Know before you go
Belarus
General Information
Belarus is located in Eastern Europe bordering Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. Its capital and largest city is Minsk. They drive on the right side of the road.
Visa
When entering Belarus through Minsk National Airport (MSQ) holders of an EU passport are exempt from visa requirements for a 5 day visit to Belarus. This is only possible when entering through MSQ airport. Please check out this link to find out if you need a visa when travelling to Belarus.
Watch Geography Now!
The video will give you a good first overview of Belarus.
Power
Belarus uses Type C and F plug outlets. They also work with plugs of Type E. The voltage is 220 Volt and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Language
Belarus’ two official languages are Russian and Belarusian. Russian is the main language, used by 72% of the population, while Belarusian, the official first language, is spoken by 11.9%
| Russian | English |
|---|---|
| Privet! | Hello! |
| Poka! | Bye! |
| da | yes |
| net | no |
| Spasibo! | Thank you! |
| Pozhaluysta! | You're welcome! |
| Izvinite! | Excuse me! |
| Na zdorovie! | Cheers! |
Weather Forecast
Climate
Belarus is in the transitional zone between continental climates and maritime climates. The climate features mild to cold winters, with average January minimum temperatures ranging from −4 °C (24.8 °F) in southwest (Brest) to −8 °C (17.6 °F) in northeast (Vitebsk), and cool and moist summers with an average temperature of 18 °C (64.4 °F).
Average Temperature in Minsk
Average Precipitation in Minsk
Transportation
How to get there?
I would definitely fly to Minsk National Airport (MSQ), considering the fact that it is possible to enter Belarus without a visa and stay for 5 days. It is possible to enter on land borders, but you most likely will have to apply for a visa before you can do that. Save yourself some trouble and fly to Minsk. Once at the airport, you can take a bus to go to the city center.
How to get around?
Minsk is by far the largest city in Belarus and has a Metro. In smaller cities you can just walk around city centers or use public buses.
How to get from town to town?
Use the train or buses to go from town to town.
Money, Money, Money
Currency
The currency of Belarus is the Belarusian Ruble. Check out the currency converter to find out about current exchange rates.
Accommodation
Depending on where you are staying prices will vary of course. Using Airbnb, we paid of around 20€ per person per night.
Cash
Credit Cards are widely accepted. Even at souvenir stalls we could pay with credit card. For public transport, tips and other small purchases it does make sense to withdraw cash though. How much you will need of course depends on your spending habits. Retrospective I found I needed around 20€ per day. This includes food, transportation, activities and souvenirs.
