 kilometers from Minsk. The car must be driven on the highway M3(Minsk-Vitebsk), when you see the sign, you should turn off and drive another 5 km.
The complex exactly replicates the pre-war village. On the site of previously installed houses there are obelisks with bells. There is a sculpture in the center "The Unruly Man". Nearby there is a wall of grief, where all the villages burned by the Nazis are indicated.
In the summer, you can go to the palace and park complex located in the city Nesvizh. This point in Belarus is truly fascinating and will not leave anyone indifferent.
To begin with, we note that the distance from Minsk will be 70 km. You need to go on the highway M1(Minsk-Brest), as soon as you arrive in the city, there will be a sign to the castle.
Here it is worth taking a walk through the park, which fascinates with lakes and alleys. But also go to Castle of the Radziwill Princes, showing us how they lived. Note that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Another famous castle in Belarus is Mirsky, which is also included in the UNESCO list. The castle is located on a hill, so it is easy to see from anywhere in the city.
Mir Castle is located 102 km from Minsk. You also need to go by car along the M1 highway (Minsk-Brest).
The castle is made of red and white bricks; it was built as a defensive structure, but, in fact, did not participate in wars. For tourists there is a chapel and towers showing the life of the former owners of the castle. Next to the castle there is a lake that keeps secrets and legends. To find out, book one of the excursions offered by local tour operators.
Brest Fortress
One of the famous landmarks of Belarus and the main monument of the Second World War is Brest Fortress. After all, she was the first to take the blow of the fascist invaders.
In memory of the fallen wars, this memorial complex was erected there, occupying an area of almost 4 kilometers. Here you can walk through the ruins of the bastion, see the surviving buildings and monuments. Every visitor who visits the fortress will feel all the pain experienced during the war.
65 km from Brest There is another site marked by UNESCO -. It is a nature reserve in which trees and plants have been preserved, untouched by humans. There are also enclosures with animals, which are looked after by the holders of the reserve. If you are planning a vacation with children, then this is one of the places you definitely need to come to. To make it easier to walk and not get lost, it is better to book an excursion.
Royal Grodno
Grodno often considered the European and royal city of the republic. The residences of various princes and kings were located here for several centuries.
Nowadays it is considered a regional city. Conventionally, it can be divided into an old and a new city. The city center is the old part, where the main attractions are located: several churches, the New Castle, the ruins of the Old Castle, a wonderful park, a theater and much more. Note that Grodno is famous for its zoo, which is the largest zoo in Belarus. Both adults and children will find it interesting in this city.
Skidel - sweet town
30 km from Grodno on the river Discount the city is spread out Skidel. It was founded in 1508, so it has a lot of history. He managed to visit the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Russian Empire. Of the historical places, only the nineteenth-century Catholic church and the gate of the Antonovich-Chetvertinsky estate with a park have been preserved.
Skidel is famous for its sugar plant, which is the first in Belarus. It should be noted that in this small city with a population of about ten thousand people there are fifteen enterprises.
The first stone castle built on the territory of Belarus is Lida. It was erected in 1323 by order of Prince Gedemin, and served a defensive function, and hostages were also detained and tortured there. In the castle, torture instruments of that time are open for viewing, and you can also visit inside the castle. In the summer, knightly tournaments and festivals are often organized, in which any visitor can take part.
Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus
Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus; the first mention of the city dates back to 862. When traveling to Belarus, it is worth stopping by this amazing city, located not far from Vitebsk.
There is a lot to see here, because there are many ancient buildings and monuments on an area of almost 40 km2. Among them stands out Saint Sophia Cathedral- the first Orthodox stone church built in Belarus. Also located here Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Monastery, which houses the relics of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk.
conclusions
Of course, these are not all the places in Belarus that are worth visiting. Every city has monuments or architecture that preserve history. When traveling by car, especially in the summer, you can fully enjoy the beauty of nature, and also see many new and interesting cities and towns that have not yet been visited.
