Best attractions in Minsk: Top 30
Content
After reading our review “the best sights of Minsk”, you will definitely want to organize a trip to this hospitable city. We will tell you about what every tourist should see in Minsk, focusing on the recommendations of experienced guides.
What to see in Minsk first
If you want your trip to be really exciting and informative, pay attention to the following popular excursions in Minsk:
1. Upper Town
This historic part of the city is home to such Minsk landmarks as the Guest Court, the Minsk Theater, St. Joseph’s Church, Music Lane, and Liberty Square. Of interest are local buildings and structures of the 16th-18th centuries, which allow you to get acquainted with the architectural and cultural heritage of the state. The Upper Town can be confidently included in the rating “the most famous sights of Belarus“.
Official site: http://пешеходка.
2. Minsk city hall
An early 17th-century building, fully restored by Belarusian craftsmen. The first floor of the building now houses museum exhibitions, while the second level is used for ceremonial meetings and meetings of distinguished guests. Nearby the town hall there is a renovated square with alleys, benches, hiking trails and poplars. As well as the original “Governor’s Stroller” sculpture.
Official website: http://minskmuseum.
3. Obelisk “Hero City”
If you don’t know where to go in Minsk to learn the history of the city and the country, go here. At the foot of the stele you will see a marble plaque and a statue of Motherland with fanfares in her hands. Not far from the monument there is a museum of World War II history.
4. Victory Square
Date of construction - the beginning of the 20th century, the main attractions - the Eternal Flame and the granite Victory Monument with high reliefs in honor of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. A lot of citizens and guests of the capital come here every day to observe a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the Great Patriotic War.
Official website: http://www.belarus.by/ru
5. House of Government of the Republic of Belarus
Meeting place of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Parliament of Belarus. Date of construction - 1934 (at first, the majestic building was the tallest structure in the city). The main decoration of the house is an antique star-shaped chandelier, weighing 5 tons.
Be sure to watch this beautiful video about Minsk!
6. Palace of the Republic
Another historical and architectural landmark, on the square where the annual main Christmas tree of the country, press conferences, shows and festivals are organized. In front of the building there is a pyramid-monument made of granite - from the “Zero kilometer” counts the distance of all the tracks of Belarus.
Official website: http://www.palace.
7. National Library of Belarus
More than 200 companies and over 5,000 workers worked around the clock to create the complex. It is a fascinating architectural monument that includes a lookout platform on 23 levels. You can visit it, for example, during one of the themed tours held here daily.
Official website: https://www.nlb.
8. Pischalovsky Castle
A place of confinement for a huge number of musicians, philosophers, artists, poets and revolutionaries. However, ordinary criminals were also imprisoned in the city’s famous “early classicist” prison. It is only possible to view this Minsk landmark from afar, as the architectural masterpiece is still used as a prison.
9. “Gates of Minsk”
A building in the “Stalinist Empire” style, represented by several identical to each other 11-storey towers. You can see such interesting places in Minsk from afar: there are sculptural compositions, coats of arms of the Soviet Union and huge clock faces on the buildings in Privokzalnaya Square.
Official site: https://ru.wikipedia.org/
10. Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
During World War II the complex was destroyed almost completely. Later it underwent a complete reconstruction, becoming a place for the sports society “Spartak”. Only 18 years ago it was decided to return the church to its original appearance, and to give the building to the faithful. Today it is the main cathedral for Catholics in the city. The building in the “Vilna Baroque” style is decorated with figures of saints and luxurious frescoes.
Official website: http://old.catholic.by/2/ru/
11. Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
When listing the best sights in Minsk, it is impossible not to mention this ancient restored temple. The cathedral with magnificent vaults and beautiful frescoes, an ancient painted altar and many icons is open to all comers.
12. Cathedral of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
At one time the church housed a prison, the Bernardine women’s church and even a sports club. The modern Baroque building is used for its intended purpose. Among its relics is the miraculous icon of the Mother of God. The cathedral attracts the attention not only of believers, but also “ordinary” tourists who want to look at its original iconostasis.
Official website: http://sabor.by/about/
13. Red church
Another popular and famous Catholic cathedral in the city. The asymmetrical basilica with a 50-meter bell tower was built of red brick in the Neo-Romanesque style. In front of the building is the monument of St. Michael fighting the dragon with his spear. There is also a statue in honor of those who died in nuclear strikes, “The Bell of Nagasaki.”
Official website: http://msj.by/katolicheskie
14. Bernardine Monastery
The church was originally decorated with 9 gilded altars, paintings and carvings. It had its own library and school. However, later the decoration and the holy graves were destroyed and the monastery was closed. Only in 1983 the city authorities restored the complex, accommodating the prosecutor’s office and the military archives. Currently there is a hotel “Monastyrskaya” in the building, the rooms are converted from the former cells. Few hotels in Minsk can boast such an unusual history.
15. The Island of Tears (Island of Courage and Sorrow)
The memorial, set up in memory of those killed in the Afghan war. There is a beautiful chapel on an artificial island, the walls of which contain the names of all citizens of Belarus who died in Afghanistan. The shore and the island are connected by an arched bridge.
16. Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater
Don’t know what to visit in Minsk, but are fond of theatrical and musical performances? Then come to this national opera theater. There are regular performances of the Belarusian Capella, children’s theater studio, chorus, symphony orchestra, ballet and opera troupes. Some of the performances are in a foreign dialect, the other - in the state languages of the republic - in Russian and Belarusian. A visit to the building itself and its alley with beautiful sculptural compositions can be a pleasure.
