More than a million people live in Omsk. It is the eighth city in Russia in terms of population. It was founded by the Cossack Ivan Dmitrievich Buchholz in 1716. His squad went to Siberia in search of gold. Buchholz, having reached the confluence of two rivers – the Om and Irtysh, decided to try his luck here. The prospectors did not find any gold, but they decided to leave the village where the workers and peasants who came to settle lived. This is how the future cultural center of Siberia, the city of Omsk, was born. Over time, the settlement grew and turned into a small county town, where people began to be sent to hard labor. F.M. Dostoevsky lived in exile here (the house in which he lived still stands) and N.S. Gumilyov.
The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway gave a powerful impetus to the growth of Omsk, after which it received the status of the capital of a huge province.
Omsk is a city with a rich history and a difficult fate, and even if you only have a couple of days, you can have an interesting time here.
Coming to Omsk for the weekend will be interesting for residents of Tyumen, Barnaul, Tomsk, Novosibirsk and other nearby cities, the journey from which will not take much time.
Approximate travel budget for one person – from 4,200 rubles*.
- Train tickets (from Barnaul) round-trip from 1,842 rubles*. Air traffic is established from Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Tyumen. You can fly from Moscow to Omsk every day. Prices start from 4,683 rubles* one way. The flight lasts on average 3 hours.
- 1 night in a hostel – from 350 rubles* or in a 3* hotel – from 1,770 rubles*;
- The average bill in a cafe is 400 rubles;
- Walks around the city, travel on public transport, souvenirs – 800 rubles.
Irtyshskaya embankment
Photo: Roofsoldier/Shutterstock.com
You can begin your acquaintance with the city with a walk along the Irtysh embankment, which offers a beautiful view of one of the largest Siberian rivers. On the embankment there is a mansion of the merchant Batyushkov, where in 1919 an attempt was made on the life of the famous admiral Alexander Kolchak. Now here is the building of the Omsk registry office, a museum and a center for studying the history of the Civil War.
On the embankment, city residents love to exercise: there are running and cycling paths, and outdoor exercise equipment.
In the walking area there are sculptural compositions: a pair of deer, a metal “Tree of Love”, on which couples and newlyweds hang heart-shaped locks, there are several viewing platforms, and stairs leading down to the water.
Omsk Fortress
Photo: @darchich/Instagram.com
In 1717, settlers began building a fortress to protect the future city from invasions of nomads. On the territory of the complex, buildings from the 18th century have been preserved: the buildings of the barracks, the armory, the arsenal, the money storeroom and the Tobolsk Gate – the only gate of the fortress (initially there were 4 of them),
which have survived to this day. The remaining gates have now been restored.
We recommend visiting the excursion “Servant People of Siberia”, during which you can see, touch and photograph reconstructed chain mail and helmets, find out with what weapons and in what clothes warriors of different classes went to battle in the 17-18 centuries. At the end of the tour, take a look at a master class on saber, pike and cannon shooting skills.
Address: st. Partizanskaya, 5a
Opening hours: Mon-Thu from 9:00 to 18:00, Fri from 9:00 to 17:00, Sat-Sun – day off**
Excursion cost: 120 rubles
Site: omskkrepost.ru
Lyubinsky Prospekt
Photo: www.golos-omska.ru
Part of Lenin Street, passing through the historical part of the city, is popularly called “Lyubinsky Prospekt”. Once upon a time in these places there was a Lyubina Grove, which in 1851 Governor Gustav Gasfort ordered to be planted in honor of his wife Lyubochka (Lyubov Gasfort),
who died of consumption at the age of 23. This place has become a favorite place for walks among the townspeople.
Instead of a grove, merchant shops were later built here and Lenin Street was laid out. Now it’s interesting to just walk along the avenue – houses built at the beginning of the last century have recently been restored, some of them have been given back architectural decorations that were lost many years ago.
In 1994, the sculpture “Lyubochka” was installed on the avenue. You can also find an unusual sculpture on Lyubinsky Prospekt – the plumber Stepanych leaning out of a well hatch. There is a sculpture “Policeman” on the corner of the street.
Museum of Fine Arts. M.A. Vrubel
Photo: Ministry of Culture of the Omsk Region/Andrey Kutuzov
The Omsk museum bears the name of the brilliant artist for a reason. Mikhail Vrubel was born in Omsk and was baptized here in the demolished but restored Resurrection Cathedral (by the way, the same cathedral, but at a different time, was visited by Fyodor Dostoevsky when he was serving hard labor in the Omsk prison. You can learn about this and much more at the Literary Museum. Dostoevsky, which is located near the Omsk Fortress). Vrubel spent his childhood in Omsk only earlier. But Omsk residents are still proud of such a fellow countryman. The only work of art by Mikhail Vrubel in Siberia, the triptych “Flowers,” is kept here. The unique project of the museum named after. Vrubel – “Theater of Painting”, where works of art are told in the language of music, choreography and acting.
Address: st. Lenina, 3
Operating hours: Tue-Sun from 10 to 19, closed on Monday**
Visit cost: 150 rubles
Site: vrubel.ru
Park named after. 30th anniversary of the Victory
Photo: @madison_nickel/Unsplash.com
Beloved by city residents, “Park named after. 30th anniversary of the Victory”, where a large-scale memorial complex is located. It consists of sculptures and bas-reliefs telling about important milestones of the Great Patriotic War. In the park there is a monument in the form of an angel, dedicated to the liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (among them there were many Omsk residents),
a memorial in honor of soldiers who died in Afghanistan and Chechnya, and a chapel in honor of St. George the Victorious, Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy. On the territory of the park from the memorials to the Irtysh River there are no trade tents, carousels or other infrastructure, but there are trees here, several lakes, picturesque bridges, walking paths and picnic areas.
Where it is: on the left bank of the Irtysh River, next to the Leningradsky Bridge. Public transport stop “Park Pobedy”.
“Bird Harbor”
Photo: Andrey Kudryavtsev
Bird Harbor is a natural park in the center of the metropolis. More than 150 species of birds live here. Several dozen species nest right here, unafraid of the nearby cars and descending planes. Recently, a children’s leisure center and a tower with an observation deck appeared in the Bird Harbor.
Where it is located: the left bank of the Irtysh River. The main entrance is located at the “Taxopark” stop, on the street. Yeniseiskaya, but there is also an entrance from the Victory Park stop.
Where to eat
Connoisseurs of good coffee and atmospheric establishments should definitely check out SkuratovCoffe coffee shops. They serve sage latte, orange raf and other delights. The establishments are decorated in a loft style and attract young people.
Average bill: 300 rubles
For a quick and inexpensive snack, stop by the Proviant bistro-bakery. The walls here are decorated with hand-painted plates and clay panels, the menu includes pancakes with a huge number of fillings, pastries, salads, meat and fish dishes, sandwiches, milkshakes with fruit.
Average bill: up to 300 rubles
Near the beach there is an excellent restaurant “Sienkiewicz”. It was named after the famous traveler Yuri Senkevich. The menu includes dishes from all over the world: from Russian pancakes with butter to cheese quesadillas, from classic roast beef to kataifi shrimp with turandot sauce.
Average bill: 1,500 rubles
Convenient hotel booking aggregator – OneTwoTrip.
* Prices for travel and accommodation are indicated at the time of writing. The cost indicated in the material and the final price may vary depending on the season and time for which tickets are purchased.
**Operating hours of organizations are indicated at the time of publication of the text. Opening hours may vary depending on the time of year.
Preview photo: Shutterstock.com
