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Victory Square, Minsk

Granite Victory obelisk with the Order of Victory on Victory Square, Minsk, curved Stalinist buildings behind in winter
Photo: User:Redline, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Opening hours
24 hours, daily
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Hall of Memory (underpass)
Free; no published opening hours
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Independence Avenue (praspiekt Niezalezhnasci), between Zakharava and Kisialiova streets, Minsk
Coordinates
53.90853, 27.57478YesGo MapGoogleApple
Metro
Ploshcha Peramohi, line 1 (Maskouskaya line) — exits right on the square
Buses
18, 26 and 39 — unofficial
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
20–30 minutes; about an hour with Gorky Park
Paying
Foreign Visa and Mastercard usually work; carry some BYN cash — unofficial
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

38 mheight of the granite obelisk; some guides round it up to about 40 m
2 sourcesMinsk official tourism websiteEnglish Wikipedia
1954the monument was unveiled for the 10th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus
2 sourcesMinsk official tourism websiteIn Your Pocket
3 July 1961the Eternal Flame was lit at the foot of the obelisk, on the anniversary of the liberation of Minsk
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaIn Your Pocket
566Heroes of the Soviet Union who fought to free Belarus are named on the wall of the underground hall
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaIn Your Pocket
8 May 1985the Hall of Memory opened in the underpass, for the 40th anniversary of Victory
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaIn Your Pocket
3 mheight of the Order of Victory on top of the column
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaSputnik8
48 mthe column in the first design — it was built 10 metres lower, in granite instead of white marble
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaIn Your Pocket
4 wreathsbronze wreaths around the obelisk stand for the four Soviet fronts that freed Belarus
2 sourcesMinsk official tourism websiteIn Your Pocket
1958until then the square was called Round Square
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaIn Your Pocket
1984the square was reshaped from round to oval for the metro exits, and capsules of soil from the hero cities were set in granite
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia

Is Victory Square in Minsk worth visiting?

Yes, as a short stop: it is free, open around the clock and right on the metro, and twenty minutes here explains a lot about how Belarus remembers the war. It is not a full attraction with exhibits, so do not cross the city just for it — combine it with a walk along Independence Avenue and Gorky Park.

The square is at its best in two moods. In daylight you see the scale of the 1950s ensemble — the obelisk framed by two curved Stalinist blocks. After dark the column is floodlit and the square is quiet, which suits a memorial far better than the midday traffic roaring round it.

What to see at Victory Square

  • The Victory Monument — a 38-metre column faced with grey granite, topped by a 3-metre Order of Victory, with a bronze sword wrapped in a laurel branch below.
  • Four bronze high reliefs on the pedestal: 9 May 1945, the Soviet Army in the war, the Belarusian partisans and Glory to the Fallen Heroes.
  • Four bronze wreaths around the base, one for each front that liberated Belarus.
  • The Eternal Flame, burning at the foot of the obelisk since 3 July 1961.
  • Soil capsules from the Soviet hero cities, set into granite blocks in 1984–1985.
  • The Hall of Memory under the square — bronze plaques with 566 names and a glass wreath lit from within.
  • The curved buildings on either side, whose red rooftop letters spell “Подвиг народа бессмертен” — “The heroic deed of the people is immortal”.

The Eternal Flame and the Hall of Memory

The Eternal Flame was lit on 3 July 1961, the anniversary of the day Minsk was liberated in 1944. It burns at the foot of the obelisk, and people bring flowers to it on memorial days.

Below ground, the pedestrian underpass circles the obelisk and leads into the Hall of Memory, opened on 8 May 1985. Its walls carry the names of 566 soldiers made Heroes of the Soviet Union for freeing Belarus; in the middle hangs a glass laurel wreath by the artist V. Pozhyak. There is no ticket. We could not find official opening hours for the hall, so treat it as a bonus rather than the whole reason to come.

A short history of the square

Building started in the late 1930s under the city’s master plan, with the two curved apartment blocks that still frame the square. Minsk was almost destroyed in the war, and when it was rebuilt the round space on the main avenue became its memorial: the obelisk went up in 1954. The original design called for 48 metres of white marble; the column was built ten metres lower, in granite.

Until 1958 this was simply Round Square. In 1984 the architects reshaped it into an oval to fit the exits of the new metro station and set capsules of soil from the hero cities around the monument.

How to get to Victory Square

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On foot

More tips

  1. From the Town Hall and the Upper Town, walk down to Nyamiha metro station — 5–7 minutes.
  2. Ride one stop to Kupalauskaya and follow the signs through the passage to Kastrychnitskaya (line 1, Maskouskaya line).
  3. Ride one stop to Ploshcha Peramohi and take any exit towards the obelisk — it stands right above the station.
  4. On foot from Kastrychnitskaya (October Square), walk 10–15 minutes north-east along Independence Avenue; the obelisk is visible from far away.
  5. Walking the whole way from the Upper Town takes about 25 minutes; a taxi takes a few minutes.

Before you go: checklist

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Victory Square vs Independence Square vs Island of Tears

Victory Squareyou are hereObelisk, Eternal Flame and Heroes’ hallFree24 hours20–30 minPloshcha Peramohi
Independence SquareMain square with Government House and the Red ChurchFree24 hours30–40 minPloshcha Lenina
Island of TearsAfghan war memorial on the SvislachFree24 hours≈ 30 minNyamiha

All three fit into one walk through the centre. If war history is your focus, follow Victory Square with the Great Patriotic War Museum and a half-day trip out of town to Khatyn.

