Minsk is known as the cleanest city in the entire post-Soviet space. Also, tourists often talk about the “spirit of the USSR” that hovers in the city. And although this is not unique to Belarus, the “Soviet Union” in its best manifestation has been preserved here. However, local residents are already quite tired of such analogies. So if you are going to Minsk, pay attention not only to the city’s past, but also to its present. And we have put together a list of places and activities that you should definitely get to know in the Belarusian capital.
I want to go to Minsk!
Brush up on modern history
There is a particularly exalted attitude towards the Great Patriotic War in Belarus, which is why there are many monuments about the events of 1941-1945, and Victory Day is also widely celebrated. Actually, the war began from this country: on the morning of June 22, 1941, German troops attacked the border Brest Fortress. You can learn about further history in the new museum, which opened only a couple of years ago and has not yet become boring for tourists.
Interesting excursions from local residents in Minsk
The old building, located in the city center, was demolished: the museum moved to Pobediteley Ave., 8. No money was spared on the museum - the interior decoration is very modern, and it contributes to the atmosphere. For example, projections are used to complement exposures, and it turns out very cool.
Try real potato pancakes
Belarus has long been called a potato republic, and if the image has stuck, it’s for a reason. Most folk dishes are prepared with potatoes, including the signature dish - potato pancakes. The recipe is extremely simple: spices are added to grated potatoes to taste, then they are molded into the shape of ordinary pancakes and fried in a frying pan. However, the result is surprisingly different in different establishments.
Real potato pancakes are prepared in any restaurant of Belarusian cuisine: say, “Vasilki”. If you want an establishment of a higher level, then the route should be taken to the Grunwald restaurant.
Eat potato pancakes
Draniki at the Kukhmistr restaurant. Photo: @kuhmistr
One of the main dishes of Belarus is potato pancakes. In general, potato dishes are held in special esteem here. Experts say that each Belarusian, on average, eats about 183 kilograms of potatoes annually.
So, if you find yourself in Minsk, then be sure to go try the famous potato pancakes. You can do this at the Kukhmistr restaurant. Here you will not only be fed classic potato pancakes with sour cream (356 rubles per serving), but also invited to try real horseradish and taste many other national dishes and drinks.
Visit the festivities in the Upper Town
Something went wrong with pedestrian streets in Minsk. Quiet and rich in museums and pleasant establishments, Karl Marx Street only lasted a couple of seasons. As a result, everything moved to the Upper City. This place is a few steps from Oktyabrskaya Square, which is the geographical center of the city and Nemiga region, with romantic places for walks. On weekend evenings, street concerts, dance evenings, and street performances were held there.
Art-Oktyabrskaya
In recent years, the former industrial Oktyabrskaya Street has become one of the main “party” places in the capital. This is a special and very interesting place, with graffiti being a special attraction. Almost every factory building on the street is painted. The graffiti was created by talented artists from Belarus and Brazil over several years, as part of the first street art festival Vulica Brasil, which was held in Minsk in 2014. Near the old buildings and tram tracks, which are no longer operational, there are cafes, bars, clubs, snack bars, pancake houses, exhibition areas, as well as offices of various organizations. Oktyabrskaya often hosts master classes, art exhibitions, and creative meetings with art representatives.
Visit all establishments in the Upper Town
There are several streets in Minsk where literally every building will have a bar or cafe. One of these places is the Upper Town. On Herzen and Zybitskaya streets you will definitely find an establishment to suit your mood and taste. Here is the popular youth bar "Attic", and the cocktail bar "Mists", and the beer restaurant "At the Town Hall", the "Insomnia" bar in the style of "Alice in Wonderland" and a lot of other places.
The establishments located near the embankment of the Svisloch River are located in the city center, but it is quiet and cozy there, and there are practically no cars.
Buy groceries at the Komarovsky market
Komarovsky market. Photo: @your_figure_designer
On Vera Khoruzhey Street, 8 you will find the oldest and largest food market in the city. You need to come here for the authentic atmosphere and, of course, fresh products: seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheeses and much more.
Visit the art gallery "House of Pictures"
Tourists are usually advised to visit museums related to the history of Belarus. We will recommend the House of Pictures, a new gallery that is interesting for two reasons. Firstly, this is the largest private gallery. Secondly, its interior resembles the best European galleries.
Sometimes original exhibitions are held here: for example, the collection of perfume aromas “Smells of Life” was exhibited all winter. The works of many Belarusian artists are also presented here.
