Omsk Sights and Landmarks Guide, Russia

Situated in the Asian part of Russian, Omsk is considered by many as the “Capital of Siberia”. With a strong industry, rich culture and numerous monuments and historical landmarks, Omsk represents the typical Siberian city. The traveler is likely to find here an authentic Siberian lifestyle, as well as an interesting mix of architectural styles, underlined by the solitary beauty of the Siberian plains.

Omsk Sights – Museums and Historical Landmarks

A walk along Omsk’s main boulevards (like Lyubinski Prospekt, K. Marx Prospekt or Nikolski Prospect) is sufficient for revealing the city’s fascinating history. You will see numerous administrative and cultural buildings dating from the 19th and 20th century: banks, theaters, libraries, churches, hotels.

Some of the most representative pieces of architecture among Omsk sights are: Hotel “Siberia”, the Pozharnaya Kalancha (fire watch tower), the Siberian Cadet Millitary College or the River Station. The Palace of General-Governor and the Tobolskie and Tarskaya gates, which mark the entrance into the old fortress, are some of the oldest and most representative monuments in Omsk.

The guard house, dating back to 1872, is the only building in Omsk to have Baroque decorations. The most popular museums in Omsk are Omsk State Museum of History and Regional Studies (OGIK), the Literature Museum and Omsk Vrubel Art Gallery.

Omsk Sights – Culture and Events

Like any respectable Russian city, Omsk is proud of its Orthodox churches: the Dormition Cathedral, the St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Old Believer’s Chapel or Serafimo-Alexievskaya Chapel.

The majestic building of the Drama Theater is the core of Omsk’s cultural life. Nonetheless, Omsk has a total of 8 theaters (5 state theaters and 3 municipal ones). The Pushkin Library and the Musical Theater (former Operetta Theater) show the modern face of Omsk’s architecture. Classical music is represented by the Shebalin Musical College, the Omsk State Philharmonic Society and State Russian People’s Chorus. There are several festivals and fairs during the year, starting with the New Year, and continuing with the “City Day”, the “Soul of Russia” and “All Colors of the Rainbow”.

Omsk Sights – Entertainment in Omsk

A very popular attraction between the citizens of Omsk of all ages is the Circus (located right in the central part of the city, on K. Marx Street). While in Siberia, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to relax into a Russian ‘banya’ (Siberian sauna). However, if you happen to visit Omsk during summer, you can simply replace the banya with a beach session. Finally, if you feel that you’ve seen enough Omsk sights, some of the close-by cities like Novosibirsk and Barnaul will always have their gates open.