1. To try the real draniki.
You can find potato pancakes or potato pancakes in many cultures, but draniki is the most authentic Belarusian dish. The word itself has a folk character and comes from the Belarusian word for "to grate" or "to rub". According to the modern recipe, potatoes are grated.Places where you can try real draniki are a huge number. We offer just a small list of places from inexpensive to the most atmospheric restaurants in Minsk:
- Lido quick service restaurants. One of the most budget-friendly options. Draniki are cooked right in front of the guests. You may have to wait in a small queue to dine on delicious draniki. But it's worth it! Addresses: 5 Nemiga str., 49/1 Nezavisimosti Ave; Kulman St., 5A.
- A chain of folk cuisine restaurants called Vasilki. Bonus to the drainiki you get a colorful interior and cozy atmosphere. This is one of the favorite tourist places with affordable prices.Addresses: 16 Nezalezhnosti Ave. 6; 58 Nezalezhnosti Ave; 37 Jakub Kolas Ave; 89 Nezalezhnosti Ave; 2 Rokossovskoho Ave;7, Timiryazevo (Palazzo shopping center); 5, Petra Glebka str. 5 Petra Hlebky str. 11 (Dana Mall); 1 Nalybokska St.; 150A Partizansky St;
- The restaurant Kukhmister will surprise you with Belarusian-Lithuanian national cuisine. Facility's guests note the friendliness and high service. And, of course, delicious dishes, including various variants of draniki. Address: 40, Karl Marx St.
At Kamyanitsa restaurant you will get into the medieval atmosphere right at the entrance. Stone walls with shields and spears, wooden tables and waiters in national costumes. There is an entertainment program on holidays and weekends. Please book tables in advance! Address: Pervomayskaya str. 18.
2. Make a trip to Brest.
- This city is famous for its most interesting tradition. For more than 14 years every morning and evening a lantern man in an old-fashioned uniform walks along Sovetskaya Street and lights and extinguishes 17 kerasin lamps. The ritual takes approximately 30 minutes. Don't forget to grab a button on the lanternman's uniform and make a wish.
- More than 400 items of art and antiques, which were rescued during an attempt to illegally export abroad, make up the exposition of the Museum of Rescued Art Treasures. The museum was founded in 1989 and during its existence it has gathered a large collection of Russian icon painting, Buddhist icons, Japanese paintings by G.G. Myasoedov, Y.Y. Klever and other artists, antique furniture, bronze and porcelain items.
- Brest interactive open-air railway museum, supplemented by an exposition in a separate pavilion. Trains, cars, diesel locomotives, steam locomotives and attributes on the area of more than 29 thousand square meters! All the railway equipment is in working condition. You can go inside, feel yourself in the place of a passenger or machinist, learn the principles of work.
- By the way, it is located next to the Brest Fortress, so you can plan a very rich excursion program.
3. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is located in Brest and Grodno regions. The most convenient way to get to one of the largest national forest parks in Europe (it ranks 4th) is from Brest (Belovezhskaya Pushcha is 56 km away). The area of the nature reserve is 150,000 hectares. Here you can enjoy the silence and get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Belarus. 500-year-old oaks, more than 1000 species of plants, including rare and endangered ones. Perhaps you will be lucky and in the spacious enclosures you will meet common and protected species of animals. Among them are the common lynx, European bison, white-tailed eagle, owl, forest marten, red deer and other animals. On the vast territory are located more than 20 historical and cultural values, among them Kurgan burial mound of the early Middle Ages X-XIII c., the building of the former steam mill at the beginning of the twentieth century, the Church of St. Andrew of 1877, Trinity Monastery of missionaries end. XVIII c., Settlement of the Middle Ages XII-XVII centuries, mass grave 1941 and others. There are hotel complexes that will let you enjoy nature to the fullest. More information on the website.
4. Taste Belarusian beer.
In Minsk museum of the working brewery Alivaria you will not only get acquainted with the history of the beverage and production of the largest Belarusian brewing company, but also see the working production facilities. You will also learn how to drink beer properly and what dishes it is combined with, depending on the variety. At the end of the tour the group will enjoy a degustation.
5. Experience Belarusian culture.
- The Museum of Folk Architecture and Life "Ozertso". Here you will get acquainted with the everyday life of Belarusian villages - schools, churches, bathhouses, stables, residential estates and wooden houses built in different parts of Belarus and brought to the museum. You will see three kinds of working windmills. Well, and certainly, you will plunge into the Belarusian flavor. Even the place where the cafe is located has historical value. Earlier there was an inn and a house for the owner. National holidays Kupalye, Christmas, Dzyady are accompanied by folk festivals, rituals, entertainment programs, and in the summer there is a folk festival "Kamyanitsa".
To see everything, plan a full day to visit the museum.
- Dudutki Museum of Ancient Crafts and Technologies. In winter time the complex works only on weekends, it is better to find out the schedule in advance at website. On the territory of the museum there is a mill, a temple, a cheese factory, a poultry yard, a woodworking workshop, a pottery and leather workshop, workshops of vine-weaving, felting, weaving, a farm and stables. Also, there is a guest house with a sauna and a hotel. In "Dududki" festivals "Svata Sontza", "Grunwald" are held. You can visit the complex on your own or book an excursion, ride horses and go horseback riding.
- The Dukor Mayontak Museum Complex is famous for its Ella's Upside Down Cabin. Be sure to test your vestibular apparatus, and at the same time take a boat ride or a catamaran, play paintball and mini-golf and have a delicious lunch - there are cafes "Korchma", "Strawnya", grill-bar "Shynok" for you to choose from.
6. Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble.
A unique complex consisting of 6 richest museum objects - architectural monuments. Palace of Rumyantsevs and Paskevichs, Chapel-Tomb of Princes Paskevichs, Winter Garden, Observation Tower, Swan Pond and Park, Amusement Town, Sozh River Embankment, Khalchansky Palace. The exposition of museums is regularly updated, more than 100 exhibitions are held during the year. Current events can be viewed on the website of the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble.
7. Take a walk in the most beautiful parks of Minsk, which are beautiful at any time of the year: Victory Park, Loshitsky Park, Chelyuskintsev Park, Yanka Kupala Park, Drozd, Chelyuskintsev, Gorky Park, Central Botanical Garden.
8. Dance till the morning on two of the most party streets in Minsk with bars, street musicians and dance openings: Zybitskaya and Art-Oktyabrskaya streets.
9. Familiarize yourself with the history of and visit the World War II museum in Minsk, the Khatyn memorial complex, the Stalin Line, the museum of aviation technology, the Mound of Glory.
10. Travel to castles in Belarus:
Nesvizh Castle is located in the town of Nesvizh, Minsk region (112 km from Minsk) Puslovsky Palace or Kossovsky Palace (Brest region)
Sapeg Palace in Ruzhany (Pruzhany district, Brest region)
Mir Castle is located in the village of Mir in Grodno region.
Lida Castle (Castle of Gedemin) has a long history, is one of the oldest castles in Belarus, located in the town of Lida in Grodno region.
Lyubchansky Castle in the village of Lyubcha, Novogrudok District, Grodno Region.
Novogrudok Castle, unfortunately, has not been restored. But you can see the restored fragments of the towers.
Krevo Castle is an eight-century-old ruin in the village of Krevo, Grodno region.
Golshany Castle is shrouded in mystical stories and is located in the agro-town of Golshany, Grodno region.
This is not the whole list of historical places and the most beautiful castles in Belarus. But we invite you to start exploring this beautiful country with them.
11. Spend the day or meet the sunrise on the Minsk Sea.
