Money in Belarus
A look at the local currency of Belarus (the Belarusian ruble), where to access cash, and how to use credit cards and travelers cheques
What is the local currency of Belarus?
The Belarusian ruble, the local currency of Belarus, is not a fully convertible currency, so you won’t be able to get any before you arrive in the country.
There are a total of 11 Belarus bank notes available, ranging from 10 rubles to 100,000 rubles.
Where can you get cash in Belarus?
There are a large number of exchange offices in all cities in Belarus. These are most often found at:
- hotels
- major airports
- train stations
- bus depots
- most main streets
You can also change money at most banks and there are a growing number of ATM machines in Belarus, particularly in Minsk.
The most commonly accepted currencies at exchange offices and banks are:
- US dollars
- euros
- Russian rubles
Note that the ruble is the only money that can be used in Belarus. It is illegal to pay for goods in other currencies.
Can you use credit cards and travellers cheques?
Credit cards are not yet widely used in shops or restaurants.
Most large hotels will accept credit card payment, although it is always advisable to check in advance.
Travellers cheques can only be exchanged at the very largest banks for a charge.
What about tokens and payment cards?
As there are no coins in Belarus, tokens and cards are widely used instead:
Special plastic cards and tokens are used in the Metro and can be bought at any station.
Public payphones take smart cards, which are widely available from newspaper kiosks.
Vending machines are rare in Belarus. Where they do exist they accept tokens which can be bought from newspaper kiosks.
Coffee machines accept notes.
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