ocean cay msc marine reserve yacht club

15 Best Things to Do in Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Port Guide)

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If you visit Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, you’re in luck! Ocean Cay is a newer private island, and cruisers love it. In fact, many cruisers consider Ocean Cay the ultimate private island for beach days.

MSC owns Ocean Cay Marine Reserve, which can only be reached by cruise ship. At Ocean Cay, you’ll find eight stunning beaches, fun activities, an incredible lighthouse, and more.

Royal Caribbean owns Perfect Day at CocoCay , which can only be reached by cruise ship. At CocoCay, you’ll find stunning beaches, a waterpark, fun activities, excursions, included food, and more.

In this post, I share a complete Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve port guide, including the attractions, free things to do, shore excursions, bars, and dining venues. With that being said, here are 15 things to do when you visit Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Where Is Ocean Cay?

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve is a manmade island in the Bahamas. This beautiful private island is located 65 miles southeast of Miami and 20 miles south of Bimini.

In fact, Ocean Cay is closer to Florida than many other cruise lines’ private islands, including Half Moon Cay, Perfect Day at CocoCay , and Castaway Cay.

Since Ocean Cay is so close to Port Miami, ships can stay in port late into the evening and return to Florida by morning.

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve Map

Things To Know Before Going To Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Here is some important information you’ll want to know before visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve:

Your drink package works on the private island.
There is a complimentary shuttle that brings you around the island.
There are stands around the island to return your used to towels.
Wi-Fi packages work on the island.
There’s a complimentary buffet and drink stations.

Free Things to Do at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Visit the Beaches

The great thing about visiting Ocean Cay is the wonderful beaches. With 8 separate beaches, this private island is built to have the perfect beach day.

Here are the beaches at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve:

At least one lifeguard is on duty on every one of Ocean Cay’s eight beaches. Due to the size of the lagoons, there will also be in-the-water lifeguards available.

Seakers Family Cove

Seakers Family Cove is a family beach with shallow waters. This makes it safe and easy for younger kids to play in the water.

South Beach

South Beach is the longest beach on the island. Here, you’ll find crystal-clear waters, which is ideal for water sports, activities, and swimming.

North Beach

North Beach is located right next to South Beach. It is a great beach for swimming and tanning in the sun.

Bimini Beach

Bimini Beach is located farthest from the cruise port and is an ideal choice for a quiet and relaxing beach day. Since this beach is secluded, the nearest bar is a few minutes away.

Lighthouse Bay

Lighthouse Bay offers stunning views of the lighthouse, which is ideal for taking pictures. This lively beach is a great place to have a drink and relax.

Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach is located on a half-mile-long stretch of sand. This beach is perfect for swimming and watching the sunset.

Paradise Sands

Paradise Sands is located right next to The Spa. This beach is peaceful and quiet, ideal for a relaxing beach day.

Ocean House Beach

Ocean House Beach is a private beach dedicated to Yacht Club Beach. This beach has it’s own private bar and restaurant.

Play Beach Sports

Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve has a dedicated area for beach sports. You’ll find activities like beach volleyball, beach soccer, bocce ball, and disc golf.

During our visit to Ocean Cay, beach volleyball and beach soccer were popular among the guests. If you want to have fun under the sun, you will enjoy these activities.

Related: 20 Best Things to Do on MSC Seascape

Enjoy Lunch

One of the great parts about visiting Ocean Cay is the complimentary lunch. The lunch is buffet-style, and you’ll find a variety of sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and other delicious foods.

The lunch line can get quite long, so plan accordingly!

We ate on the cruise ship during our recent visit to Ocean Cay instead of at the complimentary buffet. After we ate lunch on the cruise ship, we walked onto the island and enjoyed our day at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

If you want something different, there are food trucks and restaurants around the island. Although, these come at an extra charge.

Tip: Don’t forget to pack a beach bag with your port day essentials .

Grab a Drink!

If you have a drink package, then you can enjoy complimentary alcoholic beverages at the various bars located around the island.

Here are the bars at Ocean Cay:

Lighthouse Bar

The Lighthouse Bar is located on the beach near the lighthouse. It offers stunning views and is a great place to relax and grab a drink.

During our Ocean Cay visit, we spent an hour hanging out at this bar and taking pictures on the beach.

