Minsk
Where to relax in Belarus, if not in Minsk, the capital of the country, an ancient city with a rich history and interesting architecture. There are few ancient monuments left here, but more modern ones still attract thousands of tourists here.
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Attractions
There are many interesting places and monuments here. We list some of the main ones:
- The upper town is a historical center that has preserved the features of the architecture of the 12th century;
- Trinity Suburb – stone mansions and a park, with museums, cafes and exhibition galleries;
- City Hall – built in 2004, but is a copy of the town hall of the 17th century;
- Independence Square – the main city square with a musical fountain;
- The National Library is an amazing modern building in the shape of a diamond. It is especially beautiful at night when the backlight turns on;
- Independence Avenue, built in the Stalinist Empire style;
- Numerous Minsk monuments and sculptures – “Grandma with seeds” at the Komarovsky market, “Lady with a dog” and other works by the famous sculptor Zhbanov.
There are also many museums in the capital – the National Art Museum, the Historical Museum, the Museum of the History of the Second World War, the House-Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP and others.
If you want entertainment, you can ride the rides in the Chelyuskintsev Park, or go to the Minsk Zoo with aviaries, an exotarium and a dolphinarium. Nearby is a dinosaur park loved by children. Even with children, you can go to the Minsk Circus.
Shopping
In terms of shopping, Minsk has developed a lot in recent years, and now you can buy clothes and accessories of budget European brands here, and in some places even elite brands are sold. Basically, all this is sold in shopping centers:
- “Castle” – the largest mall in the capital, with the widest assortment;
- “Capital” – one of the first shopping centers in the city, stands right in the center, under Independence Square. You can buy both branded goods and traditional souvenirs;
- “Galileo” – an ideal place for shopping tourists, located right at the station. There are no expensive brands here, and prices are generally affordable.
If you want to buy Belarusian goods, then it’s better to go to the Central Department Store, GUM or the Belarus department store – they sell high-quality local accessories, clothes and knitwear.
Many tourists note that it is very difficult to find classic souvenirs like magnets in Minsk – they are sold only at railway stations, and you can hardly buy them in the city.
Brest
A cozy town with a very rich history and beautiful nature, unlike the capital, is ideal for a relaxing, quiet holiday.
Beaches
It is hardly possible to say that there is a full-fledged beach holiday here, but it is quite possible to swim on the local lakes and the Mukhavets River. The Vostok beach on Mukhavets is ideal for this, with cabins, playgrounds and catamaran rentals. Also, locals and tourists like to relax in the “Red Court” on the lake with very warm water. The beach is equipped, there are even sun loungers, but they are not enough for all vacationers.
Interestingly, it is usually impossible to swim on the Central Beach, as well as in the recreation area “Rowing Canal”.
Attractions
The most interesting thing is to walk on the right bank of the Mukhavets, with its narrow streets and old houses. Of course, the Brest Fortress deserves special attention – a symbol of the city and a witness to the tragic events of World War II. By the way, the ruins of a building dating back to the 14th century have also been preserved in the fortress. Another ancient monument is the defensive watchtower Belaya Vezha, located at a distance of 40 kilometers from the city.
Even in Brest there are a lot of churches and churches of different eras and styles. Especially beautiful are the Trinity Church and the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
In the evenings, the city is very beautiful on Sovetskaya Street, where 17 gas lamps are lit by a real lamplighter.
Of the local museums, the Museum of Railway Technology is especially interesting, where about fifty exhibits are exhibited that tell the history of railway transport. It is also mono to visit the Museum of Rescued Values – things that customs officers seize from smugglers.
An obligatory part of a visit to Belarus and Brest is a trip to Belovezhskaya Pushcha – an amazing reserve with rare plants and animals. The paths and tourist routes are built in such a way that it would be really interesting to walk in the park. The residence of Zyuzi, the Belarusian Grandfather Frost, is also located in the forest.
If you want more exotic animals, then you can go to the largest ostrich farm in the CIS.
Beaches
If you are thinking where to relax in Belarus in order to combine sightseeing and traditional inexpensive shopping, then Brest is ideal for this. In the capital, prices for everything are quite high, while in Brest, goods from Belarusian manufacturers are inexpensive and are presented in a very wide range.
It is best to shop at the Old Town knitwear market. There is both wholesale and retail, clothes are sold strictly seasonal. You can choose other markets, but it is the “Old Town” that is the most convenient and largest.
If you arrange a meeting in advance, you can visit the warehouses of manufacturing companies – from them the goods are released, including at retail.