Vilnius Travel Forum

Thinking of a visit to Vilnius next month, and the possibility of a day trip to Minsk - if that's possible!

Has anyone done that?

Do you waste a lot of times at border crossings?

Do you get a visa on entry, or does it have to be in advance?

Does anyone in Vilnius offer organised transport there/back (presumably easier than taking a rented car in/out)?

It might seem an odd request, but I've been to Vilnius countless times and although Minsk is just along the road, I've never been! Just curious.

Been to Minsk because of job matters. Doable. Visa only in advance, doable within 1 day, but will cost. Best option - „Kelvita“ agency at the Vilnius train station (ticket offices 29, 30), www.kelvita.lt
, there is EN version but not sure if it works (it's a recent improvement), they do communicate english. Read www.inyourpocket.com about Minsk, booklet has a good map in latin (if you don't know kirilitsa). All tips in the „Minsk-in-your-pocket“ (as for the sights, „musts“, etc) should be taken into account. I used the public transport, but the car would be much better choice: streets are wide, straight, city is wastly spread, comfortable, clean and safe. Apart the political regime it's quite good city in very beautiful country (at lithuanian viewpoint, as it's quite similar to LT, but more spacious).
Border crossing was smooth, except on the way back I've been checked by customs with metal detector because i had too much currency (because of job matters), so I had to turn back to Minsk, leave the money so far, and then everything turned OK. I.e., I was allowed to enter my homeland, hehe ;).
I took a regular bus early in the morning. There is a schedule in Vilnius bus station hall – on right side if you face the ticket office. There are trains too, www.litrail.lt
All writings in Belarus are in Belarussian, though people in Minsk mostly communicate in russian even among each other.

thanks!

i speak a bit of russian so the language bit will be OK...

A day trip to Minsk is really not very practical. There are frequent trains from Vilnius to Minsk. It does not cost much, 22 Ltas (about $10) each way. But the trip takes about 4 hours. So you will spend 8 hours just going back and forth. A Visa is a must, depending on your citizenship they can be expensive and a bit of a drudge to get.

Also, Minsk is a very big city, so you really will not see much in just a day. But Minks is a very nice city, particularly in Summer. So it is worth the trip.

To see more about traveling to Minsk, check out this site:
http://www.travelswise.com/belarus.htm

For more discussions about Lithuania, try this Lithuanian discussion forum:
http://www.lithuania-forum.com/