In Russian "novo" means "new" and indeed Novosibirsk was founded only in 1893 under the construction of the Trans-Sibirian Railway. Today, the city is a major junction on the railways to Central Asia and the rest of Siberia. Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre is one of the biggest in the world.
You might like to go sailing on the Ob River – the river with the busiest traffic of all Siberian rivers. A good starting point for rafting, riding and hiking tours in the scenic Altay Mountains south of the city.