Wendy Taylor (Lonely Planet)

Minsk is one of my favorite places in the world, and I defy anyone to show me a city similar to it. It's the epitome of what my 1970s Russian textbooks taught me about the Soviet Union 's picture-perfect capitals: clean, orderly cities with polite and cooperative citizens who are highly interested in all forms of culture.

After my first visit to Moscow , I thought it was all a lie, but Minsk has convinced me. Now that the country rests at the EU's border, the city is all that and more - with boutiques, a few hip cafes, and a fair selection of nightclubs to boot.

I start my day by walking the length of praspekt Nezalezhnastsi (using the LP 'Walking Tour of Soviet Ideology'), taking special note that the still-operating KGB building and bust of Felix Dzerzhynksy are both within just a couple blocks of McDonald's and a sushi joint. I sneak into my favourite cafe, London , heading upstairs if it's packed, for an Irish coffee or an awesome, thick hot chocolate, and brace myself for a visit to the grisly Museum of the Great Patriotic War. For lunch, I hit Lido for a fast, hot home-style meal, sitting by the windows to watch the praspekt's comings and goings.

In the evening, I mosey over to Banana Cafe in the city's faux little old town, order a hookah and drink to get me in shape for clubbing at Minsk 's hottest club - the Bronx . Belarusians are shy and reserved, but if the music is right and there are shots involved... I'll have new friends by sunrise.