Hello everyone) I’m writing a report about one of our trips for the first time, don’t judge strictly... The trip to Belarus was planned for a long time, I chose the optimal route, looked for accommodation, studied various reports on road trips and finally decided on the time of the trip (May 3-13, 2015 year) and route. Before the trip, we purchased a guidebook from the store, which we basically took everywhere. The price of the issue is about 500 rubles, but the thing turned out to be useful; the guide also included maps of the republic and Minsk)
Before the trip, maps of Belarus were loaded into the navigator, and accommodation was booked in all the necessary cities on the website olx.by/ Don’t be alarmed, prices are in Belarusian rubles, the owners of the apartments willingly accept dollars; Russian rubles, alas, were not accepted. I called the apartment owners a month before the trip; many apartments were already booked. Then I called everyone again in advance so that there would be no surprise upon arrival. Let me make a reservation right away: the apartments did not always look as “beautiful” as in the photo; some were not well-kept, the furniture already seemed shabby. Because We were always on the road and usually needed an apartment for an overnight stay, so we stayed where it was booked. A visa to Belarus is not required, you only need car insurance (green card or local policy). A few days in advance, I bought a green card from the first insurance company in the city, the cost was 700 rubles. This can be done before the border, but I advise you not to waste time on this and stock up in advance.
day 1, May 3, road to Belarus, first stop city Polotsk.
About 1000 km. on the way, highway M9, through Rzhev, after Velikiye Luki exit onto P51, then through P133 and now in front of us was a section of the road called “toll section”. At first we did not accept this as truth, because... section of road 50-100 km. turned out to be completely broken and narrow-lane, traffic along it could not exceed 70 km, because It was impossible to go faster. At the end of the road there really was a toll point and a barrier, the fare was 300 rubles) not fair... I’m used to seeing toll sections in a slightly different light than this. Having paid 300 re, the barrier was raised and a few meters later a sign “Belarus” appeared in front of us). we stopped, checked the course, and activated roaming. Then settlements began with names in the Belarusian language, which was somewhat unusual. Small villages with a measured, leisurely life. Because The first day of the trip fell on May 3, a day off, and along the way all local bank branches were closed, so it was somewhat difficult to exchange our re for their local rubles. It is also important to note that there are many storks in Belarus; as soon as you cross the border, storks begin to appear in nests in the first populated area. We have never seen anything like this in our country. We arrived in Polotsk already at 5 pm, in total we had been on the road since 5 am, the travel time with stops for gas stations and snacks was 12 hours, the road in general was not difficult. In the evening we checked into a rented apartment, found an exchange office, which was only at the railway station, and this began our acquaintance with Belarus)
Day 2, May 4, 2015, acquaintance with Polotsk
Polotsk is the most ancient city in Belarus. The city itself is compact, provincial and attracts with its originality, but already in it the spirit of Western countries and their cultures begins to be felt. The city does not have large grocery stores, boutiques and other paraphernalia of comfort inherent in large cities. I’ll say right away that in Belarus, as well as in the Russian Federation, there are many banks, the most common is Belarusbank (http://belarusbank.by/), which offers the consumer the most unfavorable currency exchange rates, so if you decide not to show off, then it’s better walk further around the city or find another bank on the map that will save you a few rubles).
There are few attractions in Polotsk, so we covered them in half a day.
Monument to Francis Skaryna 
Freedom Square 
Polotsk is the geographical center of Europe 
Monument to the letter "u" 
The environment is clean and homely 
Monument to 23 Guardsmen 
Epiphany Monastery 
Lutheran Church 
The most beautiful place in Polotsk is the Cathedral of St. Sofia 
Further our path did not flow along the city embankment, but along its upper part: the Jesuit College 
Monument to the Krivichi founders of the city 
Monument to Euphrosyne of Polotsk 
At a distance from the city center is the Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Monastery 
You can have a delicious meal in Polotsk at the Domian cafe (Polotsk, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya St., 41 b), there is national cuisine here, and here we tried a local attraction - potato pancakes). We spent the whole day in this city, exchanged currencies, and then spent a long time recalculating them, because... our 5 tr. turned out to be the equivalent of more than a million Belarusian rubles in 50,000 pieces of paper), bought a local SIM card for calls within the republic.
