Novosibirsk
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The UK Foreign Office currently advises against travel to all or parts of Russia. This guide is for a safer time. Check the latest travel advice.
At a glance
- Country
- Russia
- Region
- Novosibirsk Oblast
- Population
- 1.6 million
- Best time to go
- June to August
- Main airport
- Novosibirsk Tolmachevo (OVB)
- Coordinates
- 55.01°N, 82.94°E
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Overview
Novosibirsk grew up around a bridge built for the Trans-Siberian Railway across the river Ob in the 1890s and is now Russia's third-largest city. It is a practical place of wide avenues and Soviet architecture rather than old-world charm.
This guide is written for a time when travel is advisable again; check the latest official advice before making any plans. Most travellers come as a stop on the Trans-Siberian, and a day or two here is enough.
Things to see
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Photo: Vadim Indeikin, CC BY-SA 3.0 Opera and Ballet Theatre
The largest theatre in Russia, crowned by a vast silver dome on the city's main square.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: A.Savin, FAL Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
A red-brick church with golden domes, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
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Photo: Msgevans00, CC BY 4.0 Museum of Railway Technology
An open-air collection of steam locomotives and carriages, fitting for a city built by the railway.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: zeleninsam, CC BY 3.0 Novosibirsk Zoo
A large, well-regarded zoo in a pine forest, known for its Siberian animals.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: Minsvyaz.ru, CC BY 3.0 Visit Akademgorodok
A Soviet-era science town set in the birch and pine forest south of the city.
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Photo: Okoli, Public domain Summer by the Ob Sea
The reservoir south of the city has sandy beaches popular with locals on hot days.
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Photo: Sorovas, CC BY-SA 3.0 Ride the Trans-Siberian
The city is a major stop on the great railway between Moscow and the Pacific.
Where to stay
City centre
Around Lenin Square and Krasny Prospekt, convenient for sights and the Metro.
Hotels in City centreNear the main station
Practical for rail travellers on the Trans-Siberian.
Hotels in Near the main stationAkademgorodok
Quiet and green, but a long way from the centre.
Hotels in Akademgorodok
Getting around
The city has a small Metro, plus buses, trams and minibuses. Taxis booked through apps are easy.
The airport is west of the city, about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre by taxi or bus.
When to go
Summer is short but warm, the best time for a visit. Winters are extremely cold, with temperatures far below freezing for months.
Plan your trip to Novosibirsk
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.