Omsk, Russia

Capital City

With a population of over 1.1 million, Omsk is a sprawling Siberian hub, but don't expect a warm welcome. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city's authorities have long feuded over resources and development. And the extreme continental climate - winters as frigid as -45°C - can be brutal. Still, Omsk's strategic location as a rail and river transport node has made it an important industrial center, home to major military manufacturers. This gritty, cynical city is best suited for those undeterred by the harsh realities of life in Siberia.