Miensk - Ratuša - City Hall in Minsk

Minsk (Belarusian phrasebook|Belarusian]]: Мінск, Russian: Минск) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Belarus, its population is about two million people.

Minsk and Belarus, in general, had a reputation of a Soviet experience park. However, this stereotype is not accurate; Minsk offers reliable and affordable public transport, plentiful hotels, convenient banking, as well as shopping and dining experience that international tourists will find familiar. The quality and number of sightseeing opportunities is plentiful. Those who want to see the Soviet past in action should venture further afield in Belarus and consider specialist tours.

Minsk Halal Explorer

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Climate & Weather

Average temperatures are maximum 24°C, minimum 12°C in summer and maximum 3°C, minimum -7°C in winter.

Travel as a Muslim to Minsk

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Minsk

Passengers from 74 countries do not need a visa if flying to Minsk National Airport under certain conditions. For more information, see Belarus#Get_in.

• Minsk National Airport IATA Code: MSQ , formerly known as Minsk-2 - 53.888, 28.035 km 37 east of the city border ☎ +375 17 2791300 +375 17 2791730 - Minsk National Airport Belavia aircraft at Minsk National Airport eHalal Reference: Q777855 All international flights arrive here. The Arrivals feature a standard selection of cash machines, currency exchange, a taxi call point, mobile phone providers - Life:) and MTS - kiosks. The Departures hall has several cafes and retail outlets - souvenirs, and newspapers. On departure, after passing the passport control, a selection of duty-free shops and cafes are available. For all services, see the airport website]. For the free airport-wide Wi-Fi, use the АirportMinsk network. Cafes in the Departures have their own free Wi-Fi network.

Flight connections

The only Belarusian airline, y Belavia], is based at the Minsk National Airport which has become an increasingly popular transit hub for travel between Ukraine, Russia, Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe. Also, a number of Russian airlines, Ukrainian International Airlines], / LOT Polish Airlines], Lufthansa], Austrian], airBaltic, Etihad, Air China and few other airlines fly to Minsk daily or near daily. For transfer instructions, see the Airport website (links in the left-hand menu).

Getting to the city

Bus

The airport is served by regular buses №300Э (price as of February 2019 is BYN4.00) and private minivans №1400-ТК and №1430-ТК running every 30 to 45 minutes – less frequently in the night – from the central coach terminals (Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны; also may be spelled Avtovokzal Tsentralny, from its Russian name). The bus stop can be easily found in front of the airport, in front of the exit by the arrivals sectors 5/6 (far left side of the building). Tickets are purchased from the driver (Belarusian cash only) or terminals inside the airport building and at the bus stop using any local or international bank cards (only for the most frequent bus, №300Э). Only the bus, and not the shuttle vanes, have free Wi-Fi. But Wi-Fi access requires entering your phone number for SMS validation.

If you take bus №300Э or minivan №1400-ТК, the first stop is in about 30 minutes - the Uručča, Уручча metro station. Change here to continue your journey by Minsk Metro (underground). Alternatively, continue to the final stop, Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, located next to the main train station, Minsk Pasažyrski, Мінск Пасажырскі.

On the way back to the airport, either depart from the central coach terminals (Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны) or from the Uručča, Уручча metro station. At Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, the buses and minivans depart from platform 2 (as of February 2019)). At Uručča, leave station through the front exit, turn right, and find the outermost bus stop. Tickets can be purchased from the kiosk at the bus stop or from the driver. The schedule is available online.

The shuttle van №1430-ТК runs less frequently (see schedule]) and takes a different route. It stops at the Mahilioŭskaja, Магілёўская metro station which may be more convenient for those going to the Šabany, Шабаны, Aŭtazavod, Аўтазавод, Čyžoǔka, Чыжоўка, Sierabranka, Серабранка neighborhoods and the stations along the Aŭtazavodskaja metro line. Tickets can only be purchased from the driver. The fare to the Mahilioŭskaja, Магілёўская metro station is BYN3.00, to the central coach terminals (Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, Аўтавакзал Цэнтральны) - BYN4.00. Luggage is free, but there is only limited space in minivans, so particularly large suitcases may not be appreciated by drivers and fellow passengers.

