Minsk is absolutely stunning in May. The city finally shakes off the winter gloom, chestnut trees bloom along the avenues, cozy coffee shop terraces open their doors, and hundreds of people stroll along the Svislach River. This year, we’re looking at two long holiday weekends: May 1–3 and May 9–11.
Naturally, thousands of tourists are planning to spend these days in the Belarusian capital. And while most people book their flights or train tickets well in advance, many leave their accommodations until the very last minute. Experience shows that during the May holidays, this tactic usually results in paying premium prices and starting your trip completely stressed out.
Let’s break down what to expect during these dates, why you need to book your apartment early, and how to make sure your spring getaway goes off without a hitch.
Two Holiday Weekends: Two Totally Different Vibes
Each of the May holiday blocks has its own unique atmosphere, and you need to keep this in mind when choosing where to stay.
- May 1–3 (Spring Festival): Time to unwind. The city takes on a completely laid-back vibe during these days. Visitors stroll through the Botanical Garden, rent bikes in Victory Park, and kick off patio season with evening drinks on Zybitskaya Street. Your best bet here is an apartment near a park or tucked away in the quiet historic center, where you can wake up to the sound of birds singing.
- May 9–11 (Victory Day): The center of the action. This is when the massive celebrations kick off. Downtown streets are blocked off to traffic for parades and live concerts, and spectacular fireworks light up the night sky. During these dates, your number one priority when picking an apartment is walking distance to the metro. Buses and trams will be running on spotty schedules, and getting an Uber or taxi downtown will take forever. An apartment near any subway station will literally save your feet and your schedule.
The “I’ll Book When I Get There” Trap: Three Major Red Flags
A lot of people think: “There are plenty of apartments in Minsk. I’ll just hop on a booking app when I arrive and find something.” On a regular weekend? Maybe. But during the May holidays, it’s a completely different story:
- Saved the best for last? Think again. By mid-April, every rental with a good price-to-quality ratio and decent location is already gone. If you’re looking for a place just a few days before your trip, you’ll be forced to choose between ridiculously overpriced luxury spots or places way out in the suburbs, where commuting downtown takes nearly an hour.
- Getting scammed. Sky-high demand brings out the scammers on classified sites. The classic setup: someone offers you a gorgeous, dirt-cheap apartment right downtown and asks for a deposit via wire transfer or a cash app. But when you arrive, their phone goes straight to voicemail.
- Stress instead of rest. Showing up at the Minsk train station with your luggage and frantically calling rental listings from the platform is a terrible way to kick off your vacation. It’s so much easier to step off the train, walk 5–10 minutes, and immediately drop your bags in a cozy entryway. If you value that kind of convenience, we highly recommend checking out our curated list of short-term rentals near the train station in advance. You’ll be right in the historic center next to the iconic “Gates of Minsk” with perfect transit access for the holiday weekend.
Why an Apartment Beats a Hotel for the May Holidays
Short-term rentals really shine during the holiday weekends:
- Perfect for groups. People usually travel for the May holidays with family or groups of 4 to 6 friends. Renting a spacious apartment with a shared living room and kitchen is way more budget-friendly—and a lot more fun—than splitting up into separate hotel rooms.
- Total flexibility. After a late night out on May 9th or a long, lingering dinner, you’re going to want to sleep in. Apartments don’t have strict breakfast cut-off times—you get to decide exactly when your morning starts.
Expert Advice from BelaTravel
“Every year in late April, we get dozens of frantic calls: ‘Find us anything for the holidays, we’re already on the road!’ Unfortunately, during peak season, we often have to turn people away because our properties are at 100% capacity.
At BelaTravel, we value our guests’ trust, which is why we have ironclad rules for holiday dates. First, we never practice overbooking (canceling your reservation just to squeeze in a higher-paying client)—your booking is strictly guaranteed. Second, we lock in transparent pricing for early bookings, with zero hidden fees. Plus, our managers can always tell you exactly which apartments offer the best views of the holiday fireworks, and which ones are perfectly suited for quiet family evenings.”
The May holidays are when Minsk truly shows off. To make sure your trip is nothing short of perfect, lock down your accommodations right now. The earlier you book your apartment, the better your location options will be—and the more money you’ll save.
Got your dates set and tickets booked? Head over to the BelaTravel catalog, select your dates between May 1 and May 11, and secure the ultimate apartment for your spring trip!
