[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$flhy63s0313tt":3,"$f31qa81wtk2d7k":72,"country-posts-BY":91,"$f1cnujlzn80629":92,"mdc--17k6n3-key":96,"mdc-aohg2r-key":114,"mdc-u47076-key":173,"mdc--cxzneu-key":187,"mdc--5cw27b-key":195,"mdc--qk6gsr-key":209,"mdc--z1dd5e-key":223,"mdc--l6tt1p-key":287,"mdc--z5b58z-key":301,"mdc--6ujfip-key":371,"mdc-30iib6-key":379},{"code":4,"slug":5,"name":6,"continent":7,"flagUrl":8,"location":9,"zoom":12,"boundingBox":13,"borders":20,"schengen":26,"flags":27,"quickFacts":28,"sections":34,"resources":68,"counts":69,"legacyKey":6,"migratedAt":71},"BY","belarus","Belarus","Eastern Europe","https:\u002F\u002Ffirebasestorage.googleapis.com\u002Fv0\u002Fb\u002Fcycle-planet-292f5.appspot.com\u002Fo\u002Fflags%2FFlag_of_Belarus.svg.png?alt=media&token=9ac65d96-7c81-4fb2-8dd4-d0e6eb745da3",{"lat":10,"lng":11},53.709807,27.953389,6,[14,17],[15,16],51.3195034857,23.1994938494,[18,19],56.1691299506,32.6936430193,[21,22,23,24,25],"LV","LT","PL","RU","UA",false,{"dangerous":26,"island":26,"openBorders":26,"visaFree":26},{"capital":29,"languages":30,"currency":31,"callingCode":32,"region":33,"subregion":7},"Minsk","Belarusian","New Belarusian ruble (BYN)","+375","Europe",{"visa":35,"sleeping":39,"safety":46,"transport":51,"foodDrink":56,"people":59,"health":62,"other":65},{"body":36,"updatedAt":37,"updatedBy":38},"The visa policy of Belarus differs quite a lot for the different nationalities.\n\nVisa policy of Belarus\n\nBelarus\n\nVisa exemption for entry through all international border crossings\n\nEligible for exemption under regional visa-free provisions\n\nEligible for exemption under regional visa-free provisions with certain restrictions\n\nVisa exemption for invitation letter or a tourist voucher holders\n\nVisa required in advance\n\nSource: [Wikipedia](https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FVisa_policy_of_Belarus).","2021-03-20T12:16:23.000Z","RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33",{"updatedAt":40,"updatedBy":41,"parts":42},"2021-05-15T11:51:00.000Z","01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3",{"couchsurfing":43,"formalCamping":44,"wildCamping":45},"Sleeping in private homes has always been my favorite. This is also possible in Belarus. Reserve in advance.\n\nScattered across the country you have so-called 'agro-ucadbi'; sleep with the farmer. Ask for them because they are not indicated by signs or the like.","Campsites are not really around.","We have not seen any campsites throughout the country. We have always camped wild. That went very well. Finding camping spots was easy and it doesn't occur to people to bother you. It was often possible to camp on the shores of beautiful lakes and rivers.\n\nWild camping is allowed everywhere except in the National Parks. We have never had a problem with it during the month that we cycled around it. Sometimes it is difficult to find a place because of swamp. In case you are looking forward to a shower after a while in the wild, it is important to know that the few hotels in the smaller towns (north-east for example) are often still of the old school and do not have a shower.",{"body":47,"updatedAt":48,"updatedBy":41,"parts":49},"We cycled through Belarus for ten days and never felt unsafe for a moment. We have always camped wild, because there are simply no campsites. Several times we camped on the banks of lakes or rivers where nearby fishermen were busy all night, stealing or bothering you didn't even seem to occur to them. As a precaution, someone always stayed with the bikes when, for example, we went to buy something in a supermarket, but we increasingly got the idea that this was not necessary for anything. In 2008 we cycle through the south of Belarus with 4 people, 1 of which is a guide \u002F translator, from farm to farm. At night we stayed in the bedroom or living room of a Belarusian family. We, too, have never experienced a feeling of insecurity.\n\nThat is the advantage of a dictatorship! Safety.","2021-05-15T11:47:51.000Z",{"traffic":50},"Density of the road network\n\nThere are many roads in the country, there is also an alternative for every route you want to cycle.\n\nTraffic danger\n\nYou often cycle on roads where cars rush past you at high speeds. However, motorists pull aside well and often honk as a sign that they are driving behind you.\n\nEspecially the roads in central belarus were sometimes very quiet with about 1 car per half hour.\n\nPresence of (detached) cycling paths\n\nIn cities we sometimes encountered something that could be a cycle path, but usually it was at least used as a footpath. You can actually cycle anywhere, from the sidewalk to the highway.\n\nWe once encountered a cycle path outside the built-up area, but that was overgrown :-)\n\nRoad signs\n\nThe villages and towns are always indicated in cyrillic, so it's important to learn this!\n\nThe signage was good, we never got lost on the regular main roads. Small villages off the main roads are only signposted at the exit.\n\nIt often happens that cities and villages have a ring road. If you are not aware of that, you sometimes unintentionally drive around a city or dopr, when you actually wanted to go through it.",{"updatedAt":52,"updatedBy":53,"parts":54},"2021-05-15T11:41:34.000Z","ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2",{"train":55},"With the elektrietska (slow train) the bicycle is always allowed, just put it in the hallway between two doors. With the express trains, this is only allowed if you can pack the bike. If you are unable to do so, you must have the bicycle sent to its destination via the baggage department, the bicycle will then be transported by a freight train and you can pick it up at the destination at the baggage department.