Akademgorodok (Academic Town) is a part of Novosibirsk located 20km to the south from the city centre, on the right bank of the Ob Sea.
Akademgorodok is one of the most important scientific and educational centres of Russia. Dozens of research institutes are situated on its territory as well as the presidium of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk State University and the Specialized Educational Scientific Center.
Akademgorodok lies in a pine forest because the architects had an aim of preserving the nature of the district as much as possible.
Akademgorodok has several places of interest:
1. Central Siberian Geological Museum
The collection includes numerous and various minerals and ores found in Siberia, such as diamonds, precious and semi-precious stones, including the rarest stone charoit. The collection of gold is also impressing. There is also a collection of artificial stones produced in the museum.
Address: 3, Akademika Koptyuga Prospect (Rus: проспект Академика Коптюга, д. 3)
GPS: N54.84499 E83.10476
Opening hours: 9:00-16:00
Website: http://www.igm.nsc.ru
2. Historical-Architectural Open Air Museum
The Historical-Architectural Open Air Museum is located 4 km far from Akademgorodok and covers the area of 46.5 hectares.
The museum houses the remains of the ancient towns and houses founded in different areas of Siberia. The exposition also includes some stone monuments from the Altai region and Mongolia. The museum
Photo by http://www.archaeology.nsc.ru
highlight is a wooden church dating back to the year 1700 found in Yakutia.
Address: 6/2, Ionosfernaya str. (Rus: Ионосферная, 6 корпус 2)
GPS: N54.84994, E83.17724
Opening hours:
1 June – 30 September: Mon-Fri from 10:00-16:00
October-May: Closed
Excursions should be booked in advance and scheduled daily from 10:00 to 11:30, from 12:00 to 13:30, from 14:00 to 15:30.
How to get to the museum:
The museum is accessible by car, bus or bicycle. Take a bus 8 from the bus stop “Rechnoy Vokzal” (Rus: Речной Вокзал) to “Institut Yadernoy Fiziki” (Rus: Институт Ядерной Физики). Then take a bus 716д or 107 and follow to the bus stop “Eksperimentator” (Rus: Экспериментатор).
Website: http://archaeology.nsc.ru
3. Virtual Museum of Science and Technology
The collection of the Museum has about a thousand items of storage, including the Soviet computers of the first generation, scientific instruments and a collection of radio and photo equipment.
Address: 15, Detskiy proezd (Rus: Детский проезд, 15)
GPS: N54.84143 E83.10505
Opening hours:
Wed: 15:00-18:00
Fri: 18:00-21:00
4. Museum of History and Culture of the Peoples of Siberia and the Far East
The museum represents the cultural diversity of peoples populated Siberia and the Far East. It also boasts some rare ancient items like the oldest spoon found ever, and an extremely well preserved mummy of a Siberian warrior with a tattoo.
Address:4, Zolotodolinskaya str. (Rus: ул. Золотодолинская, 4)
GPS: N54.83314, E83.10328
Photo by http://www.museumiaet.ru
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 10:00-17:00
Lunch break: 13:00-14:00
Excursions (in Russian): 10:00-16:00. Should be booked in advance.
Website: http://museumiaet.ru
How to get to Akademgorodok:
Take a bus 8, or a minivan 35 at Rechnoy Vokzal metro station and go to the last stop.
Check out the full list of the most interesting tours in Russian cities.
