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Omsk(Russian: ohmsk) is the capital ofOmsk Oblast,Siberia,and is a regional hub forWestern Siberiaand theAltaimountains inRussia,as well as northernKazakhstan.

Understand

Founded in 1716 as a fortress on the Imperial Russia's expanding southern frontier, by 1850sOmsk grew to become the capital of Western Siberia and parts ofCentral Asia.The constructionof theTrans-Siberian Railwayin the late 1890s brought a rapid development boom, culminatingin an extravagant 1910s World Fair, around the time of which Omsk acquired much of itsneoclassical architectural heritage. Largely due to its strategic importance as the gateway toSiberia and theRussian Far East,Admiral Kolchak of the anti-Soviet White Army chose Omskas 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 Omskvisit is one of the highlights of a trip to Siberia for the city's attractive and bustling 19th centurycenter, 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 fromSaint Petersburg.

Get in

Omsk Railway station

The southern and northern branches of theTrans-Siberian Railwayconverge here, so a multitudeof trains arrive fromMoscow(40 h) and theFar East(4-5 days) daily. Aeroflot[1],Transaero

[2],Siberia (S7)[3],fly to Moscow daily (3 h). Less frequent flights connect toSaint Petersburg(3 h),Krasnoyarsk(2 h), as well as Frankfurt, Hannover, Kln inGermany(5 h).

Get around

There is plenty of public transport along the curved main artery prospekt MarksaulitsaKrasny Put'prospekt Mira, and to the airport, bus/train stations and the river terminal. TrolleyN4 & 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 amashrutka costs exactly 13 RUR regardless of the length of the trip.The city center aroundLyubinsky 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 toorder the "taxi" from the men who hang about the exit gate even they have cars with chequeredpattern. They could charge 5001500 RUR though the transfer to the city center is not a longerthan 15 minutes. They could also say that it would cost 200 RUR but when you are arrived to thehotel you will be known that the price is much larger. The good price to the city center isn'tabove 200 RUR but you should call the legal taxi, for example +73812606060.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_phrasebookhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_phrasebookhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_phrasebookhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk_Oblasthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk_Oblasthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk_Oblasthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Western_Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Western_Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Altaihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Altaihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Altaihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Kazakhstanhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Kazakhstanhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Kazakhstanhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Central_Asiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Central_Asiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Central_Asiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Moscowhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Moscowhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Moscowhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://www.aeroflot.com/http://www.aeroflot.com/http://www.aeroflot.com/http://www.transaero.ru/http://www.transaero.ru/http://www.s7.ru/http://www.s7.ru/http://www.s7.ru/http://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Krasnoyarskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Krasnoyarskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Krasnoyarskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Germanyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Germanyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Germanyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/File:Omsk_railway.jpghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Germanyhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Krasnoyarskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://www.s7.ru/http://www.transaero.ru/http://www.aeroflot.com/http://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Moscowhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Saint_Petersburghttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_Far_Easthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Trans-Siberian_Railwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Central_Asiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Kazakhstanhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Altaihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Western_Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Siberiahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk_Oblasthttp://wikitravel.org/en/Russian_phrasebook

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See

The historical part of town is centered on Lyubinsky prospekt, near the confluence of Om andIrtysh rivers. It is lined with century-old buildings of former merchant salons, residences, andlarger 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, cutelysmall Drama Theater crowns the district and is somewhat of a city icon.

The Historical museum is in the former West Siberian Governor's mansionlook for the ebonyKalmyk throne and the outfits of the local nomads before the Russian colonization. AdmiralKolchak, the head of the White government, lived here in 1918-19, supported by the Westernpowers 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 DramaTheater, and houses an interesting collection including a few Rerikhs. A couple of other artgalleries, 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 ulicaTarskaya, and St. Nicholas on ulica Truda, may be of interest. The first, St. Nicholas, was usedfor 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, andcontains 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 blocksof historical carved-wood houses. This street can give an idea what Omsk and Siberia used to belike 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 Chetchenconflict

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- whichis shown through it's shopping malls. There are shops with extremely cheap goods. On the otherhand, there are modern shopping malls where every shop is completely expensive, for example, asimple shirt would be 100 and a handbag would be 200; Nevertheless, Omsk Offers greatshops with lots of goods to offer.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Arena-Omskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Arena-Omskhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Arena-Omsk

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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 byinternational 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 stationshould not cost more than 270.

