Hello! Today on the blog is an unusual experiment. Not an interview, not a guest post, but a story about a New Year's road trip to Belarus from my friends, the Kurtyshov family. I am most interested in the geographical direction - not far, relatively inexpensive, a passport is not required. In short, perfect for a holiday trip.
I asked the guys to tell about the trip and prepared interview questions, and in response I received a detailed report with photos! Now I’m thinking, is it good or bad when you have bloggers as friends? They themselves have an awl in one place and they don’t let others live in peace 🙂
The report turned out to be quite large and I broke it into two parts. The speech is held by the head of the family - Sergey, part-time driver of the crew. Authorship and style are fully preserved, I just added a travel map and a few useful links.
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At the end of November, the issue with the New Year holidays was finally resolved, namely, that they still will be. I didn’t want to spend them on the couch or on endless trips to the guests, which would end in a headache in the morning.
Immediately the question arose WHERE? After some deliberation, the choice fell on fraternal Belarus. The main reasons why this direction was chosen:
- And yet this foreign country;
- Travel can be done by car, which is very useful when you want to see the maximum and do not need to buy tours and tickets in advance.
Well, there is a desire to travel and a direction has been chosen. It remains to work out the route. This had to be dealt with. For two weeks, the expanses of the Internet were surfed and various combinations of the words “………. in Belarus". As a result of painful work, objects of visit were chosen that meet the needs of all family members (Dad, Mom, Daughter - 14 years old, Son - 8 years old). For the Pope - the Brest Fortress. For Mom - the castle complexes of Nesvizh and Mir. For the Daughter and Son - the water park "Lebyazhy" and Belovezhskaya Pushcha with a visit to the residence of the Belarusian Father Frost. And, of course, walks around the capital of Belarus - Minsk and a visit to the museum complex of ancient folk crafts "Dudutki".
Based on the number of selected objects and their distance from each other, the following route was compiled:
Travel from Gorodets to Minsk - 1.5 days;
Accommodation in Minsk - 2.5 days, including sightseeing in Minsk, visiting the water park and the museum complex "Dudutki";
Transfer from Minsk to Brest - 0.5 days with a stop at the castle complexes;
Accommodation in Brest - 1.5 days, this included the Brest Fortress and Belovezhskaya Pushcha;
Travel from Brest to Gorodets - 2 days.
TOTAL - the journey should take 8 days.
Housing in Belarus
The search for housing began a week before the New Year. It immediately became clear that the hotels in Minsk and its environs were already occupied. The next surprise came up while searching for apartments. Holiday prices are doubled. The average price tag for an apartment for four people during the New Year holidays is: in Minsk $60-70/day, in Brest $40-50/day.
Booking an apartment was not so easy. Either the apartment is occupied, or they ask for an advance payment in the amount of a daily payment. After a long search and fruitless calls, apartments in Minsk and Brest were booked FREE OF CHARGE with the help of the Sutochno.ru website.
I came across a residential apartment in Minsk. Moreover, pensioners live in it, with the resulting atmosphere. In Brest, the picture was different. The apartment is only for rent, i.e. hotel type. These apartments have undoubted advantages: modern furnishings and renovation, cleanliness and order, and most importantly - nothing more. This apartment had Wi-Fi, which the children really liked. So when booking apartments, I recommend paying attention to this. (an apartment in Brest - Cosmonauts Boulevard 92, Eugene +375297289417 recommend). Well, the necessary preparations for the trip have been made, it remains to celebrate the New Year and pack our bags.
Start of autotravel (Road, border)
January 2, 9:30, and so, on the road. I always like the traffic situation in the first days of the New Year. The roads are empty, so you can drive at your own pace. When you drive through settlements, you can see that the celebration of the New Year among the Russians is in full swing. We drove to Moscow along the M7 highway without any problems. Small traffic jams were found on the Moscow Ring Road, if they could be called that. The M1 highway from Moscow to the border with Belarus is almost the same as the M7. In my opinion, the road surface is slightly better and there are fewer settlements.
By 19:30, 850 km had been covered and it was decided to look for an overnight stay. The navigator showed that there are many hotels near Smolensk on the M1 highway. The first hotel we stopped at was Gostiny Dvor (about 30-40 km before reaching Smolensk). Having looked at the rooms and found out their cost, there was no doubt about the choice of lodging for the night. A fairly clean and comfortable standard room cost 1500 rubles. The hotel has a decent cafe. The journey was scheduled for 8:00 am.
The main tasks when moving west along the M1, on the section Smolensk - the border of Belarus, are - buying a green card and filling a full tank as close to the border as possible. There are no problems with green cards, every 3-5 kilometers there are points of sale on the highway. You can call in any one you like after Smolensk. Refueling is also no problem. Gas stations are often located on the highway, but the closer to the border, the longer the queue.
The border with Belarus is very pleased. There are no lines or checks. Passage through the border passed at a speed of 50 km / h. Immediately after the checkpoint, you realize that you are abroad. The highway begins with a sign "toll road". About toll roads in Belarus, this is generally a separate issue. Traveling along Belarusian toll roads (signs “toll road” hang at every interchange), I have never seen payment points. In general, I still did not understand who should pay the money for travel on the toll road. (note For residents of Russia, toll roads in Belarus are free).
The first impression of Belarus is of course ROADS. One can envy the Belarusians that they have such high-quality roads. The ideal road surface is not only along the main highway, but also local roads have high-quality coverage.
The main positive impressions that I remember from the M1 highway on the border-Brest section.
1) There is a 120 km/h limit on the highway (you can install cruise control and drive all the way to Brest);
2) There are practically no settlements and there are no traffic lights at all;
3) There are well-organized places for rest on the track, where not only garbage containers are placed, but also warm, clean toilets, and free of charge;
4) Cleanliness and order not only on the roadsides, but also in green plantings along the roads. I observed such a picture - in the cold, people walked along the green plantings and pulled out fallen branches to organized heaps near the road.
5) If you see a sign “Fota control” (inscription in Belarusian), do not hesitate, there is a camera.
But there is also a minus - these are gas stations. They are not located on the highway as often as in Russia, and therefore, if you do not keep a supply of fuel in the tank, you can end up with an empty tank. And of course the price of gas. For 1 liter of AI-95, you will have to pay 11,900 bel. rubles (47 rubles of ours), but such a price is fixed throughout Belarus and does not depend on which gas station you refuel at.
