Discovering Belarus Tour

Day 1: Minsk

Arrival in Minsk, transfer to the hotel (optional). Hotel check-in from 12.00, receiving of an information sheet, and map of Minsk.

Free time, a walk around the city. Overnight stay in Minsk.

Day 2: Excursion to Ancient towns Mir and Nesvizh (UNESCO World Heritage List).

The Mir Castle Complex was built at the beginning of the 16th century. The successful blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture makes Mir Castle one of Europe’s most impressive castles. During the tour, you will be enabled to breathe the atmosphere of castle life passing through its basements and the Ballroom decorated in the luxury of Rococo style.

Alongside the castle, there is the flamboyant chapel of the Svyatopolk-Mirsky family. The historic part of the town of MIR shows the spirit of a small old town inhabited for many years by Belarusians, Poles, Jews, Gipsies, and Tartars. The ensemble of the marketplace is formed by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, synagogues, Yeshiva, and the houses of craftsmen and merchants.

Lunch at the restaurant.

Moving to Nesvizh- the former capital of the Radziwill's Ordination. For centuries the Nesvizh Palace used to be the residence of the Radziwills, one of the richest dynasties in Europe. You will walk in the picturesque town and see the Town Hall, shopping arcades, artisan houses, and the Slutsk Gate (XVII cent.) located nearby.

We will take a view of the Park and Palace Complex of the XVI-XVIII centuries designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Maria Bernardoni by order of Nickolay Christoph Radziwill "Sirotka". The magnificent castle surrounded by high earthworks and wide ponds represents the system of buildings forming the tasteful court of honor. The foundation stone of Nesvizh Palace was laid in 1584.

It was rebuilt many times and as a consequence has features of various architectural styles: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Neo-gothic, and Modernism. In the Palace Museum, you will see the impressive expositions composed of a vast number of relics, the great halls of the palace, living and housekeeping areas, and picturesque parks adjacent to the palace.

You will see the Farny Church of the XVI century, which is the first Baroque building in Eastern Europe. This church is one of the most valuable churches in Belarus due to its gorgeous fresco painting and the undercroft. You will be told the history of the most powerful family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - the Radziwill Family.

Return to Minsk. Overnight stay in Minsk.

Day 3: Friday

Minsk general sightseeing walking tour (3.5 hours). During the exclusive walking tour, you will learn the history and see the main symbols of Minsk – its numerous squares Svobody (Liberty), Nezavisimosti (Independence), Oktyabrskaya (October), the magnificent Nezavisimosti Avenue - one of the most striking examples of Stalinist Empire style where every building is a kind of a chapter of post-war Minsk history.

Visiting the Central Post Office you will have an opportunity to send a postcard from Minsk to your friends or family.

The Upper Town, preserving the memory of five centuries of Minsk history, is the place where the architectural monuments of the 17th and 19th centuries stood the test of time. We will get a closer look at its central point - Svobody Square – with Minsk City Hall, a shopping arcade, and several buildings of former monastic complexes (Bernardine, Basilian, Jesuit). Proving that Minsk is a multiconfessional European city.

Then you will see one of the most well-known landmarks of Minsk Victory Square - the place in Minsk where people come to honor the memory of millions of people who perished during the Second World War. There is an obelisk of 38 meters high in the center of the square... It is faced with grey granite and it is crowned by the image of the Order of Victory. The four faces of the pedestal of the obelisk are decorated with bronze reliefs. On both sides of the ceremonial site, there are twelve bollards filled with the soil from hero cities.

You can find out more about the history of Minsk Victory Square and its role in Belarusian history in the museum under the square. Around the square, you can see beautiful examples of 1950s architecture. The main entrance to the famous Gorky Park is on Victory Square and the house-museum of The 1st Congress of the RSDLP (Russian Social Democratic Labour Party).

Not far from the square, you will see a balcony opening the secret what does Minsk have to do with John Kennedy? You will discover the main milestones of the history of Minsk: its destruction and rebirth, its development, and its turning into a mighty industrial city. You will visit popular

Oktyabrskaya Street area where industrial buildings of Minsk are turning into lofts and art spaces. At the end of the tour, we will enjoy Belarusian cuisine at one of the local restaurants remembering the interesting discovery of the past and present of the beautiful city.

Free time. Overnight stay in Minsk.

Day 4: Free Time

Free time. Lots of museums, art galleries, parks, café, restaurants, shopping malls, and souvenir shops are at your disposal.

Overnight stay in Minsk.

Day 5: Departure

Hotel check-out. Transfer to the airport (optional).