Top places to visit in Irkutsk

• 130 Kvartal (Irkutsk Sloboda)

  historic_quarter · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pedestrian quarter of reconstructed and relocated 18th-19th century wooden buildings, now filled with restaurants, shops, museums and the Babr monument. Irkutsk's main social hub.

• Epiphany Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Colourful 18th-century Orthodox cathedral near the Angara embankment, one of Irkutsk's oldest stone buildings with ornate baroque-style decoration.

• Volkonsky House Museum (Decembrist Museum)

  house_museum · 4.7 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Estate of exiled Decembrist Prince Sergei Volkonsky, preserved as a museum of Decembrist life in Siberian exile, with period furnishings and a famous pyramidal piano.

• Kirov Square

  square · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central square of Irkutsk surrounded by government buildings, fountains and gardens; the historic heart of the city laid out in the 17th century.

• Lower Embankment of the Angara

  promenade · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Riverside promenade along the Angara River with monuments (founders of Irkutsk, Yury Gagarin), views and the Epiphany Cathedral nearby; popular for strolls.

• Znamensky Monastery

  monastery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Active Orthodox convent founded in 1689, burial place of explorer Grigory Shelikhov and admiral Kolchak memorial; richly decorated interior.

• Lake Baikal & Listvyanka

  lake · 4.9 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's deepest and oldest freshwater lake, a UNESCO World Heritage site; Listvyanka is the closest lakeside village to Irkutsk and the main gateway for excursions.

• Taltsy Open-Air Museum

  open_air_museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Architectural-ethnographic museum on the road to Listvyanka displaying relocated Siberian wooden buildings, a Cossack fort, Buryat yurts and Evenki dwellings.

• Circum-Baikal Railway

  railway · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Historic early-20th-century railway along Baikal's southwestern shore with tunnels, viaducts and stone galleries; scenic heritage rail excursions run from Port Baikal/Sludyanka.

• Baikal Museum (Listvyanka)

  science_museum · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Limnological museum dedicated to Lake Baikal's ecology, with aquariums of endemic species including the Baikal seal (nerpa) and omul fish.

• Spasskaya Church (Church of the Saviour)

  church · 4.6 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Oldest stone building in Irkutsk (1706-1710), a whitewashed Orthodox church near Kirov Square notable for rare exterior frescoes.

• Irkutsk Regional Museum

  history_museum · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of Siberia's oldest museums (founded 1782), with exhibits on regional history, the peoples of the Baikal region and Siberian exploration.

Things to do

• Lake Baikal & Listvyanka Day Trip Day Trip · 9 h · from RUB 4,500 per person
• Circum-Baikal Railway Scenic Tour Rail Tour · 10 h · from RUB 6,500 per person
• Taltsy Open-Air Museum Tour Cultural · 4 h · from RUB 2,500 per person
• Irkutsk Historic City Walking Tour Walking Tour · 3 h · from RUB 1,500 per person
• Baikal Hydrofoil & Cruise Experience Boat · 2.5 h · from RUB 3,000 per person
• Decembrist Heritage Museum Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from RUB 1,800 per person

Day trips and tours

• Listvyanka & Lake Baikal Day Tour 9 h · from RUB 4,500
• Olkhon Island Multi-Stop Tour 12 h · from RUB 7,000
• Taltsy & Circum-Baikal Railway Tour 11 h · from RUB 6,500

Where to stay in Irkutsk

• Historic Centre (130 Kvartal) about RUB 4,500 per night

  Restored wooden-architecture quarter packed with cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops; central and walkable.

• Kirov Square & Administrative Core about RUB 4,000 per night

  Central square area near government buildings, the Epiphany Cathedral and the main avenues; convenient for transport.

• Listvyanka (Lake Baikal) about RUB 5,000 per night

  Lakeside village ~70km from the city on the shore of Lake Baikal; base for Baikal excursions and the Baikal Museum.

