Visit Irkutsk
- Essential
- Family
- Romantic
Irkutsk: How to get there?
More than 5 hours by plane from MoscowIrkutsk: See when to go?
From May to SeptemberIrkutsk: For how long?
3 to 5 daysLearn more about your destination
See travel guide
Irkutsk Holidays
Irkutsk is Russia's biggest eastern city, and it will draw you into its fascinating history. It was founded in the 17th century and was the point of departure from numerous expeditions towards Lake Baikal, as well as home to numerous exiles.
Irkutsk: What to see nearby?
What our travellers think of their stay
Irkutsk is Russia's biggest eastern city, and it will draw you into its fascinating history. It was founded in the 17th century and was the point of departure from numerous expeditions towards Lake Baikal, as well as home to numerous exiles.
My suggestion
Try kvass, a thirst quenching Russian drink made from fermented bread. It's sold from yellow coloured tanks on the street corners. It's quite surprising at the beginning, but you quickly get used to it.
A town with beautiful churches in the middle of Russia.
My suggestion
If you are taking the Trans-Siberian then stop there, it's easy enough to get another train to go almost anywhere.
Not far from the Mongolian frontier, Irkutsk is the biggest town in eastern Siberia.
My suggestion
Irkutsk isn't an unpleasant town, but its interest is limited. You're better off having planned to see its surroundings, like Lake Baikal for example.
Russia: our articles for your holidays
Lake Baikal
If there is one place you should explore in the immense territory of Russia, it is Lake Baikal. A land of conquests, marked by trouble and history, a land soaked in Shamanism, where you feel sucked in by the translucent water of the lake. It's called the "pearl of Siberia" for good reason. Lake Baikal is an endless source of fascination for the travellers who go to see it.
Marie Cavalié
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Exploring the villages of the Urals
Madja, Pezmog, Niobdino,…Names that don't mean anything to anyone. These are unknown villages in the foothills of the Urals which seem to have nothing interesting about them. However, it's in places like these that a traveller can have an unforgettable time, living with real Russian culture.
Marie Cavalié
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A visit to the Kremlin
A historic centre of power in Russia, the Kremlin is the absolute must-see site during a visit to Moscow. Although the capital has been turned upside down by its successive masters, its tsars' palace, which remained the residence of the country's managing powers through all the regimes, is steeped in history and heritage. From Cathedral Square to the Kremlin Armoury, you will be plunged into the country's history and crowning achievements.
Nicolas Landru
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From palaces to monasteries around Moscow
Moscow was built in the heart of Russian history. All around, princes, dukes and tsars built sumptuous palaces, and the Orthodox church erected some magnificent monasteries. Between Moscow and the Golden Ring cities, you can go on fascinating trips discovering Russia's historical heritage.
Nicolas Landru
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