Irkutsk Oblast · Russia
Where to stay in Irkutsk
Irkutsk is a city in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, home to about 606,000 people.
- Best months
- June
- Nearest airport
- IKT8 km · Irkutsk International Airport
- Currency
- RUBRussian ruble
- Time zone
- Asia/Irkutsk
- Language
- Abaza, Adyghe, Aghul
About
About Irkutsk
Irkutsk is the largest city and administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. With a population of 587,891 as of the 2010 Census, Irkutsk is the 25th-largest city in Russia by population, the fifth-largest in the Siberian Federal District, and one of the largest cities in Siberia.
Irkutsk was founded in 1661 as a settlement for trading gold and furs. It was connected to Europe via a road constructed in 1760. After the Decemberist Revolt of 1825, many Russian artists, officers, and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the revolt against Tsar Nicholas I and in the late 1800s, 30% of the population of the city were exiles. Irkutsk became the major centre of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage is a result of these exiles.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Irkutsk
See
Among the Soviet concrete monstrosities, Irkutsk features many of atmospheric, decaying wooden buildings. Most of these are either abandoned or still used as private residences and add to the atmosphere of the city.
- City History Museum
- Irkutsk Regional Museum
- Sidorov State Mineralogical Museum
- Sukachev Art Museum
- Eksperimentary science museum
- History Museum of JSC Irkutskenergo
- Irkutsk Museum of Decembrists (House-Museum Volkonskiis)
- Trubetsky House-Museum
- Antipina Estate
- Atafonova Estate
- Basnina Estate
- Belyaeva Estate
Do
- City drama theater
- Angara embankment
- Statue of famous Russian writer A. Vampilov
- Central park in winter
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Irkutsk to stay in
Many locals have rooms for rent and services such as Airbnb are popular ways of finding accommodation.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Irkutsk
17 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Ангара | 0.2 km | |
| Сибирь (гостиница, Иркутск) | 0.4 km | |
| Angara Hotel | 0.2 km | |
| Baikal Business Center Hotel | 6.1 km | |
| Boutique Hotel Marussia | 1.7 km | |
| Business Hotel Delta | 1.6 km | |
| Courtyard by Marriott Irkutsk City Center Hotel | 0.5 km | |
| Hotel Empire | 0.4 km | |
| Hotel Rus | 0.5 km | |
| Hotel Victoria | 0.8 km | |
| Ibis Irkutsk Center | 0.7 km | |
| International Hotel Sayen | 0.8 km | |
| Irkutsk Hotel | 0.9 km | |
| Kupechesky Dvor | 1.6 km | |
| Matreshka Hotel | 1.6 km | |
| Sun Hotel | 6.4 km | |
| Zvezda Hotel | 4.0 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Irkutsk
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Irkutsk are June. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; July is the wettest, with about 115 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Irkutsk: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Irkutsk International Airport (IKT), about 8.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting around
The historical center of Irkutsk is relatively compact and walkable. Traffic congestion is not bad for a city of nearly 600,000 people. For those who want to save time or travel between one side of the river and the other, the public transit system is a good option. Knowing at least how to read the signs on the buses and bus stops is helpful, and on the minibuses, one must call out to the driver to request a stop. Oddly enough, the names of major bus stops are posted on kiosk roofs parallel to the road so that the names are not often visible from inside the bus.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
IKT · Irkutsk International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Irkutsk
Eat
For a local speciality, Omul, Sig and Kharius are local fishes found in the lake Baikal (available in many restaurants). Cold smoked kharius is good with beer. Hot smoked kharius you can find in Listvyanka or Kultuk villages near Baikal lake.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Irkutsk: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Irkutsk?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Irkutsk are June. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; July is the wettest, with about 115 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Irkutsk?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Irkutsk International Airport (IKT), about 8.2 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Irkutsk?
Russian ruble (RUB).
Nearby
Destinations near Irkutsk
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.