From Aŭtavakzal Centraĺny, shuttle van №1430-ТК also departs from platform 2 and costs BYN 4.00.

The bus and shuttle van alternate their departures during day time so that there is always one departure in each direction every 20 minutes during the day.

Taxi

Yandex taxi, which can also be accessed via the Uber mobile app, operates in Minsk. If requesting from the airport, it may be helpful having the Viber app installed - taxi drivers tend to use it for contacting customers with foreign phone numbers. The airport charges drivers for repeat entries to the Airport area; drivers employ various tricks to avoid charges, incl. applying fake number plates. This may confuse travelers occasionally. The app offers a choice of collection points described by the exit in the Arrivals; there are three of them: Sectors 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6. The latter one is the nearest to the airport shuttle bus stop and so is the busiest one - to be avoided.

• Official Airport Transfer - BYN30 Flat-rate trips, from BYN30. The taxi desk can be found in the Arrivals. Only cash payments in the Belarusian currency. English-speaking drivers and wifi in the car.

• Minsk Airport Transfer - From €30 single trip up to three passangers Using an online booking via eHalal Hotels form you can book a fixed price transfer. You will be met by the driver in the Arrivals and get a free bottle of water and wifi in the car.

Alternatively, many taxi drivers offer their services in the Arrivals and just outside. Their prices tend to be steep, but negotiable; always agree on the price in advance.

Car

To reach the airport by car, leave the city by Praspiekt [Avenue Niezaliežnasci | Праспект Незалежнасці and follow the

• Mastatsky Salon Praspekt Nezalezhnasti 12 53.8971, 27.5530 Opening Hours: Monday to Sat 10.00-20.00 An art gallery with local artists exhibitions and some souvenirs.

• Ў Gallery - Praspekt Nezalezhnasti (Проспект Независимости) 37a. 53.9093, 27.5753 Metro Station «Площадь Победы» contemporary art space, a bar, a bookstore and a souvenir shop with Belarusian design.

• National Library of Belarus - Национальная библиотека | Prospekt Nezalezhnasti (Проспект Независимости) 116 53.931421, 27.645844 Metro station Восток 0.5 km. Observation deck is accessed via a lift, entrance to it from outside on the other side of the building. 3.50 BYN National Library of Belarus Huge, glass and concrete rhombicuboctahedron houses a collection of over 8 million items. On 22 floors it features conference halls, 20 reading rooms and a Book Museum, on the roof there is an observation deck with good views of the city and surrounding area.

• Contemporary Fine Arts Museum - Belarusian: Музей сучаснага выяўленчага мастацтва; part of: National Centre for Contemporary Arts - Praspiekt Niezaležnasci, 47 Plošča Jakuba Kolasa metro station, 0.1km ☎ +375 (17)399 09 79 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11.00AM - 07.00PM 7 BYN A small venue housing several exhibitions simultaneously.

Other interesting places

• Former Residence of Lee Harvey Oswald Vulitsa Kamunistychnaja 4 (the bottom left apartment). Lee arrived in the Soviet Union in December 1959 willing to denounce his US Muslimship and was sent to Minsk. He changed his name to Alek and married a native woman, Marina Prusakova, with whom he had a child. The young family left for the United States in June 1962.

• KGB Headquarters Praspekt Nezalezhnasti (Проспект Независимости) 17 53.8991, 27.5551 Metro 'Купаловская' 0.5km; or Metro 'Октябрьская' 0.6km or Bus 100 to Stop «Ленина ул.» - This impressive building, on the main street of Minsk has a façade that belies what's found within.

You might be willing to hire a private guide when staying in Minsk or another major Belarusian city. Private guides are licensed by the National Tourism Agency - and you can check the list of their names on the official website of the Agency List of private guides in Russian . A licensed guide must always wear a special Badge of a licensed guide in Belarus.

