Belarus Transport

Getting there & away

Contents

Land

Train

Train is usually a more comfortable way to travel than bus; to Vilnius, the electrichka (electric train) to Vilnius is cheap and quick ($7, four hours).

Border crossings

Long queues at border crossings are not uncommon. The most frequently used bus crossings are those on the quick four-hour trip between Vilnius (Lithuania) and Minsk, and the seven-hour trip between Minsk and Bialystok (Poland). Buses stop at the border for customs and passport controls.

Car & motorcycle

If you’re driving your own vehicle, there are 10 main road routes into Belarus via border stations, through which foreigners can pass. International driving permits are recognised in Belarus. Roads in Belarus are predictably bad, but main highways are decent. On intercity road trips, fill up when existing the city; fuel stations may be scant before you hit the next big town.

Air

There is no departure tax in Belarus. In Eastern Europe, Belarus’ national airline Belavia (code B2; 210 4100; www.belavia.by; vulitsa Njamiha 14).

The following are the main international airlines with offices in Minsk.

Aeroflot (code SU; 017-227 2887; www.aeroflot.com/eng)

Austrian Airlines (code OS; 017-289 1970; www.austrianair.com)

El Al (code LY; 017-279 1939; www.elal.co.il)

LOT Polish Airlines (code LO; 017-226 6628; www.lot.com)

Lufthansa (code LH; 017-284 7129; www.lufthansa.com)