Belarus is a mysterious landlocked country in Eastern Europe, known for its Stalinist architecture, churches and forests.
Not usually on the traditional tourist trail, Belarus will surprise you with its beauty and things to do – the capital city of Minsk is buzzing.
You’ll want some great photographs from your adventure here, so here’s the top 7 places to visit for an iconic Belarus Instagram shot.
1. Braslav Lakes National Park
There are 300 lakes in this vast national park, known as the ‘Blue Necklace’ of Belarus due to the lakes’ azure waters. Rent a vacation home on the banks of one of the lakes or camp in the nearby forest.
The views here are incredible – a top pick for a beautiful Belarus Instagram.
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2. Hrodna
Hrodna, also spelled Grodno, is a hidden treasure in Belarus. It looks different to other Belarusian cities because it wasn’t damaged so much during WWII, so is very pretty.
Eat a traditional meal at the Bolshoi Buffet, which has rooftop views over the city.
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3. Cherdak Bar
Architects made a bar out of the attic of an old house in the capital city of Minsk and it’s very Instagrammable. There’s original brick, low-hanging lights and old chairs that came from a school in Ireland.
Cherdak Bar (which translates as ‘attic’), serves food and drink all night and is fun place to spend time in taking some Belarus Instagram photos.
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4. Central Botanical Gardens
Located in the city’s Chelyuskintsev Park, the Central Botanical Gardens is a relaxing place to spend an afternoon.
Covered in pine forest (ideal for a colourful autumn photograph!), there’s scenic paths and greenhouses to see here.
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5. Mir Castle
The Mir Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus and is one of the most photogenic tourist attractions in the country.
Its mix of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture make it super impressive. Just point your camera and shoot – it will look good from any angle.
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6. Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
A stunning park that covers both Belarus and Poland and is a UNESCO protected site. Once you see this with your own eyes, you’ll understand why.
It’s home to 900 plants and 250 animals and birds, including a huge herd of European bison. The best way to explore the park and see the wild animals is by bike, FYI.
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7. National Library of Belarus
This usually shaped library is in a park on a river bank and has an observation deck looking over Minsk.
Some say it’s the most beautiful building in the city, others say the ugliest. Either way, you’ll have a unique photo op outside here. Tip: it looks even better at night-time when the lights come on.
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Hi, on your advice I recently visited all the places indicated in the article and did not regret it. Everything was just great! Although, it is worth noting that Minsk was not so impressive as Grodno. In the latter, you really feel that it is a very old city with its own history. I also want to advise you to go to Mogilev – also a great city. Of course, the very Stalinist architecture is clearly striking in it, but the central streets look great. I even had an interesting situation. In Mogilev there is an area where a monument to the Astrologer stands. This place was so impressive to me that I decided to perpetuate it in the picture, but I had to hire an artist.
I attached a link to the comment, suddenly someone else goes and decides to do so. Also in Mogilev there was another square located on a high hill above the road, it also has a magnificent statue in the form of a woman with wings. 10-15 meters high! And in the evening, when I was already heading to the hotel, there was a pleasure boat on the Dnieper River, and there the famous song Metallica Nothing Else Matters played