The capital of Belarus is Minsk
So, the M1 highway made it possible to get to Minsk ahead of schedule. After getting acquainted with the apartment and its owners, the first thing was to get acquainted with the Belarusian rubles. Not far from the occupied living space there was a shopping center, where we found an exchanger. By the way, exchangers are located in almost all shopping centers, as well as on the main streets there are small branches of various banks where you can change money. But as a rule they are all open until 18:00.
Having exchanged only 5,000 rubles. we felt like millionaires. On the hands turned out to be one million two hundred and fifty thousand white. rubles, but the joy was short-lived. The first acquaintance with the price tags happened in a cafe. The average price tag for one dish averaged 60-80 thousand Belarusian rubles. rubles. After a delicious dinner and paying the bill, I had to part with the dream of a millionaire. Yes, and in addition, banknotes of various denominations appeared on the hands. Starting from 100 rubles and ending with 200,000 rubles, which is very confusing when paying for purchases. Sometimes it got ridiculous, they gave a wad of money to the seller with the glory "count as much as you need." Only on the third day did we gradually begin to get used to commodity-money relations.
It seemed to me that the Belarusians themselves hardly count the required amount. In many places, you can use a Russian bank card to pay. Checked, everything is honest and without deception.
Despite the fact that Minsk is a clean, well-groomed and cozy city, it leaves an ambiguous feeling. On the one hand, walking around Minsk in places you get the feeling that you are back in the USSR. For example - when visiting the Central Department Store, I remembered a picture (settings) from the film "The Diamond Arm" - Do you have the same one only with mother-of-pearl buttons? Not? Will seek! And also, sellers of retirement or pre-retirement age with all the charm and charm for these years, but by the way, quite polite. Almost all shops located along avenues and boulevards (except grocery stores) close at 18:00 or 19:00.
On the other hand, Minsk is a modern city with a million inhabitants, like most cities in Russia. In the architecture of the city, and especially in its center, one can see the culture of the USSR combined with the western one. For example, on the central square "Nezolezhnosti", the Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, made in the neo-Gothic style, and a typical Soviet building with grandfather Lenin border side by side.
When you move away from the center towards the Moscow Ring Road, you pass through various eras of the Soviet and post-Soviet space.
Famous panel high-rise buildings.
Modern monolithic housing construction.
You can see such views of the city from the panoramic platform of the National Library of Belarus. By the way, on the 23rd floor there is a good cafe where you can taste pancakes with machanka (approx. machanka - meat sauce).
The culture of driving on the roads of Minsk among the locals also pleased me. It seemed that the locals respect visitors and do not honk after you. More than once I got into the situation “sorry, we ourselves are not local”, while cars stopped from all sides of the intersection and waited until I took my leave and left the scene of the crime.
Pedestrians are a priority, no one has a question “to pass or not” - to pass. Many traffic lights with an arrow have an additional "attention crosswalk" section. Many roundabouts have traffic lights around the ring. To enter the ring, you stand at a traffic light, before the first exit, a traffic light, before the second exit, a traffic light, leaving the ring again (for example, Bangalore Square).
The main street in Minsk is Nezalezhnosti Avenue, which runs through the entire city.
Museum complex "Dudutki"
The museum complex of ancient folk crafts and technologies "Dudutki" is located outside the city. It will be of interest to lovers of ancient life.
Guides take you around the corners of the museum in the open air and talk about various crafts: moonshine, bakeries, pottery and wood crafts, blacksmithing, beekeeping, etc. Many places hold master classes and tastings. For those who are not driving, I recommend paying attention to home brewing and, of course, its tasting.
Despite the frost at minus 23, the children were also pleased with the stories about crafts, viewing the museum of retro cars and, of course, going to the stables.
Thematic souvenirs can be bought for each craft. Also, you can visit the mill, but with certain restrictions 🙂
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For many times I hear from travelers about problems with housing in Belarus. Special stress for the holidays. Conclusion - you need to book accommodation well in advance and watch not only the usual Booking life hacks and I suggest participating in it! Oksana 🙂
Our family loves to travel by car. This year we decided to go to Belarus, so to speak, to the places of military glory of the Soviet people. We started on July 1 at 5 am from the extreme north of Moscow and freely, without traffic jams, left the city along the Minsk highway.
The road to the destination - we rented an apartment almost in the center of Minsk, on the street. Nemiga - took 8.5 hours. We made two stops - to refuel and to have a snack. By the way, gasoline in Belarus is more expensive than in Russia, the price is the same at all gas stations - a liter of AI-95, for example, costs 11,900 Belarusian rubles (BYR), i.e. approximately 44 Russian rubles, so we recommend refueling at a border gas station on the Russian side. The M-1 highway is quite good, in the Smolensk region some road repairs and narrowing.
On the territory of Belarus, there are unusually few passing, and even oncoming, cars, there were periods of time when we were driving alone along the highway. And, by the way, cars with Russian numbers were more often seen from different regions than local ones. On the way to Brest, we came across cars even from the Trans-Baikal Territory!
So, at 13-30 we reached "our" apartment. We had lunch and went to get acquainted with the city. Back in Moscow, while making a trip plan, I found that in Minsk there is a city sightseeing route Minsk City tour - nothing more than the red double-decker familiar to us. The bus is based on the station square, goes non-stop along the following route: Station - Independence Square - Palace of the Republic - Circus - Victory Square - Academy of Sciences - Botanical Garden - National Library - Yakub Kolas Square - Trinity Suburb - Victory Park - Minsk Arena - Palace Sports - City Hall - Station.
The duration of the trip is approximately two hours, there is an audio guide in Belarusian, Russian, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. Departure four times a day - at 11, 13-30, 16-00, 18-30, the cost for an adult is 300,000 BYR, for children from 7 to 15 years 150,000 BYR, up to 7 years free of charge. For our family (2 adults and 2 children), the trip cost 900,000 BYR (that is, approximately 3,300 Russian rubles), payment only in cash. The audio guide offers a brief historical background about the country and a more detailed account of the capital. From the height of the second floor of the bus, a beautiful well-groomed city opened up to us, quite a European one, but with recognizable Soviet architecture.
For example, the building of the State Security Committee can be identified without a clue, as well as other administrative buildings, GUM and TSUM. However, there are modern buildings that amaze with their appearance: the rhombicuboctahedron of the National Library (popularly called “diamant” - diamond), the Palace of the Republic, the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, the Minsk Arena cultural and sports complex, the Palace of Independence.
National Library in Minsk
We liked the tour very much and after its completion we decided to visit the National Library, or rather, the observation deck on its roof.
