Belarus: main airports
Belarus has three airports currently operating commercial flights: the main one is Minsk National Airport, followed by the small regional airports of Gomel and Mogilev. A fourth airport, Minsk-1, closer to the city centre, was permanently closed to civil traffic in December 2015.
Belarus: recommended activities
Belarus: visa and entry requirements
The visa situation is complex and changes often: a visa-free entry regime for up to 30 days (declared valid until 31 December 2026, maximum 90 days per year) exists for some nationalities only when transiting through designated airports, but since 2021 Belarus has suspended visa-free entry for European Union citizens, who must apply for a full visa at a Belarusian embassy, often in a third country, with long waiting times. Given the volatility of the situation, always check the up-to-date status with the relevant embassy before organising any trip, regardless of what generic sources indicate.
Belarus: safety
Most Western governments (including the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland) advise against any travel to Belarus, classified as Level 4 ('do not travel'), due to the country's role in Russia's war in Ukraine, the presence of Russian troops on its territory, and the concrete risk of arbitrary detention even for foreign citizens, with very limited consular support in case of problems. European Union airspace is closed to Belarusian carriers (including Belavia) and vice versa, which means direct air connections with Western Europe are effectively absent. This is not a tourist page in the usual sense: those who transit through these airports almost always do so for family, diplomatic or professional reasons, and should refer directly to their own embassy and their country's official security channels, not to generic tourist information.
Belarus: health situation
No specific vaccination is required for entry into the country. Minsk's health facilities are adequate by regional standards; given the country's overall situation, anyone who needs to travel there for professional reasons should nonetheless arrange an assistance plan in advance with their own organisation.
Belarus: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Belarusian ruble (BYN). International financial sanctions mean that international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) generally do not work in Belarus: cash, obtained before arrival or through specific channels, is essential. Travel should be organised through trusted contacts rather than relying on generic public transport.
