Irkutsk City Information
Everything to know about staying awhile
I. Getting Around Irkutsk
Visti Knigi at the corner of Karla Marksa and Letvinova streets sells maps, books and some souvenirs.
A. Airport Information
Information: 7 (395) 26-62-77 (flight info), 26-62-22 (airport phone numbers), 54-40-47, 26-64-16 (English);
Аэропорт, внутренние сообщения: 54-41-91, 26-62-77
Аэропорт, международные сообщения: 54-40-47, 26-64-16
Luggage: 29-51-85
Website: IktPort.ru (in Russian)
The airport in Irkutsk is divided into two main buildings. Everyone arrives to the same arrival gate, so that is not so confusing. Simply follow the crowd as you leave the plane/bus and you will exit out a gate into the area in front of the buildings. Just follow the stream of people to the baggage claim. It is a small baggage area, so everything should be clear. People waiting to pick up arriving passengers generally wait near the gate you emerge from or near the baggage claim.
B. Local train station info
Information (domestic): Phone: 39-47-47, 63-22-87
Information (international): Phone: 28-28-20
Advanced Ticket Purchase Order: Phone: 63-65-01, 63-71-12
Information online: Irk.ru (in Russian)
C. Public Transport
Public transportation in Irkutsk city, while fairly efficient, is not the easiest to navigate. Trolleys are the most common, fast, and convenient mode of transportation. The approximate wait for transport is: Trolley: 5-15 minutes; Tram: 10-25 minutes; Bus: 20-40 minutes. Be prepared to "fight" for your spot in the public bus, trolley, or tram during peak hours. Irkutsk is a comfortable walking city and if you don't like feeling like a sardine at times, walking is the recommended mode of transport.
For regular in-city buses/marshrutkas/trolleys, you pay 10 rubles directly to the bus driver when getting off at a stop. For the tramvai, there is a ticket system. You can either buy a ticket ahead of time or purchase the ticket from the driver at the stop you get on. You punch the ticket yourself while riding to validate it. There is an attendant who randomly checks for tickets.
For going out-of-the-city, you either purchase a ticket beforehand or pay the fare while on the bus before it departs (sometimes it's cheaper to buy it before, and it saves your seat on the bus).
For more information, see Irk.ru, which will give you each numbered route (in Russian) and the destinations along the route. Expect to pay ten rubles per trip for all forms of transport, except for the marshrutkas, which cost about 12.
Regular taxi
Regular taxis wait at taxi stands in Irkutsk which are not always marked, but include the airport, railway station, hotel Angara (near ILGU), and the hotel Intourist. They are marked with the usual taxi signs (a fairly indistinct black symbol on the side doors usually) and can also be called for pick up. Don’t be surprised if the taxi doesn't have a meter. Always negotiate the price before entering. Tips are not expected, but welcome especially from foreigners.
Peshkom – on foot
CAREFUL! Please be very careful when you cross roads in Irkutsk. The number of cars in the city has more than tripled since perestroika. The current road conditions have led to very reckless driving.
Outside Irkutsk
Buses to areas outside Irkutsk (Prigorodnoe dvizhenie avtobusov) and scenic water transport is available. Visit the bus station (avtobusnaya stantsiya), or the river boat stations (Pristan Raketa or Rechnoi Vokzal) for more information. See SRAS's list of recommended day trips from Irkutsk for more information.
II. Internet Cafés
WiFi is becoming more common in Irkutsk cafes and generally this will be your best and easiest source of Internet if you have come with your own laptop. Web Corner is at the corner of Karla Marksa and Lenina charges one ruble per minute. Web Corner also has a good range of services (scanning, printing, CD recording, etc).
If you don't mind a little extra bureaucracy with your Internet, Irkutsk also has a good system of libraries that offer fairly cheap Internet. You have to apply for a library card (will cost about dollar) and then you can use their computers for confusing but generally reasonable rates determined by minutes / traffic used. You have to use their computers and can save your work by bringing a flash drive to give the attendant who will hook it up to the central system and connect it to your computer. You can find a full list of libraries on this website (in Russian). The library closest to the ILGU dorms is located at at the corner of Baikalskaya St. and Trilissera St. (at ul. Trilissera, 32).