Flagman Hotel[5],80 Frunze ul., ~US$100-..3* hotel situated in city center, as a partof large office complex.

Molodyozhnaya Omsk, 1 Perelyota ul., ~US$70-1003 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 riverswhere Omsk fortress was founded.

Nika, Lermontov str., 62,+73812510734. checkin: 12.00; checkout: 12.00. A nicesmall hotel with a restaurant and a sauna. The sauna costs USD17 an hour. Be noticedthat the russian ice-hockey teams can catch all the hotel during the KHL championshipfrom September till May. The restaurant has got only one kind of beer on draft (StellaArtoirs) 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$70-1003 stars

Contact

Consulates

http://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Shalyapinhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Shalyapinhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Elki-Palkihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Elki-Palkihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Subwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Subwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Sbarrohttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Sbarrohttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Fridayshttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Fridayshttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#KFChttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#KFChttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Irtyshhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Irtyshhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Kolchukhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Kolchukhttp://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6725-accor-hotels/index.shtmlhttp://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6725-accor-hotels/index.shtmlhttp://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6725-accor-hotels/index.shtmlhttp://www.tokflagman.ru/hotelhttp://www.tokflagman.ru/hotelhttp://www.tokflagman.ru/hotelhttp://www.tourist-omsk.ru/http://www.tourist-omsk.ru/http://www.hotel-mayak.ru/http://www.hotel-mayak.ru/http://www.hotel-mayak.ru/http://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Nikahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Nikahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Nikahttp://www.hotel-mayak.ru/http://www.tourist-omsk.ru/http://www.tokflagman.ru/hotelhttp://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6725-accor-hotels/index.shtmlhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Kolchukhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Irtyshhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#KFChttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Fridayshttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Sbarrohttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Subwayhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Elki-Palkihttp://wikitravel.org/en/Omsk#Shalyapin

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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 largein this part of the world, and a city 700 km away is readily considered "nearby" by the locals. Intheir defense, the transportation is usually good and can make destinations seem closer than theyare.

Tobolsk and Tomsk, the oldest cities of Siberia, are within easy reach. Because the maintransportation arteries originally bypassed them, the towns stayed small, avoiding the typicalSoviet development, and retaining their unique character.

For northwesternTobolsk,take the overnight train, or, better in the summer, take a speed jet boatalong the Irtysh River (10-12 hrs). Tobolsk is the picturesque and best-preserved first Siberiancapital, with the region's only surviving stone kremlin on the hills overlooking the damp sereneflatlands.

Take the overnight train east toTomsk,Siberia's charming old commercial capital, with itsgingerbread wooden houses, hilly terrain and vibrant youthful atmosphere of Siberia's oldestuniversities.

With time on your hands, consider the biweekly tourist-class river cruiser that goes north toTobolsk,Khanty-Mansiyskand on toSalekhardbeyond the Arctic circle (7 days). It stops inseveral towns on the way, and there is hardly a more upclose way to see the vast sleepy WestSiberian terrain, grand rivers and the rural lifestyle. Yet the surreal settlements will surprise youwith their quirkiness when you are least expecting it!

Barnaul,the gateway to theAltaimountains and national parks, is 16 hrs by train, and 1.5 hrs byflight. NorthernKazakhstanis accessible by train:Petropavlovsk(4hrs),Astana(12 hrs), or bus:Pavlodar(8 hrs).

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