Discover Novosibirsk: Culture, Museums and River Cruises

• The Museum of Local History is housed in the City Trade Building, an architectural monument dating from 1910–1911.
• The Novosibirsk State Art Museum holds more than 12,000 works dating from the 16th to the 21st century.
• The Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre is considered the city’s most important architectural landmark; NOVAT is Russia’s largest music theater.
• In summer, sightseeing boats depart from the pier on Mikhailovskaya Embankment.

The Novosibirsk Museum of Local History combines the city’s history with that of its building: the City Trade Building was built in 1910–1911 to a design by architect A. D. Kryachkov and is a federally protected architectural monument. The permanent exhibition “Siberia in Ancient Times” explores the way of life and beliefs of Siberia’s Indigenous peoples.

Another historic site is Gorodskoye Nachalo Park on Mikhailovskaya Embankment. This is where Novosibirsk began as Novo-Nikolayevsk. An original span from the first railway bridge over the Ob River is on display. The bridge was in operation for more than 90 years, until 1991. The park is also home to a distinctive building of the Museum of Novosibirsk.

The Novosibirsk State Art Museum holds more than 12,000 works of Russian and Western European painting, graphic art, sculpture and applied arts from the 16th to the 21st century; a substantial portion is on permanent display. The museum galleries first opened to visitors in late December 1958. The Museum of the Sun offers a different focus: its permanent exhibitions include historical reconstructions of life in Ancient Egypt, Indochina and North America, as well as objects and clothing of the Incas, Aztecs and ancient Slavs.

Individual buildings also tell the story of the city’s development. The small wooden house on Bolshevistskaya Street, known as the “Office of Engineer G. M. Budagov” Museum, is one of Novosibirsk’s important historic buildings. The program includes, among other things, a walk among the houses of old Novo-Nikolayevsk, insights into the work and leisure of bridge-building engineers, and music from the 19th century. The described offerings also include a workshop on the basics of courtly etiquette and a comparison of the symphonion and the gramophone; check current visitor information with the museum. The Ascension Cathedral, initially built of wood, was constructed in 1912–1913.

The Opera and Ballet Theatre building is considered the most important architectural landmark in the capital of Siberia. The Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, or NOVAT for short, is Russia’s largest music theater. Alongside the Academic Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic is home to 19 ensembles. Their programs range from classical, jazz and pop to folk music, as well as music and literature; educational programs are aimed at adults and children.

With more than 1,500 exhibits, the Natural History Museum focuses on the natural sciences. Its exhibits include the complete skeleton of Matilda, a female mammoth, and the skeleton of a woolly rhinoceros. The zoo is best known for its mammals; birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates are also kept in their own buildings and enclosures. A separate pavilion houses an enclosure aquarium with Humboldt penguins. The exhibits may change.

The Novosibirsk Railway Technology Museum showcases the history of technology through a collection of more than 100 objects. These include steam, diesel and electric locomotives dating from the late 19th century onward, displayed on several tracks. Another way to combine rail travel and scenery is the Novosibirsk Children’s Railway: its 5.3-kilometer narrow-gauge line runs through the forest between Zaeltsovsky Park and the zoo, stops at several stations and operates seasonally.

In summer, sightseeing boats depart from the pier at the river terminal at the end of Mikhailovskaya Embankment. Trips on the river shuttle are also available, with or without an excursion. Some trips in the wider region visit Korablik Island. Passengers can spend a few hours there and return to shore on a later boat. Check routes, schedules and availability before your trip.

Around New Year, Mikhailovskaya Embankment becomes one of the city’s main entertainment venues each year. An ice town with slides and an ice rink is set up in the park. The specific attractions may vary from year to year.

If you’re looking for a hotel, first decide which visits are important for your trip. Then compare the accommodation’s stated location with your own itinerary. This way, your choice is guided by the experiences you have planned, without assuming that one particular location suits everyone’s interests equally.

If you’d like to compare other destinations alongside Novosibirsk, you can also include the pages for Ob, Novososedovo, Kuibyshev, Ordynskoye, Burmistrovo, Novopichugovo and Koshevo in your comparison.

What does the Museum of Local History’s permanent exhibition show?

“Siberia in Ancient Times” explores the way of life and beliefs of Siberia’s Indigenous peoples. The Museum of Local History is housed in the historic City Trade Building.

What river cruises are available in summer?

Sightseeing boats depart from the pier on Mikhailovskaya Embankment; trips on the river shuttle are also available, with or without an excursion. Check current routes and schedules before your trip.

What is special about the Novosibirsk Children’s Railway?

The seasonal narrow-gauge line is 5.3 kilometers long and runs through the forest between Zaeltsovsky Park and the zoo. It stops at several stations along the way.

For the broader travel overview: Novosibirsk Oblast.