III. Post Office / Central telegraph
Located across from the circus in the center of town. As you enter, turn left immediately into the post office section. E-mail will be to your right, but not generally recommended – use one of the cafes. For fax, go past the entryway and turn left at the stairs. Down the hallway on the right is a little office—a sort of commercial communications center. Faxes can either be sent immediately, or later (slightly cheaper) and you can pick up confirmation later. Incoming faxes are noted in a book register on the counter. Just look for your name (look under both last and first, as well as the senders name, as sometimes they are not sure how to list it) and ask them for it. Incoming fax number: 34-34-60; 43-23-22. Phone number for this office: 34-43-77
IV. Banyas
Russia is also famous for its banya (a type of sauna – very fun) tradition. This is also a good alternative when the hot water is turned off in your room/apartment by the city for annual pipe maintenance. Look them up in they Yellow Pages and ask your teachers for recommendations.
V. Food
- Traditional Russian: Try the Pelmennaya on the second floor of Torgovii Compleks (Tsentralnii Univermag) for fairly low-priced and traditional Russian food. The entrance is from the side, not from in the mall itself. Blin’OK! (Блин'ОК!) is a Russian blinnaya located next to IGLU at 36 Chkalova (Чкалова, 36). They serve blini, soups, and salads, (and pizza too!) at very reasonable prices (a full meal for $3.00-$4.00). It is a favorite student hangout.
- Oriental: try the Orion Chinese Restaurant, located downtown at Sverdlova Street, 28 (tel. 202-515; 202-512). An average dinner costs $10-15, but the meals are big and tasty. Alternatively, try Kioto, a quite expensive (dinners start at $17-20) Japanese restaurant practically next door at Sverdlova, 19.
- Fast Food: Macfood’s (Макфудс) is a Russian version of American fast-food chains. It has Russian fare like blini and borsch, but also serves pizza and burgers. It is quick, fresh, and inexpensive ($3.00-$4.00 will easily buy a meal). Located at 42 Gorkovo Street. (Горького,42). Solntse Pizza (Солнце Пицца) is a small pizza place near Uritskovo Street at 30 Karla Marksa Street (ул. Карла Маркса, 30) and the Central Market. It is perfect for a quick bite to eat if you are in the area. Domino Pizza (Пицца Домино) is Irkutsk’s 24-hour pizza parlor. It serves both Russian fare and pizza by the slice for about $3.00. Centrally-located at 13-a Lenina Street (ул. Ленина, 13-а) and available after a night out when all else is closed.
- Beer and Grub: Amsterdam (Амстердам) is a Dutch-style restaurant with windmill décor and a great beer selection. Located within walking distance of the IGLU dormitories at 104 Baikalskaya Street (ул. Байкальская, 104). Maraona Sport Café, the local sport bar is a good place to get a beer and watch a game at Kievskaya St, 1.
- Date Night: Cnezhinka (Снежинка) is a “sit-down and be-served” restaurant, perfect for a pre-movie dinner or celebration. Although the atmosphere is more upscale, the prices remain reasonable. The menu is expansive with a mix of Russian and international fare and the portions are generous. Located at 2 Litvinova Street (ул. Литвинова, 2). Afterwards, stroll (a common dating activity in Russia) through the calm, green Gagarinsky Prospekt, which follows the Angara River. Alternately, there is the square in front of the Okholpov Drama Theatre, a popular area with young people which features numerous open-air cafes.
- Coffee Shops: Fiesta (Фиеста) is a café, centrally located at 16 Uritskovo Street (ул. Урицкого, 16) near the Central Market. They serve all varieties of coffee drinks and delicious desserts in addition to staple items such as blini, salads, and soups. Wi-Fi is available with a purchase (you may need to ask for a code), and the atmosphere is great for studying or writing emails. Studio Coffee (Студия Кофе) will feel like home to any westerner. The atmosphere is upscale European, a testament to the owner’s travels to the West. The coffee selection is vast, as are the options for snacks and meals. Try the dessert blini and a cappuchino, and you’ll never want to leave. Located near IGLU at 1-a Zhelyabova Street (ул. Желябова, 1-а). Café Morozhenoe (an old classic in Irkutsk), at the corner of ul. Lenina and ul. Karl Marksa, sells ice cream, coffee, tea, and drinks.