Polotsk kvass and locally produced beer are sold in Polotsk. We managed to try this only in Polotsk, then we didn’t see them anywhere. Therefore, there is an opportunity, we advise you to buy such kvass either for the road, or as gifts)
Day 3, May 5, road to Minsk via Khatyn, about 230 km. 
We left Polotsk early, because... the journey is 200 km. not close, and even in unfamiliar terrain. In Belarus, the speed limits are the same as ours: highway 90, city 60, highway 110, but there is a slight difference! If we don’t receive a fine when we exceed the speed limit of up to 20 km/h with the existing limit, then here we can only catch up to 10 km/h. Be careful! There are a lot of tripods, cameras and traffic police posts both in radar ambushes and at the entrances to cities.
Before reaching Minsk there is the Khatyn memorial complex. This complex was opened in 1969 on the site of a village burned by the Nazis. On the territory of the complex is the only village cemetery in the world… 
On the eve of the holiday, the anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, the entire complex was full of workers who were painting and cleaning the area.
In general, I would like to note that during the entire trip, we did not meet a single village that did not honor those who died in that terrible war. In every village there is an obelisk, a memorial that reminds of days gone by and the fallen soldiers who defended these lands.
I would also like to note and draw your attention to the fact that gasoline prices throughout the republic are the same, regardless of the name of the gas station, the approximate cost of 92 gasoline is about 50 of our rubles, a little expensive, but no matter where you are: the capital or a small village, the price of gasoline will remain unchanged.
Minsk greeted us with good weather, cloudy but not rainy, a nice apartment with a talkative owner. We settled in the Minsk-rent area. Developed area, many supermarkets, shopping centers, public transport stops nearby, not the center, but once again taking a ride on the local trolleybuses and listening to the stops being announced in Belarusian is a pleasure. tickets for public transport can be bought both from the driver and at kiosks at bus stops. 
Although Minsk is the capital of Belarus, it did not amaze me with its scope and splendor. 
We stayed in Minsk for 2 days, but 2 days was enough to explore the entire city.
We started our route from the railway station and the twin towers. 
Next we went to Mikhailovsky Square 
Then we walked through the passage to Independence Square, where the Red Church is located. 
There are many Catholics living in Belarus, so we often see Catholic churches that are unusual for us. 
Then we walked along Independence Avenue to the upper city. 
Above is a photo of the Cathedral Church of St. Virgin Mary
City Hall 
Church of St. Joseph 
Memorial "Island of Tears" 
And of course, national cuisine, we recommend the cafe “Franziska”, a little expensive, but this is Minsk) - Minsk, Nezavisimosti Ave., 19 
Day 4, May 6, Stalin Line, sightseeing tour of Minsk
Depending on where you are staying in Minsk, the Stalin Line is 20-30 km away. “Stalin Line” is a historical and cultural complex located on the former defense line. 
The complex occupies a huge area... 
It was cool outside, so we hurried to find a cafe. There is a small cafe on the territory of the complex where you can order soldier’s buckwheat porridge and warm up with hot tea) After the complex we went back to Minsk, or rather to the “Vostok” district, where the famous library is located 
The library has a panoramic paid elevator that will take you to the top, to the observation deck. Neither the elevator nor the platform are worth the time and money spent. There is a cafe upstairs. The view from above is only of residential areas. We spent the rest of the day in the apartment, resting and gaining new strength.
