Vitebsk, Belarus

Capital City

358,927 residents make Vitebsk Belarus' fourth-largest city, but the practical realities of daily life here are far from glamorous. The brutal Belarusian winters and frequent fires that have ravaged the city over the centuries are a persistent headache. Bureaucracy is also a major obstacle, as evidenced by the city's troubled history with Magdeburg rights. While Vitebsk offers some cultural attractions like the Marc Chagall Museum, this is not the city for those seeking an easy, carefree expat experience.