Independent travel to Belarus route without a car. Train trip from Russia to Belarus. What you need to know before traveling to Belarus by car

This article will be useful for those who are planning to visit the Republic of Belarus with their own vehicles. I will share my experience of traveling to this wonderful country to save you from unpleasant surprises that may take you by surprise.

First, I’ll tell you a little about Belarus. Having arrived here, it seems that this fraternal republic has retained all the best that was in the USSR. When you find yourself here for the first time, you get the feeling that you are watching some good Soviet film. Everywhere is clean and orderly, there is no corruption, all the fields along the roads are used for agriculture, there are good-natured people on the streets and everyone is doing something useful, etc. and so on. Many Belarusians may disagree with this, but I repeat, these are the feelings of a tourist.

Belarus is also famous for its lakes and historical monuments, and tourists will have something to see here, but more on that another time...

What you need to know before traveling to Belarus by car

You need to have a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a driver's license and Green Card insurance with you. You can apply for it in Moscow, or just before the border. There will be many tents along the road where you can buy it. As of spring 2015, its cost cost us 750 rubles. No more documents are needed. There is virtually no border, as if you are driving from one area to another.

Exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian rubles in advance. Since it will be very problematic to change money at a gas station or from people, everyone is afraid. This is strict in Belarus! Previously, it was possible to refuel for rubles, but from March 1, 2015, this opportunity was canceled.

Which road is better to go to Belarus?

You can get from Moscow to Belarus along the Kyiv or Minsk highway. It is definitely better to drive along the M1 Belarus highway (Minskoe highway). Unlike Kievka, the road surface on the M1 is in good condition + at least two lanes in each direction.

There are many rest and catering points along the route. Be careful when driving through the Smolensk region, the route passes through populated areas and the speed is limited to 60 km/h. There are many cameras and valiant traffic police officers everywhere.

Gasoline in Belarus is much more expensive than in Russia, so I advise you to fill up a full tank before the border.

The distance from Moscow to the border is about 450 kilometers, and to Minsk about 700.

Passing the border

Since 2011, in connection with the creation of the Customs Union, crossing the border by passenger transport has become a formality. There are no customs or border guards at the border. Only the Russian transport inspectorate functions, controlling heavy vehicles. Therefore, most likely, no one will stop you.

The closest junction of East and West to us attracts with amazing contrasts. The country to this day remains a kind of preserve of socialism with a coat of arms and flag that has changed little since Soviet times, monuments to Lenin in almost every city, street names unchanged since Soviet times and even... collective farms. At the same time, in Belarus there is very decent and inexpensive service, unusual cleanliness on the streets and even in courtyards, unpolluted nature, good roads in Western European style and polite drivers. And Belarus is a country of museums, with a variety of - sometimes unexpected for the uninitiated - directions and eras.

How to go and where to live

Russians don’t even need a foreign passport to travel to Belarus. The only thing you should add is car insurance - a green card, which you can buy just before the border. By the way, there is no border as such between Russia and Belarus. True, for some time now, when entering Russia, all cars are stopped to check the presence of Russian passports. Belarus has opened its borders to many countries. However, such control takes a minimum of time and nerves. You don't even need to get out of the car.

From Moscow to Minsk and Brest we go straight along the M-1 highway. We cross the border and feel a certain breath of Europe. On large sections of the highway on the territory of Belarus, unlike Russia, there is a wide dividing strip. The permissible speed for a passenger car is 120 km/h. You shouldn’t exceed it too much, and you need to keep a close eye on the signs, especially in populated areas. There are plenty of cameras photographing the tail of the car, and even after a few days of traveling around the republic, you can be stopped, presented with a photo as proof of the violation and politely asked to pay a fine. But they won’t stop you without a reason. And Belarusian law enforcement officers do not take bribes. The roads - even local, narrow, provincial ones - are always in surprisingly good condition.

