Minsk walking tour & city guide

Independence Avenue

Independence Avenue, one of the longest avenues in Europe, runs across the city from Independence Square, with its red-brick Catholic Church of Saints Simon and Helena, past the KGB headquarters and the Central Department Store to Victory Square, where an obelisk and eternal flame commemorate the war. The ensemble of postwar buildings along it is considered a masterpiece of Socialist Classicism.

The old town and the river

The Trinity Suburb, on the bank of the Svislach River, is a small reconstructed quarter of colorful 19th-century houses with cafés and craft shops. Across the river, the Upper Town has the Holy Spirit Cathedral and the restored town hall. A footbridge leads to the Island of Tears, a moving memorial to Belarusian soldiers who died in Afghanistan.

On the edge of the city, the National Library, shaped like a giant diamond, has an observation deck and is lit up in colors at night.

Visiting tips

The metro is efficient and its stations are decorated in Soviet style. The riverside parks are pleasant for walking in summer. Check entry rules and travel advice before going.