Novokuznetsk (Russian: Новокузне́цк nuh-vuh-kooz-NYETSK) is a big metallurgy and coal city in the south of Kemerovo Oblast. As the oldest city in the region by far (1617), Novokuznetsk has seen its fair share of different names. It was known simply as Kuznetsk (Blacksmith City) until the 1930s when massive coal deposits were found, sparking the industrialization of the city under the name Stalinsk. In the Khruschev era, the city was reborn as Novokuznetsk (New Kuznetsk). Novokuznetsk's age and proximity to the Kemerovo Oblast's beautiful southern region makes it the top destination in the region for tourism.
Get in
Trains arrive from Novosibirsk and Kemerovo, or, if arriving from the east, the more distant Taishet. It's not far from the Trans-Siberian Railway proper, and if doing that trip in sections, you may find it convenient to take a train passing through Novokuznetsk.
Novokuznetsk also has an airport with flights arriving from Moscow and Saint Petersburg. For the benefit of locals who want to get out of Siberia and hit the beaches, there are also flights in the summer to/from Russia's Black Sea Region: Sochi, Krasnodar, and Anapa.
- Novokuznetsk railway station. 2021-11-21
Get around
Public transport consists of a bus network and a small tram network.
See
- Novokuznetsk museum of regional studies, 24 Pionersky Prospekt. 2020-10-15
- Novokuznetsk museum of arts, 62 Kirova st. 2020-10-15
- The house-museum of Fyodor Dostoevsky, 29 Dostoevskogo st. 2020-10-15
- Kuznetsky Fortress (1780)
- Transfiguration Cathedral (Спасо-Преображенский собор). Historic Orthodox church completed in 1835. 2021-11-21
- St. John Chrysostom Church. A modern Catholic church, noted for holding services for both Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic churches. 2021-11-21
Do
- Drama Theatre
- Circus
- Ice hockey palace
- Skating rink
Buy
- Entertainment & Shopping Centers Globus and Continent
Learn
- Novokuznetsk State industrial University
- NBI Kemerovo State University
Eat
- Pel'meni
- Bliny
- Smetana
- Khren
- Schi
Drink
- Casino & Night Clubs
- Jazz Club "Gelikon" (dead link: December 2020), 4 Pokryshkina st.
- Vodka di Novokuzneck "Kuznechanka"
- Ivan Vodka (Иван Водка)
Sleep
- Novokuznetskaya (Новокузнецкая), 53 Kirova st (The city center), +7 3843 46-46-47, nvkz_hotel@mail.ru. Free wi-fi at the cafe on the 6th floor
- Gold wing (Золотое крыло), 51 Lenina st, +7 3843 37-79-70, gold-nk@yandex.ru. 24h reception, sauna with karaoke, jacuzzi, billiard, cafe-bar, free wi-fi. for single, for double
Go next
- Novokuznetsk is a convenient gateway for travelers going south into the Gornaya Shoria region of Kemerovo Oblast: to Tashtagol for skiing or to the Shorsky Nature Reserve.
- Kuznetsky Alatau Nature Reserve