Novosibirsk
RussiaDfa
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Сибирская столица | The capital of Siberia
Why visit
Novosibirsk is a serious stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Stand in front of the colossal Lenin statue on Lenin Square, framed by the cathedral-sized Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet theater, Russia's largest, larger than Moscow's Bolshoi. Cross the Ob to the Akademgorodok science town, a forested grid of Soviet research institutes. The Novosibirsk Zoo holds over 11,000 animals (the world-famous liger lives here). The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the city's first stone building, is striking. From here you can take Trans-Siberian sleeper trains east to Irkutsk and Lake Baikal.
When to avoid
Russia carries serious travel restrictions, check current advisories carefully and confirm whether your insurance covers travel there. Western payment cards don't work. Bring cash and budget for currency hassles. Photography of the Akademgorodok institutes, military, and railway infrastructure is forbidden. Winter is really brutal with sub-zero temperatures and dangerous ice. Some Soviet-era housing districts on the city's outskirts feel rough. Stick to central Tsentralny district. The metro is excellent but signs are entirely Cyrillic. Don't drink tap water. Stick to bottled.