Out of town

• Minsk Sea - Minskoe More - 5 km north of the city centre. - Buses leave the central bus station regularly. To get there by car, head north along the P28 and lookout for signs after Ratomka village. This is an artificial reservoir. There's a free public beach, and pedal-boat and catamaran rental.

Stročycy - 02 - Inside one of the houses in Open Air Museum of Rural Architecture and Life]]

• Ozertso - Open Air Museum of Rural Architecture and Life - Aźjarco, Aziarco. Азярцо - Беларускі Дзяржаўны Музей Народнай Архітэктуры і Побыту - Aźjarco 53.8345, 27.3742 The 203 bus from “Paŭdniova-zachodniaja” coach station goes directly to the museum. Timetable to the museum: 9:15, 12:00, 13:15, 15:50. - Or The 402, 363, 277, 325, 357 buses from “Paŭdniova-zachodniaja” coach station to the bus stop “Pavarot na muzej”. These buses go in the direction of “Haradzišča” – 277, “Dubiancy” – 357, “kalchoz Kalinina” – 363, “Zachodnija mohilki” – 402, “Bohušava” - 325. - Timetable to the museum: 9:40, 10:00, 10:28, 11:35, 12:20, 13:10; 14:14; 14:40; 15:50; 16:30. Opening Hours: W-Su 10:00-18:20| price=30 000 BYR, Cartage: - Itinerary №1: BYR10 000, - Itinerary№ 2: BYR20 000 4 km west.

• Stalin's Line - Лінія Сталіна | @line.by 54.05801, 27.29642 30 km north-west, on road P28 to Maladziečna. Bus stop a few meter from the entrance. From Lashany village 2.2 km north. ☎ +375 0175032020 14 BYN STALIN_LINE_-_MINSK_-_BELARUS.jpg A reconstructed line of defences on what once was the state border of the USSR.

• Mound of Glory 54.0189, 27.8982 20 km east- 'P53' Road North side - Northeast 0.5km from Sloboda village 70m high mound from 1969 commemorating Soviet soldiers who died during World War II.

• Khatyn Memorial Complex - 54.334444, 27.943611 50 km to the north. Take a shuttle van in direction of Pleshchanitsy and ask the driver to get off near Khatyn. The site is 5 km from the primary street. - Khatyn Memorial, Belarus A place where a village, savagely massacred in 1943 by Nazi forces, once stood.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Minsk

Belarus-Minsk-Children Railroad-6.jpg

• Children's Railroad K. S. Zaslonov Children's Railroad in Minsk (Belarusian: Дзiцячая чыгунка (Dzitsyachaya chyhunka); Russian: Минская детская железная дорога имени К.С.Заслонова (Minskaya detskaya zheleznaya doroga imeni K.S.Zaslonova) - prospekt Nezavisimosti, ~84a 53.925994, 27.621732 Chelyuskinites Park - Monday Station Chelyuskinites Park This is a 750 mm (2 ft 5½ in) narrow gauge railroad loop passing through the Chelyuskinites Park. The railway line counts 3 stations (listed from north to south): Zaslonovo, Pionerskaya (or Pionerskaja) and Sosnovy Bor (or Sosnovyj Bor); and a pair of rail loops after the end stops.

Minsk._Alivaryja_Brewery_buildings - Alivaria Brewery

• Alivaria Brewery Tour - Vulica Kisialiova Кісялёва, 30 Niamiha Няміга metro station 1,2km along Vulica Bahdanoviča вул.Багдановіча ☎ + 375295001755 Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday BYN14, card payment available Alivaria_Brewery The oldest Minsk brewery - and the largest in Belarus - can be visited with a tour which also includes organic juice tasting. This compact brewery located not far from the Minsk centre has preserved some of its original buildings from the 19th century. English tours are run if eight or more people get together, so inviting others to join makes it more likely to happen. Contact the brewery museum by email or online form in advance specifying the desired day and time, and the English language of the tour (it's Russian by default). Most likely, the tour will take place at 14:00.

Parks and gardens

• Botanical Garden Vulica Surhanava вул.Сурганава, 2v 53.916111, 27.6125 Monday Park Čaliuskincaǔ station Парк Чалюскінцаў 100m - Minsk Botanical Garden with some 9,000 different species. Opened in 1932.

