Cultural activities & excursions

At your arrival in Novosibirsk, you will have the possibility to follow a guided tour of the city. We also offer students a free excursion in Novosibirsk or in it’s surroundings (as a rule, tours are in Russian). With our excursions you will be able to discover the rich history and the wonderful nature of the region. You can also meet Russians to practice the language. If you wish, the school will find a tandem partner for you: a Russian student who learns your mother tongue and with whom you can speak alternatively in each other’s language.

List of our exursions:

  • Walking sightseeng tour in Novosibirsk

Walking city tour of Novosibirsk, covering all the attractions of the central part of the city: Ascension Cathedral, Krasny Prospect street, Lenin Square – city center with the biggest world’s Opera House, St.Nicolas Chapel – the geographic center of Russia. Our local guides in Novosibirsk love the city and will make you discover the culture and atmosphere of the Siberian town!

  • Sightseeing city tour of Novosibirsk by car

City tour of Novosibirsk, covering all the main attractions of the city: Novosibirsk Railway Station – the biggest station of the Trans-Siberian Railroad, Ascension cathedral, Krasny Prospect street, Lenin Square – city center with the biggest world’s Opera House, old wooden houses on Gorkogo Str. – the oldest part of the city, St.Nicolas Chapel – the geographic center of Russia, river Ob’ embankment and colourful Siberian farm-market. Visit of the Local Lore (History Museum), featuring the fascinating and mystical history of Siberia OR boat-trip on OB river. Join our sightseeing tour!

Places to visit in Novosibirsk

  • The Novosibirsk Opera House

The Novosibirsk Opera House is an architectural marvel in itself. It is the largest in Russia (more than the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow) and among the largest in the world! Its first theatrical season was opened on May 12th, 1945 – during the days when all the country celebrated victory in the Second World War. During the war, the exhibits from world-famous museums of Moscow (Tretyakovskaya Gallery), Leningrad (Hermitage), Novgorod, Sevastopol and other Soviet cities were kept and saved here.

  • Novosibirsk-Glavny Railway station

Novosibirsk-Glavny (The biggest trans-siberian Railway station.) Before World War II, this was the largest railway station building in the USSR. Today, it still is the largest in Siberia and one of the largest in Russia. One of the symbols of Novosibirsk and main point of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

  • The Chapel of St. Nikolai

In 1915, in honor of the 300-year anniversary of the Romanov Dynasty, The Chapel of St. Nicholas was built and served as a symbolic center of the Russian Empire. During the years of communism, the chapel was destroyed and later became the site for a Stalin monument, which was destroyed after the exposure of the Stalin personality cult. The Chapel was restored for the celebration of the city’s 100-year anniversary and, as before, it bears the name of St. Nicholas.

  • The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in 1897 (one of the first stone-buildings of the city), but it was closed in 1937. In 1988 it was decided to give the Cathedral back to the russian orthodox church, and by 1992 it was fully reconstructed.

  • The Voznesensky Cathedral

Voznesensky cathedral Novosibirsk The Voznesensky Cathedral is the main Novosibirsk Orthodox Cathedral, and was built in 1914. Since then it has been reconstructed several times. It has retained its present look since the Orthodox Jubilee – Russian Orthodox Church Millennium.

  • Regional Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy

The Regional Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy (Krasny Prospect, 23) presents the history and ethnography of Siberia.

  • Novosibirsk Zoological Garden

Zoological Garden (ul. Timiryazeva, 71/1) is situated in a beautiful forested park. The Novosibirsk Zoo keeps 4000 animals of 399 species. More than 120 species are entered into the Red Book. A zoological team participates in 32 international programs on preservation and reproduction of rare and endangered species. The Novosibirsk Zoo has contact with more than 100 Zoos in the world and is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is the only Zoo entered into the International Directors Union. Among all the world’s Zoos, only the Novosibirsk Zoo possesses the unique Argali and Putoransky ram.

  • Akademgorodok

There used to be towns built near fortresses, near monasteries, near factories, ports, and even town-museums, but Akademgorodok (Academic Town) is the first town of science! Within its territory there are 35 research institutes, Novosibirsk State University (one of the top three Russian Universities), apartment houses and cottages, Dom Uchenykh (Scientists’ House) – a social center of Akademgorodok, which hosts a library (100 000 volumes), a picture gallery, a lecture hall and a fine concert hall. It is one of the few towns in the world built right in the middle of a forest. This Siberian town, located on the shore of the man-made lake Ob (a reservoir), has preserved its majestic birch and pine forest, abounding in birds and squirrels.

We can help you to organize a trip in the rest of Russia too. Moscow is only one night away by train or one hour by plane. The Trans-Siberian rail track brings its passengers to the very Far East until Beijing and Vladivostok. Don’t miss the stop at the wonderful lake Baikal. And for Russian airline tickets and hotels throughout Russia, why not booking online? You will find further travel information on our FAQ tips and tricks page and an active forum for questions.