There are eight Tiki Bars located around the island. These bars offer quick service and amazing beverage options.

Springer’s Bar

Springer’s Bar is located near the marina and offers authentic Bahamian cocktails. Founded by a local Bahamian family, this bar has an amazing vibe and is a great place to enjoy a cocktail.

Watch the Lighthouse Light Show

Ocean Cay Marine Reserve Lighthouse lightshow

When you visit Ocean Cay, you’ll have the opportunity to watch the lighthouse show. On cruises in port late, the light show can be seen from lighthouse bay.

On a recent cruise onboard MSC Seascape , our all-aboard time was at 8:00 PM, so we got to watch the light show from the cruise ship during dinner in the main dining room . The captain positioned the cruise ship to get a great view of the lighthouse as we left Ocean Cay.

This was a great opportunity to take photos, enjoy the light show, and make lifelong memories.

Cruising on MSC Seascape? Watch this video before you go

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Things to Do at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Extra Cost)

Rent a cabana.

Cabana rentals are perfect for those who want their own secluded space or want to escape the sun. The cabana rental can hold up to 6 guests and include fresh water and towels.

Furthermore, the cabana rental include beach chairs, so you can relax and enjoy your day at Ocean Cay.

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Regular price: $27 now just $17.

Go Shopping

Ocean Cay has amazing authentic Bahamian shops. This is a great place to buy souvenirs and gifts for those at home.

In the shops, you will find handmade souvenirs and local music. Souvenirs and gifts can be purchased in USD, making shopping easy and convenient for cruise travelers.

Rent a Paddleboard

If you enjoy water sports, then you’ll want to rent a paddle board. Paddle boarding is a fun activity and a great way to stay active while you’re visiting Ocean Cay.

At Ocean Cay, there will be a paddleboarding excursion. This excursion lasts an hour and a half and is well-suited for paddleboarders with any level of experience.

Rent a Kayak

Consider renting a kayak if you want a fun way to explore Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve. Kayak rentals last for an hour, and they fit up to two people.

This is a super fun activity and a great way to see the private island from a different perspective.

Rent a Floating Beach Mat

A floating beach mat is a great way to relax in the sun and enjoy the beach. At Ocean Cay, guests can rent a floating beach mat for the whole day.

When we visited Ocean Cay, the floating beach mats were super popular, and many people used them.

Go Snorkeling

Snorkeling is a great way to see the wonder marine life at Ocean Cay. On the island, you can rent snorkeling equipment for the whole day and truly experience the marine life.

Do a Waverunner Tour

If you’re looking for a thrilling excursion, check out the Wave Runner Tour. This guided tour is a great way to see the private island and it’s tons of fun.

The Wave Runner’s fit two people and the tour lasts for an hour and a half.

Shipwreck Excursion

If you’re looking for an adventure, check out the shipwreck excursion. On this tour, you will board a boat and visit a shipwreck near a private island.

Here, you can snorkel and explore the shipwreck, which is a really cool experience. Once you’re done snorkeling, you can grab a complimentary rum punch and relax on the boat.

Go on a Sunrise Mimosa Cruise

If you want to start your morning right, consider booking the sunrise mimosa cruise excursion. For this excursion, board a double-decker catamaran.

On this excursion, you will enjoy a mimosa as the sun rises. It is very relaxing and the perfect way to start your day.

Climb The Lighthouse!

If you want a 360-degree view of the island, you can climb the lighthouse. This activity takes 30 minutes, and its a great place to take amazing photos.

During the climb, your guide will share information about the island. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Ocean Cay and Bahamian history.

Video: MSC Ocean Cay Island Tour

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Things to do in Ocean Cay Marine Reserve

Final Thoughts on Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

Well, there it is, everything you need to know about Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve.

Ocean Cay has a lot to offer. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach day, doing fun activities on the beach, or an exciting excursion, there is something for everyone.

The great thing about Ocean Cay is its wonderful beaches. Each beach has a different vibe, so there is something for families, couples, and solo cruisers.

If your cruise stops at Ocean Cay, you’ll have an amazing and memorable day!

