Where to shop

The Belarusian currency is called "rubel" though Russian variant of the name - "ruble" - can be (and is) sometimes used with relation to Belarusian money.

Currently there are notes ranging from 10 to 100,000 rubles. No coins are used in Belarus for circulation. Only a small amount of commemorative coins is produced.

For the use in metro there are special plastic cards and tokens. Smart cards (plastic cards with microchips) are used for public payphones.

There are not many vending machines in Belarus and if there is one – it would accept paper notes (as do coffee machines at many commercial centers) or tokens will be sold somewhere at a nearby newspaper stand or other small retailer.

There are numerous currency exchange offices in Belarusian cities to change foreign currency to Belarusian rubles and back. Normally there should be no problems with exchanging US dollars, euros and Russian rubles.

Plastic cards Credit and debit cards were not used in Belarus before the last decade of the previous century. And even today the use of plastic cards is rather limited.

Nevertheless, major hotels, restaurants, stores and service outlets accept credit/debit cards issued by Visa and MasterCard. Some other brands can also be accepted but not everywhere.

Travellers' Cheques

Travellers' Cheques of American Express and Thomas Cook are accepted by most exchange bureaus and banks, but not by retailers.

Shopping

There are many types of shopping available in   Belarus . There are department stores, antique stores, indoor markets, and special outdoor markets. If you like to barter and to argue more than you like to buy, you would love those markets. Wooden caskets, trinket boxes, straw items, decorative plates and other handicraft items are good buys. Scarina Avenue is the main street with antique shops and two department stores. Only Belarusian Roubles are accepted. However, nearly every shop has a currency exchange counter. Some shops are closed on Sunday, but tourist shops are usually open every day. Antiquities, valuables, works of art and manuscripts other than those offered for sale in souvenir shops require an export license.

Shopping hours

Mon-Sat 0900-2000. In big cities shops are open till 2100. Big shops might be open on Sundays as well but only till 1800. Only very few shops operate 24 hours a day.