Akademgorodok (Academgorodok/Academic Town)
- See also: Map of Akademgorodok
- See also: RT's TV story about IT business in Akademgorodok.
- See also: RT's TV story about Novosibirsk and Akademgorodok.
The literal translation of Academgorodok (Academgorodoc) is “Academic Town”. It was founded during the Cold War near Novosibirsk as the Soviet Union’s largest scientific center to the east of the Ural Mountains. At that time the Soviet Government tried to create ideal living and working conditions for scientists – akademgorodok is built in the forest bordered by a botanical garden and the Ob reservoir where one bank was turned into an artificial beach and has everything you need to relax (native dwellers call it “the Ob sea”), and a great number of research institutes are situated here. Academgorodok is also the center of student life – Novosibirsk State University and the university campus with all the university facilities are located on Pirogova Street.
 Akademgorodok is built among the forest. Photo by Y. Shestakov.
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 Autumn in Akademgorodok. Photo by Y. Shestakov.
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Nowadays, the situation is slowly changing and Akademgorodok is gradually turning into an elite residential area. Perhaps it’ isn't such a bad thing – such transformations bring the benefits of comfortable living to the great scientific environment and beautiful nature.
IT business is very popular here, that's why Akademgorodok is also known as "Silicon Taiga" (see TV story about IT business in Akademgorodok) Zachary Smith says: ...I got to see first hand the issues people here face: many don't make very much money. But life here is pretty good! Kids play on the streets, people walk around at night, and if you get lost it's no problem - the locals will gladly help you.
Academgorodok is divided into two parts - the upper zone (Morskoy Prospect, Il'icha Street and surrounding streets) and the “Schya” district (Stroiteley Prospect, Musy Dzhalilya Street, Ivanova Street, Arbuzova Street, Demakova Street and others).
 Akademgorodok. Photo by Y. Shestakov.
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Generally, almost any advice relevant to living in Novosibirsk (see artcile) applies to Akademgorodok. It is necessary, however, to make some specific comments.
There is the Shopping Center where almost everything can be found. It is situated on Il'icha Street in two minutes on foot from the main building of the university and five minutes from the House of Scientists. Besides, nearly each street has its own large twenty-four-hour supermarket.
You can reach Novosibirsk downtown by shuttle buses (so-called "marshrootka", see general article about Novosibirsk's transport) 1015 or 1235 (35-40 RUB), by commuter buses 8 or 1209 (about 10 RUB) or by taxi (350-450 RUB). Incidentally, there is a large amount of taxis in Akademgorodok: any trip around Akademgorodok costs upfrom 60 RUB (or even 50 RUB for simple one-way trip from one part of district to another - infromation given for MAY 2009). Like in other parts of Novosibirsk, here it is accepted to order taxis over the phone - if one flag down the taxi, driver usually takes more money. No taxi in Akademgorodok have guranteed english-speaking dispatcher. Here are several taxi phone numbers: 333-05-50, 33-33-222, 333-55-55.
You can find 24 hour Visa/Mastercard ATM’s in the Shopping Center, Gorodok shop, Alfa-Bank on Morskoy prospect and other places - for the full list see map. Exchange cashiers could be found in Golden Valley hotel, in post office.
 Akademgorodok. Photo by Y. Shestakov.
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In terms of having a good time, Akademgorodok is almost no different from any other city – bars, billiard clubs, saunas, sport grounds and night clubs. The only thing is that clubs here are much cheaper then in Europe and are always crowded with pretty girls!
You can also enjoy spending time closer to nature, for example on the beaches at the Ob sea. The most popular is the Central beach in the end of Morskoy Avenue in 10-20 minutes on foot from Akademgorodok. We recommend you visiting the Zvezda Beach, the most modern beach around. Picnicking with a barbeque, yachting, water skiing, motor boating, kites – just to name a few things to do the beaches offer. Although the water is not crystal clear, it is fairly warm and the majority of dwellers usually swim there. The botanical garden is another perfect spot as a recreation area. There are plenty of vacation and recreation centers for people looking for extended holidays. These are located on the shore of the Ob Sea and have fully furnished apartments and luxurious facilities for an active break.
 Fountain near The Shopping Center. Photo by Y. Shestakov.
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Bars and Restaurants
For the full list and descriptions of Akademgorodok's bars, restaurants and cafes please visit English-Friendly Places section. Others (that can not gurantee english-speking service or menu, translated into English) are listed here:
Vostok-Zapad Coffee House, 6 Ilyicha Street, 10am-9pm. Cozy café with average prices on the first floor of the Shopping Center.
Vilka-Lojka c, 6 Ilyicha Street, 10am-10pm. It is located on the annex to the Shopping Center, to the left of the main building. Known for the self-service system and very cheap prices, popular among students.
Traveler’s Coffee, 2 Morskoy prospect, 8am-12am. It is perhaps the best coffee house in the Upper Zone, but still not brilliant. On the menu you can find hot dishes and cold snacks. Good location.
Restaurant Of the House of Scientists, 23 Morskoy prospect. It is a typical restaurant with European cuisine.A little bit overpriced.
Almost all Akademgorodok nightclubs are located in the “Schya” district. We recommend you to visit Bunker (11 Mussa Jalil) and Raffinate (14/1 Mussa Jalil) clubs. Next to them you can find Opera club (14, Musy Dzhalilya ). In all clubs mainly Novosibirsk DJ’s are playing, sometimes popular (among youngsters) russian artists came. Fees to enter are quite cheap, around 200-300 rubles. Usually, there are no problems with face control.
Infromation updated and actualized 23 MAY 2009.
