Irkutsk
Overview
Irkutsk was founded in the 1661 as a fort to colonize Siberia. It was the main Russian fort behind the Ural Mountains, so it was there that all expeditions to colonize Kamchatka and Alaska began. The city is an important administrative, economic, business, scientific and cultural centre of Eastern Siberia.
Irkutsk was the main centre of the Russian trade route to China and Mongolia, but its importance grew significantly after the grand opening of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in 1898. For centuries, Russian emperors (and later communists) exiled political prisoners, including the Decembrists, to Irkutsk. Today it is one of the major industrial cities of Siberia: there are railway, aircraft, ship, and vehicle repair facilities. Other industries include mica processing and consumer goods manufacturing. Irkutsk is by far the most popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and all other eastern points. With Lake Baikal, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, only 66 km away, the city is the best starting point to head for its western shoreline.
Sights
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ICEBREAKER ANGARA MUSEUM
The Icebreaker Angara Museum is one of Irkutsk’s most unusual museums. The Angara Icebreaker was the second icebreaker to transport goods and passengers on Lake Baikal. It
first touched water on July 25, 1900 and is one of the oldest icebreakers in the world and the only surviving icebreaker in Russia. The Angara traveled between Port Baikal and Mysovaya twice a day until 1905. In 1918, it was refitted to transport passengers. After extensive restoration, the History of Navigation on Lake Baikal Museum opened in 1991 in the Angara Icebreaker. There are models of the Baikal ships, historical photographs and documents relatied to the Angara on display.
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LISTVYANKA VILLAGE
Listvyanka village is the Gate to Lake Baikal. Listvyanka is the most widely visited village in the Baikal region, with a good selection of hotels, restaurants and the opportunity to experience a Russian banya (sauna) right on the shore. This tiny fishermen village is the place to sample smoked omul which can only be found here. Take a ride on a chairlift to enjoy panoramic views of the Angara River and Lake Baikal from the Cherskogo Rock viewpoint, and don’t forget to visit the Baikal Limnological Museum with its 11 aquariums, containing
the Lake Baikal fauna and trained Baikal freshwater seals. Visit the Taltsy open-air museum of wooden architecture and ethnography, which allows visitors to step into the everyday life and culture of the Siberians from past centuries. -
OLKHON ISLAND
Okhon Island is considered to be one of the world’s most important shamanistic centres by the Buryat people, native inhabitants of the island. Locals often address shamans for
consultation. It is believed that spirits of the Buryat pantheon live in the cliffs of the island. One of the main tourist attractions of the Olkhon Island is the Shaman Cave, also called Burkhan Cape. The cave has long been the major sacred place for shamans on Baikal, later on Buddhists, and is considered to be one of the nine Most Sacred Asian Places. Another beautiful spot on the Olkhon is the Khoboy Cape. It is the northernmost point of the Olkhon island, a very beautiful spot where you can enjoy panoramic views of the lake, cliffs, seagulls, and if you are lucky enough, even the Baikal seals. -
130 KVARTAL
Travel back in time and take a stroll along 130 Kvartal, a restoration project of a traditional Siberian wooden house village of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, some of its elements transported from other locations, some constructed to blend in with original structures of the area. Today, the street is filled with boutiques, restaurants, cafés, bars, souvenir shops, and museums. It also contains a modern XXIst-century shopping mall, the only one in Eastern Siberia. A favorite photo spot is the bronze statue of Babr, a mythical beast at the entrance to 130 Kvartal. There is an outdoor seating area with a view over the Angara River nearby.
Hotels
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AMURSKY HOTEL
Number of rooms: 17
Distance to the city center: 1 km
Distance to airport: 9 km
Address: st. Lenin, 34, Irkutsk, Irkutsk region, 664025The hotel is within walking distance to the city center. Near the hotel – Museum of Baikal, Sukachev Art Museum and the Irkutsk Regional Art Museum. The hotel has 17 rooms with arched windows, high ceilings and finest oak floors.
It offers a restaurant, bar, free private parking, a business center with fax, printer and copy machine, Spa area with a swimming pool, hammam, infrared cabin, gym and shower. The hotel provides concierge and ticketing services, 24-hour front desk, airport shuttle and free Wi-Fi.
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ARMAT HOTEL
Number of rooms: 40
Distance to the city centre: 5 km
Distance to the airport: 3 km
Address: 33 Shiryamov str., Irkutsk, Russia 664009ARMAT Hotel is a modern hotel that was built in 2018 in a park area, in close proximity to Irkutsk international airport. Rooms were decorated using premium natural materials and equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay. The hotel offers 24h room service, a gym, a hammam, billiards, massage services, a conference room for up to 45 people.