Day 5, May 7, road to Grodno through the ruins of the Krevsky and Golshansky castles, through the Lida Castle, more than 300 km. on my way 
We set out from Minsk in the morning, the weather was terrible, it was raining, we flew quickly along the Moscow Ring Road and moved towards the castles. The first on the way was Krevo Castle, or rather its ruins (Krevo village) 
As we moved deeper into the republic, the weather began to change and we arrived at the ruins of the Golshansky castle (Golshany village) 
Further the road flowed to Lida and Lida Castle. Lida is famous not only for the Lida Castle, but also for Lida beer and kvass, which are just as good as those from Polotsk) 
The castle was restored and preserved to this day according to historical information. 
And so, we got to Grodno 
Day 6, May 8, Grodno
There are few attractions in Grodno; on the eve of holidays and weekends there were many tourists in the city, mainly from Poland
Fire Tower 
Old castle and new castle 
Nothing remarkable inside, not worth spending money on
Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross 
Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier - the most important attraction of Grodno 
The sights were explored quickly, so we went in search of attractions outside the guidebook, they turned out to be the forts of the Grodno Fortress (fortifications of the First World War) in the village of Naumovichi 
Day 7, May 9, Belovezhskaya Pushcha through Krasnoselsky chalk quarries and Ruzhany (castle in Ruzhany) 
n/a Kovali, Ros River 
Although they are shy, they are incredibly friendly and talkative swans, I loved them
Krasnoselsky chalk quarries are located in the village of Krasnoselsky, the quarries were formed from the extraction of chalk, everyone here will find a quarry to their taste and liking. People come here on vacation, for photo sessions. 
Ruzhany is a small settlement in the Grodno region. Ruzhany is famous for its castle, which is currently being actively restored. The castle in Ruzhany is majestic and amazes visitors with its scale. 
Next, the road to Belovezhskaya Pushcha runs through the village of Kamenyuki; along the entire route there are many signs that will lead you to Kamenyuki, and then to the main entrance to Belovezhskaya Pushcha (http://npbp.by/). The fresh air of the relic forest intoxicates your head. The hotel room in the Pushcha itself was booked in advance without prepayment (http://npbp.by/images/Dok/25.pdf). Prices for rooms are on the website; you can choose a room in a hotel on the territory of the Pushcha, or a room in a hotel near the Pushcha (500 meters from the main entrance). We didn’t regret staying at the hotel on site. The room was clean and comfortable, the staff was hospitable. The price of the room included a very hearty breakfast, which was worth it before the trip. On the territory of the Pushcha and at the entrance to it there are several cafes where you can eat, and in the main building there is a restaurant where you can try buffalo meat. The range of services of the Pushcha: both health-improving and cultural and entertainment. We chose a bike ride. If you have bicycles with you, you won’t have to pay for them to enter the Pushcha, only if you want to buy your own route. Let me make a reservation right away - this is not mandatory. There are signs on the territory of the Pushcha, so you can safely navigate by them and ride bicycles on your own without maps. We rented bicycles + a route of 15 km. You can buy a ticket separately to view the animals, but I also don’t recommend spending the money. If you take bicycles, then one way or another on the way back you will pass through all the animals and see them for free. We had a chance to admire them before going to bed, when it was already getting dark and they were putting them to bed, the evening walk only did us good, we slept very well. 
Day 8, May 10, Brest via Kamenets (distance 50-60 km) 
Kamenets is famous for the Kamenets Tower, which is located directly in the city. The Kamenets Tower is a monument of defense architecture, the tower stands on a high hill, inside the tower there is a local history museum. 
We got to Brest quickly, before moving in we managed to visit the Brest Fortress, I won’t describe it, everyone knows what it is, photos don’t convey all the sensations that you experience inside its walls 
After checking in, we had a snack and went to get acquainted with the city; the sights were within walking distance from us. The city is beautiful and modern, there are not many attractions. 
It is worth walking along 2 streets: Cosmonauts Boulevard and Gogol Street. 
Recommended place for lunch is the Dali cafe on Blvd. Cosmonauts
Church of the Exaltation of St. Cross 
This is where our acquaintance with Brest ends. The city has many branded stores of the Brest Distillery (sells Zubrovka and other liqueurs) and chocolate factories.