• Chelyuskinites Park - Belarusian: Парк Чалюскiнцаў, Russian: Парк Челюскинцев, pronounced [park tɕeˈlʲʉskʲintsef - prospekt Nezavisimosti, ~91 53.92194, 27.616666 Monday Park Čaliuskincaǔ station Парк Чалюскінцаў - Chelyuskinites Park ParkCh 1 is an urban forest park. The park's area is 78 ha. The park contains an amusement park. Other attractions include a Children's Railroad, operated exclusively by teenagers, and a cinema Raduga (Russian: rainbow). There is a Minsk Metro station "Park Chalyuskintsau" next to the park. The park is adjacent to the Minsk Botanical Garden.

• Gorky Park - Парк Горкага, Цэнтральны дзіцячы парк імя Максіма Горкага, Maksim Gorky Central Children's Park - Vuliсa Frunze вул.Фрунзэ, 2 53.9031, 27.5734 Monday Pločša Pieramohi station 100m - Gorky Park (Minsk) Gorki park, Minsk14 A public park established in 1800 under the name Governor's Garden. During the Soviet times it was renamed "парк культуры і адпачынку імя Максіма Горкага" (Park of culture and recreation after A.M.Gorky) after the famous Russian/Soviet writer Maksim Gorky. Parks with this name have been established in many cities of the Soviet Union. A part of the park's territory is occupied by an amusement park with a 56 metre high Ferris wheel. It also has an educational observatory with a planetarium. The Ice Palace (indoors skating rink) is also located in Gorky Park. President Lukashenko, known for his hobby of ice hockey, frequents this place, at which times the access to this part of the park is closed for general public.

• Janka Kupala Park - Парк імя Янкі Купалы - 53.905556, 27.566389 along Svislač river, Monday Pločša Pieramohi station 100m - Yanka Kupala Park

Theatres

Theatre_opera%26ballet,_Minsk - National Opera and Ballet of Belarus

• National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre - Teatr opiery i balieta Тэатр оперы і балета - Plošča Paryžskaj Kamuny пл.Парыжскай Камуны, 1, 220029 53.9105, 27.5616 Monday Niamiha Няміга station 0.7km - BYN4.50-80.00 and more for special events National Opera and Ballet of Belarus Theatre_opera%26ballet,_Minsk The most sought-after Minsk theatre. It has an excellent reputation for quality of the experience and variety of performances, incl. for children. For regular performances, tickets are readily available online and from various ticket vendors across the city. For the most exclusive shows, e.g. Christmas gala concerts, tickets - if sold out - are occasionally made available from the theatre box office at short notice, a day before or so.

Nacyjanalny_akademičny_teatar_imia_Janki_Kupały - Janka Kupala National Theatre]]

• Janka Kupala National Theatre - Kupalaǔski - Vulica Enhielsa вул.Энгельса, 7, 220030 53.90070, 27.56274 Monday Kupalaǔskaja, Kastryčnickaja stations ☎ +375 (17) 327-60-81 Opening Hours: 19:00 performances BYN6 to BYN22 Janka_Kupala_National_Theatre Nacyjanalny_akademičny_teatar_imia_Janki_Kupały The oldest and, arguably, the best Belarusian drama theatre. All performances are in Belarusian, some are dubbed into English (see the What's On section on the theatre website). Occasional music concerts take place here too. The theatre has two stages. Tickets can be purchased online from major ticket selling companies and in person - from several box offices, see the Box Office page on the theatre website. A pleasant cafe at the rear of its building is particularly good on warm sunny days.

• Film Actors' Studio Theatre - Teatr-studiya kioaktera Театр-студия киноактера - Praspiekt Pieramozcau пр.Пераможцаў, 13 53.9097, 27.5476 Monday Niamiha Няміга station 0.6km - A small theatre well regarded for its high-quality performances. Most of the plays are in Russian. Inexpensive tickets and unpretentious facilities. The threatre shares the building with once the most prestigious Minsk cinema, Moskva; it is a listed building from the time of the Soviet Union.

• Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama - Тэатр беларускай драматургіі - Krapotkina 44 53.9224, 27.5603

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Minsk

Traditionally, tourists bring from Belarus linen goods, embroidery, souvenirs made of straw and leather, as well glass and ceramics. Belarusian vodka has an excellent reputation; it can be purchased from the airport duty-free shops, though prices there will probably be slightly higher than in local shops. Zubroǔka (a Polish equivalent Żubrówka) is a popular spirit created in Belarusian Brest. Sugar-coated cranberries, flat crisps (čypsy, чыпсы), zefir (a soft confectionery), chocolate-glazed curd deserts (hlazuravany syrok, глазураваны сырок) and rye bread are treated as Belarusian specialties and are widely available.

Belarusian souvenirs are widely available from the airport and the main train station, specialist shops and local department stores, and museums. Local department stores - GUM, TSUM, Na Nemige, Univermag Belaruś etc. - are good places for buying goods manufactured locally. Shopping malls mainly feature foreign brands.

Buy Souvenirs from Minsk

• Symbal.by - Сымбаль бай | Praspiekt Mašerava пр.Машэрава, 18 53.9158, 27.5733 Monday Plošča Pieramohi station 1km ☎ +375 (29) 177-35-18, +375 (33) 357-35-18 Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00 A popular store with a great selection of souvenirs, books, music and trendy t-shirts with patriotic prints. Purchases can be made online and collected from the store.

Shopping centres

• Stolitsa Nezalezhnasti pl centrally located

• GUM department store - Praspekt Nezalezhnasti 23 - Built in the 1950s, Socialist Realist classic.

• TSUM department store - Praspekt Nezalezhnasti 54

Other shops

• Podzemka Bookshop Praspekt Nezalezhnasti 43An underground bookshop-cum-art gallery.

• Suvenirnaja Lavka Vulitsa Maxima Bahdanovicha 9A souvenir type shop with straw crafts, wooden boxes, embroidered linen & Belarusian alcohol.

• Central Bookshop - Tsentralnaja Kniharnya - Praspekt Nezalezhnasti 19 The largest bookshop in the city, some English language novels, guidebooks and stationary. Also posters of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.

Halal Restaurants in Minsk

{{cautionbox|Advice for vegetarians & vegans|Meat is always on the menu. It isn't considered a meal if y-halal-food/halal-meat/ meat isn't a part of it. Many dishes which seem vegetarian can be cooked with y-halal-food/halal-meat/ meat ingredients, like animal fat or bullion. If this is the matter of principle, always ask. Vegetarian and vegan cafes and restaurants have started appearing and the awareness of such preferences has grown considerably. Search online to find appropriate vegan and vegetarian venues.

Due to the common history, traditional Belarusian cuisine is similar to that of the rest of Eastern Europe, but particularly Polish and Lithuanian. Soups, dumplings, baked potato, mushroom and y-halal-food/halal-meat/ meat dishes, pickled vegetables and salads are often on the menu. Beer and naliŭki (berries, fruits and various spices liquors) are traditional here. Minsk has a good selection of Belarusian traditional restaurants. Among the venues with international cuisine, Georgian and Central Asian restaurants have a particularly good reputation.

Belarusian

• Draniki Plošča Svabody, 4 Niamiha metro station 0.2km; Kastryčnickaja & Kupalaŭskaja metro stations 0.3km Opening Hours: 11.00AM - 00.00AM 6.00-14.00 BYN mains A large Belarusian cuisine menu: draniki, cepelinai, salads, liquors (naliŭki) and soft-drinks. This centrally-located venue can be busy. It is good for a quick meal and large groups will feel particularly at home in the basement featuring more seating.

• Kuchmistr - Кухмістр - Vulica Karla Marksa, 40 53.9015, 27.5656 Kastryčnickaja & Kupalaŭskaja metro stations 0.1km ☎ +375 17 327-48-48 Opening Hours: 12.00PM - 11.00PM 15-35 BYN mains Arguably, the most authentic restaurant of the Belarusian and Litvin (former Grand Duchy of Lithuania) cuisine. This venue regularly brings back well-forgotten receipies and produces its own naliŭki (traditional liquors).

