THE COUNTRY
I've got to admit, Belarus is the last country I've ever thought of visiting. Never on my mind did I ever plan on exploring it but I'm sure glad I did because it is a unique country. Tucked in Eastern Europe surrounded by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, chances are you probably haven't heard of Belarus as much as the other countries surrounding it. In fact, when I was in the country, I'd meet people and they would ask me why I didn't choose to go to Russia or Ukraine instead. It's pretty funny actually but nonetheless Belarus is a country I've appreciated by the end of it all. Would I go back again? Absolutely! Just because it is very different from any countries (even in Eastern Europe for that matter) I've ever been.
VISA/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Quick story, when I landed at the airport, I was the only one at the foreign/visitor line. Well ok I'm exaggerating, there were 2 other guys from Germany but that was it! Prior to entering the country your passport must be valid for at least 3 months from the date you plan on leaving the country. If requested, you need to be able to prove that you have sufficient funds during your stay ($30 CAD or $23 USD per day) as well as medical insurance coverage of ($15,000 CAD / $11,500 USD).
If you're staying for more than 5 business days you need to register where you're going to be staying in the country. Registration must be done no longer than 3 working days once you arrive in the country. You may register at the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Ministry of Interior (formerly OVIR) office in the district in which you are staying. I was unaware of this so I didn't register and once I was ready to leave the country, they wouldn't let me out. They held on to my passport. I won't get in to too much detail about it but to make a long story short, they cut me some slack and gave me my passport back after hanging on to it for quite some time. I got on my plane minutes before it actually took off. If I didn't get my passport back, I would've missed my flight out of the country and I don't know what the penalty is for not registering. It was my fault for not doing a bit more research about this so do not make the same mistake I did. A 30 day visa on arrival is available at no cost for many countries but do check online if you're unsure about yours. If you need to stay for longer than 30 days, then you need to apply for a visa online.
CURRENCY
Belarusian Ruble is the currency in the country. ATM's are readily available everywhere. Debit and credit cards are accepted in in the majority of the establishments in the country as well.
TRANSPORTATION
There are no domestic flights within the country so that means you either need to travel by a car or train. Rental cars are available but you need to have an International Driver's License for you to operate a vehicle in the country. Otherwise, taking the train would be the other option.
THINGS TO DO
Minsk - The capital city and the largest city in the country. You will most likely spend the majority of your time here
Independence Square (Minsk) - One of the largest squares in Europe. There's a lot of squares and monuments in the country and this is one you cannot miss.
Take a Stroll in Gorky Park (Minsk) - It's not just Russia who has Gorky Park, Belarus has one of its own too. Named after Maxim Gorsky the famous Soviet writer. There's an amusement park here, an ice rink, and an observatory.
Victory Square (Minsk) - Another must visit square in the country. This square is known for its parades and also a hot spot for newlyweds to take their photos.
Nesvizh Castle (Niasviz) - Built by the Radziwill family in the late 1500's, this is a castle that has been restored and rebuilt worth visiting.
Salihorsk - Mountains in Belarus? No it's just a spot with piles of man made soil. It is very colourful here and the landscape oddly enough something you can enjoy.
Mir Castle (Mir) - A UNESCO World Heritage site. A gothic castle built in the 16th century.
Brest - A cool town with beautiful architecture at the Poland border.
National Library of Belarus (Minsk) - The biggest library in the country. Not to mention it is very photogenic.
Minsk Cafe's - One thing I enjoyed in Belarus specifically in Minsk are the cafes! Though Minsk is dubbed to have a vibrant nightlife, I enjoyed just kicking back and relaxing at the artsy cafe's in the city.
Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (Minsk) - If you're a history buff, this place has a wealth of information about the wars the country had experienced.
I hope you found my travel guide to Belarus useful and if you did I would love to hear from you so leave your comments down below. Let me know if you have any questions and I would be more than happy to answer them. Safe travels everyone!