Best stations on the Trans-Siberian railway

Traveling by train might not be the fastest way to get from one place to another, but the journey counts just as much as the destination, right? Especially if the journey takes place on the longest railway in the world, the Trans-Siberian. From the colourful domes of Moscow to windswept Vladivostok, you can travel through the vast expanses of Russia and stop at some of the most interesting train stations in the world.

It’s the most convenient way you can get to know a significant portion of this fascinating country, and besides, many travelers swear that its enough to see the train station to get a feel of what a place really is like. So grab a Russian phrasebook a deck of cards, and embark on a week-long  train ride through Russia on the original Trans-Siberian railway.

What you need to know about the Trans-Siberian proper is that the train stops every 3 or 4 hours for 20-30 minutes.

Not enough time to even reach the centers of the cities, but sufficient to buy some refreshments at the train station, or if you want something cheaper, just outside it. Obviously, at small stations where the train doesn’t stop for at least 20 minutes, it isn’t worth to get out of the train since you won’t have time to do much.

If you only want to grab a hot drink, you’re better off bringing your own tea or Nescafe and using the samovars, hot water dispensers, on the train. Of course, you can also use the restaurant carriage, but ordering might be quite the adventure if you don’t speak a word of Russian. If you want to explore the stations along the Trans-Siberian line in peace, you can spend a night or two in a hotel and then continue your journey afterward, but if you want to live the real Trans-Siberian experience (with all its good and bad parts), don’t interrupt your trip.

Perm Railway Station is quite large, seeing as it is a major junction which connects the European part of Russian with the rest of the country.

It takes about 20 hours from Perm to Moscow, and since the train stops for 20 minutes, you might as well stretch your legs a bit and see what the peddlers are offering for sale. You can find anything from instant noodles to full course meals, and the potatoes & meatballs at the train station are supposedly delicious.

Omsk railway station looks quite impressive, all glorious turquoise and in a charmingly Soviet style. Omsk is the second largest city in Russia, and although it is in decline, the railway station is probably as bustling as it ever was. Like in all major stations, peddlers with supermarket trolleys are selling food and drinks for much lower prices that the kiosks in or around the station. You’ll reach Omsk after 1 day and 14 hours of travel.

Novosibirsk is one of the prettiest railway stations along the way, as it was recently renovated and it is surrounded by a nice little park, unlike most of the other stations which are often in seedy parts of the towns. There are lots of little shops and even a few cafes, so if you’re tired of instant coffee you can grab a cup here. Novosibirsk is six hours away from Omsk.

Irkutsk Railway Station was built at the end of the 19th century, so the architecture of the station is quite nice. And after more than three days on the train, the sight of a lively train station is rather soothing. The railways station is right in the city center, so if you are really fast you can even take a quick peak.

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