Whether it’s  ballet or museums that interest you, Minsk is the place to begin your sightseeing journey in Belarus. Little of the old city survives with the exception of a few 17th century buildings. The cathedrals in the city are excellent examples of baroque architecture with their classical columns, pillars and cornices - the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (1642), the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul (1613) and the restored Maryinsky Cathedral are awesome.  

There are plenty of museums for you to browse through and some of them are really worth the visit, such as the National Museum of Belarusian History & Culture, the National Arts Museum, the Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War and the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture. There are other museums that are dedicated to the life and works of great littérateurs of the country, Kolas, Kupala, Brovka and Bogdanovich. Museum timings are 10am to 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday. If you want a feel of Minsk as it used to be, visit the suburbs of ‘Troitskoye Predmestye’ with its 19th century houses that still have their colourful facades.

The rest of Belarus is also dotted with historical museums and cathedrals. The ethnological museum at Rabuichi (22km from Minsk), the scenic Minsk Lake (32 km from Minsk), Museum of Folk Architecture in Ozerto (15km from Minsk) and a private Museum of Material Culture featuring traditional crafts and culture of the country (40km away from Minsk). Worth seeing are the Russian orthodox churches with their onion shaped domes, especially in Logoysk (40km from Minsk), Molodechno (80km from Minsk) and Krasnoe (60 km from Minsk).

 Zhirovitsa, a small village 190km away from Minsk, derives fame from its beautiful 16th century Monastery of Assumption. The small town of Mir has a renowned Jewish Cemetery and the Mir Castle built in the 15th century. Another small town dotted with historical  remains is Nesvich.Vitebsk is the birthplace of Marc Chagall, the painter, and his home has been turned into a museum of his works and memories.

Brest has a World War II fortress turned into a museum and Grodno has a castle and a church built in the 11th century. Braslav Lake District has 30 lakes in a sylvan ambience and is a great getaway for water sports. Stay in the small `dachas' along the lakeshores for the real experience. Tour the Nature Reserve of Berezinsky and see the rich flora and fauna.