\n\nHans Metz (2017): the express trains are indeed always a bit difficult to board. I keep looking friendly, supposedly don't understand anything, turn my handlebars a quarter turn and take the pedals off. Then I already throw in a bag. Always succeeded. In the back of each wagon is an informal smoking area, great place for the bicycle. (This also applies to Ukraine and Russia).",{"body":57,"updatedAt":58,"updatedBy":41},"**Cooking fuel**\n\nWe had to feel our stock of petrol once. The first best fuel station was willing to fill our 0.6 liter fuel bottle for free.\n\n**Markets**\n\nThere is a larger market in every city, where a wide variety of items are for sale. The market is often a walled site, sometimes also covered. It is easy to find different types of fruit and vegetables on these markets, but that is often difficult outside of markets.\n\n**Supermarkets**\n\nYou will find a supermarket in every small village. Macaroni and spaghetti are always available there as well as accompanying sauce. Bread and (fruit) yogurt. For the rest, the supermarkets often have more alcoholic drinks than food. You should not be in these small supermarkets for vegetables and, for example, western toppings. Vegetables can be found on the market and western spreads such as pasta in better supermarkets in the larger cities.\n\n**Street markers**\n\nYou don't see many stalls on the street. Sometimes mushrooms and some fruit are sold along the busier roads. There are many kiosks (not in small villages) where you can buy marches, snickers, twix, etc., this concentrate is usually lacking in the supermarkets.\n\n**Drinkable water**\n\nWe always got our water from wells or pumps and this was always very drinkable, we never had an upset stomach after drinking this water. Sometimes there is no bucket in the wells, if that is the case, one has one in the nearest house.","2021-05-15T11:52:01.000Z",{"body":60,"updatedAt":61,"updatedBy":41},"The people are very nice, although they will not come to you any time soon. However, talking to them is a problem as there are hardly any people who speak English. A few speak some German. Indeed it is important to know some Russian, many white Russians immediately start a chat with you when they see you with your bike. That makes it fun again and you get to know the country and the people a little better.\n\nBelarusians are hospitable and friendly, it is just not that they come to you and invite you, as happens a lot in a country like Turkey. However, if you go to them and ask for water, for example, many will go to great lengths to help you. With the help of a translator \u002F guide it is better to enjoy the hospitality. Intentions are better communicated by the translator and you learn a lot more about the country. People are also very interested in life in Western Europe, or the Netherlands. We have been invited several times, so it does happen now and then. It was noticeable that the Belarusians really want to know how we think about their country.","2021-05-15T11:19:35.000Z",{"body":63,"updatedAt":64,"updatedBy":41},"Wilbert (2010): When we cycled into Belarus from Lithuania it was mandatory to take out medical insurance with Belgosstrach, an insurance company of the government. It only costs a few euros. When registering our visas in Minsk we had to show the insurance papers, and it turned out that we had only received medical insurance for five days at the border, after which we had to take out new medical insurance to be insured for our entire stay. So check carefully whether the compulsory medical insurance applies at the border for the entire duration of your stay: this makes the registration of the visa easier.","2021-05-15T11:38:51.000Z",{"body":66,"updatedAt":67,"updatedBy":53},"**Best period**\n\nWe cycled almost continuously across the countryside, through agricultural areas. In the 11 days that we were in belarus, we have not seen anything that really resembled tourism. When we arrived at the belarusian - polish border, we saw a dutch car with a caravan. The only people who are sure were tourists. During the rest of our stay, we saw maybe 10 cars that had license plates from an eu country.\n\n**Spare parts**\n\nAlmost every village or city has a large market where there is often a stall with some bicycle parts, but don't expect too much! In Kobryn I was able to buy a mountain bike tire 26 inch for 3 euros. Quality even very reasonable. Can find other parts very sporadically. Quality moderate to poor. Therefore, take spare bicycle parts with you when in doubt about a part on your bicycle.