The original design of this building at 116 Independence Avenue was adopted in 1989, but construction began only in 2002, and in 2006 the library opened its doors to visitors. There is an art gallery, a book museum, a restaurant and a cafe, and even a sports and recreation complex. You can take a tour of the building and the museum of the book. We took the opportunity to look at Minsk from a height of 73 meters, from the 23rd floor of the building, where we were taken by a high-speed panoramic elevator. The cost of tickets to the site for adults is 30,000 BYR, for schoolchildren and students - 20,000 BYR. Please note that the entrance to the observation deck is located on the opposite side from the main entrance.
Water park in Minsk
The next day, according to the plan, there was the Lebyazhy water park - my son had a birthday and it was decided to celebrate in this way. The address of the water park is Pobediteley Avenue, 120. The cost of visiting varies depending on the day and time of the visit, and on the set of desired services. In our case, the tickets cost 928,000 BYR, and they gave a 30% discount on the birthday ticket, but asked to show a supporting document.
We were a little unlucky - on this day, children were brought to the water park from a health camp, about 15 teams, when we left the water park, it was already crowded with children. It's good that we arrived almost at the opening - by 9 o'clock, managed to swim freely for two hours out of four. The kids really enjoyed this tour.
Military Museum "Stalin Line"
After the water park, it was planned to visit the historical and cultural complex "Stalin's Line", which is located in the vicinity of the city of Zaslavl (north of Minsk). This is an open-air military museum, opened in 2005. The system of nodal defensive structures was created in the 1930s, during the construction of the museum, according to archival pre-war drawings, machine-gun pillboxes, an artillery semi-gunner and a command and observation post were restored, and the pre-war situation inside the pillboxes was reconstructed. The museum has a collection of equipment from the Second World War, as well as armored caps that have been preserved since the First World War. Most of the exhibits can be touched, you can go down into the trenches, there is a field kitchen. Historical reconstructions of the battles of the Great Patriotic War are regularly held. Ticket price: adults - 100,000 BYR, schoolchildren and students - 50,000 BYR, car parking - 20,000 BYR.
We did not take a tour, we walked around the museum for more than two hours, my husband and son told me and my daughter about many of the exhibits - they are interested in this topic and know a lot.
Brest. Brest Fortress
Of course, when planning a trip to Belarus, a visit to the Brest Fortress was made a must. And also a museum of steam locomotives - the son is not indifferent to them. July 3, the Independence Day of Belarus, we went to Brest.
The distance of 350 km was covered in 3.5 hours and at 12 noon we parked near the railway museum. We decided to visit it first, because. opening hours until 17:00, and then the fortress.
The Museum of Railway Engineering in Brest was opened in 2002. The exposition includes steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, freight and passenger cars, a railcar, a snowplow, a diesel train, a mail car, an armored train cannon and much more!
170 exhibits of the technical equipment of railway transport from different periods of history. Exhibits are on the move, participate in filming and tours. Museum address: Brest, Masherova street, 2.
For adults, the ticket price is 20,000 BYR, for schoolchildren - 10,000 BYR.
Brest Hero Fortress - its history began much earlier than the well-known events of the Second World War. The fortified military fortress was built in the middle of the 19th century to defend the western borders of the Russian Empire, in the 20th century it continued to be improved, for some time Brest was part of the territory of Poland - until 1939.
On June 22, 1941, at 04-15, German troops opened artillery fire on the fortress. About 300 officer families were surrounded, but opposed 9,000 German soldiers, and for more than a month the defenders of the fortress held the line. After the war, the Brest Fortress became a symbol of the resilience of the Soviet people. In the 70s of the XX century, a memorial complex "Brest Hero Fortress" was built on its ruins.
The territory of the complex is large, there are also the Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress, the Museum "V Fort" and the "Museum of War - the Territory of Peace", sightseeing tours are held.
On Hospital Island there is the Berestye Archaeological Museum - here is the craft quarter of the city of the 16th century, found during excavations. A visit to the fortress left no one indifferent, this memory will always be with us.
Continuing the theme of memory, the next day we went to Khatyn. The memorial complex is located in the Logoisk district of the Minsk region, about 30 kilometers from Minsk along the Minsk-Vitebsk highway. But the village of Khatyn cannot be found on any map now. It was destroyed by the German invaders in the spring of 1943. During the war, the entire territory of Belarus was occupied, and such a village was not the only one, there were huge losses among the civilian population, historians believe that every fourth inhabitant of Belarus died.
A memorial complex was built on the site of Khatyn in memory of all the dead civilians, it repeats the layout of the village, only instead of houses there are log cabins, inside of which there are obelisks in the form of chimneys. The bells on the trumpets are ringing every minute... This is a very emotional place, but people should remember the past.
Mound of Glory (Minsk)
Another place of memory of the Great Patriotic War is the memorial complex "Mound of Glory", located in the Smolevichi district, at 21 km of the M2 highway Minsk - Minsk National Airport. It was erected in honor of the operation to liberate Belarus (Operation Bagration).
It was here, in the Minsk Cauldron, in July 1944, that the Soviet army defeated the enemy troops. A hill 35 meters high was poured almost by hand, people literally carried the earth in their hands, brought it from other cities and battlefields. The mound is crowned with four bayonets, which symbolize the fronts that liberated Belarus: the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Belorussian fronts and the Baltic front. 35-meter bayonets stretch into the sky, their foot is surrounded by a wide ring, on the inner surface of which is written: “Glory to the Soviet Army, the Liberating Army!”. Two spiral staircases lead to the top of the mound, each consisting of 241 steps. From the height you have a magnificent view on all four sides.
At the foot of the mound there is a small exposition of military equipment - guns D-44, ZIS-2, ZIS-3 and tanks T-10, T-34, ISU-152, IS-2, IS-3. This is a sincere and impressive monument of our history.
Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk
Of course, we could not ignore the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk. The Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War is located in Minsk at the address: Pobediteley Avenue, 8, on the territory of the Pobeda museum and park complex.
This new building of the museum, the opening, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the German invaders, took place on July 3, 2014. The museum is considered the first in the world of such a theme, because the first visitors came to the exposition on July 22, 1944, then at Freedom Square, the House of Trade Unions.
In 1966, the museum was moved to a newly built building at 25a Leninsky Prospekt (now Independence Avenue). The new, modern building of the museum is striking in its size, the halls smoothly pass one into another, even with a cursory examination, the entire museum will probably take at least 1.5 hours.