• Vasiĺki - Васількі - Praspiekt Niezaležnasci Незалежнасці 16 53.89742, 27.55671 ☎ +375 29 706-44-52 Opening Hours: 8–23 The largest chain of casual dining restaurants serving traditional cuisine. Bucolic style and good local fare. Suitable for breakfast, lunch and dinners. More restaurants can be found around the city and in shopping malls.

Other

• Freskee Cafe Nezalezhnasti pr. 18 Café with a large choice of main dishes.

• Dzhomalungma Indian Vulitsa Gikalo 17 Mains from BYR8,000-30,000 Huge menu with an array of cuisines: Nepalese, Tibetan, Sushi & Indian. Vegetarians and vegans should also be able to find something here.

• Gourman trattoria Гурман - ul. Kommunisticheskaya 7 53.9121, 27.564 close to Grand Opera Theater Styled as an Italian trattoria, the place serves Belarusian and European cuisine. English menu available.

• Taj restaurant Vulitsa Romanovskaya Sloboda 26 Opening Hours: Open Noon-Midnight Vegetarian dishes start from around BR60,000 and mains from BR120,000 North Indian restaurant. There should be an English menu available. Indian dance group on weekends.

• National Food Trinity Suburb Mains BYR20,000-30,000. - Not the restaurant's real name but this place has "National Food" on the front in big English letters so should be easy to find. It has a large menu of traditional food available in English, including a couple of vegetarian options. The food really sticks to your ribs. They also sell honey-flavoured kvass.

Cafes

• Beze Cafe - Praspekt Nezalezhnasti content= Viennese style café with a great bakery and light snacks.

• Grand Cafe - Vulitsa Lenina 2 ☎ +375 44 7031111 Opening Hours: 12:00-00:00 A high end restaurant on Lenin Street. Try the roasted duck or salmon with asparagus. They offer a no smoking section, menu's in English and most of the servers speak good English, too. Making a reservation is recommended, especially on weekends.

• London - Pr. Nezalezhnasti close to KGB headquarters, on the other side of the street - This friendly little café, in the shadow of the KGB headquarters, offers a wide range of teas, free wi-fi, seating outdoors (with heaters) and a small cozy room upstairs where it's possible to sit and talk in a relatively private setting.

• Golden Coffee - Pr. Nezalezhnasti 18 ☎ +375 17 237 41 87 Opening Hours: 07:00-02:00 This cafe is on the main strip and one of the few that has both an outside and inside patio.And it is THE place to see and be seen. The food is exquisite and they provide free wifi (till 6PM when it automatically goes off for some reason). Also two other locations.

Casinos

• Casino Royal
• Carat Casino

Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Minsk

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At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Minsk ensures that customers have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000, these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Minsk. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Minsk, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

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Muslim Friendly hotels in Minsk

If you need a visa to enter Belarus, you must get registered with the local police department - Department for Citizenship and Migration within 5 business days. Most hotels process the registration automatically upon check-in while many apartment rentals might be reluctant to provide registration. Check if the rental service offers registration service and at what price. Otherwise you can now complete the registration online.

There are plenty of apartment and room rentals available online.

You might receive a call to your hotel room late at night offering a "massage". To avoid being woken up it is worth unplugging your phone. Many hostels are just apartment flats with bunk beds in all the rooms. Finding them and checking in many require a phone call and coordination and most apartments only have 1 or 2 bathrooms to be shared by all of the guests.

• EasyFlat Hostel - vip-@ Aeradromnaja str. 40, app. 14 5 minutes walk from “Nyamiha”, “Kastrychnickaya” and “Kupalauskaya” metro stations ☎ +375 29 7719833 14-19 BYN - Calm and cozy atmosphere. In the city center.

• Smile Minsk Hotel - avenue Dzerzhinsky, house 131, entrance 8. Check-in only on a preliminary call 600m from main train station ☎ +375 29 771 94 14 BYR 13 - Cheap, quiet, central location.