Have you ever been to MSC’s private island Ocean Cay or are you planning to? Please let me know what you enjoyed in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Review: Beach Cabana – Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

After taking off from Port Canaveral the day prior, we made a beeline for Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. Ocean Cay, an artificial island, was originally built in the 1960s to mine Aragonite sand. It has since been repurposed as a private island for MSC Cruises.

I waited until two weeks prior to start searching for cabana rentals. This was obviously cutting it close, like really close. As I searched the Ocean Cay Cabana website both cabanas Ocean Cay Beach and Ocean Cay Yacht Club cabanas were sold out. 😬 for reference, here is the pricing info for the cabanas.

I checked the website again four days prior to the cruise. During this web trip, I found the first option of the Ocean Cay Beach Cabana, which I wanted to book for $249 since it was the cabana I experienced last year during a retirement cruise, was sold out.

I eventually booked an Ocean Cay Yacht Club Beachfront Cabana for ~$450 USD for the day.

The Yacht Club Cabana was supposed to be “private”, have towels, food and drinks provided. It sounded eerily similar to a normal cabana except for Yacht Club prices. Maybe I was trippin’.

The night prior to arrival, I stopped by the 5th deck customer service to inquire about the “regular” beach cabana. To my surprise, there was one open but it was beach side…I took it! The overly lady told me that the $200 USD would not be refunded but credit to my Deluxe Balcony Room . This was not a big deal as it all would spend the same.

We exited the boat around 9am the next morning to get to the beach. The entire crew could not wait so I had to get motivated as well. We exited the ship on the 4th, at the aft exit. We made our way along the fence line and made a left towards the pink pavilion. The pavilion was where passengers were pointed in the general direction of their excursions and given options on how to get there.

Since my mom had knee surgery a few months prior, we hopped on the trolley to get to our beachside cabana. The ride lasted a little longer than five minutes. We were not the last ones to exit, as the driver had to take the final three guests to a Yacht Club cabana.

I walked up to the cool, vibey stand to check in where I was greeted in Spanish by a guy from Venezuela. Although Spanish is not my first, second, or third language, I was able to get through the initial barrage of questions. We were offered towels, and floating mats.

I had to sign for the cabana which was #4. The guy then told me if there were any issues that I needed to come back to him or his colleague.

Cabana #4 was a two minute walk from the stand. It came with covered seating for eight, four beach chairs, and a cooler.

Since it was on the beach side, it was so freaking windy. We tried to settle in but we’re not having it. Nicholas then wanted to get in the choppy water. I told him it was a Bad Idea Alert but I would take him out there. We lasted for three minutes before I walked back to see my bro from Venezuela.

He assigned us to cabana #16, lagoon side. The guests assigned to that cabana had not made it off the boat so he gave it to us. I appreciated this gesture.

We received a nice view of the ship as a consolation.

There was jet skiing, kayaking, sunset cruise, stargazing and a host of other activities available for guests. Most were adult focused so we could not participate. Nicholas and I took my pill speaker to the water, with the floating mat and had a blast.

Apparently, there were some lemon sharks in the lagoon but Nicholas nor I saw them. The lifeguard said they were harmless…rightttt.

We made regular trips to the cabana to visit with my mom and stepdad. While doing this, we took time to play in the sand and work on our sunburns. Nicholas LOVES being in/near the water.

The food trucks near us opened at 11am so we had about a 90 minute way to grab a bite to eat. The trucks pretty much served the same things: burgers, hot dogs, fries, and brownies. These were all included with our room, while the lobster roll could be had for ~$13 USD. There was a pavilion on the opposite side of the lagoon where buffet style food could be had.

None of us ate breakfast before leaving the ship. We were out there on Banana Boat, Coca Cola, Heineken, canned water and vibes. My mom and stepdad made their way to the truck about 15 minutes prior to opening. They grabbed a whole heap of burgers to hold us over.

After a few hours, it was time to head back to the ship because we were beat. As Nicholas and I rinsed off, my mom and stepdad had apparently hopped a trolley from the stand near the cabana and left us to fend for ourselves. 😂 We decided to walk back to enjoy the weather. A lot of people recognized us from the ship so I stopped by the bar next to the pink pavilion for a drink. We were also able to snap a couple of photos.

Ocean Cay was as dope as I had remembered. It was great to experience this with a few more of the people closest to me. We are already in talks about taking another cruise with MSC Cruises next year because of the stop in Ocean Cay.