Finding a hotel in any city is not a problem. Often hotels have a certain touch of “Sovietness”, but everything is clean and not shabby. For some, there is a kind of thrill in such a return to the past.

A double room in a three-star hotel in large cities costs approximately 4,500 rubles per day, in four-star hotels - 5,500–6,000 rubles. There are paid parking lots near some hotels, but the prices are such that they won’t ruin anyone.

The food in Belarus is cheap, filling and tasty. A quite decent dinner in a quite decent restaurant will cost 700 rubles per person. By the way, local products are not only tasty, but also surprisingly cheap. I know an amateur who regularly travels around Belarus and invariably brings back dairy products and stewed meat, which costs half as much as in Moscow.

What to watch?

Belarus famous

Of course, even those who have never been to Belarus know: the country suffered enormously during the war and remembers it well. Therefore, historical monuments related to the Great Patriotic War are especially numerous and revered here.

The most famous, of course, are the Brest Fortress, a memorial complex in the village of Khatyn that was burned during the Great Patriotic War, and Buynicheskoye Field on the outskirts of Mogilev, where the city’s defenders held back German tanks for more than three weeks in the summer of 1941. By the way, this is also a literary and cinematic place. It was these battles that were described in “The Living and the Dead” by Konstantin Simonov, and then reproduced in the film of the same name by Alexander Stolper.

Less known, oddly enough, is the wonderful, very interesting Minsk Museum of the Second World War. By the way, there is also a special, unusual exhibit. When you go up to the second floor and see it, at first you are surprised: how did they drag it in? And not everyone, and certainly not immediately, realizes that the tank is a beautifully made copy of... foam plastic.

Among the museums in Minsk, there is a very good one, by the way, and an artistic one with an interesting collection of Russian and Western paintings.

To the delight of technology lovers from 5 to 60 years of age, there is an extensive collection of Soviet aircraft near Minsk. By the way, those who wish will also be able to ride a sports Yak-52 here. True, only in good weather.

The well-known symbol of Belarus is Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Many people have heard about it, but not everyone has been there. This is the largest and one of the most ancient forests in modern Europe. In addition to the main “heroes” of the Pushcha, and also the symbols of the country - bison, there are many other interesting animals here. By the way, another “relic” lives near Belovezhskaya Pushcha - the Belarusian Grandfather Frost.

Belarus unknown

Belarus and war monuments - understandable. But not everyone associates the republic with palaces and castles. But on the territory of modern Belarus, five centuries ago, Lithuanian and Polish nobles, and then industrialists, built luxurious palaces and estates, surrounded them with regular parks in the Western European style, usually in the “Aglitz” style. Today, most castles, of course, have been turned into museums and centers of historical and cultural complexes. Here are just a few of the most interesting ones.

In the Grodno region, 100 km from Minsk in the village of Mir, there is a castle complex, the origins of which go back to the 1520s. They built it as a fortress to protect themselves from raids by the Tatars (and they even ran here!) and unfriendly neighbors. In addition, to receive the title of count of the Holy Roman Empire, one had to own a stone castle.

Nesvizh Palace and Park were created over two centuries, starting from the 16th century. Therefore, different architectural styles are intricately combined here. All this wealth belonged not to just anyone, but to the famous Polish family of the Radziwills. Now here, 112 km from Minsk towards Brest, there is a national historical and cultural reserve with a museum, hotel and other tourist delights.

The huge Ruzhany Castle, which once belonged to the family of the Lithuanian Chancellor Lev Sapieha, is still mostly in ruins. The restoration, in fact, has just begun. The first fire happened during the First World War, when there was already a weaving factory here, and the Second World War destroyed the once luxurious palace. But such ruins in themselves are worth a look. Yes, and there is a museum here.

To get from Moscow to Belarus, you need to board a plane and spend a little less than an hour and a half of your time. Many people prefer to travel by car - you will have to travel longer, but you will see a lot of interesting things along the way. This article is intended for all categories of tourists.

