Omsk (Russian: ohmsk) is the capital of Omsk Oblast, Siberia, and is a regional hub for

Western Siberia and the Altai mountains in Russia, as well as northern Kazakhstan.
Understand
Founded in 1716 as a fortress on the Imperial Russia's expanding southern frontier, by 1850s
Omsk grew to become the capital of Western Siberia and parts of Central Asia. The construction
of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the late 1890s brought a rapid development boom, culminating
in an extravagant 1910s World Fair, around the time of which Omsk acquired much of its
neoclassical architectural heritage. Largely due to its strategic importance as the gateway to
Siberia and the Russian Far East, Admiral Kolchak of the anti-Soviet White Army chose Omsk
as his base and "capital of Russia" in 19181919.
Today, Omsk is Russia's seventh largest city with a population of over 1.1 million. An Omsk
visit is one of the highlights of a trip to Siberia for the city's attractive and bustling 19th century
center, and its numerous cultural opportunities. Literature lovers will find a special interest in
Omsk, as it was Dostoevsky's home during the majority of his exile from Saint Petersburg.
Get in


Omsk Railway station
The southern and northern branches of the Trans-Siberian Railway converge here, so a multitude
of trains arrive from Moscow (40 h) and the Far East (4-5 days) daily. Aeroflot [1], Transaero
[2], Siberia (S7)[3], fly to Moscow daily (3 h). Less frequent flights connect to Saint Petersburg
(3 h), Krasnoyarsk (2 h), as well as Frankfurt, Hannover, Kln in Germany (5 h).
Get around
There is plenty of public transport along the curved main artery prospekt Marksa ulitsa
Krasny Put' prospekt Mira, and to the airport, bus/train stations and the river terminal. Trolley
N4 & N7, and buses N50, 60 and 69 are particularly useful. The abundant minibus taxis
"marshrutka" are an even faster (if at times hair-raising!) way to get around cheaply. A ride on a
mashrutka costs exactly 13 RUR regardless of the length of the trip.The city center around
Lyubinsky prospekt is easily walkable and in fact best explored on foot. Taxi service are still
underdeveloped but "Taxi VIP"(tel.(3812)700-700) are quite usable. Be careful in the airport to
order the "taxi" from the men who hang about the exit gate even they have cars with chequered
pattern. They could charge 500 1500 RUR though the transfer to the city center is not a longer
than 15 minutes. They could also say that it would cost 200 RUR but when you are arrived to the
hotel you will be known that the price is much larger. The good price to the city center isn't
above 200 RUR but you should call the legal taxi, for example +73812606060.
See
The historical part of town is centered on Lyubinsky prospekt, near the confluence of Om and
Irtysh rivers. It is lined with century-old buildings of former merchant salons, residences, and
larger commercial, government and religious establishments. The area now has some of the
poshest shopping and the best nightlife in the city. The ornate and, upon closer inspection, cutely
small Drama Theater crowns the district and is somewhat of a city icon.
The Historical museum is in the former West Siberian Governor's mansion look for the ebony
Kalmyk throne and the outfits of the local nomads before the Russian colonization. Admiral
Kolchak, the head of the White government, lived here in 1918-19, supported by the Western
powers and the Russian gold reserves, briefly placing Omsk in the heart of Russia's history.
The Vrubel Art museum is in the former bourse building, across the street from the Drama
Theater, and houses an interesting collection including a few Rerikhs. A couple of other art
galleries, Liberov-Center and Belov Museum, are located in carved-wood historical houses a
little further away from the center.
A few churches, notably the Cossacks' St. Nicholas Cathedral, Krestovozdvizhenski on ulica
Tarskaya, and St. Nicholas on ulica Truda, may be of interest. The first, St. Nicholas, was used
for other functions during the Soviet era: a movie theater, a Young Pioneers' club, a warehouse,
and a Pipe Organ Hall (look for the musical door handles). It is now converted back, and
contains one of Siberia's Cossacks' most treasured relics: their centuries-old "conquest" banner.
Ulica Krasnyh Zor' (aka Nikol'skij prospekt) leads from the Cossacks' cathedral to a few blocks
of historical carved-wood houses. This street can give an idea what Omsk and Siberia used to be
like for centuries before industrialization. Unfortunately, these houses are not yet protected as
cultural heritage, and may disappear before the authorities realize what has been lost.
The Military Museum is a must. With exhibits on WWII , Afghanistan as well as Chetchen
conflict
Do
Arena-Omsk (ice hockey arena), Lukashevicha, 35. Great new ice hockey staduim, Omsk
"Avangard" team is based here. edit
Buy
Omsk is rich in shopping. There is a vast contrast of rich and poor people living in Omsk- which
is shown through it's shopping malls. There are shops with extremely cheap goods. On the other
hand, there are modern shopping malls where every shop is completely expensive, for example, a
simple shirt would be 100 and a handbag would be 200; Nevertheless, Omsk Offers great
shops with lots of goods to offer.