• Hostel Stary Minsk | praspiekt Niezalieznasci, 18, apt 20 3-minute walk from Belarusian National Arts Museum ☎ +375 25 767-05-24 6-bed dorm: $11
• Trinity Traveler & Riverside Hostel - Starovilenskaya, 12 5 minutes walk from “Nyamiha”, “Kastrychnickaya” and “Kupalauskaya” metro stations ☎ +375 29 311 2783 - The hostel has a spacious living room, kitchen, dormitories for 4-8 people, and a double. The hostel occupies two floors of a three-floored building.

• Hostel Viva - Zhukovsky 4/ 1N 600m from main train station ☎ +375 33 627 1133 Dorm bed €6-12 - Directly in the city center. Only 2 bathrooms for 24 beds.

• Your Hostel Minsk - 1-y pereulok Skoriny 28 ap.7 / Скорины 1-й переулок, дом 28, кв. 7 Metro and then trolleybus ☎ +375 33 627 1133 - Far from the center, near the MKAD.

• 40 Let Pobedy - 40 Years of Victory - Azgura 3 - US$45/shared room Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Nice rooms, decent location. No internet, few English speaking receptionists.

• Hotel Belarus - Storozhevskaja 15-201 ☎ +375 17 209 7537 Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 €35/single Great location, clean Soviet hotel with very old school interior. Great indoor pool/hot tub and a gym, cost $10 extra. Free wifi in lobby.

• Hotel Orbita - Pushkin ave. 39 - Prospekt Pushkina 39, a clean 208-room hotel with friendly but boring staff. There is a supermarket next door and Cash Exchange in the hotel lobby. The airport and train terminal are about 6km away. It is in the western part of Minsk not far from the Republican Exhibition Centre.

• Planeta - Prospekt Pobediteley 31 ☎ +375 17 203 8587 Check-in: 12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 They have great services all within the hotel. Internet cafe is open till 20:00. Casino is open 24 hr.

Europa Hotel Minsk - Hotel Europa

• Hotel Europe - Отель «Европа» - International Street 28 ☎ +375 17 229-8333 Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 12:00 From €100 Exclusive five-star hotel situated in the historical and cultural heart of Minsk. The beautiful 7-story atrium-type building was built in the Modernist style of the early 20th century. Late departure till 23:00 is charged with 50% of the room rate.

• Crowne Plaza Minsk - Kirova 13 ☎ +375 17 2005354 +800 181 6068 | checkin=12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 5-star international hotel in the centre. The hotel, with its unique architecture, is opposite the Dynamo Stadium.

• Marriott Renaissance Minsk Hotel | Dzerzhinsky Avenue 1E ☎ +375-17-309 90 90 +800 181 6068 | checkin=12:00 / Check-out: 12:00 5 star international hotel. Hotel is located on one of the main transport highways in close proximity to the city center.

Stay safe as a Muslim in Minsk

Minsk is a safe and clean city. If you are in need of assistance, there is a strong police presence in the downtown area. Emergency medical help can be accessed 24/7, either in designated hospitals or by phone.

All Minsk Metro stations are equipped with security scanners and police are always present there. Passengers with large bags and, particularly, backpacks, are routinely asked to submit their belongings for scanning. The procedure is quick and the police are usually polite. Both the police and Metro staff keep an eye on not letting drunk passengers in, particularly in the evening. Even if you are tipsy, be prepared to answer about your destination station and address. Alternatively, use taxi, buses, trolleybuses and trams.

The Belarusian law prohibits taking photographs of the government buildings. Locals tell stories of tourists approached by officials after attempting to photograph the monumental KGB headquarters on Praspiekt Niezaliežnasci.

Attending political and any protests may not be safe for tourists. Even bystanders may be detained by uniformed and plain cloth police. The judge is likely to accept the police story later on.

