History

The foundation year of the city is unknown and is either 1730 or 1739. The name of founding father is Akinfey Demidov, a Russian mine-owner who started copper extraction and melting in the region. Later on his business spread to the gold and silver and the family reached all-Russian scale. The city became a fort and built a dam. This activity was major for centuries to come. Except that, nature and geography explorers never abandoned this Siberian place. Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky and Alexander von Humboldt lead their expeditions across the city.

By train

The travel from Moscow takes 2.5 days and covers 3500 km.

• №036В/№036Н Barnaul — Moscow — Barnaul — firmenniy train «Altai»
• №509/№510 Barnaul — Omsk — Adler - Barnaul — from 16 June to 1 September.
• №613/№614 Barnaul — Karasuk — Barnaul.

By plane

• 53.36333383.5416671 Barnaul Gherman Titov International AirportCategory:Has map markers (BAX Category:Airport listing ^IATA) (17 km west from the city centre). There are scheduled services to/from Moscow-Sheremetyevo (Aeroflot), Moscow-Domodedovo (S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, Iraero), Surgut (Utair), Kazan (UVT Aero), Irkutsk (Iraero), and St. Petersburg (Iraero). In addition, there are seasonal flights to/from Nha Trang, Pattaya, Phuket, Anapa, Sochi, and Antalya by Azur Air, Pegas Fly, and Royal Flight.  

To get into the city, take marshrutka number 144 or bus number 110.

Museums

• 53.32948383.7874891 Altai museum of regional studiesCategory:Has map markers, agkm@intelbi.ru. offers expositions of ethnographical artefacts.  
• Museum of literature, art and culture of Altai ^{[dead link]}Category:Articles with dead external links.
• Altai Museum of Art.^{[dead link]}Category:Articles with dead external links Malevich, Kandinsky, Rembrandt.
• 'World of Stones' museum. Address: 5b, Kalinina st.
• Museum of military history. Address: 73, Komsomolsky Pr. Hours: 9.30-17.30 Tu-Sa.
• Museum of Time. Address: 12, Matrosova st. Private collection of 'curiosities' from a mammoth tooth to 300mln years old corrals and Soviet symbols, the visitors can touch with their hands.

• 53.35661683.7684771 State Art Museum of Altai KraiCategory:Has map markers (KGBU GHMAK, Государственный художественный музей Алтайского края), 16 M. Gorky Str. (Lev Tolstoy Str. bus stop), ☏ +3852 50-22-29, npo-ghmak@rambler.ru. W, F, Sa-Su 10:00-18:00, Th 11:00-19:00. Art museum. Adults RUB 30, children and students RUB 15.  (updated Jul 2019)

Architecture

• 53.32963383.7744172 Pokrovsky Orthodox CathedralCategory:Has map markers, Nikitin St. 137. From the 1940s the seat of the Barnaul diocese, the cathedral is a magnificent example of neo-byzantine architecture in Barnaul constructed between 1898 and 1903. It is a listed cultural heritage building. Interestingly, the cathedral was funded by private donations, and the poorest settlement on the then western outskirts of Barnaul was chosen as its location. The iconic red brick cathedral replaced the wooden Church of Intercession which had existed at the location since 1863. The interior of the cathedral is decorated by classic artists including M. V. Nesterov, V. M. Vasnetsov, and I. N. Kramskoy who painted directly with oil paints on dry plaster between 1918 and 1928. Under Soviet rule the cathedral was closed in 1939 and the bell tower and dome subsequently demolished, after which the building was turned into a warehouse. By 1943 it was one of the only surviving religious buildings in the city, which aided its promotion to cathedral status. In the late 1940s restoration of the cathedral began, to be completed in 1993 with the reconstruction of the bell tower.  (updated Jul 2019)

• 53.32375283.7957513 Church of the Holy AncestorsCategory:Has map markers (Храм святого Предтечи и Крестителя Господня), Mamontov street 19. Orthodox church built in 1857 but abandoned in the early 20th century to the point of collapse in the 1930s. It was renovated between 2014-2017. Some tombs around the church are notable artworks on their own: scientist and writer N. M. Yadrintsev has a copper bust on a granite pedestal, and mining and hydraulics engineer K. D. Frolov has a tomb stone with cast iron insignia. Other notable graves include scientist F. V. Goebler, archaeologist G. L. Meuneir, and politician T. S. Burnashev. There are numerous grave decorations in gems like red jasper, green jade, and pink quartz. Free.  (updated Jul 2019)
• 53.33192583.6665834 Church of St. HripsimeCategory:Has map markers (Церковь Святой Рипсиме, Սուրբ Հռիփսիմե եկեղեցի), Ulitsa Popova 210. 19 October. Temple of the Armenian Apostolic Church, built between 2001 and 2008. Its inauguration by Garegin II of the Armenian Church was attended by about a thousand spectators of a ca. 15 000 Armenian community in the city. The event attracted worshippers from all over Siberia. During the consecration, sacred oil of myrrh was sprinkled on the altar and structures of the temple. Free.  (updated Jul 2019)

Parks

• Izumrudny Park (Парк "Изумрудный"), for families with kids.
• Solnechny Veter (Парк "Солнечный ветер").
• Barnaulskaya Krepost (Парк "Барнаульская крепость").
• Lesnaya Skazka (Парк "Лесная сказка").
• 53.3230283.795835 Nagornyi parkCategory:Has map markers (Mountain park) (upstairs from river terminal or central tram terminal). A small park on top of the mountain, which provides a view of the city skyline and Ob river.  (updated Jun 2024)

Hostels

• Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesYellow submarineCategory:Has map markers, 72, Krasnoarmeisky pereoulok (above Hotel Tourist on the top floor). Kitchen included. Well-kept showers and toilets in the corridor. 400 руб.