Very beautiful and impressive Hall of Victory - round, with a glass dome, along the perimeter there is detailed information about the fronts, armies, flotillas, as well as the Heroes of the Soviet Union. The exposition also features life-size military equipment, various installations, uniforms of various troops, many documents and personal belongings of soldiers, and much more. There are also interactive screens with which you can learn the history of the exhibits. We recommend visiting this museum!
Mir Castle
On the last day of our stay in Belarus, we chose Mir Castle to visit. It was interesting to look at the old Belarusian castle. In fact, it turned out that there were not so many old things left in the castle. Buildings were destroyed many times for various reasons, and then restored. As a result, almost nothing remained of the original idea of Prince Yuri Ilyinich, the first owner of the castle. However, the atmosphere of antiquity is three-meter-thick walls, narrow loopholes and spiral staircases with high steps in the walls of the towers, where two cannot disperse, a prison, knights in armor and utensils, interesting expositions inside the castle - from cellars to the ballroom, personal belongings of the owners, music in the yard — of course, present.
The territory is ennobled and well-groomed, next to the castle there is a small pond and a park. The children strolled through the cellars and towers with interest, and the museum exposition was a little tired. In addition, there are many tour groups in the palace, and some rooms are not so huge as to accommodate everyone. The conclusion was made like this - an interesting sight, but just for the sake of visiting the castle it would not be worth going to Belarus.
Here comes the time of departure. In general, the impressions are very good, but there is a little lack of tourist information - there are few signs with signs in cities, information stands at sightseeing sites.
Belarus is a beautiful, well-kept country, with endless agricultural land and a leisurely lifestyle.
In 2019, the rules for entering Belarus for Russians remain unchanged. Since 1997, an agreement on a visa-free regime has been in force between the states. When traveling to the republic for up to 90 days, you do not need to apply for a visa. Entry into Belarus is carried out on the basis of an internal Russian or foreign passport.
Russians are exempted from the need to fill out migration cards, questionnaires or any other documents. If the period of residence does not exceed 30 days, then there is no need to register. Traveling through the territory of the republic in case of going to a third country is free: a transit visa is also not required. There is practically no border, a trip to this country resembles a trip to a neighboring region.
- Birth certificate;
- Internal passport if the child is already 14 years old;
- Or a foreign passport if available.
The entry rules of the republic do not exclude the possibility of minors traveling on foreign passports of their parents, provided that information about the children is included in these documents.
Consent to leave the Russian Federation with notarization from the second parent is not required if the child travels only with mom or dad. However, in situations where a minor leaves the Russian Federation accompanied by third parties or independently, consent to leave Russia must be obtained from both parents. The last rule is enshrined in Russian legislation.
Medical insurance
Belarus does not have a compulsory medical insurance policy adopted in Russia. Nevertheless, if necessary, the Russians will receive emergency and ambulance assistance. But for further treatment in a hospital, you will have to pay at the current rates. Therefore, before traveling to the republic, it makes sense to take care of buying an insurance policy in advance. In this case, the cost of paying for medical services will fall on the shoulders of the insurance company.
How to get to Belarus?
There are several options to get to Belarus. The list of documents required for travel remains unchanged. The only thing is that there are nuances when entering by private vehicle.
By plane
A simple and quick way to get to the republic is by plane. The cost of a ticket from Moscow to Minsk is about 9,000-10,000 rubles. Flight time - 1 hour 20 minutes. The ticket price depends on the selected airline. Three airlines fly to Belarus daily from the capital of the Russian Federation: Belavia, UTair and S7 Airlines. There are options for direct flights from St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Samara, Novosibirsk, Sochi, Yekaterinburg.
By train
The second option is to go to the republic by train. You can get to Minsk from Moscow in 8-10 hours. A ticket in a reserved seat car costs from 3,000 rubles, in a compartment - from 5,000 rubles. Regular trains run from many regions of Russia.
By bus
Buses run from all Russian regions bordering Belarus. Also, the flow of transit transport through the republic connects Russia and Europe. Travel time - from 10 to 12 hours. The ticket price varies from 1400 to 1800 rubles.
A trip to Belarus by car
A trip to Belarus by car is the most convenient way to get into the country. In addition, if you plan to see as many sights as possible, a trip by private transport is an ideal, practical and most economical option. The distance between Moscow and Minsk is 700 km. It will take about 7-8 hours to overcome it.
There are many video and photo cameras both on the Russian side and on the Belarusian side. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km / h can lead to a fine of up to 7,000 rubles. In case of repeated violation, there is a chance to part with the rights for up to a year.
The roads in the republic are of high quality and not as busy as in Russia. It is not necessary to prepare especially for crossing the border, in fact it does not exist. There is practically no border control between Belarus and the Russian Federation. Only heavy vehicles are subject to inspection. Individuals in personal cars are rarely stopped at the checkpoint. However, upon returning to Russia, the documents are still checked, but this does not take much time.
Documents for a car trip:
- Internal or foreign passport;
- Driver's license;
- Vehicle registration certificate;
- Green card insurance;
- Power of attorney for the car, if its owner is another person.
It is recommended to exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian in advance. It will be problematic to do this, for example, at a gas station. Until March 01, 2015, it was allowed to refuel for rubles, but later this possibility was canceled.
Video: crossing the border of Russia and Belarus by car (without stopping!)
"Green map"
Green card is an international insurance system operating in 47 countries of the world, these are the majority of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. The "Green Card" can be purchased both in advance (many Russian insurance companies provide such a service), and before the border. The insurance protects the interests of the driver if he got into a traffic accident in another state. The material damage caused is paid by the insurance company.
There are two policy options:
- To travel within the participating states "All countries";
- For trips around Ukraine, Belarus or Moldova.
It is more profitable for Russian citizens to purchase a policy that is valid only in Belarus, its cost is 3-4 times cheaper than the “All countries” tariff.
The policy price is reviewed every three months. If you are planning a short trip around Belarus, it is economically justified to buy a policy for a short period. The minimum insurance period is 15 days. If visits to the country are regular, it makes sense to purchase a "Green Card" for a year at once, this will save on quarterly price increases.
For example, the cost of the Green Card for 2019 for a passenger car is: about 920 rubles for 15 days, 1230 rubles for 30 days, 6150 rubles for 12 months. The price of the policy will increase significantly for trucks and tractors.
When is a residence permit required?
There are situations when special permission is needed. For example, long-term residence in the republic (over 90 days), doing business, working or studying is planned.
