Points of Interest (Where to Go in the City)

To start with, there are but few places in Novosibirsk where you will be able to find a translated version of the information you are interested in. Likewise, no one can guarantee the availability of English speaking stuff at this or that particular place. Nevertheless, the majority of pink-collar youngsters do speak some basic English. We have made a list of English-friendly places; the information has been sorted and carefully chosen for the publication in the corresponding section of NovosibirskGuide.Com where you can easily find it.

The pointing signs are installed at, literally speaking, every crossroad in the downtown, Akademgorodok and busy streets of other city areas. Even though, the names of streets written on them may be of help to pedestrians as well as to drivers, they are no use for foreigners unless you have a map in Russian. If you possess such a street plan, you can find your way in the city quite easily.

Pointing signs. Only in Russian :(

It is clear that describing all the places worth mentioning on one page is next to impossible. That is why we have made a list strictly following the principle of choosing only three best, three must-see institutions in every sphere. A reference number in round brackets indicates the corresponding section of our map of the city center.

Theatres:
The theatre is traditionally significant in Novosibirsk. The most important theatre of Novosibirsk and all Siberia is, undoubtedly, the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre [1] situated at 36, Krasny Prospect. Being the largest building of its kind in Russia, it has been nicknamed the ‘Siberian Coliseum’. The theater established in 1944 - at the peak of World War II – has been the symbol of the city since then. The Music Director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre is Theodor Currentzis. The prices of seats for the theatre in Novosibirsk are as cheap as they are in Russia on the general scale – which is extremely cheap in comparison to those in the US and Europe. For instance, booking a seat for an opera performance (excluding the first night) will cost you from 2 dollars. In the nearest future, the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre will continue to play the role of the country’s major opera house, since the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow and its counterpart from Saint-Petersburg– The Mariinsky Theatre are being currently rebuilt. Here you can have a look at the magnificent 3D panoramic view of the theatre’s hall.

One of the Novosibirsk's theatres (Red Torch). Photo by Svetlana Bumarina.

Another great theatre is the Novosibirsk State Drama Theatre led by Sergei Afanasyev [2] (16, Vokzalnaya Magistral). It has evolved from a youth theatre studio to become one of the youngest theatres of the city. It is well-known for its experimental plays.

The Novosibirsk Academic Youth Theatre ‘Globus’ is located at 1, Kamenskaya str. The repertoire of this theatre is very mixed – contemporary avant-garde performances neighbor classical children’s plays. So, it would be advisable to study the bill thoroughly in order to prevent oneself from making a mistake.

The majority of theatres, however, are closed during summer, with a new season starting in fall. Nevertheless, it is during the summer time when the stage of the Recreation Centre for Railroad Workers (usually abbreviated to “ДКЖ” [Deh-Kah-‘Zheh]) [4] receives touring major Russian theatres.

Parks, Zoos, and Gardens:
Zoo
A part of the huge Novosibirsk Zoo goes deeply into the woods, so it is pleasant to walk there even if you show no keen interest in animals. The Zoo is proud to present to the visitors its collection of weasels and the cat family species – one of the biggest in the world. A few years ago a unique feline was born in the Zoo. The child of lion and tigress, he has been called the liger. Lately, it has sired offspring, too.

Botanic Garden
The Central Siberian Botanic Garden stretches between Akademgorodok and a “satellite” city of Berdsk. The easiest way to get there is by going down Zolotodolinskaya street to its very end. The Botanik Garden can be compared with a safari park thanks to the trees, bushes and flowers growing everywhere alongside the pathways. The nature would seem to having been kept in undisturbed condition here if there were no plates giving the names of the plants. A small river and a lake located within the territory of the Garden attract the attention of people that are keen on having picnic lunches. A marvelous flower garden, often frequented by just married couples, is spread in front of the entrance to the administrative building. To the left of this institution one can find the gardens designed in different manners. They work till 5 p.m. The Bonsai garden, leftmost, is worth paying specific attention.

Pervomaisky Park [5]
A cozy park in the very middle of the city; popular among recently married couples. There have been erected a few stone monuments where everyone who wishes may sign.

Pervomaisky Park

Museums:
Museum of Art [6]
Apart from its regular exposition, the Museum of Art holds the exhibitions of contemporary art. It is situated at 5, Krasny Prospect.

Regional Museum of Local Culture and History [7]
This museum is located at the Lenin’s Square in the center of the city (Krasny Prospect, 23). It will be of interest to those wishing to learn about the history of Siberia.

Museum of Archeology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
This museum is well-known because of one of its exhibits – the ‘princess of Altai’, which is a mummy found by archeologists in Altai. The confrontation between the archeologists and local citizens never cease since these excavations. The inhabitants of Altai say that by digging out the ‘princess’ the scientists have awakened the spirits of the mountains. The Museum of Archeology is in Akademgorodok (4, Zolotodolinskaya str.).

Galleries:
‘No Soap’ Gallery [8]
The ‘No Soap’ Gallery is a small gallery in the downtown (19, Kamenskaya str.), situated just above the so-called Art Bar ‘Dacha’. This is the only gallery to exhibit the works of young nonconformist artists of Novosibirsk exclusively.

‘Chernoff’ Gallery [9]
The majority of works here fall to the share of Siberian painters, though photographs also appear on the walls of this gallery from time to time. ‘Chernoff’ is located in the basement of an old building at 34, Gorky street.

Art Clubs and Bars:
Jazz Bar ‘Труба’ ([troo-‘bah] means ‘a trumpet’) [10]
A small bar in the center of the city situated at 2, Frunze str. It enjoys great deal of popularity among foreigners. Here take place jazz concerts, including those performed by local bands and the representatives of the Russian underground. What attracts people here the most is its friendly atmosphere, created by a peculiar interior decoration, jolly waiters and nice public. Describing this bar is a difficult task, it is certainly better to drop in sometime and see everything with your own eyes.

Art Cabaret ‘Бродячая Собака’ ([broh-‘dya-chay-ah soh-‘bah-kah] means ‘a stray dog’) [11]
It is located just behind the Opera and Ballet Theatre at 32, Kamenskaya str. It’s here where the city’s theatergoers and actors have taken fancy to spend their time. Live music, tasty food and waitresses from a local drama school make this place really pleasant.

‘Rock-City’ Nightclub [12]
Being one of the most popular clubs among youngsters, ‘Rock-City’ is turning away from its past politics nowadays. Different kinds of parties are being held there, including those featuring the bands from Moscow. Those, who know a little about the clubs in the capital, may find that ‘Rock-City’ is somewhat alike ‘B2’ in Moscow. 37, Krasny Prospect.

Funny and Interesting Monuments:
To start with, all the monuments in Novosibirsk are either funny or boring, for few of them have been built during the city’s 110 years of existence.

Petukhova Street Banner
Huge letters inscribed on the banner that stretches along the lane at one of the major thoroughfares of the city say: ‘Long live That, because of which we are - despite everything!’. According to one of the stories, this quite mysterious and confusing slogan appeared here during Perestroika due to the argument between the heads of city areas’ administrations. Supposedly, they have had a bet about installing the most ridiculous banner. And we bet we know who has won!

Bridge Monument
The railway bridge is one of the oldest constructions built in Novosibirsk. The whole city has developed from a settlement of workers building this very bridge, which was a part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, in the XIX century. When the bridge was rebuilt in the XX century, one of its spans was taken away, reconstructed and placed on the quay.

Traffic Lights Monument
This monument is situated on the intersection of Serebrennikovskaya str. and Sibrevkoma str. It was here where the first traffic lights were installed.

Fountains oh the Ob' river. Photo by Svetlana Bumarina.

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