Belarus

Real soviet city. When you are there seems you traveled back time with time machine. For Westerners - smth exotic :)

If you want to go to Minsk go with a friend you have always fun with!;) the people there are really nice, but it's a bit difficult to have a really good conversation with them.. i think nightlife in Minsk doesn't exist really!;) when i was there we were in some bars or restaurants or went to see a ballet or a circus.. if you love this Minsk is definitely a good place for it, because it's also very cheap!;) but if you want to party it could be difficult.. there are some discos but i don't think it's the same like by us.. i heard that nightlife is over there at eleven o'clock..!;) if you want to drink there alcohol you have to be twenty or you must have a good friend!;) in my case it was a good friend who brought me my drink!;) if you are there for more than three days you must see the places around Minsk where they commemorate the victims of the 2nd world war, it's very impressive, i won't forget it! have fun there!;)

wouldn't go there again...go figure

Unless you really like COLD winters, go to Minsk in the Springtime or summer. Faboules people, really tried to help me with fiding the streets and sights (explaining in Russian, later with arms and legs and finally, just took my hand to take me to the spot I looked for). Must see is: Victory Square, Botanical Garden, KGB building, Lenin Square and Belarusian Opera. The last was fantastic. It is very sheap to eat and drink there and I suggest to go to a very lokal place with the local music/band playing in the back.

Don't miss the tractor factory ;)

Beautiful areas in summer especially, go also to the neighbouring cities, worth visiting.

The town hasnt changed much, have a look before its most likekly gonna change in the next 10 years.

If you're going to ride the bus or metro when it's crowded always start making your way towards the door before it's your stop or you'll never get out.

Sans doute l'une des villes les plus dangeureuse que je connaisse!

When you come there, watch the monument of Lenin in the city centre - it's huge!!! :D the river is also nice - take the trip on the boat and you will not regret :)

Minsk has got to be the city with the cleanest streets I have ever seen ... whole armies of orange-dressed cleaners begin early in the morning and carry on ... till you can literally eat off the streets ... of course, this has a bit to do with the dictatorial effect found in many ex-communist cities in the region ... relatedly, Minsk also has a somewhat secretive feel to it, the feeling that you are being watched, certainly if you are near the dictator's quarters or the KGB building (beware of taking photos)... otherwise too, the city has several communist identities to it ... huge square blocks for buildings, Russian style hotels with prostitutes, dingy private apartments, impressive parks, very few tourists, and suspicious border guards, especially if you (like me) cross over into Belarus by land and are not from one of the neighbouring countries like Poland, Ukraine or Russia... they will pore over your passport for hours ... especially if you don't know the language ...

Pretend to be local when paying the entry fee, ..... foreigners get charged much than locals

Kaloza Church:Visit the 'Boris and Gleb' Church or simply Kaloza Church which was built on top of the 12th century`s church in the 15th century. Hope that does not sound confusing. ;) This one of seven Belarussian wonders is sitting on top of Zamkovaya mountain.The side you see on the pic basically is what`s left of the original church cause in 1853 its south and west sides collapsed into Neman river as a result of a landslip. The story of the church is such:Long time ago two noble men Boris and Gleb took in captivity citizens of Russian town Kaloza. The prisoners were brought to Hrodna where they were allowed to build a church for themselves. The church was named after Boris and Gleb of course, but people just called her Kaloza, after the name of their long lost home.

Minsk KGB Building:Built soon after the Great War (1941-1945) between 1945-47, at first this building looked really weird among the ruins of the city.If you look at the 2nd KGB picture you`ll see a small tower on its right corner. It was not supposed to be there but a top KGB guy (Zsanava) gave an order to build it, on a whim I guess. He said to an architect (whose surname was 'King' by the way): ''You may be a king in the architecture business but I`m a king of Minsk, so make sure the tower looks nice when you finish.' Back then being the head of KGB meant absolute power. And so it stands untill today - the Zsanava Tower.Address: Avenue Nezavisimosti, 17.

Well, was not impressed by this city, have to say. Not that it is not beautiful, all the facades are done nicely, it is very clean, a lot of green, but, o brother, it is stuck in the communist era. Globalization did not lay its paws on this city, oh no. Mostly local brands, they rarely import anything. Locals do not like foreigners, do not speak anything but Russian Prepare to wait for your meal, even at high ranking national restaurants for more than hour and a half, and do not trust the prices written on the menues. They increase the price when you pay, saying it is the taxes.

Cozy, quiet city in the centre of Europe. Pretty much expensive though. As for the nightllife - not as crazy in comparison to other European cities, but thats a plus in some way.