Hotels

• Sayen International Hotel 4-star · RUB 9,000 to RUB 16,000 per night
• Baikaler Hostel 2-star · RUB 1,000 to RUB 3,200 per night
• Courtyard by Marriott Irkutsk City Center 4-star · RUB 8,000 to RUB 14,000 per night
• Hostel Rolling Stones 2-star · RUB 900 to RUB 3,000 per night
• Baikal Guesthouse Listvyanka 2-star · RUB 2,500 to RUB 5,000 per night
• Marussia Hotel 3-star · RUB 4,000 to RUB 7,000 per night

Where to eat

• Figaro italian, european · about RUB 2,000 per person
• Rassolnik russian, siberian · about RUB 2,200 per person
• Kochevnik buryat, mongolian · about RUB 1,100 per person
• Pivovarov european, russian, pub · about RUB 1,800 per person
• Lesnaya Rezident siberian, russian · about RUB 2,100 per person
• Snezhinka cafe, desserts · about RUB 700 per person
• Bistrot de Lyon french, european · about RUB 2,300 per person
• Govindas vegetarian, indian · about RUB 600 per person

Getting to Irkutsk

Airport: Irkutsk (IKT)

How visitors arrive in Irkutsk

• Trans-Siberian train By train from Moscow and Trans-Siberian cities · most visitors

  Irkutsk lies on the Trans-Siberian Railway, midway between Moscow and the eastern termini. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight into Irkutsk Airport By air from Russian and Asian cities · common

  Direct flights from several Russian cities and some international destinations. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Car on the Trans-Siberian Highway By road from Russian cities · possible

  Irkutsk lies on the Trans-Siberian Highway from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Bus, tram and minibus to Kirov Square

  Buses, trams and minibuses link the airport, which is close to town, with Kirov Square and other points in the historic centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Yandex or Maxim taxi app

  Book a taxi by app or phone; Yandex and Maxim are the common services. Avoid private drivers who offer rides at the terminal. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Buses, trolleybuses and fixed-route minibuses (marshrutkas) serve Irkutsk alongside its tram network.

• Tram main way to get around

  Trams are one of the main forms of public transport in Irkutsk, alongside trolleybuses, buses and fixed-route minibuses.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Overpriced Baikal taxi/tour touts

  Train station, airport, Listvyanka pier

  Touts offer rides to Listvyanka or Baikal tours at inflated prices, sometimes claiming public transport is unavailable.

  How to avoid it: Use Yandex Go or book through your hotel/hostel; marshrutki to Listvyanka are cheap and frequent in season.

• Unofficial currency exchange

  Markets and street kiosks

  Individuals offer to exchange foreign currency at attractive rates but shortchange or pass damaged notes.

  How to avoid it: Exchange only at banks; note many cards no longer work in Russia, so plan cash carefully.

• Inflated omul / souvenir prices

  Listvyanka fish market and tourist stalls

  Vendors quote tourists higher prices for smoked omul and souvenirs than locals pay.

  How to avoid it: Check several stalls and agree the price before buying; small bargaining is acceptable at markets.

Best time to visit Irkutsk

• Jan -13°C
• Feb -7°C
• Mar 1°C
• Apr 11°C
• May 18°C
• Jun 24°C
• Jul 26°C
• Aug 23°C
• Sep 16°C
• Oct 8°C
• Nov -3°C
• Dec -11°C

More in Russia

• Moscow
• St. Petersburg
• Sochi
• Kazan
• Yekaterinburg
• Vladivostok

Frequently asked questions about Irkutsk

What are the top-rated places to visit in Irkutsk?

The highest-rated places in our Irkutsk guide are Lake Baikal & Listvyanka, Circum-Baikal Railway, Epiphany Cathedral, Volkonsky House Museum (Decembrist Museum), Taltsy Open-Air Museum.

Where should I stay in Irkutsk?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Irkutsk: Historic Centre (130 Kvartal), Kirov Square & Administrative Core, Listvyanka (Lake Baikal).

How do I get around Irkutsk?

Ways to get around Irkutsk covered in our guide: City bus, Tram, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Irkutsk?

Scams reported to us for Irkutsk include Overpriced Baikal taxi/tour touts; Unofficial currency exchange; Inflated omul / souvenir prices. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Irkutsk?

Average daytime highs in Irkutsk run from -13°C in Jan to 26°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Irkutsk?

The nearest airport to Irkutsk has the code IKT.