In such cases, a residence permit is issued, for which you will need the following documents:
- application for the issuance of a residence permit;
- internal or foreign passport;
- 4 photographs 4x5 cm;
- document on registration at the place of residence;
- medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases;
- documentation on the need for long-term residence in the country (employment contract, invitation letter from relatives, confirmation of enrollment in an educational institution, and so on).
Initially, a residence permit is issued for 2 years and then extended.
Customs regulations
The distance from Moscow to Vitebsk is 520 kilometers, the travel time is six and a half hours, of which most of the time, 5 hours 30 minutes, traveled through the territory of Russia.
Crossing the border
When approaching the border, green tents begin to appear here and there, where you can buy insurance valid on the territory of Belarus, a green card.
In one of these tents, we bought it for 500 rubles, although we were never stopped on the territory of Belarus and the green card was not checked. However, many people recommend purchasing it, since traffic police officers to whom you did not show insurance and paid a fine can pass information about you to the next post, and again you can be stopped and fined.
The border with a neighboring state is not at all similar to similar ones. Here you will not see barbed wire, not border guards with dogs. Nobody stopped the car, we just drove, as if we were continuing to drive across Russia.
It was possible to guess that we were on the territory of another state by the coat of arms of Belarus, the better road surface than in Russia and different information signs on the road from ours.
Information boards inform about air temperature, canvas, weather conditions.
Gasoline prices
There are not too many gas stations, but gasoline is cheaper than in Russia.
A liter of 92nd gasoline costs 7,300 Belarusian rubles, which is 26.5 Russian rubles. The exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble to the Russian one is 1:270.
After passing the border, we quickly reached Vitebsk. In advance, by phone, we booked the Profsoyuznaya Hotel for a day. The price for accommodation was 1100 Russian rubles (when recalculated) per room. The room is very pleasant, with a double bed, TV, refrigerator, shower.
Cities and sights of Belarus
After checking into the hotel, we went for a walk around the city. Truly, Vitebsk is called the city of temples, Dvina and trams. We reached the bridge across the Dvina, then we reached the Church of the Annunciation, a shrine of the 12th century. According to historical information, the Church of the Annunciation was founded in 974 by Princess Olga, at the same time the city of Vitebsk was founded. The church was destroyed by order of N.S. Khrushchev in 1961. It was restored already in 1993-1998 in the image of temples of the 12th century. Ancient masonry is still preserved in the walls.
Then we went up to the Assumption Cathedral (photo 1) along a steep, winding staircase, admired the quiet and calm city from the dais. The observation deck in this part of the city is mesmerizing. Near the cathedral there is a monument to the Russian Patriarch Alexy II in honor of his visit to the city of Vitebsk.
Then narrow winding streets led us to the city hall. The town hall was built in the Baroque style in the 18th century. Both the town hall and the adjacent houses and streets give the impression of a real old city.
The amphitheater was built in 1987 specifically for the annual Slavic Bazaar festivals. Next to it is an alley of stars, which is beautifully illuminated in the evening. Among the names of the stars are such as Pugacheva, Rotaru, Leontiev, Mulyavin (soloist of Pesnyarov).
Opposite the summer amphitheater is an unusual, in the form of a pyramid, shopping center Marco. The very shape of the shopping center, its surroundings immediately suggests that there is something in common with Paris. And I remember the words of the famous Vitebsk artist Marc Chagall: "Vitebsk, you are my second Paris."
During our walk, we had a bite to eat at the pizzeria Gulliver. The cafe is very cozy, the menu has different types of pizza, baked potatoes, beer, milkshakes. The bill for one person is approximately 150-300 rubles.
The next day in the morning we went to Minsk, the capital of Belarus. The distance from Vitebsk to Minsk is 300 km, the travel time was 3 hours 30 minutes. Roads are good all the way. Passing through small villages, you can go to any store - the range of goods and prices are the same as in any large city.
In Minsk, we stayed at the Valeo hotel booked in advance through booking.com. The price of a room per day was 1700 rubles. Valeo is located on the outskirts of Minsk, not far from the Moscow Ring Road.
Having settled in the hotel, we went to look at Minsk. After quite a long journey by car in the morning, we decided to take the bus and then the subway. The fare on public transport is 6 Russian rubles.
The bus took us to the Vostok metro station. Near it is the famous National Library. (photo 2). This building of an unusual shape is a rhombicuboctahedron. The building has 23 floors. On the top floor there is an observation deck from where you can see most of Minsk. (photo 3) One floor below there is a covered observation deck, a cafe, as well as a gallery where works by Belarusian artists are exhibited. Many of them reflect the folk flavor, describing the nature and life of Belarus, for example, this one - (photo 4).
The library was built relatively recently; it was opened in 2006. You should also come here in the evening, as a multi-color screen with various patterns and screensavers turns on on the library building from sunset until midnight (photo 5).
Then we took the metro to the city center, walked along Nezalezhnosti (Independence) Avenue, visited the large Minsk department stores GUM and TSUM, as well as the underground shopping center "Capital".
Independence Avenue is the main artery of the city. It stretched from Independence Square to Victory Square. When Minsk was rebuilt after the war, all the buildings were built around the avenue, as if around a large axis. Bus route 11 runs along the entire avenue. Although it does not bear the name of an excursion route, it copes with this task perfectly, because after driving on it, you can see many interesting and significant places.
Minsk railway station deserves attention. It is spacious and designed in a modern style. The names and location of stores create some parallels with Moscow. In all these places, goods are presented mainly of Belarusian production, which are distinguished by quality and low prices. You can highlight knitwear, clothes for children, watches from the company "Luch", fabrics. In the shopping center "Capital" there are branded stores of famous confectionery factories "Kommunarka" and "Spartak" with all kinds of delicious chocolate and sweets.
Shopping center "Stolitsa" as well as "Okhotny Ryad" is located in the city center. Rising to the surface, you can see many interesting buildings.
We are located on Independence Square. Looking around, we see a glass-concrete skyscraper with the coat of arms of Minsk. This is a state university (photo 6).
On the other hand, the Government House, built back in the 1930s, opens up to the eye. (photo 7). Not far away is the red church of Simon and Helena, on the other side of the highway is the Main Post Office.
The next day we went to the old part of the city. The area is called Trinity Suburb. It is believed that only here the atmosphere of Minsk of the 19th century has been preserved. It is pleasant to walk among small nice houses with wrought-iron fences, painted facades, tiled roofs. If you walk along the Svisloch River, you can reach the Island of Tears. On the island there is a memorial to the soldiers who died in Afghanistan. This is a temple-monument, inside of which there are four altars with the names of fallen soldiers.