Belarus is a country of lakes, dense forests and beautiful medieval castles. Most of the attractions are located outside of Minsk - these places will be discussed. We will compile a list of the most popular corners of “Blue-eyed Belarus”, visit its natural and cultural monuments, and drive around this country by car in autumn and winter.

Where to go and what to see in Belarus

Belarus is a compact country, so you won’t spend a lot of time exploring interesting places. In a situation of time pressure, you can limit yourself to the Minsk region. Go to Logoisk, ride on the slopes there. Visit ancient estates near Minsk. Go to Dudutki - there are a lot of interesting things there.

Here is the situation in other regions of the country:

• Vitebsk region. The Lake District, where you can have a good rest by renting a campsite or staying in a sanatorium. The region is dotted with small towns and has a very favorable environment.
• Brest region. There, two obligatory points of the cultural program await you - the Brest Fortress and Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
• Gomel region. The most interesting places are concentrated in Gomel and Mozyr. It also doesn’t hurt to visit Vetka – the original local history museum is located there.
• The Grodno region. This is the western region of Belarus, and therefore the most significant historical monuments are concentrated here - churches, medieval castles, ancient estates and pre-revolutionary houses. Be sure to visit Lida during the knightly tournament.
• Mogilev region. There's practically nothing to see here. Mogilev has several ancient buildings, temples and monasteries. Be sure to visit Bobruisk - the legendary city of “padonkaff”, to which all individuals who did not speak the “Albanian language” were “exiled”.

In a situation of time pressure, limit yourself to the Minsk region.

Top 5 most interesting places in Belarus

From a superficial overview of the areas, let's move on to specific examples. We went through the most popular Belarusian attractions, removed some of the “mainstream” and left corners that are truly worthy of your attention. Don’t be surprised if little-known sights of Belarus appear here:

To Belarus by car – where to go

If you are going to Belarus in the summer, you can easily drive your own car. The roads in Belarus are good, and there are no problems with roadside hotels.

Nothing prevents you from visiting Belarusian lakes and relaxing at a campsite, and then going to the legendary Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

Three-day trip to Belarus – minimum program

If you are inspired by the idea of ​​summer travel, but do not have extra time, it is worth planning an express trip to key places in the country. A detailed acquaintance with the sights of the Republic of Belarus will force you to limit yourself to the Minsk and Vitebsk regions. However, you can accomplish a lot in three days. So, what to see in Belarus in three days or a weekend by car in the summer:

From Grodno, go to Lida (the brewery and Lida Castle are worth checking out), then to Smorgon and, finally, to Polotsk. You probably won’t have time to see anything else, since it’s better to set aside a whole day for Polotsk.

The arrival of cold weather and Belarusian attractions

With the onset of autumn, a lot changes. Lakes, biosphere reserves and ethnocultural villages are excluded from the list. In autumn in Belarus you can see this:

• Chagall House Museum. To see this memorable place, you need to go to Vitebsk, to Pokrovskaya Street, 11. It was here that the famous artist lived, of whom all Belarusians are proud. By visiting the art center, you can admire the graphic works of the master. The ticket price ranges from 20-90 thousand “squirrels”.
• Borisov stone. This unique artifact is located in Polotsk. In autumn, the stone looks especially harsh, reminding tourists of the frailty of existence. A mysterious text and an image of a cross are carved on the boulder. You can find this “Belarusian Stonehenge” on Zamkovaya Street, building 1.
• Golshansky Castle. The majestic ruins of the castle are located in the Grodno region (not far from the town of Golshany). After leaving this settlement, move in the direction of Yuratik. To the right of the road you will see ruins.

It’s better to set aside a whole day for Polotsk.

On the eve of the New Year holidays, it is worth thinking about visiting some specific corners of Belarus. For the New Year, we recommend watching this:

Belarus or the Republic of Belarus is a state in Eastern Europe. It borders on Russia in the east, Ukraine in the south, Poland in the west, and Lithuania and Latvia in the northwest.