Evaluate the variety of brands in the shopping centers “Castle” and “Galileo”
At first glance, this is a controversial recommendation: why, supposedly, should a tourist look at what his country probably already has? But we would like to dispel one prejudice. Sometimes Belarus is presented as a “small-town” country where you can’t really buy anything. Now, this is not true. In addition to the dear GUM, which has preserved the charming Soviet style in architecture and internal structure, Minsk has quite a few large shopping centers with famous brands. It is enough to walk around the “Castle” and “Galileo” to be convinced that in Belarus you can buy not only straw bast shoes and “embroidery” (a shirt or dress with a national ornament).
Take a dip in the Lebyazhy water park
The largest and almost the only Minsk water park is located on the outskirts of the city - Pobediteley Ave., 120. The entertainment complex is really large: five levels, total area - more than 30 thousand square meters. There are eleven slides in total with a total length of about one kilometer.
The water park will satisfy any request: there is a children's and family entertainment center, a beach party area, a wave pool with imitation sea waves and much more.
"Gates of Minsk"
Minsk greets guests from the railway station with a Stalinist “empire style”. Immediately opposite the train arrival point there is an architectural complex consisting of two symmetrical eleven-story towers built under Stalin. The buildings are decorated with a large German clock dial, the coat of arms of the USSR and sculptures of a soldier, a collective farmer, a worker and an engineer. During its existence, the towers became quite a recognizable object.
Photo: fotokto.ru
Prepared by Kirill Ozimko (Brest)
Take a photo from the observation deck of the National Library
The “Diamond of Knowledge” is much more often associated with Chupa Chups, but let’s leave the design decisions to the conscience of the architects. Almost any book can be found in the 23-story building, and tourists are usually attracted by the observation deck on the roof of the library.
Climbing to the top floor, you will see an excellent panorama of the city. However, in Minsk there is a shortage of high-rise buildings with free access to observation platforms, so there is still not much to choose from. But the view from the library is really good.
Minsk City Hall
In 1499, Minsk received the Magdeburg Law, which gave the city authorities broad powers and, in fact, independence in making decisions at the local level. Accordingly, the town hall then appeared in the city - a body of city self-government, which was then present in many European cities.
Photo: museums.by
However, the original building was demolished when the city became part of the Russian Empire in the mid-19th century. - by order of Nicholas I.
The idea to restore the object appeared only in the second half of the twentieth century, and it was brought to life. Restorers tried to recreate the object as similar to the original as possible.
Ride along the bike path
The asphalt bike path runs through the entire city - it starts from the Drozdy reservoir near the Moscow Ring Road in the north-west of the capital and diagonally follows to the south, to another reservoir in the Chizhovka area.
The bike path is notable for the fact that it is laid along the green zone of the city, and in some places it goes out onto the embankment of the Svisloch River. Clean air, no cars, and a separate area for pedestrians. The length of the bike path is approximately 27 kilometers. Will you overcome?
Trinity Suburb
Trinity Suburb is a famous landmark of the capital, a historical corner located in a picturesque place on the banks of the Svisloch River. Cozy streets, ancient houses with tiled roofs, unique monuments of the past create the unique atmosphere of this space. Today, the old houses of the Trinity Suburb house museums, souvenir and antique shops, shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops with interiors from past centuries. There is a restaurant on the water here, the only one in the capital that is open in the summer. Trinity Suburb is the tourist “pearl” of the capital, where you can get acquainted with the cultural heritage, enjoy delicious national cuisine and take a break from the everyday bustle.
Look into the Red Church and the White Church
The full name of the Catholic church is the Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, but it is often called simply the Red Church. The building looks monumental, located next to the Government House and two universities - BSPU and BSU. The building looks spectacular not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
The main temple of the Belarusian Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, it is located in the same Upper Town. The miraculous Minsk Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of Saint Sophia Slutskaya, granddaughter of Anastasia Slutskaya, a famous figure in the history of Belarus, are kept here.
Nemiga
One of the most beautiful places in Minsk is Nemiga Street, which got its name thanks to the river of the same name. The street appeared in the 12th century next to the Minsk Castle. At all times it was a trading place, there were many shops and shops, and at the beginning of the 20th century the famous Fish Market functioned. The architecture of the street includes old houses and new modern buildings. On Nemiga there are the Church of Peter and Paul (1612) and the Minsk Holy Spirit Cathedral, which are of historical value. Today Nemiga is a favorite meeting and walking place for Minsk residents and city guests, where they can have a good time and admire the beauty of the Belarusian capital. There are a huge number of shops and shopping centers concentrated on the street, the main one of which is the “Na Nemiga” shopping center. Cafes, restaurants, and pizzerias offer you to relax in a cozy atmosphere and try wonderful dishes of national cuisine. Concerts and various events are held near the Sports Palace, and in Nemiga there is also an outdoor skating rink under a tent in winter.
