Tobol'sk, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 99,454, Tobol'sk is a sleepy provincial backwater, hardly the bustling Siberian metropolis one might imagine. While the city boasts a rich history as the former capital of the Siberian region, today it is little more than a frozen outpost, its grand 17th-century kremlin providing the sole respite from the relentless bureaucracy and harsh subarctic climate. Those seeking an authentic taste of old Russia may find Tobol'sk charming, but for most, this remote town offers little to recommend it.