Then we went back a little, went into the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (photo 8). In the past, the cathedral was a Bernardine church, so it has an unusual architecture for an Orthodox church. It contains many wonderful icons, including the icon of the Minsk Mother of God. Orthodox Christians believe that she miraculously appeared on the banks of the Svisloch River in 1500.
On this day, we also visited the National Art Museum, located at 20 Lenina Street. This is the largest art museum in Belarus. His story is rather sad. During the Second World War, it was looted by the Nazis, and the fate of most of the masterpieces is still unknown. But the museum was carefully restored after the war, and now it has a rich collection divided into several sections: modern Belarusian art, manuscripts and books of the 15th century, traditional Belarusian art, ancient artifacts, Western European art.
During the walk, we had lunch at the Lido cafe on Independence Avenue, almost opposite the Central Department Store. The food in the cafe is delicious and varied, the prices are affordable. Lunch for two will cost 600-800 Russian rubles.
We devoted our last day in Minsk to traveling outside the city. We visited Zaslavl, the Museum of Folk Crafts Duddutki.
Zaslavl is an ancient city in the Minsk region, located just 12 km from the capital. Previously had other names: Izyaslavl, Zhaslavl, Zaslav. A museum-reserve was created on the basis of historical monuments. The city is considered a zone of special archaeological significance. Here is the reformist Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, as well as the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Having walked around this ancient city, we approached the ethnographic complex “Melnitsa”.
Once there almost simultaneously with a group of schoolchildren, we bought tickets and together with them listened to a tour about the arrangement of the mill, the history of agriculture. (photo 9). The steam mill is unique, it is a real monument of flour milling. The mill was built in 1910, served people diligently for about 80 years, and is now a museum exhibit. Next to the mill is the house of vozvoznikov. This was the name of the peasants who brought grain to the mill. They had to stay overnight, so this hut had the functions of a modern hotel. We saw the environment where these people stayed, rested, dined. The next building of the complex is a sviran (barn), where grain was stored.
The Dudutki Museum Complex is located 35 km from Minsk on the banks of the Ptich River. Previously, there was a private estate here, and now the life of the 18th-19th centuries has been recreated in the village. There is a farm with a mill and other workshops. It was interesting to watch the craftsmen showing various folk crafts: pottery, weaving, blacksmithing. In photo 10, the potter demonstrates his art of making jars. In a Belarusian traditional hut, you can hear about how bread, cheese and butter were prepared on peasant farms, and taste products made in the traditional way. Photo 11 shows part of the hut, as well as a butter churn - a traditional tool for whipping butter.
The exhibition of vintage cars is also very interesting (photo 12). They are interesting, unusual, and immediately make you remember moments from films of past years.
Back in the city, we bought souvenirs and gifts for friends and relatives and prepared to leave for Moscow the next day.
In the morning we left in the direction of Moscow.
Finally, we stopped at the Malinovka car market, as it was interesting to evaluate the prices of used cars. It is worth noting that they are much lower than in Moscow, as they are imported from Europe, mainly from Germany, which is located relatively close.
Distance Minsk-Moscow is 750 km, the journey took about 9 hours.
We enjoyed the trip very much. It was interesting, informative and rich. It is very pleasant to be in Belarus, to communicate with people. Hope we come back again. There are many more interesting places that we would like to visit. These are the cities of Mir and Nesvizh, Brest, Grodno.
The distance from Moscow to the neighboring state is only about 700 kilometers. The easiest way to get there is by car.
It is worth leaving the capital early in the morning, and if the trip is scheduled for the weekend, it is better before dawn. This is due to the ability to quickly pass the route to leave Moscow without traffic jams and with a minimum of problems.
The nuances of traveling in this direction:
The roads in Belarus are very good, there are few cars on them, so many drivers accelerate to the maximum possible. But it is worth remembering that a fine for exceeding the speed limit by only 30 km / h will cost 7,000 rubles, and repeated detention is a reason for deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle. The speed limit on the highway from the border to Minsk is 120 km/h, the entire road without significant settlements.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus, This is where every tourist wants to go. There are really a lot of places that guests of Minsk should definitely visit:
- . It was founded in 1880 and has many paths, sculptures and small clearings with fountains. On the territory there are attractions, a planetarium, several cafes and a sports complex in a modern design. The park is located along the Svisloch River, on the bank there is a bronze monument to Gorky, a small but very elegant bridge is thrown across the waters.
- Many are delighted with local ducks, at the end of July you can already look at their offspring.
Gorky Central Children's Park - National Library. It is better to visit it in the evening, at night the facade is illuminated with multi-colored rays, it even shows some paintings and drawings. From 18:00 the upper observation deck starts to work. Entrance ticket - 3500 Belarusian rubles, the impressions will be truly unforgettable. The site is located on the 23rd floor, it offers a view of the entire city, guests are given binoculars, which can only be used for 3 minutes.
National Library - Red Church located on Independence Square. This is a fully functioning Catholic church. People of different religions are allowed to enter here, but it is forbidden to take pictures and videotape. It is believed that the Red Church is one of the brightest sights of the capital, it is very beautifully decorated inside. Directly at the church there are interesting sculptures - Michael the Archangel and the bell of Nagasaki.
- A little far away there is a monument to Minsk architects, who in the shortest possible time after the war of 1941-1945 were able to completely rebuild the capital. In the church, women need to cover their heads. They don't talk inside.
Red Church - Central Botanical Garden. It is located on Kalinin Square, founded in 1932 and is an amazing collection of various exotic and not very plants. Inside the park there is a playground with attractions, cafes are randomly scattered, and a miniature railway for children also works. Directly adjacent to the Botanical Garden Chelyuskin Square.
Central Botanical Garden
Must visit on the monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers during the Great Patriotic War. Numerous tourists claim that here the earth seems to breathe and groan. Recognized as a curious place Island of courage and sorrow. It often rains here, and the sky is covered with clouds. Large boulders are scattered on the territory, on which the names of Afghan cities are inscribed, in which Belarusians died, there is a separate monument to Soviet soldiers.
deserves attention and 17 km Independence Avenue and the Upper City with amazing architecture of churches and Orthodox churches, and Loshinsky Park, and the Palace of the Republic.