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What is the MSC Yacht Club? Take a look at MSC Cruises’ luxury suite area

MSC Cruises sails nearly two dozen beautiful ships from home ports around the world, but their inviting sun decks can be crowded, and you're likely to encounter queues for dinner, shows and guest services.

The trick to creating a more luxurious experience on this big-ship cruise line is to book a stay in the line's Yacht Club. This upscale enclave within MSC Cruises ' larger ships offers guests more spacious accommodations, butler service and dedicated restaurants and lounges — even coffee delivered to your room each morning, just the way you like it.

Because of the Yacht Club , MSC can offer an inviting experience for cruisers who like big-ship cruising but crave more elevated accommodations, dining and amenities. MSC Cruises was one of the first lines to introduce this ship-within-a-ship concept, along with Norwegian Cruise Line . Now other popular cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean , also have adopted it.

The Yacht Club section on several of MSC Cruises' ships offers gated access to semi-private dining, butler service and more, but it comes at a price. Find out how much you can expect to pay and what you'll get for your money.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

What are the MSC Yacht Club perks?

All stays in the Yacht Club include priority check-in and checkout; priority disembarkation and boarding on shore excursions days; free premium alcohol and Wi-Fi packages; a bathrobe and slippers; complimentary access to the Aurea Spa thermal suite; 24-hour concierge and butler services (dining and spa reservations, unpacking and repacking, morning coffee delivery, etc.); a free daily in-cabin newspaper of your choice, delivered; and the ability to change your cruise one time without penalty.

Yacht Club cruisers are also entitled to discounts of 10% on spa treatments, 20% on specialty dining packages and 40% on spa packages.

In addition, passengers booked in the Yacht Club have access to their own dedicated bar, lounge and restaurant, as well as a semi-private outdoor bar, pool and hot tubs, all on an exclusive sun deck. When ships dock at the line's private island, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve , Yacht Club passengers have private beach and restaurant access .

In their cabins, Yacht Club cruisers will find a pillow menu, memory foam mattresses, high-quality linens, bathrooms with marble floors, a specialty coffee maker, complimentary open minibar access, one gratis bottle of spirits (choose from a list of available options), free one-time snacks, 24-hour room service and nightly turn-down chocolates from Venchi, an Italian chocolatier that partners with the cruise line.

Which MSC cruise ships have the Yacht Club?

Thirteen ships in the MSC Cruises fleet have the Yacht Club on board:

MSC Bellissima
MSC Euribia
MSC Fantasia
MSC Grandiosa
MSC Meraviglia
MSC Preziosa
MSC Seascape.
MSC Seashore.
MSC Seaside
MSC Seaview
MSC Splendida
MSC Virtuosa
MSC World Europa

Upcoming vessel MSC World America (2025) also will have the Yacht Club.

The largest Yacht Club in the fleet is on MSC World Europa, offering 152 suites. The second-largest is found on the line's two Seaside EVO Class ships, MSC Seashore and MSC Seascape, which each have 131 suites.

MSC Yacht Club cabins

All accommodations in the Yacht Club are labeled as suites, even though they comprise some standard cabin types. The specific stateroom types offered will vary by ship, but in general, they range from windowless interior cabins and deluxe balcony rooms to Executive and Royal Suites with more space, walk-in closets and bathrooms with both showers and bathtubs.

New to the fleet with the line's World Class are 1,600-square-foot Owner Suites, which include multi-room layouts, walk-in closets, bathtubs and balconies, each with a whirlpool and alfresco dining area.

Also new are Duplex Suites, offering two decks of space, with the bedroom and bathroom upstairs and a dining area, living room and guest bath downstairs. These also include two private sun decks with loungers, one of which boasts a whirlpool.

How much does it cost to stay in the MSC Yacht Club?

As you might expect, the cost to stay in the Yacht Club depends on several factors, including cabin type, the length of the sailing and where you're going and when. However, in line with the rest of the brand's pricing, a stay in the Yacht Club is an excellent value when you compare it to stays in other lines' dedicated suite areas or to luxury cruise prices.

I priced out several sailings departing over the next two years on some of the line's newest and largest ships. This is what was available at press time. (Note: MSC Cruises' website will only allow me to choose a general Yacht Club designation when booking. That means a guaranteed suite within the Yacht Club, but you won't know what type it is until closer to sailing.)