Belarus is safe for travelers most of the time. Belarusian law neither recognises nor bans same-sex relationships; it has some provision for lady boys people. Homophobic and transphobic abuse is not recognised as a specific hate crime; any such incidents would be treated as generic hooliganism. This has its impact on the society: most of the people would not mind having people around, but would regard any explicit signs of affection as unacceptable. This may also lead to violence. and woke club nights, if held, are not advertised openly; a Russian euphemism "zakrytaya vecherinka" (closed-door party) is often used. In the past, there were reports of vigilante groups using dating apps; the police challenged those crimes. Taking reasonable precautions should be enough to stay safe.

The Belarusian law prohibits distribution of pornography. While it is not used to routinely police people's belongings and video streaming habits, there were odd cases of prosecuting Belarusian citizens for posting explicit content on social media and even in password-protected profiles.

The enforcement of road safety for pedestrians and drivers by the traffic police is often ruthless, so observing traffic lights and crossings are well-engraved in Belarusians' behavior. As a rule, drivers always give the way to pedestrians crossing the road in the designated places.

Cope in Minsk

Languages

Language may be a barrier for tourists to a certain extent. Virtually all Belarusians speak or understand both Belarusian and Russian; the latter remains the default means of communication. Increasingly more young people speak English and many of them will be eager to training it. The older generation is unlikely to understand English. It is wise for visitors to learn some key phrases in Russian or Belarusian. Also, being familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet used both by Belarusian and Russian is essential for traveling without a guide. Many street signs and notices in public transport in Minsk are transliterated into the Latin alphabet. A confusion may arise from the fact that the names of monuments, objects etc. may be transliterated either from Belarusian (as the current official training requires, however it is not strictly enforced) or Russian; to add to the confusion, the old training of translating geographical names still has a place. As the result, Плошча Перамогі (Площадь Победы in Russian) may be referred to in publications as Plošča Pieramohi (or Pieramohi Plaza - transliteration from Belarusian), Pobedy Plaza (transliteration from Russian) or Victory Plaza (direct translation). There is no an easy way to avoid this confusion completely right now, however, being aware of the possibility of the same object being referred to differently depending on the original language used by the speaker should help. Please see also the official standard used for transliteration of Belarusian geographical names into the Latin alphabet wikipedia.org/wiki/Instruction_on_transliteration_of_Belarusian_geographical_names_with_letters_of_Latin_script.

Embassies & Consulates in Minsk

{{flag|Georgia

• Georgia - Freedom sq. N4 53.904373, 27.555343 ☎ +375 17 2276219 +375 17 2276193

• India - 63 Sobinova St ☎ +375 17 2629399 +375 17 2884799* Japan - Pr. Pobediteley 23/1, 8F ☎ +375 17 2236233 +375 17 2102169 +375 17 2234481
• United Kingdom - 37 Karl Marx St ☎ +375 17 2298200

United States | ConsularM@ 46 Starovilenskaya St ☎ +375 17 2101283, +375 17 2177347, +375 17 2177348 +375 17 234-7853

Explore more Halal Friendly Destinations from Minsk

You may rent a car to travel around the nation. Rates depend on period of hire and start from US$20 a day. There are offices of Europcar, Avis, Sixt and other rental companies.

Regional trains are also cheap. A trip from Minsk to Gomel (5h) with a cabin for 4 cost 20000 BYR and the train is almost never full.

• Brest (Belarus) | Brest is a regional capital on the border with Poland and is rich with history from both the Soviet times and before. You can see a Brest Hero Fortress, perhaps the most impressive Soviet monument ever built. You can get there by train (~20 daily train services running from Minsk) at US$5–20. It takes 3-4 hr by train.
• Gomel
• Grodno is a border town in north-west Belarus, near Kuźnica-Białostocka in Poland.
• Mir is a medieval castle about 85km from Minsk. Formerly owned by the Radziwill family, one of the great families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. During the Second World War it was used by the Nazis as a Ghetto. Inside the castle is a museum showing artefacts from the castle's past, including exhibits from the Yahudi community who lived in nearby Mir village until their destruction in the war.
• Lake Narach is the largest lake in Belarus, located about 160 km north of Minsk.
• Zaslavl

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