Belarus
Country · Europe, Eastern Europe
Belarus is an Eastern European country bordering Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. With a population of about 9 million people and an area of 207,597 square kilometers, its capital is Minsk. The country offers visitors a mix of natural landscapes and historical architecture.
Highlights
This guide covers 8 sights across Belarus. Travelers can visit historic fortifications like the Brest Fortress or explore architectural landmarks in Minsk, such as the Church of Saints Simon and Helena and the National Library of Belarus. The country is also known for its protected natural areas, including the Białowieża Forest and Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Additionally, visitors can tour the historic Mir Castle Complex, Nesvizh Castle, and the Corpus Christi Church in Niasviž.
Food and drink
Local cuisine features dishes such as potato babka, kalduny, knish, and hrechanyky. Sweet items include kissel, paska, and baba. Traditional drinks available include medovukha and krupnik.
When to go
The weather in Minsk varies significantly throughout the year. Winters from December to February are cold, with daily highs around -3 °C to -2 °C and lows falling to -8 °C. Spring brings warming temperatures, reaching highs of 17 °C in May. Summer, from June to August, is the warmest period, with highs between 20 °C and 22 °C. These months also see the highest amount of rain, with July experiencing rain on about 17 days. September and October offer milder temperatures before the cold returns in November.
Practical notes
The official currency is the Belarusian ruble. Belarusian and Russian are the primary languages. The country follows a right-hand driving side and operates on UTC+03:00. Electrical outlets use plug types C and F with a voltage of 220 V.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Belarus
- Kissel
- Paska
- Baba
- Knish
- Kalduny
- Medovukha
- Krupnik
- Potato babka
- Hrechanyky
Top sights in Belarus
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 22 °C. The wettest is June, with about 91 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -3 | -3 | 2 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 10 | 3 | -2 |
| Average low, °C | -7 | -8 | -4 | 2 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 4 | -2 | -6 |
| Rainfall, mm | 44 | 36 | 43 | 40 | 65 | 91 | 90 | 70 | 57 | 54 | 46 | 50 |
| Rainy days | 15 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Minsk (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Babruysk fortress
- Holy Spirit Cathedral, Minsk
- Kalozha Church
- Saint Sophia Cathedral, Polotsk
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Grodno
- St. Nicholas Monastery Complex