7-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruise on MSC Seascape: $6,538 (including taxes) for two adults, round trip from Miami, March 16-23, 2024
11-night Bermuda, Canada and New England cruise on MSC Meraviglia: $9,958 (including taxes) for two adults, round trip from Brooklyn, New York, Sept. 25-Oct. 6, 2024
7-night Mediterranean cruise on MSC World Europa: $5,118 (including taxes) for two adults, round trip from Barcelona, May 2-9, 2025
7-night Mediterranean on MSC Divina: $5,858 (including taxes) for two adults, round trip from Kusadasi, Turkey, June 5-12, 2025

Check out the MSC Cruises website to learn more about the MSC Yacht Club .

Have more cruise questions? TPG has answers:

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What's the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?

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Omsk city, Russia

The capital city of Omsk oblast .

Omsk - Overview

Omsk is one of the largest cities in Russia, a major scientific, cultural, sports, transport, and industrial center. The administrative center of Omsk Oblast, it is the second most populous city in Siberia.

The population of Omsk is about 1,126,000 (2022), the area - 567 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 3812, the postal codes - 644000-644246.

Omsk city flag

Omsk city coat of arms.

Omsk city map, Russia

Omsk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

10 November, 2019 / Tomsk - the view from above .

3 July, 2016 / Omsk - the view from above .

20 October, 2012 / The bear at the gate .

2 August, 2012 / Omsk city from bird's eye view .

14 December, 2011 / Time-lapse video of Omsk city .

History of Omsk

Foundation of omsk.

The need to build a Russian fortress on the banks of the Irtysh at the mouth of the Om River arose in connection with the steppe nomadic peoples. In particular, with the Oirats, whose tribes in the first decades of the 17th century began to appear within the borders of the Russian state being under the onslaught of their external enemies and as a result of internal civil strife. However, various foreign and domestic political problems of Russia hindered the development and defense of the South Siberian borders.

The situation changed only at the beginning of the 18th century, when the Russian conquest of Siberia intensified. Since Peter I paid great attention to geographical research in the south, the expeditions of that time combined socio-political tasks and tasks of scientific research.

One of such expeditions was led by the Russian military and statesman, associate of Peter I, Major General Ivan Bukhgolts. The goals of the expedition, numbering about 3,000 people, were to search for ore and gold deposits, the discovery of trade routes to India and China, as well as the construction of towns on the Irtysh River.

The expedition left Tobolsk to the south along the Irtysh in July 1715. In the spring of 1716, after a conflict with the Dzungars in the north of today’s Kazakhstan, the remnants of the expedition (about 700 people) withdrew to the mouth of the Om River, where they laid a new fortress named Omsky ostrog (fortified settlement).

According to the census of 1725, 992 people lived in the fortress, in 1742 - 1,092 people. From the first years of its existence, it served as a place of exile for prisoners. After serving hard labor and imprisonment, a lot of them stayed in Omsk for permanent residence.

More Historical Facts…

Omsk in the second half of the 18th century

The ethnic composition of the region’s population was formed in the process of settling the territory. Russians, Germans, Ukrainians, Poles, Belarusians, and representatives of many other nationalities were sent here to serve or were exiled. The indigenous people of the region were the Siberian Tatars and Kazakhs, who switched to a sedentary lifestyle.

The foundation of the second Omsk fortress took place in 1762. The first fortress, although it occupied a favorable geographical position, was wooden and, by the middle of the 18th century, it was dilapidated. In 1765, new stone fortifications were constructed. The first stone structure of the fortress was the Resurrection Military Cathedral, built in 1773 and preserved to this day.

In the end of the 18th century, the Omsk fortress was one of the largest structures in the eastern part of the Russian Empire, its area was more than 30 hectares. In 1782, it was transformed into a town named Omsk within the Tobolsk Governorate. In 1785, the coat of arms of Omsk was approved.

Omsk became the center of management of the Siberian transport routes and the Siberian Cossack army, which not only guarded the South Siberian borders, but also made a huge contribution to the economic development of the steppe expanses of Kazakhstan, the annexation of Central Asia to the Russian Empire.

