A CENTURY OLDER THAN ST. PETERSBURG

Tomsk residents and government officials are taking their 400th anniversary seriously. “We will celebrate all year,” said Arkady Ratner, a theoretical physicist and jazz musician who is the Minister of City Culture. “There will be lots of exhibitions, concerts, presentations, and special museum programs.” The city will sponsor themed events every month, with the grand jubilee taking place September 3-5. (Right: Russia’s new, 3-ruble coin features Tomsk wooden buildings on the reverse.)

Getting to Tomsk: Flights travel between Moscow and Tomsk daily. Or you can travel three days on the Trans-Siberian. From Novosibirsk, Tomsk is a 270 km bus, train or taxi ride away.

Where to stay: Hotel Severnaya (Prospekt Lenina 86, Tel: 51-23-24) is located right downtown, just a block from the beach. Prices range from 170 rubles for a dormitory bed to 1500 rubles for a top-end single. Located near the train and bus stations, Hotel Tomsk (Prospekt Kirova 65; Tel: 524-115; www.tomskhotel.best-service.biz; [email protected]) offers rooms from 650 to 1900 rubles. Credit cards accepted. Hotel Sputnik (ulitsa Belinskovo 15; Tel: 526-660) is one of the best deals. Located in the center, not far from the university, rates per person range from 211 to 1200 rubles. Hotel Sibir Forum (Prospekt Lenina 91 (at the intersection with Plekhanova 2), Tel/Fax: 530-280 or 530-184) is located right in the center, on Prospekt Lenina. Prices start at 600 rubles for a single.

Highlights: Tomsk Highlights include the Tomsk City Museum (Voskresenskaya gora), the Memorial Museum (ul. Lenina 44, next to Passazh Shopping Center, entrance is at the back of the building), and the unique local architecture (check out 71 ulitsa Krasnoarmeyskaya, 19 ulitsa Belinskovo, and 68 ulitsa Krasnoarmeyskaya for a sampling). Follow the locals in the know to Nikes German Bread (ul. Krasnoarmeyskaya 18) for some of the best fresh-baked bread in Siberia.