Tour Downtown Omsk
ОМСК Omsk seems to be getting more and more tourists each year, with over 500,000 within the first 6 months. Omsk is the sunniest city in all of Russia, with over 300 days of sunshine. There is sunshine at the dacha, sunshine while walking in the parks, sunshine even in the dead of winter, and plenty of just plain sunshine. It's a sunny morning as I sit here typing. For those interested in some of the top sights, here are my recommendations: First, walk down the embankment on the all-pedestrian street of Улица Чокана Валиханова. The stunning art fountain and overledge look out onto the Irtysh, and the fountain lights up at night inside. Descend the staircase and walk along to the Civil War museum, where Kolchak's office was located. The river area also has the Center City Beach with all new granite sidewalks and exercise equipment. Second, take a right and go back up to the main street where, to the right, St. Nicholas Church is and straight ahead is the square dedicated to the revolution. To the right of that is the old governor's palace, filled with art and ancient artifacts of Siberia, built specially for the stay of the Romanovs. Tsarevich Nicholas stayed here when he traveled back from Japan. Joining the governor's palace is the History Museum with the largest collection in all of Siberia. Third, make your way to the heart of the old city. You can wind your way around through the parks on the left and come out to the old fortress area, which is being completely redone with a new fountain complex. From the fortress, you could continue along the river through a series of modern and beautiful landscapes all the way to Green Island, and, in fact, a 10-km walk can be enjoyed if you start by the train station and walk or bike to Green Island. Fourth, the downtown museums. The fortress has the local art museum that features local artists. The main galleries are across from the theater and at the Salamander building—the Omsk Hermitage. The Liberov Museum by the Musical Theatre and the Byelov Museum are two other smaller museums that feature local artists. Fifth, stop in at the Dostoyevsky museum at the old commandant's house, one of the oldest in the fortress. The museum is packed with information and artifacts of the notorious Omsk Katorga. The newly rebuilt Resurrection Cathedral nearby is the place Dostoyevsky attended, standing in the foyer with other prisoners. Around the corner, up the yew alley, you might enjoy the Dostoevsky Cafe. The War Museum is also worth going to, with a superb collection of rooms and an outdoor area loaded with tanks and guns from WW2. To visit new tanks, a visit to the stunning Victory Park would be interesting for war buffs. That would entail a bus ride from the center, as it is across the river. Finally, the Uspensky Cathedral is also another 'heart' of Omsk. If you walk up the Yew Alley, the large golden dome is immediately seen, and the church looks like a Fabergé egg. Inside are the relics of St. Sylvester. Further out of the city to the north are the sanatoriums as well as Tara and Bolsherechna, the world's largest outdoor zoo. I was in Tara last year and enjoyed visiting this key city that led to the Russian capture of Siberia through the network of northern cities such as Tobolsk, Tara, and Tomsk.
ОМСК Omsk seems to be getting more and more tourists each year, with over 500,000 within the first 6 months. Omsk is the sunniest city in all of Russia, with over 300 days of sunshine. There is sunshine at the dacha, sunshine while walking in the parks, sunshine even in the dead of winter, and plenty of just plain sunshine. It's a sunny morning as I sit here typing. For those interested in some of the top sights, here are my recommendations: First, walk down the embankment on the all-pedestrian street of Улица Чокана Валиханова. The stunning art fountain and overledge look out onto the Irtysh, and the fountain lights up at night inside. Descend the staircase and walk along to the Civil War museum, where Kolchak's office was located. The river area also has the Center City Beach with all new granite sidewalks and exercise equipment. Second, take a right and go back up to the main street where, to the right, St. Nicholas Church is and straight ahead is the square dedicated to the revolution. To the right of that is the old governor's palace, filled with art and ancient artifacts of Siberia, built specially for the stay of the Romanovs. Tsarevich Nicholas stayed here when he traveled back from Japan. Joining the governor's palace is the History Museum with the largest collection in all of Siberia. Third, make your way to the heart of the old city. You can wind your way around through the parks on the left and come out to the old fortress area, which is being completely redone with a new fountain complex. From the fortress, you could continue along the river through a series of modern and beautiful landscapes all the way to Green Island, and, in fact, a 10-km walk can be enjoyed if you start by the train station and walk or bike to Green Island. Fourth, the downtown museums. The fortress has the local art museum that features local artists. The main galleries are across from the theater and at the Salamander building—the Omsk Hermitage. The Liberov Museum by the Musical Theatre and the Byelov Museum are two other smaller museums that feature local artists. Fifth, stop in at the Dostoyevsky museum at the old commandant's house, one of the oldest in the fortress. The museum is packed with information and artifacts of the notorious Omsk Katorga. The newly rebuilt Resurrection Cathedral nearby is the place Dostoyevsky attended, standing in the foyer with other prisoners. Around the corner, up the yew alley, you might enjoy the Dostoevsky Cafe. The War Museum is also worth going to, with a superb collection of rooms and an outdoor area loaded with tanks and guns from WW2. To visit new tanks, a visit to the stunning Victory Park would be interesting for war buffs. That would entail a bus ride from the center, as it is across the river. Finally, the Uspensky Cathedral is also another 'heart' of Omsk. If you walk up the Yew Alley, the large golden dome is immediately seen, and the church looks like a Fabergé egg. Inside are the relics of St. Sylvester. Further out of the city to the north are the sanatoriums as well as Tara and Bolsherechna, the world's largest outdoor zoo. I was in Tara last year and enjoyed visiting this key city that led to the Russian capture of Siberia through the network of northern cities such as Tobolsk, Tara, and Tomsk.