A historic Belarusian city on the Dnieper River, with 12th-century origins and distinctive Orthodox churches. Home to the Buinichi Field memorial and regional art museum.
Mogilev, Belarus's third-largest city, lies along the Dnieper River 76 kilometers from the Russian border. You can climb the 17th-century Town Hall tower for city views, explore the baroque St. Stanisław's Cathedral with its biblical frescoes, or walk through the preserved 1668 St. Nicholas Convent with its original bell tower and surrounding walls.
Getting to Mogilev
Trains and buses run regularly between Minsk and Mogilev, covering the 181-kilometer journey east of the capital. You'll find connections throughout the day, making the city accessible for both day trips and longer stays. Within Mogilev, buses and trolleybuses connect all major districts, while local taxi services operate for direct point-to-point travel.
Buildings from the Past
The Town Hall (Ratuša) dominates the city center, where you can explore the regional history museum inside this late 17th-century structure. Inside St. Stanisław's Cathedral (1738-1752), look up to see biblical frescoes covering the interior walls above its six pillars. The St. Nicholas Convent complex preserves its 1668 cathedral, iconostasis, bell tower, walls, and gates - currently under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Arts and Culture
The Regional Art Museum occupies an Art Nouveau building containing 4,000 artworks that tell the story of Belarusian artistic development through the centuries. The History Museum holds over 130,000 artifacts, from 13th-century manuscripts to medieval armor and archaeological finds. The city's theater continues its cultural programming in a building that mixes Neo-Renaissance and Russian Revival architecture.
Weather Through the Year
Mogilev has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures are comfortable for walking tours, while winter requires heavy clothing. Spring and autumn bring mild temperatures with occasional rain. The warm season lasts from April to October, which also brings most of the year's rainfall.
Day Trips Around Mogilev
You can take short trips to several surrounding towns. In Bobruisk, walk past 19th and early 20th-century buildings and visit its historic fortress. Mstislavl has two Catholic churches from the 17th-18th centuries and old fortress earthworks. In Bykhaw, you can see a rare 17th-century fortress-type synagogue, one of few remaining in Belarus.