\n\n**Tips**\n\nThere is still a considerable bureaucracy in Belarus. You are expected to report to the 'foreign police', a result of the former KGB. You must report within 48 hours of crossing the border. The process can take quite a few hours, especially if you try to complete this process independently without knowledge of the Russian language. All in all, I think Belarus is a country that you only get to know, by using a guide \u002F translator. Only go out with knowledge of the Russian language, otherwise in a group. (These rules were relaxed in 2010: reporting to the 'aliens police' must be done within five days of entering the country)\n\nHans Metz: I cycled around Belarus for a month in 2009 and 2014, did not register anywhere and had no problems. I also regularly ran into someone who spoke English!","2021-05-15T11:53:31.000Z",[],{"pois":70,"users":70,"hosts":70},1,"2026-11-06T11:25:25.554Z",[73,82],{"id":74,"type":75,"title":76,"countryCode":23,"location":77,"likes":80,"toCountryCode":4,"excerpt":81},"bb424e1a-c90a-4610-a0da-40b3821071ab","border-crossing","Bialowieza (Poland) – Pierarova (Belarus)",{"lat":78,"lng":79},52.66849153440241,23.858485221862797,2,"Border crossing for cyclists: hardly anyone knows this, but the only place to get from Poland to Belarus by bicycle is in Belavezskaja Pusca near…",{"id":83,"type":84,"title":85,"countryCode":4,"location":86,"likes":89,"excerpt":90},"89577228-c437-40a0-ab11-57271ae3f1f3","wild-camping","Wild camping",{"lat":87,"lng":88},53.92761409516633,27.725385725498203,0,"Amazing place, with view on the calm train station, at night only a few trains , my house in one kilometer. (Could help as I can).This place has special charm…",[],{"RYFRjpH3DfdWPpRfG9MIFBSPzH33":93,"01dRgHcnFiTSprDGCEB4Jxq7iDH3":94,"ieMGYdJeX6ZyKgKeeGhMXPFZkax2":95},"Cycle Planet","Wereldfietser.nl \u002F Vakantiefietser.be","Bas Idsinga",{"data":97,"body":98},{},{"type":99,"children":100},"root",[101,109],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":104,"children":105},"element","p",{},[106],{"type":107,"value":108},"text","The people are very nice, although they will not come to you any time soon. However, talking to them is a problem as there are hardly any people who speak English. A few speak some German. Indeed it is important to know some Russian, many white Russians immediately start a chat with you when they see you with your bike. That makes it fun again and you get to know the country and the people a little better.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":110,"children":111},{},[112],{"type":107,"value":113},"Belarusians are hospitable and friendly, it is just not that they come to you and invite you, as happens a lot in a country like Turkey. However, if you go to them and ask for water, for example, many will go to great lengths to help you. With the help of a translator \u002F guide it is better to enjoy the hospitality. Intentions are better communicated by the translator and you learn a lot more about the country. People are also very interested in life in Western Europe, or the Netherlands. We have been invited several times, so it does happen now and then. It was noticeable that the Belarusians really want to know how we think about their country.",{"data":115,"body":116},{},{"type":99,"children":117},[118,123,128,132,137,142,147,152,157],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":119,"children":120},{},[121],{"type":107,"value":122},"The visa policy of Belarus differs quite a lot for the different nationalities.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":124,"children":125},{},[126],{"type":107,"value":127},"Visa policy of Belarus",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":129,"children":130},{},[131],{"type":107,"value":6},{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":133,"children":134},{},[135],{"type":107,"value":136},"Visa exemption for entry through all international border crossings",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":138,"children":139},{},[140],{"type":107,"value":141},"Eligible for exemption under regional visa-free provisions",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":143,"children":144},{},[145],{"type":107,"value":146},"Eligible for exemption under regional visa-free provisions with certain restrictions",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":148,"children":149},{},[150],{"type":107,"value":151},"Visa exemption for invitation letter or a tourist voucher holders",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":153,"children":154},{},[155],{"type":107,"value":156},"Visa required in advance",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":158,"children":159},{},[160,162,171],{"type":107,"value":161},"Source: ",{"type":102,"tag":163,"props":164,"children":168},"a",{"href":165,"rel":166},"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FVisa_policy_of_Belarus",[167],"nofollow",[169],{"type":107,"value":170},"Wikipedia",{"type":107,"value":172},".",{"data":174,"body":175},{},{"type":99,"children":176},[177,182],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":178,"children":179},{},[180],{"type":107,"value":181},"Sleeping in private homes has always been my favorite. This is also possible in Belarus. Reserve in advance.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":183,"children":184},{},[185],{"type":107,"value":186},"Scattered across the country you have so-called 'agro-ucadbi'; sleep with the farmer. Ask for them because they are not indicated by signs or the like.",{"data":188,"body":189},{},{"type":99,"children":190},[191],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":192,"children":193},{},[194],{"type":107,"value":44},{"data":196,"body":197},{},{"type":99,"children":198},[199,204],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":200,"children":201},{},[202],{"type":107,"value":203},"We have not seen any campsites throughout the country. We have always camped wild. That went very well. Finding camping spots was easy and it doesn't occur to people to bother you. It was often possible to camp on the shores of beautiful lakes and rivers.