Eat
Shalyapin (russian restaurant), Irtysh embankment (Irtyshskaya naberezhnaya), 12/1
(closed). edit
Elki-Palki (russian restaurant), 10 let Oktyabrya, 40 (Atrium-Kino entertainment center).
edit
Subway (fresh sandwiches), 10 let Oktyabrya,40. edit
Sbarro (Italian eatery), Gertsena, 34 (Gertsen-Plaza shopping center). edit
Friday's (american restaurant), Marksa ave.,18. edit
KFC, Marksa ave.,5a, Marksa ave.,84, Mira ave.,12. edit
PATIO PIZZA- a great place for good pastas and massive pizzas. However, try and
avoid steaks as the quality comes nowhere close to the expensive price.
Irtysh (russian restaurant), Mira, 62, +7(3812)22-40-14. 12.00-24.00. edit
Drink
Kolchuk, Broz Tito str., 2/1. Irish pub edit
Sleep
Ibis-Sibir Hotel[4], 22 Lenina ul. Central location, completely renovated 3* hotel by
international hotel operator.
Millenium hostel, bagnuka 7a, Very out of the way hostel in the far west of the city.
Very nice and clean. Dorms for 350r. Reached by bus 82 or microbus 470, 374, 371, 409,
362, 343, or 389 from the cathedral in the main city square. Taxi from the train station
should not cost more than 270.
Flagman Hotel[5], 80 Frunze ul., ~US$100-.. 3* hotel situated in city center, as a part
of large office complex.
Molodyozhnaya Omsk, 1 Perelyota ul., ~US$70-100 3 stars
Turist Hotel Omsk[6], 2 Josip Broz Tito ul. central location, recently refurbished
Mayak Hotel[7], 2 Lermontova ul. Located in the most historical point of Omsk city,
at the crossing of two rivers where Omsk fortress was founded.
Nika, Lermontov str., 62, +73812510734. checkin: 12.00; checkout: 12.00. A nice
small hotel with a restaurant and a sauna. The sauna costs USD17 an hour. Be noticed
that the russian ice-hockey teams can catch all the hotel during the KHL championship
from September till May. The restaurant has got only one kind of beer on draft (Stella
Artoirs) and a few bottled ones. You could try horse meat, but ask the waiter what kind of
meal would be soft. USD 70-150. edit
Irtysh Hotel, 155/1 Krasny put' ul., ~US$70-100 3 stars
Contact
Consulates
Germany (Honourary Consulate), 1st Voennaya street, 7, building 2, +7 (3812) 32-
38-33 (fax: +7 (3812) 54-48-95). edit
Kazakhstan, Chokana Valikhanova street, 9, +7 (3812) 32-5213
(kzconsul@omskcity.com, fax: +7 (3812) 32-5205). edit
Get out
Omsk is a convenient hub for several regional attractions. Remember that the distances are large
in this part of the world, and a city 700 km away is readily considered "nearby" by the locals. In
their defense, the transportation is usually good and can make destinations seem closer than they
are.
Tobolsk and Tomsk, the oldest cities of Siberia, are within easy reach. Because the main
transportation arteries originally bypassed them, the towns stayed small, avoiding the typical
Soviet development, and retaining their unique character.
For northwestern Tobolsk, take the overnight train, or, better in the summer, take a speed jet boat
along the Irtysh River (10-12 hrs). Tobolsk is the picturesque and best-preserved first Siberian
capital, with the region's only surviving stone kremlin on the hills overlooking the damp serene
flatlands.
Take the overnight train east to Tomsk, Siberia's charming old commercial capital, with its
gingerbread wooden houses, hilly terrain and vibrant youthful atmosphere of Siberia's oldest
universities.
With time on your hands, consider the biweekly tourist-class river cruiser that goes north to
Tobolsk, Khanty-Mansiysk and on to Salekhard beyond the Arctic circle (7 days). It stops in
several towns on the way, and there is hardly a more upclose way to see the vast sleepy West
Siberian terrain, grand rivers and the rural lifestyle. Yet the surreal settlements will surprise you
with their quirkiness when you are least expecting it!
Barnaul, the gateway to the Altai mountains and national parks, is 16 hrs by train, and 1.5 hrs by
flight. Northern Kazakhstan is accessible by train: Petropavlovsk (4hrs), Astana (12 hrs), or bus:
Pavlodar (8 hrs).