Tobolsk is a true pearl among other Russian ancient cities. The city teems with most beautiful views, numerous churches and cathedrals, monuments of civil architecture. You should stay for a few days in Tobolsk to explore it and to see the city in daytime and at night.

Tobolsk has a number of attractions one must see: Kremlin, former Stalin's prison, St. Sofia Cathedral, Intercession Cathedral, Bishop’s Chambers, old Trading Arcades, and Bell Tower. The city is 247km northeast of Tyumen at the confluence of the Irtysh and Tobol rivers. It was founded as a fort in 1587, near the site of Kashlyk (also called Sibir), the capital of the Western Siberia conquered for Russia by Yermak in 1582. Tobolsk is a large river harbor on the Irtysh river. Its advantageous strategic location on the Irtysh made it the political, military and religious center of Russian Siberia until the 18th century.

From 1708 to 1839 the governor resided here, exercising administrative power throughout Siberia and the Far East. From 1620 it was the seat of Siberia's first bishopric.

Although Tobolsk's administrative and strategic importance waned from 1760s, especially when the new Trans-Siberian Road took a more southerly direction, far from Tobolsk, it still remained a significant center of culture till the 10th century. That was reinforced by the arrival of educated Decembrists exiled to Tobolsk in 1830s.