Day 9, May 11, road to Mir through the village. Kozishchi, Nesvizh Castle (about 350 km) 
In the village of Kozische there is a large ostrich farm; it is difficult to find without a navigator, because... sometimes we had to drive along a rural dirt road. Because We left Brest early and arrived at the farm at opening time, at 10 am. But as it turned out, the staff had not arrived yet and we had to wait about an hour for the opening, this really spoiled our impression. Before the excursion, we ordered breakfast: an ostrich egg omelette and ostrich sausages (there are always fresh eggs on sale and fresh meat for those who like it). The excursion was sluggish, as was the guide; I wanted to move on faster. 
Because The path ahead was not yet close, so we refreshed ourselves with ostrich and rushed on. The roads in Belarus deserve special attention; they are ideal. In some places there are signs that there will be bumps on the road, but in fact you don’t even notice them. No major repairs, no potholes, no pothole repairs. The roads are clean, staff walk around and mow the grass; this attitude towards roads in the country inspires respect.
Passing 300 km. we got to Nesvizh, the city in which Nesvizh Castle is located. I’ll immediately make a reservation that due to the long journey during the day, we did not have time to get inside, so we examined the castle only from the outside. He is beautiful. 
There are several hotels in Nesvizh, but the most interesting thing is that you can rent a room in the castle) niasvizh.by/ru/
Mir, Mir Castle. As in Nesvizh with the Mir Castle, you can also rent a room, but we couldn’t afford it, so we stayed at a hotel, the rooms and prices were reasonable (hotel “Mir”). I was tired from the road, so I preferred to sit outside the castle in the fresh air, while my husband went to the castle. 
Day 10, May 12, Vitebsk (about 380 km) 
Vitebsk is our last point of travel around Belarus. This city only strengthened my already positive attitude towards this country. 
Holy Assumption Cathedral 
Kirovsky Bridge 
City Hall 
Holy Resurrection Church 
Slavic Marketplace) 
Day 11, May 13, road home (900 km) 
We are going to the border and then... 
At the border they checked our passports and wished us a good trip)
An article about car travel to Belarus: what you need to know, documents, subtleties and nuances of local traffic rules. At the end of the article there is a video about a trip by car to Belarus.
The content of the article:
Having a car very often implies a desire for people to change places and travel. A trip to Belarus by private car seems to be an excellent option for an inexpensive holiday for residents of Moscow and its surrounding districts. Belarus turns out to be the “closest” of all the republics that were once part of the Soviet Union.
From Moscow to Minsk the route is quite easy - the length of the road is 720 kilometers, which, if the speed limit is strictly observed along the route, is eight hours of continuous movement.
There are a lot of cameras recording speed limit violations along the way, both on the territory of the Russian Federation and in the Republic of Belarus.
Belarusian inspectors are not inclined to forgive violators - their enforcement of laws is much stricter than ours. A speed exceeded by more than 30 km per hour lightens the wallet by 7 thousand rubles. Repeated violation results in deprivation of rights for a year. So it’s definitely not worth the risk...
Border crossing
The state border dividing our countries is purely fictitious. Only heavy vehicles are subject to inspection. Personal cars cross the state border freely, without stopping at a checkpoint. On the way back, Russian border guards still check the presence of passports, but this is very simple and quick - no one loses time on this procedure.
Customs officers sometimes randomly check cars for documents, but most often the border is passed with a slight reduction in the speed limit without stopping. There have been no significant queues or traffic jams when crossing the border for a long time, even on holidays.
It is only important to purchase a compulsory car insurance policy for foreign trips - the so-called “Green Card”. It is almost impossible to “forget” to purchase it, because from Smolensk to the border, everywhere along the highway there are shops with conspicuous signs.
It’s much easier to stop for a short break, stretch your legs and buy a card here, so you don’t waste any more time on getting it. International insurance is somewhat reminiscent of compulsory motor liability insurance; it is purchased for any period of time from 15 days to a year.
