Belarus Tour Guide: Ideas for Your Trip!

Things to see in Vetka, an Old Believers refuge, major iconographic center
In the east of the Belarusian Polesie near the Sozh River stands the town of Vetka, once the abode of the Old Believers. The town traces its origins back to 1685 when believers from different parts of the Russian Tsardom (later the Empire), who did not accept Patriarch Nikon’s church reform, sought shelter on the outskirts and outside the state. That was how a new settlement emerged on the border lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth near Gomel...

Landmarks of Bobruisk: Unique charm of the ‘Jewish capital’ of Belarus
Bobruisk has become widely known far beyond the borders of Belarus thanks to the satirical novel The Little Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov. The literary "children of Lieutenant Schmidt" were prepared to go to Bobruisk immediately as it was considered ‘a wonderful, highly civilized place’. Today the city welcomes its guests with a bronze sculpture of Shura Balaganov, one of the characters of the novel, the impostor and ‘foster brother’ of the ‘great combinator’ Ostap Bender...

Rechitsa landmarks: A metal chapel on the bank of the Dnieper, an oil museum and paintings by Belarus’ most mysterious artist
The town of Rechitsa – the center of Belarus’ oil industry – stands on the banks of the dignified Dnieper River. Rechitsa was first mentioned in the Hustyn Chronicle in 1213. The Novgorod Chronicle mentions the capture of the town by Prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny in 1214 during the war with Kiev Prince Vsevolod Svyatoslavich...

What to see in Mozyr: Streets running through ravines, a temple-museum and a unique tram service
Sprawling on the banks of the Pripyat River, Mozyr is one of the oldest cities in the Polesie region, with streets running through deep ravines. It is home to the largest river port in Belarus. Romantically called "a city on seven hills"...

Things to see in Braslav: ‘Mosaic’ church, lakes, architecture hailing from the Tatra Mountains and beach festivals
The town of Braslav, the center of the Belarusian Lake District, is located on a narrow strip of land between the lakes of Drivyaty and Novyaty. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1065. The Chronicles of Bykhovets mentioned it as Braslavl, the Chronicle of Maciej Stryjkowski as Braslaw...

Things to see in Novogrudok, the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the homeland of Adam Mickiewicz
A cozy town with a very common name had a truly unusual, interesting past. Many centuries ago, it was the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, one of the largest states of medieval Europe. Later, a stone castle was built there, which remained the most formidable fortress for a long time. King Jahajla married the young Princess Sophia of Golshany in the main church of Novogrudok in 1422 and thus started the famous Jagiellonian dynasty...

Belarus’ Iconic Experiences
Traveling is not just about a hundred photos in your smartphone or another mark on the world map. Traveling is about bright emotions and new experiences. Any corner of the planet can surprise you. Belarus is no exception! Natural and man-made sights, centuries-old rites, architectural gems, delicious food… Everyone can find something to their liking here...

What to see in Polotsk: Majestic St Sophia, the treasures of St Euphrosyne, the book printing legacy of Francysk Skaryna and other sights of the oldest town of Belarus
Polotsk is worth visiting to feel the atmosphere of one of the first major towns of the Eastern Slavs, to stroll down the streets that keep secrets of centuries-old history, to see the legendary temples and listen to the organ of the famous St Sophia Cathedral… Polotsk has been included in the list of the main cultural, religious and tourist routes of the country...

What to see in Orsha: The city of monasteries, the college/prison and Korotkevich’s house
Dubbed as the eastern gate of Belarus, Orsha was first mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years in 1067 under the name Rsha. Back then the Yaroslavich Triumvirate (the descendants of Yaroslav the Wise) invited Polotsk Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer and his sons for peace talks ‘to Rsha at Smolensk’. As soon as Vseslav crossed the Dnieper, he was treacherously captured, taken to Kiev and imprisoned…

What to see in Pinsk: Jesuit college, the oldest pipe organ and other attractions
Pinsk, one of the largest towns in southern Belarus, an ancient cultural, spiritual and historical center, has been known for more than nine centuries. It was first mentioned in chronicles on 5 November 1097. Pinsk was an influential town and always fascinated visitors by its beauty and uniqueness. Today the unofficial capital of the Polesie region is home to more than 160 historical sites which make up a unique urban ensemble. Pinsk yields only to the ‘royal city’ of Grodno in terms of the number of architectural monuments...