Discover Minsk: city history, museums and nature

Historic streets, museums, the zoo and riverside areas reveal different sides of Minsk. When planning your stay, you can decide whether you are especially interested in the city’s history, collections, wildlife or parkland.

A walk with historic stops

A walk of about 500 metres connects Zybickaya Street and Herzen Street and takes around an hour. It begins near Nemiga metro station and leads to the end of Zybickaya Street. From there, continue along Herzen Street on the way back, then head towards Freedom Square. Sights along the route include a 17th-century monastery wall, shopping arcades and merchants’ houses.

The Carriage Museum is also on this route: it is located in a wing of the 17th-century Bernardine monastery. Another stop is a wing of the Bernardine Convent, dating from the 1730s. The route brings together streets, buildings and historic landmarks on a manageable walk. The distance and duration refer to this route; you can extend the walk towards Freedom Square.

Trinity Suburb and the cityscape

Trinity Suburb is a picturesque old neighbourhood on the banks of the Svislach in central Minsk. Its cosy streets and houses with tiled roofs in delicate shades have become something of a symbol of the city. The neighbourhood offers a different picture of Minsk from the collections in its museums: here, streets and house façades shape the impression.

Museums and history

The Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War preserves, studies and presents documentary and material evidence of the heroism and sacrifices of the Belarusian people during the war. Its mission combines preserving this evidence with researching and presenting it.

The National Historical Museum of the Republic of Belarus is the country’s largest repository of material and spiritual cultural heritage, with more than 400,000 exhibits. Its collections range from archaeological finds and ancient documents to weapons, Slutsk belts and treasures. Visitors interested in different kinds of historical evidence will find a variety of collection themes here.

Minsk City Hall

Minsk City Hall was restored between 2002 and 2004 on its original site and in the form remembered by the city from the mid-19th century. The building has been open to the public since 2012, while continuing to serve administrative functions. Its reconstructed appearance and continuing administrative role are both relevant to the city’s history.

Minsk City Hall hosts two long-running exhibition projects: “Minsk in the historical space. Cartographic cabinet” and “Minsk among friends. Twin cities of the capital of Belarus”. The titles point to different themes: the city’s historic maps and its twin cities. Exhibition programmes and access arrangements may change, so check the latest information before your visit.

Zoo: wildlife and varied exhibits

The Minsk Zoo’s collection includes exotic animals and rare representatives of Belarusian wildlife. In total, it has more than 2,000 animals from around 400 species. The zoo also features the exhibitions “The Wonderful world of the terrarium” and “Aquarium”. Alongside its wildlife collection, it therefore offers two clearly named exhibition themes.

In a petting area, visitors can pet domestic goats, sheep and pigs. Dinopark is an outdoor themed play area with 35 life-size dinosaur figures, most of which are animated. Exhibitions and visitor activities may change, so check what displays and activities are currently available before your visit.

Victory Park on the Svislach

Victory Park is on the banks of the Svislach and has well-maintained beaches. Its riverside location and beaches offer a different focus from Minsk’s historic buildings and museum collections. Beach conditions can change seasonally, so check them before your visit if they are important to your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Belarus.