Island of Courage and Sorrow Mir and Nesvizh are ancient castles. Excursions are regularly organized here, but you can also make an independent trip. It is impossible to see both castles in one day. The Mir Castle is open from 9-00 to 22-00, the entrance ticket costs 3,500 Belarusian rubles, you will have to pay 1,000 Belarusian rubles for video and photography, and it’s better to do this in advance - the views there are really beautiful, which makes it possible to hold a luxurious photo session.
Mir Castle was founded in 1832, a noble family of princes lived here, a chapel has been preserved, which served as a crypt for the masters. Nearby there is a cafe that serves simple but hearty dishes. The cost of a full meal per person is unlikely to exceed 2,000 Belarusian rubles. The main gate of the castle, on which the image of the coat of arms has been preserved, is subject to inspection.
Mir Castle Guides work in museums. The city of the same name near the Nesvizh castle is a cozy settlement with many old buildings, inexpensive cafes and a park.
Dudutki - a complex about the history of Belarusian crafts, museum of material culture, which consists of several workshops. They demonstrate various crafts, the entrance ticket costs only 2000 Belarusian rubles (photo and video shooting are free ). Where to go here:
- pottery. The master talks about the types of clay processing and demonstrates ready-made products that can be purchased for a small price;
- weaving shop. An amazing place where there is a real old loom, where the craftswomen work, and the products immediately hit the shelves;
- ethnographic gallery. Imitation of the Belarusian way of life, demonstration of dishes and household items, an exhibition of folk art products.
On the territory of Dudutka you can visit the stable and the barnyard. There is a cheese factory nearby. Tasting of products is included in the ticket price, and there is also an original cafe "Shynok", which sells sandwiches with honey and pickles, moonshine and native Belarusian dishes.
Dudutki in Belarus Belarus is rich in beautiful and interesting places: Brest with its military past and a huge memorial complex, Zaslavl with museums and temples, small farms and villages, Belovezhskaya Pushcha. You can come here an infinite number of times and still be few.
Hotels for tourists there are in Minsk, and even on the territory of some historical sights. In the first case, you can use modern complexes of 4 and 5 stars or hostels, which periodically host various interesting parties (for example, viewing paintings by local artists, meeting and talking with them).
Near the ancient castles of Mir and Nesvizh there is a hotel with 30 rooms, which is located in the building of a former guest house. The cost of living in hotels, hostels and hotels ranges from 10 to 300 dollars per day per room.
If the journey is not limited to Minsk, and the path lies further, then you should pay attention to private offers. In villages and towns, people rent rooms in their houses for a very small fee. For example, a room for 2 people with amenities and good food can be rented for $10 per day.
If a stop is supposed to be in the area of Brest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, then the locals will definitely act as a guide through the forest, and in some settlements, holidays imitating a wedding, name day according to ancient rites are held especially for guests.
Along most of the trails are small cafes with a few hotel rooms. It will be convenient to use them if the road turned out to be tiring, the driver just needs to get enough sleep. The car during the rest will be in a guarded parking lot. The price for such a vacation will be $ 7 per person per day, meals are paid separately.
Read more in our article on how to travel to Belarus by car.
Features of the trip from Moscow to Belarus
The distance from Moscow to the neighboring state is only 700 kilometers with a little and the easiest way to get there is by car.
Experienced travelers warn that it is worth leaving the capital early in the morning, and if the trip is planned for the weekend, it is better before dawn. This is due to the possibility of a quick passage of the route to the exit from Moscow, because summer residents resting at bases in the near Moscow region create traffic jams just these days.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus Belarus is a foreign country, though dear and close. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study and remember some of the nuances of traveling in this direction in advance:
- When crossing the border, Russians will need to present documents that confirm their right to drive a car: a driver's license, vehicle registration documents and insurance. You also need to have an internal or foreign Russian passport with you.
- If you travel with children, then you need a certificate of their birth. Russian customs officers require a power of attorney from the second parent for the child to travel abroad if he travels only with mom or dad.
- Before crossing the border, you will need to issue a "green card"- this is an insurance document that is valid on the territory of Belarus and is an analogue of OSAGO. Such insurance compensates for losses in case of a traffic accident, covers expenses in case of harm to health. Such cards can be issued directly at customs, but it is much more practical to take care of acquiring it before crossing the border, which will be much cheaper.
The Green Card costs 800 rubles for 14 days and 5,000 rubles for 12 months. The fine in the territory of a neighboring state for the absence of such a document is $ 200.
- Passing the border is very simple and there are practically no queues. You will definitely need to fill out a declaration and keep it until you return home.
- Without paying state duties, Russians are allowed to import quite a lot of things into Belarus, the ban is on drugs and weapons, information media with dangerous information on them, antiques, rare books, antique jewelry.
Roads in Belarus The roads in Belarus are very good, there are few cars on them, and therefore many drivers accelerate to the maximum possible. But this is dangerous, because the employees of the traffic police of the neighboring state strictly follow the order. A fine for exceeding the speed limit by 30 km / h will cost 7,000 rubles, and repeated detention is a reason for deprivation of the right to drive a vehicle.
The speed limit on the highway from the border to Minsk is 120 km/h, the road does not pass through populated areas in any place, and therefore you can drive here by car without slowing down at all.
Another important nuance. It is also worth refueling as much as possible on the territory of Russia, in a neighboring state it is more expensive by 3-4 rubles per liter. You should not ignore the need to exchange Russian rubles for the Belarusian currency, since there will be no exchange offices from the border up to Minsk. However, this will not be a problem: in any, even the most provincial cafe, it will be possible to pay with a Russian bank card.
Where can you go by car in summer
The warm season is the best time to travel around Belarus. In principle, you can simply drive a car along the tracks in any direction. Along the way, you will meet both historical sights and natural beauties. If we consider the most popular destinations, then only a few stand out.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus
Each tourist first goes to the capital. Minsk attracts both history buffs and architecture connoisseurs. Some argue that two days is enough to see the sights of the city, but this is not so. There are really a lot of places that guests of Minsk need to visit:
- Central Children's Park named after M. Gorky. It was founded in 1880 and has many paths, sculptures and small clearings with fountains. On the territory of the park there are attractions, a planetarium, several cafes and a sports complex in a modern design. The park is located along the Svisloch River, on the bank there is a bronze monument to Gorky, a small elegant bridge is thrown across the waters.
In the summer, one of the attractions of the park are ducks that live on the river and are perfectly visible from the bridge. They are fed by tourists and locals, and in late July or early August their offspring are already visible.