Historic sights in Minsk compared

Every historic sight in Minsk rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Trinity Suburb5745 minFree21 min walk
Minsk Town Hall and Upper Town551 h10 BYN, square free23 min walk
Red Church (Church of Saints Simon and Helena)5530 minClosed inside, outside free39 min walk
Independence Square5430 minFree40 min walk
Island of Tears4920 minFree23 min walk
Victory Squareyou are here4330 minFree—
Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum372 h20 BYN; students 16, pupils 1044 min walk
Khatyn Memorial281 h 30 minMemorial free, museum ≈ 8 BYN53.2 km
Dudutki Museum Complex193 h30 BYN, schoolchildren 15 BYN35.5 km

Independence Avenue and the river in half a day

Independence Square and the Red Church, the Victory obelisk, down to the river, the Island of Tears and an evening in Trinity Suburb. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

  1. Independence Square30 min · Free, open 24/7
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopRed Church (Church of Saints Simon and Helena)30 min · Closed inside, outside free
  3. 39 min walk from the previous stopVictory Squareyou are here30 min · Free, open 24 hours
  4. 23 min walk from the previous stopIsland of Tears20 min · Free
  5. 3 min walk from the previous stopTrinity Suburb45 min · Free; museums extra

5 places · about 3 h 43 min with walks · 68 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Trinity Suburb

Minsk, Belarus

45 min · Free; museums extra · 21 min walk

Island of Tears

Minsk, Belarus

20 min · Free · 23 min walk

How to do it right

  • Use Victory Square as a hinge between walks: Gorky Park and the Svislach embankment are about five minutes away.
  • Come after dark — the column is floodlit and the square is at its quietest.
  • Even if you are short of time, step down into the underpass: the Hall of Memory is directly beneath the obelisk.
  • On 3 July and 9 May you will see ceremonies and crowds; impressive, but expect to wait to reach the flame.
  • To understand the names on the wall, spend the next hours at the Great Patriotic War Museum — check its closing day first.
  • Independence Avenue has cafés in the buildings around the square and on the way to October Square — easy for a coffee stop.

Questions

Is Victory Square in Minsk free?

Yes. The square, the obelisk and the Eternal Flame are free and open 24 hours a day, and the Hall of Memory in the underpass has no ticket either.

How do I get to Victory Square?

Take the metro to Ploshcha Peramohi on line 1 — the station is directly under the square. From the Upper Town go Nyamiha → Kupalauskaya, change to Kastrychnitskaya and ride one stop, or walk about 25 minutes along Independence Avenue.

How tall is the Victory Monument in Minsk?

The granite column is 38 metres high, topped by a 3-metre Order of Victory, which is why some guides say about 40 metres. The first design called for 48 metres.

When was the Eternal Flame lit?

On 3 July 1961, the anniversary of the liberation of Minsk. It burns at the foot of the obelisk.

What is the Hall of Memory?

A round hall in the underpass beneath the obelisk, opened in 1985, with the names of 566 Heroes of the Soviet Union who fought to free Belarus and a glass wreath in the centre. Opening hours are not published.

How long do I need at Victory Square?

20–30 minutes for the obelisk, the flame and the hall; about an hour if you continue into Gorky Park or along the river.

What does the writing on the buildings say?

The red rooftop letters on the two curved buildings read “Подвиг народа бессмертен” — “The heroic deed of the people is immortal”.

Is it better to visit Victory Square during the day or at night?

Both work. Daytime shows the whole 1950s ensemble; after dark the obelisk is floodlit and the square is calmer and better for photos.

Can I pay by card in Minsk?

Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards usually work in Minsk, though terminals can fail. Prices are in BYN — keep some cash from an ATM as a backup for the metro.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Minsk official tourism website (minsktourism.by): Victory Monument — height, “open around the clock”, wreaths and reliefs, 30.10.2026
  • English Wikipedia: Victory Square, Minsk; Russian Wikipedia: Victory Square (Minsk), Central District (Minsk); Wikidata Q2635425
  • In Your Pocket Minsk: Victory Square
  • Sputnik8: Victory Square — Order of Victory, glass wreath, rooftop inscription, metro exits, buses
  • ATM Fee Saver and traveller guides — using foreign cards in Belarus
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedFree entry and 24-hour access come from the Minsk official tourism website. Historical facts are checked against at least two sources. Sources disagree on the obelisk’s height — 38 m on the official tourism site and Wikipedia, about 40 m or even 32 m elsewhere; we give 38 m and explain the rounding by the 3-metre order on top. Wikipedia and In Your Pocket date the Hall of Memory to 8 May 1985, Sputnik8 to 1984; we use 1985. We found no official opening hours for the hall and mark it, the bus numbers (one source) and card payments as “verifying”.

Top YesGo picks: Minsk

Independence Square

Minsk, Belarus

30 min · Free, open 24/7

Khatyn Memorial

Minsk, Belarus

1 h 30 min · Memorial free, museum ≈ 8 BYN

Dudutki Museum Complex

Minsk, Belarus

3 h · 30 BYN, schoolchildren 15 BYN

All places: Minsk →