Unusual Things To Do in Minsk

Trinity Hill in Minsk
Trinity Hill in Minsk | © Maxim Korotchenko / Alamy Stock Photo
Hanna Hrydziushka

Since Belarus relaxed its visa regulations in 2017, the country has slowly been making its way onto the tourist radar. Beyond the routine sightseeing, Minsk is full of secret spots and unusual activities just waiting to be discovered.

With fascinating Soviet history, a burgeoning café culture and a dynamic art scene, Minsk is the perfect offbeat city break. Once you’ve seen the iconic Red Church and walked down the monumental Nezavisimosti Avenue, try something a little bit different: shop for retro fashion, experience a traditional dacha country house and visit Minsk’s oldest brewery.

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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Party in the shadow of a former factory

An open-air food court and bar, Project Pesochnitsa is hidden away within a complex of industrial buildings. Project Pesochnitsa (which means ‘sandbox’) is a prime hangout spot among the local hipster crowd, and a destination for foodies: a rotating ensemble of street-food trucks serving everything from burgers to Czech trdelník cakes bring international cuisines to the grounds of the Horizont electronics factory. As night falls, the pace changes as DJs and local bands begin to play and the food court transforms into something of an al fresco dance floor.

DJ and light show in Minsk

Experience Minsk country life at a dacha

Many Belarusians have a dacha – a country cottage where they can escape the city after a long working week. In addition to growing fruits and vegetables to be enjoyed fresh or preserved for the winter months, time at the dacha often entails two key elements: barbecues and saunas.

No dacha? No problem! Visitors to Minsk can experience the slow pace of life at the dacha with a day trip to the Zabrod’ye country house and museum complex. Set about an hour and a half outside Minsk, Zabrod’ye is a traditional wooden cottage in the heart of the Belarusian countryside, complete with a 200-year-old Belarusian banya (sauna). Once visitors have enjoyed a home-cooked meal courtesy of the friendly owners and grown on the plot of land surrounding the dacha, they can explore an extensive collection of vintage cars and exhibitions packed with artefacts from World War I and the Soviet era. Thanks to its countryside location, Zabrod’ye is also the perfect base for outdoor activities such as kayaking, cycling and fishing.

A dacha in Minsk

Take home a vintage souvenir

Travel with a social conscience by bringing home a retro souvenir from KaliLaska. This social enterprise collects donations from across Minsk: clothes, accessories, homeware, plants – you name it. KaliLaska is a firm favourite with Minsk fashionistas thanks to its huge selection of vintage clothes, jewellery and shoes. Of the proceeds, 95% goes to a variety of charitable organisations.

You’ll find plenty of vintage clothes and scarves at KaliLaska

Get a taste for pigs’ ears

Once you’ve tried borscht and draniki (potato pancakes) with mushrooms, there’s another delicacy left to try: pigs’ ears. Fried, boiled or baked, pigs’ ears are the ultimate beer snack and can have a spicy, sour or salty taste. If simply munching on a pig’s ear with a pint sounds a little extreme, look out for a traditional pig’s ear salad. This adventurous appetiser can be found in many restaurants specialising in Belarusian cuisine, such as Vasilki, Druzia and Rakauski Brovar, or can be picked up at most supermarkets with a deli department. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Pig’s ear salad is a local delicacy

Become a tractor driver for a day

Fun fact: every tenth tractor in the world is made in Belarus, at the Minsk Tractor Works factory. Tractors are an important part of Belarusian culture, with the huge, colourful vehicles even taking part in the annual Victory Day parade, in most countries the reserve of tanks and missiles. Visitors to Minsk can play their part by joining the factory team for the day, donning overalls and taking their place on the assembly line to learn about the engineering process. The most fun part, however, is the chance to ride one of these monster machines. Another great option for motor enthusiasts is a visit to BelAZ – the manufacturer of the world’s biggest trucks. Set 55 kilometres (34 miles) away from Minsk in the city of Zhodzina, the factory welcomes visitors to find out how it feels to ride a giant dump truck and even master basic driving skills using a special simulator.

A tractor produced at the Minsk Tractor Works

Shop like a Minsk local at the farmers’ market

Komarovka Market is a one-stop shop where you can purchase and sample the freshest produce direct from local farmers. As Minsk’s biggest market, Komarovka brings together hundreds of sellers from across the local region to sell fruit, vegetables, nuts, spices and other specialities such as caviar. English speakers are in short supply here, but enthusiastic gesturing will do the trick. Top tip: the market gets busy at the weekends, so visit during the week if you can.

Komarovka market is at its busiest on weekends

Visit Minsk’s oldest brewery

Founded in 1864, Alivaria Brewery is the longest-running brewery in Belarus. Knowledgeable guides take visitors through the history of the company and the process of production, as well as providing tips on how to drink beer correctly and pair it with the perfect dish. A large part of the tour is spent sampling the beer itself – with more than 16 to choose from, you may just have to take some home with you if you want to try them all. The standard tours are in Russian, but you can sign up for an English tour in advance on the brewery’s website. If a tour isn’t possible, stop by the centrally located brewery – just two blocks north of Trinity Hill – at 2pm on a Saturday for an exhibition and tasting.

Alivaria Brewery, Minsk

Check out the street art at Vulica Brasil

The most vibrant place in Minsk – the area surrounding Kastrychnitskaya street – gets more and more colourful each summer, when the Vulica Brasil festival comes to town. Usually taking place in July or August, the festival sees Belarusian and Brazilian graffiti artists leave their mark on the city’s architecture in the form of exuberant murals. Vulica Brasil has been running since 2014, when Brazilian embassy workers Mila Kotka and Danilo Costa persuaded the Minsk City Executive Committee to brighten up the city streets with some monumental artworks. If you’re visiting Minsk during the festival, look out for street artists working in the area and check out the accompanying programme of events, which often includes street theatre, cinema screenings, markets and concerts.

Street art festival Vulica Brasil

Discover Asmolauka, the Soviet district saved from destruction

Behind the Opera Theatre lies the quiet, quaint neighbourhood of Asmolauka. A walk among the small houses here is a journey back in time to the end of World War II, when these houses were built and given to the city’s intelligentsia: scientists, writers and decorated heroes of the Soviet Union. The charming district, with its low-rise yellow buildings and leafy streets, has been under threat of destruction by investors who wanted to build a mammoth shopping mall in its place. After petitions and protests by thousands of Minsk residents, the houses in Asmolauka were placed under the protection of the Ministry of Culture this year.

Building in Asmolauka, Minsk
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