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COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
Number of rooms: 208
Distance to the city centre: 1 km
Distance to the airport: 16 km
Address: 15 Chkalov str., Irkutsk, Russia 664025Courtyard by Marriott, Irkutsk City Centre is conveniently located within a walking distance of the city’s major highlights. The UNESCO heritage site Lake Baikal, the largest lake in the world, is only 70 km away from the hotel. The hotel’s 208 spacious rooms and suites offer deluxe bedding, flat-screen TV, a mini bar, a workspace, an ironing board with an iron and high-speed Internet access. The bathroom features hair-dryer, a shower kit and towels .On-site dining options include a restaurant and a bar. The hotel provides a flexible event space and superb catering services and a fitness centre.
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SAYEN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL
Number of rooms: 25
Distance to the city centre: 1 km
Distance to the airport: 9 km
Address: 13B Karl Marx str., Irkutsk, Russia 664003SAYEN INTERNATIONAL is a state-of-the-art hotel, located in the heart of Irkutsk downtown. The name SAYEN translates as “a beautiful blossoming garden”. The design of hotel was developed by Shigeo Nakamura, an acclaimed Japanese architect. This business hotel operates according to international hospitality standards. Each room is equipped with a “Smart-Home” system. The hotel’s amenities include a meeting room for up to 12 persons), two restaurants serving Japanese and European cuisines, 24h room service, a SPA center, a tour desk, laundry, and free parking.
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SUN HOTEL
Number of rooms: 58
Distance to the city centre: 4 km
Distance to the airport: 4 km
Addres: 295B Baykalskaya str., Irkutsk, Russia 664050SUN Hotel is located in the business district of Irkutsk, next to the exhibition center “SibExpoCenter”, 15-minutes’ drive from the city centre. Government and business delegations from different countries have been choosing this hotel for many years. All rooms are equipped with satellite TV, Internet access, air-conditioning, a minibar, and a bathroom.
The hotel offers a restaurant, its own confectionary, a SPA, a conference room for up to 80 people, a tour desk, private parking, a SPA with a swimming pool, and a beauty salon. -
ANGARA HOTEL
Number of rooms: 300
Distance to the city centre: 1 km
Distance to the airport: 9 km
Address: 7 Sukhe-Bator street, Irkutsk, Russia 664042The “Angara” hotel complex located in the very centre of business and cultural life of Irkutsk, across the street from the Kirov Park and only a few minutes away from the city and region government. The Baikal Lake is located 70 km away. The hotel boasts a panoramic view over Irkutsk and its historical sights. The hotel’s infrastructure is comprised of two restaurants and a bar, a business centre, a conference hall, a meeting room, a billiards hall, a SPA centre, a beauty salon, a pharmacy, and a supermarket.
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BAIKAL BUSINESS CENTRE HOTEL
Number of rooms: 55
Distance to the city centre: 5 km
Distance to the airport: 3 km
Address: 279 Baylkalskaya street, Irkutsk, Russia 664050BAIKAL BUSINESS CENTRE Hotel opened is located in the most prestigious and ecologically favourable area of Irkutsk, next to the SibExpoCentre Exhibition Complex.The hotel was designed and constructed by European developers. Technical support and services meet the standards of a 4-star business class hotel. Its cozy rooms feature a TV, air conditioning, a minibar, a private bathroom with a hair-dryer and a set of toiletry. The hotel’s facilities include a restaurant, a coffee house, a lobby bar, a business centre, conference halls, and a SPA.
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IMPERIA HOTEL
Number of rooms: 49
Distance to the city centre: 1 km
Distance to the airport: 9 km
Address: 1 Polskikh Povstantsev str., Irkutsk, Russia 664011IMPERIA hotel is located in close proximity to the historical and business districts of Irkutsk. Guest rooms are equipped with a mini bar, a cabinet and a work desk, a bathroom with a shower, bathrobes, slippers and towels. The daily dining options include a buffet breakfast. Guests can also sample Russian cuisine in the dining area. The hotel also features free private parking, a café and a lobby bar, an ATM, a business centre, concierge services, laundry, and a gift shop.
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IRKUTSK HOTEL
Number of rooms: 225
Distance to the city centre: 1 km
Distance to the airport: 10 km
Address: 44 Gagarin boulevard, Irkutsk, Russia 664055The Irkutsk Hotel is located on the bank of the Angara river, close to Irkutsk downtown and the city’s landmarks. Each room features cable TV, a refrigerator, a private bathroom with a hair-dryer.The hotel has a modern gym, a SPA offering massage and a solarium, a business centre, a conference hall, a beauty studio, laundry and dry-cleaning services, a restaurant serving European and Siberian meals, free parking and WiFi.
