But beware that changing money on the street is illegal and punishable. VISA and Mastercard credit cards and more rarely American Express and Eurocard are accepted at select hotels, restaurants and shops, but in general it s better to rely on cash. VISA, Thomas Cook and American Express traveller s cheques can be changed in banks, but are useless as tender in the retail world. Currency exchanges abound and many people will offer to change your dollars into roubles for you. Apart from a growing number of 24-hour food stores most shops are closed on Sundays and official holidays.
Most shops also close for a day of cleaning.
The majority of the Minsk force are recruited from rural areas and join the police, better known as militia, purely to gain the right to live in Minsk. Militia are omnipresent in the city and are waiting around every corner to fine you for crossing the road in the wrong place, being drunk in public, etc. Mass protests against the rapidly accumulating powers of president Alexander Lukashenko take place regularly in Minsk. Unsactioned public demonstrations are strictly illegal. Women travelling alone may receive unwanted attention.