Tomsk can be explored along two paths: through its old streets with their Siberian-influenced wooden architecture, and at places that bring different chapters of the city’s history to life. Each destination offers a different focus—from walks through historic districts to museums, memorial sites and viewpoints.
Wooden Architecture and Historic Building Styles
The historic districts preserve extensive collections of wooden houses dating from the second half of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Walk through the old streets to see Siberian-influenced wooden architecture. The House with Dragons at 68 Krasnoarmeyskaya Street is cited as an example of this style. Another link to the city’s history is the faithful replica of the 17th-century Spasskaya Tower, built to mark Tomsk’s 400th anniversary. Here you can see both preserved wooden buildings and a reconstruction built specifically for the occasion.
Memorial Site and City History
The Tomsk Memorial Museum of the History of Political Repression is located in the basement of the building at 44 Lenin Avenue. From 1923 to 1944, the building housed the prison of the Tomsk City Department of the OGPU-NKVD. The grounds beside the prison formerly served as its courtyard; today, the Square of Remembrance stands there. Together, the museum and square form a memorial complex. The building’s and grounds’ former use is connected here with remembrance today.
The permanent exhibition comprises four former prison cells. Its sections include “Chronicle of Repression on Tomsk Land,” “The Great Terror,” “The Execution Cross,” “The Belostok Tragedy,” “Family Members of Traitors to the Motherland,” “Their Tragic Fates,” “The Fate of a Priest,” “Kolpashevo Yar,” and “The Gulag and Special Settlers of the Narym Region.” It also includes the “Underground Execution Corridor,” which features the sculptural composition “Departing into Oblivion.”
Exploring on Foot and Taking in the Views
The Museum of the History of Tomsk regularly organises walking tours of the city. Another perspective can be found at the former fire tower on Voskresenskaya Hill. In 1860, a wooden fire tower was built above the police administration building. Today, the former tower is a city viewpoint with an exhibition on the fire service. From there, you can look out over central city districts and Tomsk’s major sights. The walking tour and viewpoint thus offer different ways to experience the city.
Green Spaces and Practical Opening Times
At the southwestern edge of the city, the educational tourist route “Lagerny Garden. A Place with a History” runs through the urban park area of “Lagerny Sad.” The route description states that it is designed for year-round use. It adds a route through an urban park area to the city walks, without requiring a connection to the other places mentioned.
The protected park area of the Siberian Botanical Garden is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, except on public holidays and during announced closures for maintenance work. Check the official visitor guidelines before your visit so you can take these times and any possible exceptions into account when planning.
Discover more destinations: Assino, Semiluzhki, Bogashevo, Svetlyy, Barabinka, Strezhevoy, Rodionovo and Seversk.
Return to the regional travel overview: Tomsk Oblast.