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":205,"children":206},{},[207],{"type":107,"value":208},"Wild camping is allowed everywhere except in the National Parks. We have never had a problem with it during the month that we cycled around it. Sometimes it is difficult to find a place because of swamp. In case you are looking forward to a shower after a while in the wild, it is important to know that the few hotels in the smaller towns (north-east for example) are often still of the old school and do not have a shower.",{"data":210,"body":211},{},{"type":99,"children":212},[213,218],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":214,"children":215},{},[216],{"type":107,"value":217},"We cycled through Belarus for ten days and never felt unsafe for a moment. We have always camped wild, because there are simply no campsites. Several times we camped on the banks of lakes or rivers where nearby fishermen were busy all night, stealing or bothering you didn't even seem to occur to them. As a precaution, someone always stayed with the bikes when, for example, we went to buy something in a supermarket, but we increasingly got the idea that this was not necessary for anything. In 2008 we cycle through the south of Belarus with 4 people, 1 of which is a guide \u002F translator, from farm to farm. At night we stayed in the bedroom or living room of a Belarusian family. We, too, have never experienced a feeling of insecurity.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":219,"children":220},{},[221],{"type":107,"value":222},"That is the advantage of a dictatorship! Safety.",{"data":224,"body":225},{},{"type":99,"children":226},[227,232,237,242,247,252,257,262,267,272,277,282],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":228,"children":229},{},[230],{"type":107,"value":231},"Density of the road network",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":233,"children":234},{},[235],{"type":107,"value":236},"There are many roads in the country, there is also an alternative for every route you want to cycle.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":238,"children":239},{},[240],{"type":107,"value":241},"Traffic danger",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":243,"children":244},{},[245],{"type":107,"value":246},"You often cycle on roads where cars rush past you at high speeds. However, motorists pull aside well and often honk as a sign that they are driving behind you.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":248,"children":249},{},[250],{"type":107,"value":251},"Especially the roads in central belarus were sometimes very quiet with about 1 car per half hour.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":253,"children":254},{},[255],{"type":107,"value":256},"Presence of (detached) cycling paths",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":258,"children":259},{},[260],{"type":107,"value":261},"In cities we sometimes encountered something that could be a cycle path, but usually it was at least used as a footpath. You can actually cycle anywhere, from the sidewalk to the highway.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":263,"children":264},{},[265],{"type":107,"value":266},"We once encountered a cycle path outside the built-up area, but that was overgrown :-)",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":268,"children":269},{},[270],{"type":107,"value":271},"Road signs",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":273,"children":274},{},[275],{"type":107,"value":276},"The villages and towns are always indicated in cyrillic, so it's important to learn this!",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":278,"children":279},{},[280],{"type":107,"value":281},"The signage was good, we never got lost on the regular main roads. Small villages off the main roads are only signposted at the exit.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":283,"children":284},{},[285],{"type":107,"value":286},"It often happens that cities and villages have a ring road. If you are not aware of that, you sometimes unintentionally drive around a city or dopr, when you actually wanted to go through it.",{"data":288,"body":289},{},{"type":99,"children":290},[291,296],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":292,"children":293},{},[294],{"type":107,"value":295},"With the elektrietska (slow train) the bicycle is always allowed, just put it in the hallway between two doors. With the express trains, this is only allowed if you can pack the bike. If you are unable to do so, you must have the bicycle sent to its destination via the baggage department, the bicycle will then be transported by a freight train and you can pick it up at the destination at the baggage department.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":297,"children":298},{},[299],{"type":107,"value":300},"Hans Metz (2017): the express trains are indeed always a bit difficult to board. I keep looking friendly, supposedly don't understand anything, turn my handlebars a quarter turn and take the pedals off. Then I already throw in a bag. Always succeeded. In the back of each wagon is an informal smoking area, great place for the bicycle. (This also applies to Ukraine and Russia).",{"data":302,"body":303},{},{"type":99,"children":304},[305,314,319,327,332,340,345,353,358,366],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":306,"children":307},{},[308],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":310,"children":311},"strong",{},[312],{"type":107,"value":313},"Cooking fuel",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":315,"children":316},{},[317],{"type":107,"value":318},"We had to feel our stock of petrol once. The first best fuel station was willing to fill our 0.6 liter fuel bottle for free.