The longer the Green Card is valid, the cheaper it is. To travel around Belarus, its purchase will cost 900 rubles for a short-term period and a little less than 5 thousand for an annual one.
It is better to find out accurate information about current prices on the eve of departure on specialized websites in order to know exactly what the cost of insurance will be for a specific time of trip. You can purchase a “Green Card” both from insurance companies at your place of residence and when approaching the border with Belarus.
To apply for a card, you must provide a passport for the vehicle, and in ten minutes everything you need to travel around the former Soviet republic will be in your hands. You can also buy a card at gas stations, combining several things at once and without wasting time.
For the trip in general you need:
- "green map";
- general civil or foreign passports;
- driver's license;
- birth certificate (when traveling with a child);
- power of attorney from the second parent to travel abroad (if only one of the parents is traveling with the child).
From Moscow to the border
If the trip is planned on the eve of a long weekend, it is better to leave Moscow either at night or at about five in the morning in order to avoid the string of summer residents forming congestion on the highway.
Monitor the road in advance to know where repairs may be taking place so you can plan detours or calculate the optimal time to pass them.
The movement can be planned along three routes, depending on the purpose of the trip:
- quickly - along the M1 (using toll roads) to Minsk 720 km. Travel time is approximately 8-10 hours;
- medium - along A-130 via Mogilev;
- long - along the M9 through Velikiye Luki and Vitebsk region, the route is 841 km.
From Moscow you can immediately jump from the transport interchange on Molodogvardeyskaya onto the toll highway that duplicates the M-1. At the 33rd kilometer of the Minsk highway it ends, leaving Odintsovo aside. The length of the toll section of the road is 18.5 km, and the pleasure of driving along it costs 150 rubles during the day and 50 at night.
The M-1 highway is quite well made, has four lanes, allowing for quiet maneuvering. True, the stripes seem narrow. The average speed on the highway is 90 km/h, in some places there is a limit of 70 km/h, populated areas are quite common, and the speed drops again.
The cost of gasoline in Belarus remains the lowest in Europe, so you don’t have to rush to refuel your tank at the Russian border. In the Republic, the price of a liter of AI-92 is 35.3 rubles, AI-95 – 37.7, diesel – 38.3.
On the territory of Belarus
In the photo: Minsk street
It is worth taking care of the local currency in advance. When crossing the border, you can still change money at an exchange office a few kilometers from the border, but if this is not done immediately, then the exchange of money will be possible only in Minsk. True, there is no need to panic - even the most simple roadside eateries accept bank cards.
The quality of roads after crossing the border improves noticeably. The route running through the territory of Belarus is superior to the Russian section in terms of the quality of the surface and the increase in the permitted speed limit.
If for the Russian highway the limit is 90 km/h, then in Belarus the bar is raised to 120. The highway is laid so as to travel outside populated areas, and the speed from the entrance to the country to the capital of Belarus remains unchanged.
In general, driving on Belarusian roads leaves law-abiding Russian drivers with extremely positive emotions. The quality of the surface is excellent, the road markings are clear and unambiguous, all bumps have been repaired. There is no difference in this on the roads of rural areas and cities.
The narrowed width of the stripes is a little confusing, but you quickly get used to it. Carrying out road work is always indicated in advance by signs, and the built detour routes in complex repaired sections are no different in the quality of markings and road surface from the main highway.
The traffic rules are extremely similar to Russian ones. There are a number of differences to remember so that there are no misunderstandings:
- the validity of signs in Belarus is considered not until the first intersection crossed, but until indicated by a special corresponding sign;
- at roundabouts, priority is always on the side of drivers who are already driving in a circle (unless there are special road signs indicating a different driving rule);
- Speed control is much stricter than in Russia. For Russian drivers who are accustomed to slipping by at random, this can become a major problem. Fines for speeding are quite large, and repeated violations are punished severely. Regardless of whether the driver is a local or a foreigner, exceeding the threshold of 25 km/h results in the deprivation of a license;
- sanctions are extremely severe for those drivers who allow drunk drivers to drive. For the first time, the motorist is limited to a revoked license and a large fine. If caught a second time, the motorist is deprived of his “iron friend”, which is confiscated and subsequently sold for state income. No objections about the fact that a foreigner is driving will work. Russia and Belarus have long ago concluded agreements between themselves that this law is equivalent for residents of both countries.
