Omsk (Russian: Омск ohmsk) is the capital of Omsk Oblast, Siberia, and is a regional hub for Western Siberia and the Altai mountains in Russia, as well as northern Kazakhstan.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Founded in 1716 as a fortress on the Imperial Russia's expanding southern frontier, by 1850s Omsk grew to become the capital of Western Siberia and parts of Central Asia. The construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway in the late 1890s brought a rapid development boom, culminating in an extravagant 1910s World Fair, around the time of which Omsk acquired much of its neoclassical architectural heritage. Largely due to its strategic importance as the gateway to Siberia and the Russian Far East, Admiral Kolchak of the anti-Soviet White Army chose Omsk as his base and "capital of Russia" in 1918–1919. Today, Omsk is Russia's seventh largest city with a population of over 1.5 million.
The city center around Lyubinsky prospekt is easily walkable and is best explored on foot. In autumn 2017 Lenin St south of the River Om is being dug up and is difficult to walk along, but businesses there and the cathedral remain open. Public transport operates from 06:00 to 23:00 and will take you to most places you need to go. Route maps are available online. A ticket for a bus, trolleybus, or tram costs 22 руб and a ride in a marshrutka costs 20-25 руб. Trolley N4 & N7, and buses N50, 60 and 69 are particularly useful. Taxis are plentiful and there are several taxi companies operating in Omsk.
The historical part of town is centered on Lyubinsky prospekt, near the confluence of the Om and Irtysh rivers. It is lined with century-old buildings of former merchant salons, residences, and larger commercial, government and religious establishments. The area now has some of the poshest shopping and the best nightlife in the city. Ulica Krasnyh Zor' (aka Nikol'skij prospekt) leads from the Cossacks' cathedral to a few blocks of historical carved-wood houses. This street can give an idea what Omsk and Siberia used to be like for centuries before industrialization.
Omsk Drama Theatre (Омский академический театр драмы), ul. Lenina, 8А, ☏ +7 381 224-40-65. An ornate theatre and a city icon, with great performances that always sell out. Arena-Omsk (Арена Омск), Lukashevicha, 35, ☏ +7 381 270-71-27. A 10,318 seat arena built in 2007. The ice hockey team Omsk "Avangard" is based here.
American chains including McDonald’s, KFC, Subway, Friday's, and Sbarro have locations in Omsk. 1 Farfor (Доставка еды Farfor), ave. Mira, 12, ☏ +7-929-36-08-111. 10:00-23:00. Pizza, rolls, sushi, assorted sets, Japanese soups, salads, desserts, main dishes and drinks. ~500 руб per person. (updated Aug 2023) Elki-Palki (Russian restaurant), 10 let Oktyabrya, 40 (Atrium-Kino entertainment center). Doski, Ulitsa Karla Libknekhta, 11, ☏ +7 381 229-41-24. A great place to eat and chat. But kind of a rowdy bar scene, be a little wary of the situation. Irtysh (Russian restaurant), Mira, 62, ☏ +7 3812 22-40-14. 12:00-24:00. Kochegarka, Lermontova St., 77, ☏ +7 3812-532909.
Kolchak, Broz Tito str., 2/1, ☏ +7-3812-45-99-99, kolchakomsk@gmail.com. Irish pub. One of the only pubs in Siberia where you can drink Guinness. The beer selection is great, but the food is not. Pivnaya Biblioteka (Library Brewhouse), Partizanskaya St., 4, ☏ +7-3812-201063, elizomsk@gmail.com. A café/bar with a library. Bar Omskih Bikerov, Karla Marksa Av, 36. Ogurtsy, Karla Marksa Av, 5А. Karaoke. Angar Kemerovo st., 1/3 8 381 290-57-77 Zanzibar Nochnoy Klub, ul. Lukashevicha, 10В, ☏ +7 381 278-11-51.
Dangerous areas of the city are Neftyaniki (town of oilmen), Amurskiy posyolok (Amur settlement), Port Arthur, Staryi Kirovsk (Old Kirovsk), and the area of the Omsk tire plant.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Omsk typically sees ~23°C daytime highs and 16 rainy days.
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