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Minsk In Your Pocket

Minsk In Your Pocket

Quite simply, there is nowhere like Belarus. For many Westerners it’s a pariah state presided over by the much-vilified You-Know-Who, while Minsk is little more than a quirky reminder of the Soviet Union in its pompous prime. But for those who actually bother to go and see it for themselves, Minsk is a surpsingly charming, calm, clean and safe city. Locals talk freely and frankly about You-Know-Who with either contempt or affection, largely depending on their situation and income. But most take a genuine pride in their city which, it must be remembered, was built out of the total devastation of WWII. Minsk now serves as an almost unparalleled monument to the more grandiose aspirations of Soviet architecture and urban planning. The city centre’s spacious, pedestrian-friendly streets and ornate facades are truly impressive at times. There is not a great deal to do in terms of sightseeing compared with most European capitals. A few days, or a week at most, should suffice to get the best out of the city. Minsk is more a place to stroll around and soak up the unique atmosphere. In keeping with the rest of Europe, prices continue to rise sharply, notably with fuel and food, meaning the prices listed here will probably be out of date before long. That said, you’ll still feel like a tycoon with so many roubles in your pocket.

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Latest Minsk Comments

  • National Library
    i went to the national library las summer and was so different nice and beautiful building for me,i dont understand why the comment before me tell is a ugly building, maye she live in a palace? you can found lot of pictures in internet, judge yourse[...]
  • My English Granny (Моя английская бабушка)
    This is a terrible place, although it is just in front of the British Embassy. Once you get there in the morning, you are not likely to have breakfast although they are officially start at nine. They just don't serve (!) food that is on the menue wi[...]
  • Banana Café (Банана кафе)
    VERY NİSE PLACE)))))))))))[...]
  • Yubileynaya (Юбилейная)
    I just spent 8 nights in Hotel Yubileynaya and found it to have friendly and helpful staff, comfortable, basic rooms and a buffet breakfast that is above average (for this standard of hotel in this part of the world).The prostitutes phoning the room[...]
  • Gostiny Dvor (Гостиный Двор)
    i think,that upteka is one of the best cafe,bar restaurant with a very friendly atmosphere and english speaking workers.upteka is a must for every minsk visitor!!![...]
  • Upteka (Аптека)
    The place is nice but when i was there they didn't serve belorussian beer. I've eaten herring with fresh onions. Onions were weak and herring wasn't salty. Prices are rather high comparing with Vilnius. Interrior design is good.[...]
  • Zvezda (Звезда)
    I stayed there for three nights last week. The standard single rooms share toilet and bathroom with another room. Can be pretty noisy, avoid room 1013 as something one the roof makes an intermittent noise all night long. Business double room for 57,[...]
  • Westworld Club
    minsk is something special..kind people,superclean city,nice arhitecture,beatiful girls will definately make you come back to this city..westworld club is full of goodlooking girls combined with very cheap booze makes this place highly recomandable.[...]
  • Vneshintourist SP(Внешинтурист СП)
    I have dealt with Vneshintourist three times in arranging visas and then for individual travel within the country. Natalia is wonderful and efficient, and the head of the office whose name I forgot, is equally professional and efficient. They resp[...]
  • National Library
    My guide took me to this monstrosity after dark and was all excited about showing it to me. The "light show" was so hideous and surreal that I was rendered speechless. Do go and see it as you'll likely never see anything in worse taste. The metro[...]
  • Lakomka (Лакомка)
    If you're curious as to what Soviet chocolate was like, shop here. A wide variety of big, chunky chocolate treats wrapped in strangely alluring wrappers with motifs like rockets, skyscrapers, Belarussian folklore and maybe a red star or two. Some [...]
  • GUM (ГУМ)
    Actually, the linen fabric selection is usually excellent. Much of the linens are first-class quality and very cheap compared to what you might buy in the West. When I went there the color selection was very wide, with only orange shades missing. [...]
  • Stalin's line (Линия Сталина)
    Basically this is a museum that recreates the interwar border fortifications between the Soviet Union and the Second Republic of Poland. These fortifications were as much to keep people from escaping as they were to deter invaders. The border itsel[...]
  • Stalinist city centre
    One of the most impressive places in Minsk. The Government Building in the southwest corner of the square, built in the early thirties of the 20th century, is a modernist monument of the first grade and hosts the world's oldest statue of Lenin neasr[...]
  • Victory Square
    A beautifully decorated obelisk and impressive landmark in the north of the city-centre! Don't forget to visit this corner of the city.[...]