What to Do in Irkutsk in 4 Days? Travel Guide and Tips

Day 1

Circumbaikal Railway

Ticket Price: 550 RMB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-1 Days

Location: Irkutsk railway station

The Lake Baikal Railway, originally part of the Trans-Siberian Railway, has a total length of more than 80 kilometers, passing through 39 tunnels and a 29-kilometer-long gable built by the Italians. In the 1950s, due to the construction of a reservoir, a section of the railway around the lake was submerged, and the train was rerouted. After many years, this section of the abandoned railway was leased by a tourism company and developed into a one-day sightseeing tour route, which travels to and from Baikal port every two days. and Sliujiang truck station. There is only one official station along the way, and the driver will stop when you go to a place with beautiful scenery, giving enough time for tourists to take pictures and tour. During the day, tourists can take the train around the lake for sightseeing, and appreciate the vast and quiet beauty of Lake Baikal in all aspects. On one side of the railway are lake bays and lake shores, and on the other side are river valleys and mountain forests. The small mountain villages along the way are surrounded by woods and meadows, with Russian-style cabins, just like a classic oil painting with strong regional colors. There are about 20 scenic spots in the whole journey, but the train only stops at five or six scenic spots per trip, and the group tour is explained by a Russian-speaking guide. The TV on the train broadcasts a promo video of the scenery in Russian. Few of the flight attendants can speak simple English. Bring your own food and drink (there is also a bar and dining car on the train, selling simple food and drinks and smoked fish). After getting off the bus, you can have a picnic at the stop.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: Amazing landscape and unique experience. I will recommend this journey to all train lovers who also respect real nature.

Day 1 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Hotel Amurskiy is the best places.

Hotel Amurskiy

With a stay at Hotel Amurskiy in Irkutsk, you'll be within a 5-minute walk of Irkutsk Regional Museum of Local Lore and Okhlopkov Drama Theater. This 4-star hotel is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Theater for Young Spectators and 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Baikal Museum. Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an indoor pool, or other amenities including complimentary wireless Internet access and concierge services. Enjoy a meal at the restaurant, or stay in and take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast is served daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite. Make yourself at home in one of the 17 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers with rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include safes and desks, as well as phones with free local calls.

Day 2 | Morning

Irkutsk Museum of Decembrists

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,Sun,10:00am-6:00pm

Ticket Price: 200 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: VOLKONSKOGO lane, 10

The Decembrist Museum is located at No. 10 Volkonsky Alley, Irkutsk. It is an elegant gray-blue Russian-style building. The former residence of Duke Sergei Volkonsky, a Decembrist, was converted into a museum in 1985. Duke Sergei Volkonsky was a bodyguard attache to Tsar Alexander I. When he returned from an expedition in France, he rode in front of the Guards. The duke's wife is the beloved daughter of the war hero General Raevsky. She was talented, good at singing and dancing, smart and lovely when she was a girl. The rooms, furniture, photos, and household items in the museum are all real records of history. There are also many historical objects at that time, such as Sergei Volkonsky's pipes, portraits, etc., which are very precious.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Irkutsk Museum of Decembrists, Irkutskiy Oblastnoy Krayevedcheskiy Muzey next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Irkutskiy Oblastnoy Krayevedcheskiy Muzey

Ticket Price: 100 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Founded in 1782, the Irkutsk State Local History Museum has a long history and is one of the oldest local museums. The appearance of the museum is very beautiful. It has two large column structures like a castle. It has a strong European architectural style. The entire exterior wall is brick red, decorated with yellow window frames and door frames. very unique. Visitors can see a lot of ethnography in the museum, as well as very distinctive archaeological collections, of course, the natural collections are also tens of thousands. The museum also hosts more than 50 exhibitions every year, introducing the material and spiritual life of people in Siberia, the Far East, China, Korea and Mongolia.

Day 2 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Baikal Forest Hotel is the best places.

Baikal Forest Hotel

The Baikal Forest Hotel provides a great place for travelers to relax after a busy day. The Baikal Forest Hotel offers a pleasant stay in Irkutsk for those traveling for business or leisure.

Traveling to the hotel is easy with Irkutsk International Airport located approximately 8km away and Irkutsk Passagyrskiy Station roughly 8km away. With Irkutsk Cathedral Mosque, Caramel Shopping and Entertainment Center and House of Europe all within a short distance, there is no shortage of things to do in the area.

This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. This Irkutsk hotel features parking on site.

There's never a dull moment at this hotel, our guests indicate that the facilities are excellent.

Day 3 | Morning

Tal'tsy

Opening Hours: Open from 10:00am-5:00pm

Ticket Price: 300 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 Hours

Location: 47 km from Irkutsk along the Baikal tract, Butyrki p, Irkutskaya oblast '

The Talts Museum, also known as the Wooden House Museum, is located on the east bank of Lake Baikal, in a birch forest, and looks more like an open-air park. In the museum, four historical and cultural areas of the Baikal region are reconstructed: the Russian, the Buryat, the Tofaral and the Evenki areas. All the buildings here are original wooden structures, simple and mellow, with a typical Russian residential style, which can be said to be a true portrayal of the residence and life of Russians and Buryatians. In dozens of buildings and 8,000 exhibits, you can see the hides of the Evenki people, birch bark tents, yurts of the Buryat people, wooden huts of the ancient Buryat people of Russia, as well as grass huts, granaries, Bathhouses, chicken coops, etc., are interesting and full of history.

Day 3 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Icebreaker Angara.

Icebreaker Angara

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-9:00pm

Ticket Price: 100 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Irkutsk, Marshal Zhukov, 36a

The icebreaker was built in 1895 and was the first icebreaker on Lake Baikal. It was built to connect the Trans-Siberian Railway across Lake Baikal. After the mission was completed, it operated as a ferry until 1962, after which it unfortunately hit a rock and sank. It was picked up and used as a museum on the pier of the Irkutsk hydroelectric power station. Although the history is relatively long, the facilities on board are still very advanced. Visitors can learn about the principle of the icebreaker and the information about the original operation in the museum. When the lake freezes in winter, you can also ice skating on the lake or stand on the bow and take a photo with the icebreaker.

Day 3 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Icebreaker Angara? International Hotel Sayen is one of your top choices.

International Hotel Sayen

The International Hotel Sayen is located in the heart of downtown Irkutsk. The hotel is located between Karl Marks and Gorky streets. It is just a few minutes walk from the administrative center of Irkutsk, 10 minutes drive from railway station and 15 minutes from Irkutsk International airport. The design of hotel was developed by known Japanese architect Shigeo Nakamura. There are 24 spacious rooms of different categories in the hotel. All rooms perfectly combine opportunities for work and rest, and correspond to requests of business travelers. Guests can enjoy Japanese cuisine at Kyoto restaurant and visit the Strizhy restaurant for breakfast.

Day 4 | Morning

Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater

Ticket Price: 100 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Karla Marksa St., 14, Irkutsk 664003, Russia

The theater has a gorgeous building, and although the variety of performances is small, the quality is high.

Day 4 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater, Irkutskiy Nerpinary next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Irkutskiy Nerpinary

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Wed,Sun,11:00am-6:30pm

Ticket Price: 300 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-4 Hours

Location: 2 Zheleznodorozhnaya st., 66, Irkutsk 664005

The aquarium is small, but you can see the unique seals of Siberia. It is well managed and suitable for taking children.

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.