Official site: http://bolshoibelarus.by/rus/
17. The Yanka Kupala Theater
An old theater, opened more than 95 years ago, and named in memory of the poet and classicist Kupala. Within walking distance is a large landscaped and landscaped square of the 19th century. A favorite place for citizens to relax at all times of the year.
Official website: http://kupalauski.by/en/
18. National Art Museum
One of the largest exhibition complexes in Europe. The number of items in the spacious exhibition halls and more than 20 expositions exceeds 27,000 specimens. Exhibits telling the story of world and Belarusian culture are presented.
Official site: http://www.artmuseum.
19. National Historical Museum
The best option of what to see in Minsk in 1 day for connoisseurs of history and art. Exhibits - books, historical archives, folk art objects, icons, ceramics, archaeological artifacts.
Official site: http://www.histmuseum
20. Museum of history of the Great Patriotic War
There are over 140,000 WWII-era relics in the building. In 10 rooms all the exhibitions are arranged according to the chronology of events. The interior decoration is as large and imposing as the exterior. The facades of the building are in the form of rays with relief images in honor of the Great Victory.
Official website: http://www.warmuseum
Minsk sights: what else to visit in Minsk?
We have told you about the main sights of Minsk in brief. Tourist reviews point to them as the most fascinating and significant objects of the capital. If your trip is long enough, examine also such cultural values as:
21. Khatyn Memorial Complex
This is about the humble village that was burned by the German invaders, and on the territory of which there is now a complex with a monument to “The Unconquered Man”. In addition to the “Smoke of Khatyn” memorial itself, a “Wall of Memory”, a “Village of Life” and a “Cemetery of Villages” are arranged here.
Official website: http://www.khatyn.by/
22. House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP
A small house, where in 1898 held the first meeting of the future Bolsheviks. During the Great Patriotic War, the building was destroyed, but it was later reconstructed on Stalin’s orders. In the museum there are Party archives, newspapers and documents. The interior fairly accurately reproduces the setting of the 19th century.
Official website: http://domusmuseum.histmuseum
23. Chelyuskintsev Park
A public park with a dance floor, a summer stage, recreational areas, playgrounds for children and rides. The last reconstruction was carried out in 2000: the former rides and entertainment facilities were completely replaced by new and modern ones.
Official website: http://parki.by/All-parks/2
24. Maksim Gorky Central Children’s Park
A public park area, the date of foundation of which is considered to be 1805. Originally, the park was the governor’s garden, and only “noble citizens” could visit it. Later, a stadium, croquet lawns, and tennis courts were built there. Today the park is open to all comers, and has been converted for the entertainment of children of all ages.
Official website: http://parki.by/All-parks
25. Minsk Zoo
Tourists with children guides in Minsk recommend a visit to the local zoo. You can watch the life of animals in spacious cages and enclosures with maximum comfort. There are restrooms and cafes on the territory, and there are several recreational areas. There are lectures and guided tours for guests of all ages. It is possible to visit on the days of various children’s holidays. The area includes a monkey house, stone “palaces” for lions, a dolphinarium. The number of inhabitants exceeds 2,500 from the classes of reptiles, primates, mammals, vivariums, birds, etc.
Official website: http://minskzoo.by/
26. Lošice Park
A cultural and architectural monument spread over an area of 97 hectares. The manor and park complex is open to the public: you can visit museums with interiors from the 18th and 19th centuries, the Gatekeeper’s House and the children’s playground. City festivals and celebrations are organized on the territory.
Official website: http://www.ctv.by/node
27. Boulder museum
This outdoor museum boasts rather unconventional items in its collections. Its exhibits are more than 2,000 stones of various kinds and shapes (collected over 5 years). The local stone map provides invaluable insights into the geography of the state: settlements and towns are represented as giant boulders, and, for example, the borders of the country are represented by bushes and rivers-roads.
28. Trinity Suburb
The construction of the area began as early as the 12th century. Modest houses with roofs of different colors were built around the market square. Today’s suburbs are quiet streets with antique shops, art galleries, small stores and the Opera House on Trinity Hill.
29. Dudutki Ethnographic Museum
The facility tells the story of the state’s rural heritage and culture. The museum complex recreates the atmosphere of a 19th century village: there is a cattle yard, several machines of the past centuries, moonshine brewing machines, handicrafts, a kitchen, cheese and pottery workshops, and wood houses. Guests are invited to taste moonshine, brewed according to an ancient recipe, to try themselves as an apprentice blacksmith and bake bread. The inhabitants of Dudutka are not only people but also all kinds of animals of the modest zoo: ostriches, ponies and roe deer. Ducks and geese, peacocks and pheasants also roam the farms. As well as more familiar animals like pigs and sheep.
Official website: http://www.dudutki
30. Mir Castle
The town called Mir is home to a beautiful castle, presumably created back in the 16th century. The complex includes a cafe, a hotel, several conference halls and a museum. Scientific meetings, concerts and festivals are regularly held here. In the castle you can order a wedding. The interior decoration is represented by paintings, installations and even ancient armor. There are several permanent exhibitions, educational for tourists of all ages.
Official website: http://mirzamak.by/
We hope that those sights of Minsk, photos with names and descriptions of which you have now seen, will allow you to make your own interesting excursion route. Read also about Sights of Brest and be inspired for your future journey to Thailand.