Omsk in the 19th century

The fire of 1819 destroyed almost half of the town including the archive and the magistrate of Omsk with all the first archival documents. Therefore information about the life of Omsk in the 18th - early 19th centuries is scarce and fragmentary. In 1825, the population of the town was about 9,000 people.

In 1829, the town’s development plan was approved. It was made by the famous Petersburg architect V.I. Geste, who took the city of St. Petersburg as a model with its wide avenues, huge neighborhoods, fountains, cast-iron bridges, and an abundance of green spaces.

The composition of the population of Omsk was not quite usual. In the middle of the 19th century, since Omsk was the center of the military and civil administration, the proportion of the military in the local population reached about 60%.

Fyodor Dostoevsky (one of the greatest psychological novelists in world literature), who served a term of hard labor in the Omsk prison in 1850-1854, in a letter to his brother gave Omsk the following description: “Omsk is a disgusting town. There are almost no trees. In summer, heat and wind with sand, in winter, a snowstorm. I have not seen nature. The town is dirty, military and highly depraved.”

By the second half of the 19th century, Omsk in its development outstripped many steppe towns and became not only an administrative, but also a commercial and industrial center. In 1861, in Omsk, there were 2,122 houses (31 stone houses), 34 factories and plants, about 20 thousand residents.

In 1892, the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway began, which gave a new impetus to the economy of Siberian towns and positively influenced Omsk. The development of the Trans-Siberian Railway caused an increase in the urban population due to migrants who came to work from the central part of the Russian Empire. According to the 1897 census, 37.3 thousand people lived in Omsk. The town had 14 streets with a total length of more than 140 km and 13 squares.

Omsk in the first half of the 20th century

The beginning of the 20th century was a time of great changes for Siberia. Mass peasant colonization caused a sharp leap in the development of the region’s economy, primarily its agrarian sector, and the Trans-Siberian Railway ensured the inclusion of the local economy in the system of the All-Russian and European markets.

Due to its favorable economic and geographical position - at the intersection of the railway and the Irtysh River, in the middle of a vast agricultural territory - Omsk quickly turned into a large transport, trade and industrial center of Western Siberia and Governor-Generalship of the Steppes (Eastern and Central Kazakhstan).

Wholesale trade in bread, butter and other agricultural products was concentrated here. Omsk also became one of the industrial, social and cultural centers of Western Siberia. By 1903, the city’s population grew to 60 thousand people. In 1914, it had about 134.8 thousand residents. Omsk became the most populous city in Siberia.

During the Civil War on the territory of the former Russian Empire, from June 1918 to November 1919, Omsk was the residence of the Supreme Ruler of Russia, Admiral Alexander Kolchak, who declared this city the capital of white Russia opposing red Russia of the Bolsheviks. Soviet power was finally established in the city in 1920.

In the summer of 1921, an event took place that had a decisive impact on the cultural and economic life of Omsk. The functions of the administrative center of Siberia were transferred from it to the city of Novonikolaevsk (future Novosibirsk). In 1934, Omsk became the administrative center of a separate Omsk Oblast.

Over the years of industrialization, Omsk became one of the largest centers for agricultural engineering in the USSR. The metal-working industry also developed at a rapid pace. In 1939, Omsk numbered more than 288 thousand people.

During the Second World War, about 200 industrial enterprises were evacuated to Omsk, as well as 60 hospitals, dozens of educational institutions, theaters, museums, and hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Omsk after the Second World War

In the post-war years, new enterprises were put into operation in Omsk, all existing factories and plants were reconstructed and expanded. The industrial potential of the city was also strengthened by the Omsk oil refinery, the largest in the country. In connection with the rapid development of industry, especially petrochemical enterprises, the ecological situation deteriorated. The concentration of harmful substances in the air sharply increased. In 1964, the population of Omsk was about 702 thousand people.

In the 1970s-1980s, Omsk developed rapidly. In 1975, the city’s population exceeded 1 million. The most pressing problem was the ecological situation. Omsk was in the top 10 cities of Russia in terms of environmental pollution. Another problem that required an immediate solution was the development of passenger transport. The capacity of Omsk streets was exhausted, and therefore the construction of the subway became an urgent issue.

