Minsk has recently become the hottest travel destination, and we clearly understand why – this city stands out because of suitable and easily reachable location, 5 days visa-free regime and lots of international events.

It is understandable that people come here for different time intervals depending on their goals and seek flats to rent both for short and long periods of time.

On the plus side of this is the fact that there is no quicker way to get the full scoop of culture in a country than trying to find housing there. Real estate is, by definition, something very local and can tell you a lot about the city and its people.

The downside, however, is that it is not fun at all. Finding a room or apartment to live in can be quite stressful and involve communication with people you don’t know, language barrier, lack of good options and the hidden unpredicted sides of the contract. Plus, renting a property abroad can be a minefield if you do not understand the legal system and the housing market.

To help you a bit, in this article we will show you where to look for the best housing options in Minsk and orient you at a price.

Flats to rent for a short-term period

Whether you simply prefer to dive into the atmosphere of the city by living in a rented local apartment or just don’t want to overpay for the hotel room – turn to global and well-known websites:

1. https://www.booking.com/
2. https://www.airbnb.com/

The apartment cost varies from $20 to $40 per day (even in the historical center of the city) and dozens of good options are available straight away!

Flats to rent for a long-term period

In a great number of cases, people come to Minsk for a long time – to study, work, attend row conferences or events and spend time with friends or relatives.

If you need a relatively low-cost apartment to live in for some time, it is better to turn to local real estate websites. The cost of flats there is, undoubtedly, lower, but you need to make some efforts to find good accommodation options. The process usually takes up to two weeks, during which you are likely to go see a dozen apartments and then when you are on the verge of despair a good one will finally come your way.

One room apartment is between $250 and $500 per month, depending on location and quality. If you want to go cheaper, then you might need to share a multiple room apartment with other people, this way you may go as low as $100-150.

So, these are the local rental websites:

1. https://realt.by/rent/flat-for-long/
2. https://r.onliner.by/ak/
3. http://irr.by/realestate/longtime/
4. https://www.kvartirant.by/rent/flats/

The first two websites are the most reliable and popular among locals. Unfortunately, all of them have only the Russian version, but you can easily translate them with Google or Yandex Translate.

While choosing a flat, beware of risky deals. You’ve found your perfect flat online and the landlord wants a deposit? Try to visit it first before handing over any money – remember online photos can be deceptive. Look at ads for similar places in the area to measure the prices and check you’re not being misled. If you’re staying somewhere for more than a month, make sure there is a proper contract involved and read all the small print.

Surely, finding an apartment can be a difficult and time-consuming task, so it can be better for you to reckon upon someone who knows the city, prices and reliable deals. MeetnGreetMe is a way out because it helps connect travelers and local people who know the city really well and can provide you with different services to travelers to ease their stay in a foreign city – with renting and finding a flat in Minsk or any other Belarusian city, in particular.

And how do you find an affordable and liveable accommodation in an unfamiliar location?