The tourism infrastructure of Belarus is under development. However, it is no secret that it attracts more and more guests every year. In this regard, Belarus has a number of advantages compared to other countries. An important resource for infrastructure development is proximity to Western Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Poland and Russia. Ancient history and unique cultural heritage (15 thousand architectural monuments), preserved natural geopotential (huge forests, unique biological diversity, many water areas) and a lot of health centers make this country an attractive place for tourists to visit.

Russian travelers are drawn there by the closeness of mentality with the local residents, as well as the close location of Belarus to our country.

It is very convenient to travel around the country in your own car, which is what Russians usually do. If you also dream of a motor rally to Belarus, then we advise you to definitely do it. But first, check out the basic information that will help you along the way.

Route from Moscow to Minsk

So, if you are planning to explore as many different sights of this wonderful state as possible, then the most practical, budget-friendly and exciting way would be to travel by car.

Before you go on an independent trip to Belarus, collect the necessary package of documents. Take with you:

• Passport;
• Driver license;
• Green card. It must be purchased in advance or when crossing the border, since Russian OSAGO policies are not valid in Belarus. A green card costs about 550 rubles;
• Vehicle registration certificate.

The Moscow-Minsk highway is straight as a stick, you should always drive straight along it. The distance between the cities is about 700 km and it will take you approximately 7 - 8 hours to overcome it. The route runs through the following settlements: Moscow – Odintsovo – Smolensk – Orsha – Borisov – Minsk.

There are two ways to leave Moscow. Directly along Kutuzovsky Prospekt, which smoothly turns into the M1 highway, or along the bypass road, going around Odintsovo. The M1 highway is considered the best on the territory of the Russian Federation; you can drive along it comfortably, without fear of congestion and strange junctions.

Since the highway is a toll highway, you will be charged 100 rubles for entering it, and 50 for leaving it. Along the highway you encounter a lot of heavy trucks, because M1 - forms part of the transport corridor connecting Europe with Asia. However, they do not create obstacles, since traffic on the highway is multi-lane.

Beware of video recording cameras, which are attached mainly to bridges and are completely invisible in appearance. To avoid fines, you can use a radar detector.

Do not exceed the speed limit in populated areas; traffic police officers are not asleep on this highway. Be especially careful when traveling through the Smolensk region, where police checkpoints are located at every step.

Also, literally a few kilometers before the Russian-Belarusian border, there is often a mobile traffic police patrol - “Gazelle” with radars on the roof. Therefore, observe the speed limit when approaching the border.

We recommend leaving immediately with a full gas tank, because it will take you extra time to find and enter a gas station, and this way you will make your first stop 400 km later just outside Smolensk. After passing the traffic police post, which is located behind the bridge, you will see a Rosneft gas station on the right. On it you can fill an empty fuel tank and buy a “Green Card” there, if you did not purchase it in Moscow.

Crossing the border of Belarus

In connection with the creation of the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, on July 1, 2011, Russian customs left the Russian-Belarusian border (Belarusian customs has not been here since 1995). There are no border guards here either. Only the Russian transport inspectorate operates at the border, which controls heavy trucks. Therefore, if you are traveling to the Republic of Belarus in a passenger car, no one will stop you or ask you anything. Only a modest sign “Republic of Belarus” will announce your entry into the territory of a neighboring state. From the border to Minsk you have to drive 200 km, along an ideal road, with a landscape of plowed fields.

Features of traffic rules in Belarus

When you arrive in Belarus, familiarize yourself with the local traffic rules so as not to get into an unpleasant situation. As in any other country, traffic rules differ from our code of law. Let's consider the main provisions:

• In Belarus, traffic is on the right;
• Speed ​​limit: in populated areas – 60 km/h, outside the city - 90 km/h(some suburban areas have restrictions 60-80 km/h) and several highways – 100-120 km/h;
• The use of radar detectors is prohibited;
• Drunk driving is strictly prohibited;
• Children under 12 years of age must sit in the back seat.

