Have a car and want to travel Belarus? One of the best options is to take a road trip from Minsk to Brest or from Brest to Minsk. The straight distance between the two cities is about 350 kilometres but because of the many sightseeing places on the way, most likely you will need at least two days to visit all the sights. So let’s begin our trip from Minsk in the direction of Brest. Check the links provided for more information about the sights on this route.
Day 1
Minsk to Mir Castle
Distance: 100 kilometres. Time: about 1, 5 hours.
Mir is a beautiful castle and different from anything else I have seen. The Mir Castle is truly the pearl of Belarusian architecture, included into UNESCO world heritage list. In its 500 years of history, the castle has experienced many moments of decline and revival and is today a national monument and the Art Museum of Belarus. You will need at least 1,5 hours to explore it. 
If you want to have your lunch in Mir, there is a restaurant in the castle or Cafe Mirum nearby, then just add at least half an hour to your schedule.
Mir to Nesvizh
Distance: 35 kilometres. Time: about 0, 5 hours.
Nesvizh Castle is one of the most beautiful sights of Belarus. It served as the residence of the richest family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – the Radziwills. The magnificent palace with a large landscape park is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Do not forget to visit 16th century baroque Corpus Christi Catholic Church where many members of the Radziwil family found their final resting place. You will need about 3 hours for a visit. 
Then continue your way to your Gostiny Dvor Nekhachevo Hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Distance: 140 kilometres. Time: 1 hour 40 minutes.
Gostiny Dvor Nekhachevo Hotel is located in a 19th century building, and you will find a garden, barbecue facilities and a terrace there.
Day 2
Gostiny Dvor Nekhachevo Hotel to Kossovo palace
Distance: 20 kilometres. Time: 20 minutes.
On your way, stop at the church where Polish national hero Tadeusz Kosciuszko was christened. Then continue your way to Kossovo palace of the Puslovskys family. It is still under reconstruction but open to visitors. Next to the palace, there is the home of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, so take the time to see them both. You will need about 2 hours for your visit. 
Kossovo palace to Ruzhani palace
Distance: 25 kilometres. Time: 25 minutes.
Ruzhani palace was built by Lev Sapieha, the famous tycoon and politician, in the early 17th century. Some parts of the palace are renovated, some are still in ruins but the site is very impressive anyway. You will need about 1 hour for your visit. 
Ruzhani palace to Pruzhani manor house
Distance: 50 kilometres. Time: 40 minutes.
This Italian style countryside villa in Pruzhani was designed by Polish architect F. Lanci for nobleman Valenty Shvykovsky in the middle of the 19th century. You will need about 1 hour for your visit. 
Pruzhani manor house to Kamenets
Distance: 55 kilometres. Time: 40 minutes.
Visit Kamenets Tower, one of the most famous attractions of Belarus. It is a fortified 30 meter high tower, built in the late 13th century on the northern border of Volhynia. This defensive tower is one of the oldest surviving stone structures on the territory of Belarus, and the only of this kind. You will need about 1 hour for your visit. 
Kamenets to Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park
Distance: 25 kilometres. Time: 20 minutes.
If you are fond of nature and want to see Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, then it’s worth staying overnight there. For a brief visit, 2 hours would be enough.
If you decide to go to Brest for your overnight stay, just go ahead.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park to Brest
Distance: 60 kilometres. Time: 50 minutes.
If you are lucky timewise, you might see the lamp lighting on Sovetskaja street in Brest at sunset.
Day 3
Explore Brest and visit the nearby Skoki manor house of the Nemtsevich family built in the late 18th century. Skokovsky manor and park ensemble is an example of the architecture of transition from baroque to classicism.
Here our trip ends. Where to go next? You can go to Poland or back to Minsk or take a 3,5 hours drive to Grodno to explore more of Belarus and return to Minsk from there if needed.
Practical information
To enter Belarus driving your own car with a foreign license plate, you will need a visa, green card insurance for the car (the printed original on green paper), health insurance valid in Belarus and a device to pay for the toll roads, which are quite many in Belarus. If you want to make it easy for you then start and finish your trip flying to and from Minsk airport and rent a car. It will have Belarus number plates then. So you will be eligible for visa-free travel 30 days and will not need to pay tolls on tolls roads because this is an obligation for foreign cars only.
The fines for not paying are high, so ask for the closest place after crossing the border to buy it. Happy travels!
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What did you think? Have you been to Belarus? Or perhaps you’re thinking of visiting there in the near future? Either way, I’d love to hear from you so please add your comments below.
Author: Anita Sane
About the author
Anita is a part-time traveller, passionate photographer and a retired career woman from Latvia, travelling mostly solo for more than 15 years. She is a skilled travel planner who plans and executes her travels by herself. Anita wants to show you how to travel the world and open your mind to new experiences. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Bloglovin.
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