The economic crisis that gripped Russia after the collapse of the USSR had a negative impact on the economy of Omsk and the region as a whole. There was a significant decline in industrial production, construction volumes fell, and unemployment rose. A lot of organizations of the defense complex, research institutes, and design bureaus found themselves in a deep crisis without the state defense order.

The share of mechanical engineering and metalworking, light industry, and, to a lesser extent, chemical and petrochemical, forestry and woodworking industries decreased. At the same time, the share of the fuel industry, energy, and construction materials industry began to grow.

In the 2000s, Omsk again became one of the most important economic centers of Western Siberia with a developing mechanical engineering, petrochemical industry, various branches of the woodworking, construction industry, and a highly productive agro-industrial complex. In recent years, Omsk has also acquired the features of one of the largest Siberian centers of entrepreneurship and banking/financial activities.

Architecture of Omsk

On the street in Omsk

Author: Tim Brown

Yak-9 fighter aircraft in front of the aerospace engineering company Polyot in Omsk

The Omsk Cadet Corps

Author: Stanislav Katsko

Omsk - Features

Omsk is located in the south of the West Siberian Plain at the confluence of the Om River into the Irtysh, about 150 km from the border of Russia with Kazakhstan. About 60% of all residents of Omsk Oblast live in Omsk. The City Day of Omsk is celebrated on the first Saturday of August.

The city’s coat of arms is very similar to the first coat of arms of Omsk approved by Empress Catherine II in 1785. It depicts a part of the brick fortifications, which symbolizes the reason for its foundation as a fortress and the center of the Siberian defensive line.

Omsk belongs to the temperate climatic zone with a continental climate of the forest-steppe of the West Siberian belt. It is distinguished by an abundance of sunlight. The average air temperature in January is minus 16.3 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19.6 degrees Celsius. The highest wind speeds are observed in winter and spring, which is the reason for frequent snow and dust storms.

In the past, the ecological situation in Omsk was very unfavorable. Since 2011, the city’s environmental development rating has increased significantly. This was the result of large-scale modernization of many large industries (including the Omsk oil refinery). Today, road transport is the main source of air pollution in the city.

The level of pollution of the Omsk rivers - Irtysh and Om - remains consistently high. Swimming in them is prohibited. While industrial effluents are becoming more environmentally friendly, sewers are releasing waste products including diesel fuel and petroleum products into the rivers. Dust raised by dust storms is also a serious problem for the city as it contains a lot of harmful substances including lead.

The city’s industry is based on oil refining, petrochemistry, chemical industry, mechanical engineering (production of aerospace equipment, armored vehicles, agricultural equipment). Omsk is a major transport junction - the Trans-Siberian Railway runs through the city from west to east, and the navigable Irtysh River crosses it from south to north. Omsk Airport offers regular flights to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, Surgut, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Salekhard, Kazan, Krasnodar, Sochi.

The unfinished subway of Omsk has become famous in Russia thanks to its only one fully built station. Its construction began back in 1992. However, due to funding problems, the completion of the first line was postponed numerous times. In 2019, it was finally decided to permanently stop construction. For local residents, because of the long wait for the completion of the construction, the Omsk metro symbolizes unrealizable hopes, they talk about it with irony.

In Omsk, there are practically no buildings higher than 50 meters, according to this parameter it is one of the lowest cities with a population of over one million. 130 architectural monuments are concentrated in the central part of the city, almost half of the total number.

Main Attractions of Omsk

Dormition Cathedral - the largest church in Omsk located in the very center of the city. The original church was built in 1891-1898. In 1935, it was completely destroyed. In 2005-2007, an exact copy of the building was restored in its original place. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in Omsk. At night, the building is illuminated and looks especially majestic. Tarskaya Street, 7.

Irtysh Embankment - the main walking street of Omsk with a picturesque view of the Irtysh River. Built in the middle of the 20th century, the embankment was reconstructed in the 2000s. You can walk along the alley on foot, ride rollerblades or a bike.

Merchant Batyushkin’s Mansion (1902). This architectural monument is located on the Irtysh Embankment. It is also known as the Kolchak’s House because Alexander Kolchak, the Supreme Ruler of Russia, lived in this building in 1919. One part of the building is occupied by the registry office of the Central District of Omsk. The Center for the Study of the History of the Russian Civil War is also open here. Irtyshskaya Naberezhnaya Street, 9.

