Belarus

A landlocked Eastern European country of forests and lakes, with castles, old towns and Soviet-era architecture, a quiet pace and relatively few tourists.

Belarus lies in landlocked Eastern Europe, bordering Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The terrain is flat, with forests, lakes and marshes widespread. The capital, Minsk, is known for its broad avenues and Soviet-era architecture; the Mir Castle Complex and the Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh are World Heritage Sites, Białowieża Forest is an important habitat of the European bison, and Brest Fortress, Chagall's house in Vitebsk and the old town of Polotsk are also worth seeing. Summers are mild and good for lake trips, while winters are cold and snowy. The main gateway is Minsk National Airport. Entry policies change often, so check the latest rules before you travel.

Destinations

• Minsk
• Brest
• Vitebsk
• Grodno
• Polotsk

Itineraries

• Belarus North-South Grand Loop – A chartered car loop around the ancient northern cities, western Grodno, Brest, and World Heritage castles.
• Minsk to Brest Western Route – Travel south from Minsk via two historic castles to the Brest Fortress and Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park.
• Polotsk & Vitebsk Rail Journey – Travel north by train to explore Belarus's oldest city, Polotsk, and Marc Chagall's hometown, Vitebsk.
• Minsk, Castles & War Memorials – Based in Minsk, visit the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Mir and Nesvizh, along with World War II memorial sites.