Travel Advice Belarus | Travel Tips| Pyala-Travel.com

Travel Advice Belarus | Travel Tips Belarus

Time zone: UTC/GMT +3:00
Telephone code: +375
Minsk code: 17
Sockets: 220V, 50Hz (European plugs fit. For British and American plugs you need an adapter)
Tips: 5-10 % at the restaurants/cafes

Money and exchange
The national currency is the Belarusian rouble (BYN). This currency is quite special and rare, so be aware that once you obtain Belarusian roubles they are to be spent in Belarus. This means that you will have to exchange on our territory all the BYN you have left, or take it home with you as a souvenir. €1 is about 2.3 BYN, but you should check it right before your trip. You can easily exchange your money (Euro, US dollars, Ukrainian hryvnia and Russian roubles) at banks or exchange offices in hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls, at the airport, railway, and bus stations. You do not pay any exchange commission and the exchange rate is pretty much the same everywhere. There are ATMs located all over town where you can withdraw BYN, and in some cases Euro and US dollars. It is also possible to pay by card almost everywhere.

Staying in touch
There are quite good Wi-Fi connections in most cafes, shopping malls, and hotels – you just need to ask for the password. In case you want to have mobile internet and do not want pay a lot to your local mobile company (check the tariffs and if they consider mobile phone usage in Belarus as roaming) you will need to buy a simcard in the shop of the three main Mobile and Internet providers: Velcom, MTS, or Life.  A Belarusian sim card will only work on your phone if it is unlocked by your local mobile provider. Don’t forget to bring your passport with you.

To connect to the public Wi-Fi you need to have a Beltelecom card with a username and password (at “Belsayuzdruk”/«???????????» kiosk). Three hours of Internet connection will cost less than €1 (1.65 BYR).

Emergency calls

101 - emergency service
102 - police
103 - ambulance
In case of health emergency you will need to show your passport and insurance certificate.

Public Holidays
National holidays when all offices are closed (exception supermarkets and most of shopping malls):
1 January: New Year
7 January: Orthodox Christmas
8 March: Women’s Day
Catholic Easter Day (Falls on a Sunday)
Orthodox Easter Day (Falls on a Sunday)
Commemoration Day (Radonitsa:
9th day after Orthodox Easter)
1 May: Labour Day
9 May: Victory Day
3 July: Independence Day
7 November: October Revolution Day
25 December: Catholic Christmas