(Why) We’d Love to launch a Minsk City Guide

Image from Belarus.by

One of our goals for 2019 is to expand to some fascinating, but often forgotten capitals in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and The Middle-East! Why? We think encouraging travelers to visit cities that could benefit from more tourists, is a good way to help combat overtourism. One of these cities that we are hoping to expand to is the capital of Belarus, Minsk

Why Minsk? It’s an important European capital with a population of more than 2 million, with lots of beautiful churches, Soviet architecture, one of the “ugliest buildings” in the world and with a main street that is over 15km long.

Since last year, visitors can stay thirty days without a visa. So now is a great time to visit!

Church in Minsk

What can you do in Minsk?

Some of the things tourists enjoy doing in Minsk:

Visit beautiful parks
One of the things that kept coming up was that Minsk has beautiful parks! Like Aleksandrovsky Garden, where you can find the oldest fountain in the city and Mikhailovsky Garden, which is decorated with works by the famous Belarusian sculptor Vladimir Zhbanov.

Check great Soviet architecture
Since Minsk was almost entirely rebuilt after WWII it has some great examples of Stalin’s Empire Style in the 1950s.

Victory Square (Image by Belarus.by)

Old Town and Trinity Hill
Old Town is the historic center of Minsk. Although the original 17th and 18th-century houses were recreated in the 1980s, it’s still a lovely place to wander around and take in the scenery.

Visit Independence Square
One of the biggest squares in Europe, Independence Square is host to a number of interesting sights, including the Church of Saints Simon and Helen otherwise known as the red church.

The KGB Headquarters
Located at Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci 17. you will find the KGB Headquarters! And although officially you aren’t supposed to take pictures of government buildings, it’s still an impressive sight.

KGB Headquarters (image by John Oldale)

But what do the locals do in Minsk?

Where do the locals go for the best local food? Where can you find the nicest view? And where do they go on Friday night to celebrate the weekend? Finding out is exactly what we want to do!

We’re sure that Minsk has lots more to offer than what is currently available online. We want to help the citizens of Minsk share all there favorite spots around their city!

Do you live in Minsk and would you like to open up your city by sharing your favorite spots with travelers who come to visit, please apply here: https://www.spottedbylocals.com/become-a-spotter/

Do you know people in Minsk? Please share the link of this article with them! Any other thoughts about Minsk or did we get anything wrong in this article? Please get in touch via minsk@spottedbylocals.com.

Last Changed Date: 2016-05-19 11:45:13 +0200 (Thu, 19 May 2016)