Belarus

Travel tips for Belarus: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Carry some cash. Foreign cards work 80-90% of the time, but are declined if a merchant uses a sanctioned Belarusian bank's terminal. Because this is unpredictable, carrying a backup reserve of cash is essential even in major cities.

Try the food

  • Draniki (Драники): Crispy, shallow-fried grated potato pancakes typically served hot with a generous dollop of sour cream.
  • Machanka (Мачанка): A rich, hearty pork and sausage stew with a thick gravy, traditionally used as a dip for crepes or pancakes.
  • Kolduny (Колдуны): Tender potato dumplings stuffed with seasoned minced meat and either boiled or fried until golden.

Say it in Russian

  • Hello: Здравствуйте (Zdravstvuyte)
  • Thank you: Спасибо (Spasibo)
  • Please: Пожалуйста (Pozhaluysta)
  • Excuse me: Извините (Izvinite)
  • How much is this?: Сколько это стоит? (Skol'ko eto stoit?)
  • The bill please: Счет, пожалуйста (Schet, pozhaluysta)
  • Yes / No: Да / Нет (Da / Net)
  • Goodbye: До свидания (Do svidaniya)

Essentials

Plugs
Type C / Type F
Voltage
230V, 50Hz
Driving
Right side
Tap water
Avoid — buy bottled
Emergency
112 (general), 101 (fire), 102 (police), 103 (ambulance)
SIM tip
Purchase a prepaid SIM card from A1, MTS, or life:) at the airport or official stores in the city, keeping in mind you will need your passport for registration.

Etiquette

Tipping around 10 percent is customary in restaurants and cafes if a service charge has not already been added to the bill.

Airports in Belarus