In addition, at night outside populated areas, a car is required to stop only if a traffic police inspector is near a police car with special identification marks. All traffic police officers are wearing reflective vests with the inscription “DPS” on the back.

Be sure to let pedestrians pass at an unregulated zebra crossing.

Be vigilant when turning right at a traffic light, as pedestrians also have a green light at this moment, and you must let them through.

Do not interfere with other road users. A driver who is offended by you may get out of the car at a traffic light and enter into a conflict with you.

In large cities, on the streets and central squares of the capital of Belarus, parking is strictly prohibited. Especially if you left the car under a prohibitory sign overnight, or on weekends and holidays. In these cases, the offender’s car must be towed. The fine for parking in the wrong place is $30, plus the daily parking fee is $8.

It is better not to offer bribes to traffic police officers for their offenses.

In addition, keep in mind that sometimes the police conduct joint raids with other intelligence agencies. In this case, you should always carry the necessary kit with you: a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit with an expiration date, as well as an emergency brake light.

When driving in the evening or at night on the highway in populated areas and, especially, between them, be extremely careful: horse-drawn carts, cyclists and pedestrians without reflective signs can move along the roadway.

Fines in Belarus

Over speed:

• more than 10 km/h costs 0.5 - 1 minimum wage (30 - 60 rubles);
• from 20 to 30 km/h - 2 times more;
• more than 30 - 3 times more.

Large sums of money are charged just for driving while intoxicated. If the driver refuses to “blow into the tube” or has handed over control of the car to a drunk person, then the fine will be 300 - 1500 rubles.

Driving without a driver's license while drunk is punishable by a fine of 2,700 rubles. You also need to know that if a car with a special signal passes by you, then you must turn to the right and stop.

Minor traffic violations are punishable by a fine of 20-120 rubles.

In Minsk, pedestrians are fined for jaywalking, especially in the center of the capital. Here, every 100 meters there are traffic police officers who protect the fraternal republic from the provocative claims of the West and the local opposition.

Basically, this is all the information that will help you get an impression of traveling by car to this wonderful country. To supplement your information, we recommend watching the following video about the roads of Belarus.

Many travelers planning to travel to Belarus for the first time are wondering whether they need a foreign passport to enter. To travel to the Republic of Belarus, citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a foreign passport. You can enter Belarus by presenting a foreign passport, but no marks will be put on it. The Western European architecture of the cities of Belarus will allow even those travelers who do not have a foreign passport to plunge into the atmosphere of old Europe.

Typically, excursions around Belarus begin from the capital of the country, the city of Minsk. A trip to Minsk from Moscow by private car will take approximately 12 hours. It is also possible to get from Moscow by train; the journey will take about 9–10 hours. The fastest way to travel from Moscow to Minsk is by plane. Direct flights are carried out daily by several airlines.
You can exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian rubles at any bank branch or currency exchange office. You will need to present the passport or international passport with which you entered the country. One Russian ruble is equal to approximately 275 Belarusian rubles.

A trip by car to Belarus will be especially interesting. You can rent a car in Minsk. This will give you complete freedom of movement and the opportunity to travel to any part of Belarus. The cost of renting a car at the airport depends on the rental period and starts from 350,000 rubles per day.

Cheap hotels in most cities are located near the train station. You can stay in a budget hotel from 140,000 rubles per bed. Hotels offer private rooms from 350,000 rubles.

The most interesting objects of Minsk are:

• Town Hall.
• Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
• Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, the Virgin Mary, St. Roch.
• Ensemble of former Bernardine and Bernardine monasteries, St. Elizabeth's Monastery.

• Trinity suburb.
• Churches of Peter and Paul, Alexander Nevsky, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist and the chapel of all Belarusian saints.
• Pishchalovsky Castle.
• National Library of Belarus.