Gorky Central Children's Park - National Library. It is better to visit it in the evening, because during the day it is an ordinary modern building. But at night, the facade is illuminated by multi-colored rays of light, and even some paintings and drawings are shown on it. The upper observation deck starts working from 18:00, the entrance ticket there costs only 3,500 Belarusian rubles, but the impressions will be truly unforgettable.
- The site is located on the 23rd floor, it offers a view of the entire city, guests are given binoculars, which can only be used for 3 minutes. There is a cafe one floor below, it has very expensive coffee, but quite decent tea and delicious local pastries.
National Library - Red Church, located on Independence Square. More precisely, it is a fully functioning Catholic church. People of different religions are allowed to enter here, but it is forbidden to take pictures and videotape. It is believed that the Red Church is one of the most striking sights of the capital of Belarus, it is beautifully decorated inside.
- Directly at the church there are interesting sculptures - Michael the Archangel and the bells of Nagasaki. A little far away there is a monument to Minsk architects, who in the shortest possible time after the war of 1941-1945 were able to completely rebuild the capital.
In the church, women should cover their heads. They do not talk inside, so as not to disturb the praying people.
Red Church - Central Botanical Garden. It is located on Kalinin Square, founded in 1932 and is an amazing collection of various exotic and not very plants. Inside the garden there is a playground with attractions, cafes are randomly scattered, a miniature railway operates. On it a small train with wagons rolls children.
Chelyuskin Square adjoins the Botanical Garden, it is practically inseparable from the main green area and allows tourists to relax on beautiful forged benches in the shade of trees.
Central Botanical Garden This is a small fraction of interesting places in Minsk. Be sure to visit the monument dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Great Patriotic War. Numerous tourists assure that here the earth itself allegedly breathes and groans. The Island of Courage and Sorrow is also recognized as a curious place. It often rains here, and the sky is covered with clouds.
On the territory of the island, large boulders are scattered, on which the names of Afghan cities are inscribed, in which Belarusians died, there is a separate monument to Soviet soldiers. The 17-kilometer Independence Avenue, the Upper Town with amazing architecture of churches and Orthodox churches, Loshinsky Park, and the Palace of the Republic deserve attention.
Island of Courage and Sorrow Mir and Nesvizh - ancient castles
Excursions are regularly organized here, but you can also make an independent trip. Moreover, experienced travelers do not recommend combining these two sights for viewing in one day, it will obviously not be enough.
The Mir Castle is open from 9-00 to 22-00, the entrance ticket costs 3,500 Belarusian rubles, you will have to pay 1,000 Belarusian rubles for video and photography, it is better to do this in advance, since the presence of beautiful views makes it possible to hold a luxurious photo session.
Mir Castle was founded in 1832, a noble family of princes lived here, a chapel has been preserved, which served as a crypt for gentlemen. Nearby there is a cafe that serves simple but hearty dishes. The cost of a full meal per person is unlikely to exceed 2,000 Belarusian rubles. The main gate of the castle, on which the image of the coat of arms has been preserved, is subject to inspection.
If the Mir castle was intended not only for life, but also for protecting the lands from enemies, then Nesvizh is a more sophisticated building with Gothic and Byzantine elements, small sculptures in the form of fantastic animals and birds.
Guides work in museums, they do their job even for one tourist, and it will be interesting, exciting. The city of the same name near the Nesvizh castle is a cozy settlement with many old buildings, inexpensive cafes and a park with green spaces and fountains.
Mir Castle Dudutki - a complex about the history of Belarusian crafts
This is a museum of material culture, which consists of several workshops. They demonstrate various crafts, it is quite possible to get around everything in a day, and the entrance ticket costs only 2000 Belarusian rubles (photo and video shooting are free). Where to go here:
- pottery. The master demonstrates his work, talks about the types of clay processing and demonstrates ready-made products that can be purchased for a small price;
- straw workshop. A hereditary straw weaver works here, who not only tells the history of this craft, but also demonstrates the basis of her work, shows ready-made products - from brownies to horses;
- weaving shop. An amazing place that houses a real old loom. Craftswomen work on it, whose products immediately hit the shelves (napkins and rugs, rugs, towels and home clothes); Dudutki
On the territory of Dudutka you can visit the stable and the barnyard. All animals are tame, you can communicate with them, and at certain hours guests feed them. There is a cheese factory nearby. Tasting of products is included in the price of the entrance ticket, and there is also an original cafe "Shynok", which sells sandwiches with honey and pickles, moonshine and native Belarusian dishes.
Belarus is rich in beautiful and interesting places. Brest with its military past and a huge memorial complex, Zaslavl with museums and temples, small farms and villages, Belovezhskaya Pushcha. You can come here an infinite number of times and still be few.
Watch the video about a trip to Belarus by car:
Where to stay in Belarus?
It is simply impossible to travel to Belarus by car for a few days and do without hotels or a hotel, but there are many such places. They are in Minsk, and even on the territory of some historical sights. In the first case, you can use modern 4 and 5 star hotels, or hostels, which periodically host various interesting parties (for example, viewing paintings by local artists, meeting and talking with them).
Near the ancient castles of Mir and Nesvizh there is a hotel with 30 rooms, which is located in the building of a former guest house. There is also a dining room, which organizes both a buffet and a classic food system. The cost of living in hotels, hostels and hotels ranges from 10 to 300 dollars per day per room, and the price depends on the level of "star" and the services offered.
Hotel in Nesvizh If the journey is not limited to Minsk, and the path lies further, then you should pay attention to private offers. In villages, small towns, people rent rooms in their houses for a very small fee. For example, a room for two people with amenities and good food can be rented for $10 per day. In return, you can get delicious, organic food, communication with the owners, a walk around the village.
If the stop is supposed to be in the area of Brest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, then the locals will definitely act as a guide through the forest (you can pick berries and mushrooms), and in some settlements, holidays imitating a wedding, name days according to ancient rites are held especially for guests.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha Besides, along most of the trails there are small cafes with a few hotel rooms. It will be convenient to use them if the road turned out to be tiring, and the driver needs to sleep. A bed, clean linens, a hot shower and lunch are guaranteed. And the car during the rest will be in a guarded parking lot. The price for such a vacation will be only $ 7 per person per day, but meals will have to be paid separately.
Traveling to Belarus by car from Moscow is an amazing and uncomplicated journey that is sure to bring a lot of positive emotions. Familiar Russian speech, the kindness and hospitality of the inhabitants, the beauty of nature and many sights - all this will make the trip informative and enjoyable in every way.
