Jan
10
Novosibirsk Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Russia
A trip to Novosibirsk
Founded in the late 19th century, Novosibirsk began as nothing more than an outpost next to a Trans-Siberian Railway bridge across the River Ob. Today, it has grown to the largest city in all of Siberia, with further accolades as the third-largest city in the whole of Russia. It gained even more transportation importance in the 1900s when the new Turkestan-Siberia Railway bridged the gap between Novosibirsk, the Caspian Sea and Central Asia.
Flights to Novosibirsk
It is incredibly well-known for being a stop-over point on the grand Russian railways, and as a result many of Novosibirsk’s visitors arrive by train. The local train station is the largest on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Rossiya trains from Moscow take three days to arrive and once there, passengers have easy access to the metro for transit to the city centre.
For faster and more convenient service, flying into Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport is the way to go. From here, you’ll find regular connections to multiple destinations in Russia along with flights to Europe and the rest of Asia. The major carrier out of Tolmachevo is S7 Airlines. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Novosibirsk try Thomas Cook.
Once you’re on the ground, the only public transport option is a thirty-minute taxi ride into town.
In town, taxis are abundant and affordable. The metro is a convenient way to get around town and you can also try your luck with the marshrutkas, a local form of public transportation.
Novosibirsk
Sightseeing Novosibirsk
The biggest site in Novosibirsk, if not the most interesting, is the enormous statue of Lenin that stands in front of the Opera and Ballet House. In all likelihood, the opera house itself is the larger attraction. It’s the largest in Russia and is an especially outstanding attraction at night when it is fully illuminated. Nearby, the Chapel of St Nicholas marks the geographical centre of the Soviet Union. Those with a sense of irony may note that chapel was built in 1915 at the tail end of rule under the Romanov dynasty; destroyed in 1930 under Soviet supervision; and rebuilt in 1993 in an effort to bolster tourism.
The local zoo boasts 4,000 species and is currently engaged in more than 30 international societies dedicated to preserving endangered animals. A descendant of South Africa’s cape lion resides at the zoo.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
In a city this big (population 1.5 million and counting) it’s easy to find a meal and a drink. Many of the nightspots specialise in live jazz, rock and pop, particularly on Lenina Road and in the Krasny Prospect. It’s worth mentioning that a good deal of the dance clubs and live music joints levy a cover charge at the door and men can expect to pay more than women.
Restaurants cater to tourists with a variety of standard international fare. If however you’re looking for something authentic to the region, Pelmeni is considered the ‘national dish’ of Siberia. It’s a variation on the dumpling, stuffed with a blend of lamb, beef and pork and then spiced with onion, garlic and black pepper. This dish became popular in the 1800s because it could be stored outside safely during the freezing winter months.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
The best shopping venues can be found in the area’s leading hotels. Many hotels either have a boutique shop on site or are otherwise located close to shopping and entertainment areas where you can pick up gifts and local specialties. During the winter, a trip to the river can be rewarding, as locals usually construct a veritable ‘ice-city’ on the Ob River.
Daytrips
Novosibirsk is situated along the Trans-Siberian Railway, and as such it is linked with several other cities in the region. This is the largest city in the Novosibirsk Oblast (and the third-largest in all of Russia), making Novosibirsk an ideal launching point for excursions into the hinterland.
Berdsk is the second-largest city in the oblast and can be reached along the railway. The Cathedral of the Transfiguration is the city’s most impressive site, crowned with multiple onion domes. This city had to relocate after the Ob River flooded all of the infrastructure, prompting city officials to construct the nearby dam.
To the north is Tomsk Oblast, an idyllic Siberian village that was bypassed by the Trans-Siberian Railway. The only viable way in is by hire car, but this makes Tomsk all the more alluring as tourists and the tides of modern development have largely overlooked this historic town. The architecture and culture here evaded the levelling influence of Soviet expansion.
Must-see attractions
Most tourists in Novosibirsk head straight for Lenin Square and then to the impressive local zoo, but there are plenty of other attractions that are well worth the visit. The Temple of St Alexander Nevsky was built more than 100 years ago in the Krasny Prospekt. This imposing brick structure is capped by a gold-coloured dome and predates the Soviet-style architecture that sprang up in the following century.
The Voznesensky Temple is another important landmark in the city centre. Built in the early 1900s, it is broader and more elaborate than the Nesky Temple, and after the Soviet uprising, it was used primarily for storage. The recent Russian Renaissance (fuelled by a desire for tourism revenue) spurred the temple’s renovation.
The Ob River is the centrepiece of Novosibirsk, and the adjoining city park is an ideal place to escape the urban feel of the city between sightseeing excursions. The railway bridge spanning the river was built in the late 19th century and effectively opened the city of Novosibirsk to the rest of Russia. Recently rebuilt (2002), the bridge functioned without substantial renovation for more than 100 years.
Best time to go
It is best to visit Novosibirsk during the summertime as severe Siberian winters can be a major deterrent to sightseeing. Statistics show that the average winter day has a 50 percent chance of receiving snowfall. From June to August, daytime highs regularly crest 20°C. It is important to realise that extremes and sudden changes are quite common. In fact, there is nearly a 90°C gap between the record high and low temperatures in Novosibirsk.
Rainy day suggestions
In the event of rain or snow, it is a good idea to plan an alternative indoor activity so your holiday can proceed without incident. The Museum of Regional Studies in the Krasny Prospekt displays hundreds of thousands of artefacts related to the geological history of Siberia. The same neighbourhood is also home to the State Opera Theatre, where visitors can take in some of Russia’s most-loved performances.
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