Omsk State Museum of History and Local Lore - one of the oldest museums in Siberia and Russia founded in 1878. In total, this museum has over 200 thousand various objects of cultural, historical and artistic value. The museum is especially proud of such exhibits as the cast-iron figures of the Chinese lions Shi-Tzu, presented to the museum from China in 1895, as well as the skeleton of a woolly mammoth almost 3 meters high. Lenina Street, 23?.

Omsk Regional Museum of Fine Arts named after M.A. Vrubel - one of the largest museums of fine arts in Siberia. It has collections of foreign and Russian art from antiquity to the present day. In total, there are over 22 thousand works by painters, graphic artists and sculptors, as well as more than 1.5 thousand rare folios.

Walking through the exhibition halls, you can admire the canvases of Shishkin, Aivazovsky, Surikov, Repin, Serov, Vereshchagin. The exhibition of rare icons dating from the 17th-20th centuries is of constant interest among visitors, as well as a unique collection of jewelry made of precious metals found in the Scythian and Sarmatian burial mounds. Two buildings of the museum are located at Lenina Street 3 and 23.

In November 2019, a new exhibition was opened in a historical building at Muzeynaya Street, 4 - the exhibition of art of the 20th-21st centuries. The Hermitage-Siberia Center is located here too - the first representation of The State Hermitage Museum (the second-largest art museum in the world) beyond the Urals.

Chokana Valikhanova Street - a pedestrian street located in the historic part of Omsk. The street is decorated with abstract architectural forms, flower beds, wrought-iron lanterns. The walking area ends with an observation deck with a picturesque view of the Irtysh River.

Museum of Kondraty Belov . The museum of this landscape painter born in Omsk can be found in a picturesque wooden house, which is considered one of the most interesting architectural monuments of Omsk. The exposition tells about the life and work of Kondraty Belov, as well as about the history of the building itself.

In total, this museum has about 700 exhibits. The permanent exhibition also includes works by Kondraty Belov’s son Stanislav and paintings by some other local artists. In addition, temporary exhibitions of contemporary Omsk artists are regularly held here. Chokana Valikhanova Street, 10.

Plumber Stepanych Monument - an unusual sculpture located in the center of Omsk, which you can literally stumble upon while walking along Lenin Street between the houses #12 and #14. Leaning out of the hatch, the plumber is depicted as realistic and life-size as possible. It is among the most photographed monuments in Omsk. There is a similar sculpture in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.

Lyuba Monument . This sculpture, located on the opposite side of Lenin Street from the monument to the plumber Stepanych, is especially loved by Omsk residents and tourists, who love to be photographed against its background.

This beauty in a lace dress with a neckline and a crinoline sitting on an openwork bench and reading a novel had a real prototype - Lyubov (diminutively Lyuba or Lyubasha) Gasford, the wife of the Governor-General of Siberia, who lived in Omsk in the 19th century and died at a young age due to illness. One of the streets of Omsk and the park are named in her memory. She is a local symbol of femininity and beauty.

Omsk Fire Tower - a picturesque architectural monument built at the beginning of the 20th century. Inside the tower there are museum expositions dedicated to the local fire brigade and the history of tower construction. Internatsionalnaya Street, 41?.

Park of Culture and Rest named after the 30th anniversary of the Komsomol - a popular place for walks, recreation and entertainment of Omsk residents and tourists, which has retained “the spirit of the Soviet era” in its name. Today, on an area of 73 hectares, several zones have been organized, various types of recreation are presented. There are walking alleys, ponds, water activities, for example, riding on hydro-scooters.

The ice town is open in winter, the Return of the Dinosaurs exhibition - in summer. The “House Upside Down” exposition is also popular with tourists. This park is a place for mass festivities, city celebrations and events. Maslenitsa, Christmas, City Day, and other holidays are celebrated here. Maslennikova Street, 136.

Natural Park “Bird Harbor” - a specially protected area located on the path of bird migration in the central part of Omsk. During autumn flights, up to 3 thousand birds stop here for rest. It is a great place to enjoy nature, walk along the eco-trail, and observe the life of birds. The park is situated in the floodplain on the left bank of the Irtysh River next to the Victory Park on Yeniseyskaya Street.