- Date: 21-30 June 2019
- Venue: 12 sporting venues in Minsk In addition to the following information, please check out our travel advice for Belarus.
Passports and Visas
- From 10 June 2019 until 10 July 2019, provided you have a ticket for at least one European Games sporting event or an Opening/Closing ceremony, all British national passport holders can enter Belarus through any border checkpoint of Belarus. In addition to the ticket, medical insurance and funds equivalent to 25 euros per day are required, as per usual entry requirements.
- Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 3 months from the date of entry into Belarus.
- Please remember that if you visit Belarus from 10 June 2019 until 10 July 2019 for any other purpose than the European Games, usual entry requirements apply. To know more about these regimes please check out our travel advice for Belarus.
- Anyone staying for more than 5 days in Belarus must register online (www.portal.gov.by) or with the local police office (OVIR) in the district in which they are staying. Registration will normally be arranged by your hotel. If you're not staying in a hotel registration must be organised by your host. There are fines for not registering in time.
Getting to/from the airport
Minsk airport is located 40 km from Minsk.
- It takes 35 to 40 minutes to get from the airport to Minsk city centre by taxi; taxis are the most convenient way to get to central Minsk; for a journey to Minsk city centre expect to pay between 30 to 40 BYN (Belarusian roubles). 1 GBP ~ 2.80 BYN.
REMEMBER ALWAYS TO ASK ABOUT PRICE BEFORE YOU START YOUR JOURNEY.
- Buses run a 24/7 (every 20 to 30 minutes during the day) service from the airport to the central bus/railway station. The price is 5 BYN. Details on departure times and route can be found on the Minsk International Airport website.
Sport events
To check the schedule of sport events, sights where these events will take place as well updates and all necessary information related to the Games, please visit the official European Games webpage.
Local information
Climate and Time
The average temperature in June is around 16ºC. You can find information at http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/625144 Minsk is plus 2 hours BST
Language
The main languages are Belarusian and Russian.
Crime
- crime levels in Minsk are generally low, but muggings do occur from time to time
- take sensible precautions: be vigilant, avoid carrying large sums of money and try to avoid walking alone at night
Personal Security
- look after your personal belongings, in particular your passport and your money
- carry a photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport and keep it in a safe place separate from your passport
Disabled Travellers
- the Belarusian authorities have advised that there will be a designated area at the stadium (fan sector) for supporters with disabilities
- generally, while things are steadily improving, Minsk has limited facilities for the disabled traveller - the pavements, even on the main roads can be difficult to negotiate for those with disabilities
Road Safety
- pedestrians should be vigilant at all times when crossing roads; red traffic lights and zebra crossings don't necessarily mean a car will stop; use the underpasses where available
- when using a taxi make sure it has working seatbelts; some cars are poorly maintained
- accidents happen, mainly due to poor or reckless driving and inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules
- do not 'jay walk' - cross the road only when the green man alights. You're liable to be fined if you do jay walk.
Religion
- most of the population of Belarus is Christian (mostly Orthodox); Belarus is a largely secular society and religion is usually considered a private matter
- respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure they don't offend other cultures or religious beliefs
Telephones
- the international dialling code for Belarus in +375; before travelling check with your mobile phone provider that it will work in Minsk
- local sim cards are available with Velcom, MTS and Life being the leading mobile operators; you can buy local sim cards only in the mobile operator's shops showing your passport
Currency
- all goods and services are paid in local currency (Belarusian Rouble - BYN); sterling, US dollars and Euros are easily exchanged; major hotels and international supermarkets and restaurants accept credit and debit cards
- ATMs in Minsk will almost always accept UK credit and debit cards; before leaving the UK, let your bank know you're travelling to Belarus
Consular Assistance
If there's a genuine emergency during your visit to Minsk (e.g. one involving accident, injury or loss/theft of your passport) call +375 17 2298200 and follow the instructions to be put through to a consular officer.
Lost or stolen passports
If your passport is lost or stolen report the loss to the local police as soon as possible and get a copy of the police report. You can't travel back to the UK without a valid travel document. You'll need to apply to the Consular Section of the British Embassy Minsk for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). Please see our ETD web page for more information.
Lost or stolen credit/debit cards
If you lose your wallet or purse try to cancel your credit/debit cards as soon as possible. British consular officials can't give you money to help you return home. You can transfer money from the UK using many of the commercial money transfer agencies in Minsk, including Western Union. You can also use most major credit and debit cards to obtain money from ATMs. For more information visit the [British Embassy, Minsk web page] (https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-minsk).