All patrol cars of Belarusian inspectors allow recording from the hood of the car. Such complexes are not detected by car radars, detecting their work only in the immediate vicinity, when it is too late to do anything and slow down, slowing down.
Over the past year, video cameras have been installed at all checkpoints to record all license plates of vehicles entering the territory of the Republic. If a car violates automatically recorded traffic rules, traffic inspectors have the right to stop the car and demand payment of all fines before leaving the country.
Employees of the Belarusian traffic police differ from their Russian colleagues - this must also be remembered. The salaries of Belarusians working in the traffic police are quite high, and they value their jobs.
A bribe given to an inspector can become a “wolf ticket” for him, not only depriving him of his job, but also rewarding him with a real prison sentence with the subsequent inability to engage in any work in government agencies. Therefore, they prefer to work within the framework of the law, if breaking it, then only taking advantage of some nuances in the difference in the laws of our countries.
For example, an inspector may find fault with the tinting of the rear window, which is prohibited in Belarus. But this rule applies only to local cars and does not apply to foreign ones. If a similar situation arises, you can safely suggest that the inspector, instead of a fine, go to the local traffic police department to see the authorities. This is enough for them to wish you a good journey and let you go.
In large cities like Minsk, traveling by car is pleasant and easy. Wide streets, simple junctions and few cars make driving comfortable.
- Exceeding the speed limit. $10 costs over 10 to 20 km/h. Over 20-30 km/h - $30. For 30 km/h the fine is $100, repeated - deprivation of rights.
- Driving a faulty car (including headlights that are not on) - a fine of 10 to 30 US dollars.
- Driving without a green card - fine $200.
- Illegal parking, talking on the phone while driving without handsfree, not wearing a seat belt - a fine of $10 or more.
- Transporting children without car seats - fine 20 US dollars.
A trip to Belarus by car is a pleasant and easy journey. Everyone in Belarus understands the Russian language, the residents are friendly and hospitable, and the beauty of Belarusian nature and numerous attractions will make the trip interesting and educational.
Video about a car trip to Belarus:
This article with 5 routes around Belarus is for you.
Here you can choose for yourself one of five interesting thematic routes around Belarus with many interesting points that you will remember for a long time!
Select the routes that suit you best below:
Water Routes in Belarus 
If you like active recreation, and especially kayaking on rivers and lakes, you can do this in one of the 11,000 rivers and one of the 19,000 lakes in Belarus.
Find out about the best water routes in Belarus in our article.
Belarus in a rich way
If you would like to spend a luxury holiday in our country, you can afford it for much less money than in any Western European country.
Discover the best luxury activities on our Belarus Rich itinerary, with recommendations for places to stay and things to do to make the most of your holiday.
Military-patriotic route 
One of the main reasons to visit Belarus is its history, especially related to World War II.
The country was almost completely destroyed, and today you can find numerous memorials and museums dedicated to the most difficult times in the history of Belarus.
To cover the best historical sites associated with World War II, we have created a military-patriotic route through Belarus to give you a better look at this part of our history.
Find out about this route on our website:
Pilgrimage route
A wide variety of religions coexist peacefully in Belarus, but the main one is Orthodoxy.
If you'd like to visit the best religious sites, whether you're a believer or not, we've created the perfect route to Belarus' Orthodox sites.
Some of the most interesting religious and at the same time defensive buildings are those that simultaneously served two roles.
Check out our pilgrimage route below:
Cycling routes
Several more excellent routes for those who love active recreation. Belarus has a beautiful