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":320,"children":321},{},[322],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":323,"children":324},{},[325],{"type":107,"value":326},"Markets",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":328,"children":329},{},[330],{"type":107,"value":331},"There is a larger market in every city, where a wide variety of items are for sale. The market is often a walled site, sometimes also covered. It is easy to find different types of fruit and vegetables on these markets, but that is often difficult outside of markets.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":333,"children":334},{},[335],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":336,"children":337},{},[338],{"type":107,"value":339},"Supermarkets",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":341,"children":342},{},[343],{"type":107,"value":344},"You will find a supermarket in every small village. Macaroni and spaghetti are always available there as well as accompanying sauce. Bread and (fruit) yogurt. For the rest, the supermarkets often have more alcoholic drinks than food. You should not be in these small supermarkets for vegetables and, for example, western toppings. Vegetables can be found on the market and western spreads such as pasta in better supermarkets in the larger cities.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":346,"children":347},{},[348],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":349,"children":350},{},[351],{"type":107,"value":352},"Street markers",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":354,"children":355},{},[356],{"type":107,"value":357},"You don't see many stalls on the street. Sometimes mushrooms and some fruit are sold along the busier roads. There are many kiosks (not in small villages) where you can buy marches, snickers, twix, etc., this concentrate is usually lacking in the supermarkets.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":359,"children":360},{},[361],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":362,"children":363},{},[364],{"type":107,"value":365},"Drinkable water",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":367,"children":368},{},[369],{"type":107,"value":370},"We always got our water from wells or pumps and this was always very drinkable, we never had an upset stomach after drinking this water. Sometimes there is no bucket in the wells, if that is the case, one has one in the nearest house.",{"data":372,"body":373},{},{"type":99,"children":374},[375],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":376,"children":377},{},[378],{"type":107,"value":63},{"data":380,"body":381},{},{"type":99,"children":382},[383,391,396,404,409,417,422],{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":384,"children":385},{},[386],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":387,"children":388},{},[389],{"type":107,"value":390},"Best period",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":392,"children":393},{},[394],{"type":107,"value":395},"We cycled almost continuously across the countryside, through agricultural areas. In the 11 days that we were in belarus, we have not seen anything that really resembled tourism. When we arrived at the belarusian - polish border, we saw a dutch car with a caravan. The only people who are sure were tourists. During the rest of our stay, we saw maybe 10 cars that had license plates from an eu country.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":397,"children":398},{},[399],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":400,"children":401},{},[402],{"type":107,"value":403},"Spare parts",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":405,"children":406},{},[407],{"type":107,"value":408},"Almost every village or city has a large market where there is often a stall with some bicycle parts, but don't expect too much! In Kobryn I was able to buy a mountain bike tire 26 inch for 3 euros. Quality even very reasonable. Can find other parts very sporadically. Quality moderate to poor. Therefore, take spare bicycle parts with you when in doubt about a part on your bicycle.",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":410,"children":411},{},[412],{"type":102,"tag":309,"props":413,"children":414},{},[415],{"type":107,"value":416},"Tips",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":418,"children":419},{},[420],{"type":107,"value":421},"There is still a considerable bureaucracy in Belarus. You are expected to report to the 'foreign police', a result of the former KGB. You must report within 48 hours of crossing the border. The process can take quite a few hours, especially if you try to complete this process independently without knowledge of the Russian language. All in all, I think Belarus is a country that you only get to know, by using a guide \u002F translator. Only go out with knowledge of the Russian language, otherwise in a group. (These rules were relaxed in 2010: reporting to the 'aliens police' must be done within five days of entering the country)",{"type":102,"tag":103,"props":423,"children":424},{},[425],{"type":107,"value":426},"Hans Metz: I cycled around Belarus for a month in 2009 and 2014, did not register anywhere and had no problems. I also regularly ran into someone who spoke English!"]