Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk (Russian: Новосиби́рск nuh-vuh-see-BEERSK) is a city of 1.6 million people (2018) in Novosibirsk Oblast, Siberia. Its main interest for visitors is as a stop-off on the Trans-Siberian Railway, two days from Moscow.

Understand
The course of the Trans-Siberian Railway was dictated by where it was possible to span the great rivers of Siberia, and this altered as engineering techniques advanced. To cross the mighty River Ob, they eventually chose the village of Krivoshchekovskaya, founded in 1696. A new town grew up, at first called Novonikolayevsk (Новониколаевск), in honour both of Saint Nicholas and of the reigning Tsar Nicholas II. At the time of the bridge's opening in 1897, Novonikolayevsk's population was 7800; by 1907, when the population exceeded 47,000, it was granted town status with full rights for self-government.

In the 1950s, the Soviet Government directed that a centre for scientific research be built in what was now Novosibirsk, and in 1957, the multi-facility scientific research complex of Akademgorodok was constructed about 30 km south of the city centre. The city expanded rapidly, reaching a population of one million in 1962.

Novosibirsk is a typical Soviet-era city, laid out on a grid pattern with medium-rise slabby blocks. It's far from beautiful but there's plenty to see to occupy a day or two here. People seldom speak English, but as the Trans-Siberian tourist industry has built up they've become used to foreigners and are generally helpful.

The climate is Siberian. Summers in Novosibirsk are typically warm, but sometimes cool and rainy. Winters are cruel, with temperatures routinely dropping to -20° C and sometimes down to -40° - your life is at risk if you're not properly prepared for such conditions.

By plane


To travel between the airport and the city:
 * Bus #111 (₽35) operates between the airport and the main train station "Novosibirsk-Glavny" (Новосибирск-Главный) and Avtovokzal (Автовокзал), the bus terminal (30 minutes).
 * Minibus #312 operates between the airport and the main train station.
 * Bus #112 (₽30) operates between the airport and shopping mall "Mega" (IKEA).
 * A taxi takes around 30 minutes and should cost ₽500 if negotiated in advance.

By train


All Trans-Siberian trains stop at Novosibirsk Vokzal-Glavny Station. You can take this train as far as Moscow, Beijing, Ulaan Baator, or Vladivostok. Additionally, there are regional trains from most nearby cities. Timetables and fares can be searched for on the RZD website. See Russia for general advice on travelling in Russia by train.

The main station, (Новосибирск-Главный) is on Ulitsa Shamshurina, metro station Garina Mikhailovskogo (Гарина Михайловского) is nearby.

On foot
The city centre is fairly compact and a walk from the railway station to Lenin's square takes around 20 minutes.

By public transport


Public transport includes a Metro system in the city centre as well as buses, trams, marshrutkas and trolleybuses. A ride on intra-city public transport costs ₽35 or less.



Be careful: The trolleybus line at main street has a terminus called ”Airport", but this is the station for the disused airport, not OVB.

Monuments & churches

 * As in every Russian city, there are multiple monuments to heroes of the Great Patriotic War (World War II), including an eternal flame guarded at special ceremonies by youths with replica Kalashnikovs.
 * In front of the Opera & Ballet House, Lenin's Square is adorned by a big grey statue of Lenin. His cloak billows out behind like Marilyn Monroe's skirt, as if to show where the Metro passes beneath.
 * The exact geographical centre of the former Soviet Union just south of Lenin Square is marked by the Chapel of Saint Nicholas. It was built in 1915 to commemorate 300 years of Romanov rule, destroyed in 1930 and rebuilt in 1993. The Chapel is tiny, sitting on a traffic island like a clock-tower, yet regular services are held within.
 * A little further S, past the Art Museum, is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral at 1A Krasnyi Prospekt. Big as it is, you won't see it until you're upon it, as it's somewhat set back from the street.
 * 1 km north of Lenin Sq is Ascension Cathedral, at the corner of Sovietskaya & Gogolya.

Akademgorodok
A visit to Akademgorodok, built in the 1950s as an area for academics but suffering from neglect in the post-Soviet years, is still pleasant as a day trip. This formerly elite institution is about 30 km south of the city and features several museums and nice, tree-lined streets.

While you're in the area, you might also visit one of several nice beaches on the Ob Sea, the large body of water created by a dam on the Ob River.

Also south of the city, about 2 km north of Akademgorodok, is the open-air West Siberian Rail Museum. There are about 90 historical trains and rail carriages.

Do



 * Since there is plenty of snow in Siberia during the winter, going skiing or ice skating could be a lot of fun in Novosibirsk. There are a lot of ice arenas in the city. Some of them are free of charge, but those don't usually rent skates. The ones that rent skates may be not free of charge. One of the centrally located stadiums is "Spartak".
 * Since there is plenty of snow in Siberia during the winter, going skiing or ice skating could be a lot of fun in Novosibirsk. There are a lot of ice arenas in the city. Some of them are free of charge, but those don't usually rent skates. The ones that rent skates may be not free of charge. One of the centrally located stadiums is "Spartak".

Buy
There are a lot of malls, shops, boutiques and stores in Novosibirsk. They offer a lot of goods from all round the world and you can have a great time while shopping. However, be careful when buying anything there: always check what you buy, before you pay. Sometimes the goods you buy may be produced not by a brand company but by another that has a licence for producing products under the same name. Sometimes the quality of these goods doesn't correspond to the quality of the original brand. This may be especially applied to the European brands. For example, the same scents may have a different aroma in Novosibirsk and somewhere in Europe. It doesn't mean that the goods are of bad quality and you shouldn't shop. But be careful if you want to purchase anything.

You could have a lot of fun if you go to markets like Central Market ("Центральный рынок") or "Baraholka". There you'll see people from around the world selling stuff that is not a known brand but it may have a good quality. Be careful there as well, as you may run into pocket pickers. You may even find some local food there and try some specials. There are a lot of different markets in the city but the most famous are Central Market and Baroholka. You may buy nothing there but what you see, you'll see nowhere in the world. It resembles an Asian market with only difference it's in the Russian way.

Eat
There are many good dining options and many local chain restaurants. Lenin Square is a popular place to eat. Italian food, sushi, and Russian food are all very popular. Many cafes offer lunch specials on weekdays.



Cafes
The Russian café chain Coffee House (Кофе Хауз) has several locations in Novosibirsk, but the food is considered to be subpar and overpriced.



Sleep
With the exception of some high-end hotels, all hotels and hostels offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Hotels and hostels will usually provide a visa invitation and registration for an additional fee.

Internet
Many cafes and restaurants offer either free or paid WiFi. There is also WiFi available in the main train station, public libraries, shopping malls, cinemas, universities and other establishments.

Internet cafes and computer clubs are also commonly found.

Consulates

 * 🇩🇪 Germany

Visa centers

 * 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇬🇷 Greece 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇲🇹 Malta 🇪🇸 Spain
 * 🇮🇹 Italy

Stay safe
While it's better to stay away from some run-down areas the overall situation is not bad. Pervomayskiy rayon and far-off neighbourhoods of Leninskiy and Kirovskiy rayons should be avoided at any time.

The safest place is the centre (nearby Lenin Square).

Go next
Omsk and Tomsk are reachable by train within a day. For Kazakhstan, the train will involve a zig-zag via Petropavlovsk, but there's a regular bus direct to Astana.