Where you should go in Minsk in winter is the skating rink, which is poured in front of the Palace of the Republic, and also visit the Silichi ski resort, 30 km from Minsk. In addition, 50 km north of Minsk there is the Khatyn memorial complex. The cost of visiting is 40,000 rubles for adults, 25,000 for students.

Mir Castle is one of those places where you should definitely go, especially if you are traveling around Belarus by car. It is located 90 km from Minsk. Mir Castle is the easternmost Gothic-style architectural complex in Europe. Since 2000 it has been part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.

To enter Mir Castle you need a ticket, its cost is 200,000 rubles. On the territory of the castle there is a restaurant and a hotel with room rates starting from a million rubles, so those who want to save money should go here for one day, returning to the hotel in Minsk in the evening or continue the journey towards the city of Nesvizh.

The next place you should visit by car is Nesvizh Castle. This castle complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 30 km from Mir Castle, so both castles can be visited in one day. When visiting Nesvizh Castle, you can stay in the city of Nesvizh. A small private hotel will cost from 180,000 rubles for a single room. Nesvizh Castle also has a hotel on its territory.

The castle is open to visitors every day, in summer from 9.30 to 18.30, in winter from 9.00 to 18.00. You will also need a ticket, ticket prices: 50,000 rubles for children, 100,000 for adults. It is possible to visit Nesvizh Castle for free on the last Monday of any month. Nesvizh Castle is also famous for the oldest town hall in Belarus, the entrance to which is paid separately, and the Church of Corpus Christi.

If, while thinking about where to go next, you decide to move west, then you should visit Grodno. It’s quite easy to travel to Grodno by car from anywhere in Belarus; the roads here are good. There will be no problems finding a hotel. At the station there are many offers from private individuals, the prices offered there are very reasonable. A hotel will cost on average 350,000 rubles.

Where to go in Grodno is to the museums. There are seven of them, the average entrance ticket prices for adults are 15,000 - 30,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000 - 20,000. In general, the main attractions of Grodno can be seen in one day. These include:

• The Old Castle is a medieval palace.
• New Castle - located opposite the Old Castle.
• The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier is a Catholic church in the Baroque style.

The historical center of Grodno is a pleasant place for walking. The architectural ensembles of the center of Grodno are intertwined with many different European styles, so a trip to Belarus can provide a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of old Europe, but you won’t even need a passport.

Brest is located on the border with Poland and is one of the five oldest cities in Belarus. If they have a Schengen visa and take their international passport with them, tourists have the opportunity to travel to Poland. Here are the most interesting things to see in Brest:

• Brest Hero Fortress. To view it you need a ticket, entrance ticket prices: 30,000 rubles for adults, 15,000 for students.
• Archaeological Museum "Berestye". Entrance ticket for adults is 20,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000. Every second Wednesday of the month, the museum is open to visitors for free.
• St. Simeon's Cathedral.
• Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Budget hotels in Brest offer beds from 200,000 rubles. You can stay in an inexpensive hotel from 250,000 rubles per room.

Another place worth visiting when visiting Brest is the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are hotels and guest houses on the territory of the reserve. Room prices start from 500,000 rubles on average. In winter, Father Frost's house is open for children.

In the north of Belarus, it is worth visiting the city of Vitebsk - the cultural capital of the country. From what to see in Vitebsk and where to go, it is worth highlighting such objects as:

• City Hall.
• Governor's Palace.
• Art Museum.
• Chagall Museum and Exhibition Complex.
• The building of the regional executive committee, which previously housed the women's diocesan school.
• Victory Square is the largest in Belarus.
• Churches and cathedrals of the 18th – 19th centuries.

It’s quite easy to rent a hotel in the city, but prices in Vitebsk are somewhat overpriced. When choosing a budget hotel, you should expect a bed from 180,000 rubles.

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