Belarusian National Arts Museum

Welcome to the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, the country's largest art museum, located in the capital city of Minsk. Formerly known as the State Art Gallery, this cultural treasure house holds more than thirty thousand works of art divided into twenty distinct collections. When you visit, you will explore two main grand divisions: one dedicated entirely to national Belarusian art, and another showcasing art monuments from various countries around the world.

As you walk its halls, you are experiencing a resilient institution that survived devastating losses. By early 1941, the gallery held thousands of artworks, but virtually the entire collection disappeared during the Great Patriotic War. Thankfully, post-war efforts allowed the museum to rebuild its holdings.

Art lovers will be thrilled to see historic masterworks, including canvases by famous artists such as Boris Kustodiev, Vasily Polenov, Karl Briullov, and Isaak Levitan, acquired in August 1945. You can also trace the museum's fascinating lineage back to early Soviet precursors like the vibrant Vitebsk Museum of Modern Art—an influential scene once tied to Malevich, Chagall, and Lissitzky. It is an unmissable stop for an enriching deep dive into Belarusian history and global art heritage.

What to see at Belarusian National Arts Museum

• Discover over 30,000 works of art spanning twenty diverse collections
• Explore major divisions dedicated to both national art and international monuments
• View historic canvases by acclaimed artists including Briullov, Kustodiev, Levitan, and Polenov
• Learn about the museum's recovery after losing virtually its entire collection in WWII

Visiting tips

Be sure to allocate time to explore both major divisions, focusing on the unique local Belarusian art alongside the international collection.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Belarusian National Arts Museum is easy to reach on Minsk’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Church of Saints Simon and Helena. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Minsk travel guide.