VI. Entertainment
A. Dance Clubs
Clubs popular with students include the Wild Horse Saloon (Дикая Лошадь) at 35 Yakob Street (ул. Якоби, 35), Panorama (Панорама) – 102 Dekabriskikh Sobytii Street (ул. Декабрьских Событий, 102), and Object 01 (Объект 01) – 241a Baikalskaya Street (ул. Байкальская, 241а).
B. Theaters
Irkutsk Musical Theatre (Иркутский Музыкальный Театр) -- located at 29 Sedova Street (ул. Седова, 29), between the IGLU dormitories and IGLU itself. The repertory cast performs in several different shows at once, so in any given week, there are many different options, from Russian-versions of Broadway musicals to opera to Russian originals. Tickets range from 100-300 rubles. The Puppet Theatre (Театр Кукол) -- located at 32 Baikalskaya street (ул. Байкальская, 32)—showcases family-friendly puppet shows that are worth seeing for the intricate details of the production. Dramatic Theatre (Драматический Театр) is centrally located at 14 Karla Marksa Street (ул. Карла Маркса, 14). The Irkutsk dramatic theatre is well known for producing high-quality and thoughtful productions of classic plays and new works of theatre. The building and theatre hall are beautiful structures and worth seeing.
C. Movie Theatres
The Second Floor (Второй этаж) is centrally located at 15 Karla Marksa Street (ул. Карла Маркса, 15), in the same complex as a bowling alley, restaurant, and nightclub. Barguzin (Баргузин) is within walking distance of the IGLU dormitories at 107 Baikalskaya (ул. Байкальская, 107). This is a modern two-floor theatre with two screening rooms and a café on the main floor with Wi-Fi. Cinema House (Дом кино) is an independent film theatre with one screening room located at 2-a Muhinoi Street (ул. Мухиной, 2-а).
D. Other
Irkutsk Regional Philharmonic Hall Ul. Dzerzhinskogo, 2. Tel: 24-50-76
Irkutsk State Circus (circus is a serious art form in Russia!) – Ul Zhelyabova (Information ph. 33-62-17; Tickets ph. 33-61-39)
More Entertainment Listings for Irkutsk!
More Irkutsk Entertainment Options!
VII. Museums, Churches, and More
- The Decembrists: Volkonsky House-Museum (per. Volkonskogo, 10; ph. 27-75-32) and Trubetskovo House Museum (ul. Dzerzinskogo, 64; ph. 27-78-18, 27-57-73) both give a picture of what life in exile was like for the Decembrists who are generally recognized as the group that developed Irkutsk into the economic and intellectual capital of Siberia.
- General History: The City History Museum (ul Tchaikovskogo, 5) gives a rounder picture of the city’s history through decorated displays. It also has a unique gift shop with Russian trinkets and natural stone jewelry.
- Art: The Art Gallery (at the corner of Lenina and Sverdlova streets) features art ranging from ancient Mongolian to modern Russian.
- Churches: At the end of ul. Sukhe-Batora, in a nice cluster by a large park and the river, there are three strikingly different churches: The Polish Chapel (in gothic style), Bogoyavlensky Cathedral and Spasskaya Church (in Russian style and breathtaking).
- Ecology: The Natural Museum (ul. Karla Marksa, 11; tel: 34-08-42) will be of interest to those interested in nature and ecology.
- Railroad: The Steam Ship Angara used to carry rail passengers across Lake Baikal many years back. Now it is a museum and a drink store for a nearby restaurant.
- Other: The Irkutsk State Mineralogical Museum (ул. Лермонтова, 83, корпус «Е».) displays breath-taking mineral and gemstone displays, including stones that are only found in Siberia. They have several gift shop windows that sell natural stone jewelry.
VII. Banks
Vneshtorgbank at Ulitsa Sverdlova, 40 is recommended. Open 9am-6pm Monday-Friday. It has a good exchange rate, and commission for travelers’ checks is 0.5-2% of the face value of the check (Visa, American Express), depending on the type of operation and currency. Accepts Visa & Mastercard.
XII. More info
Irkutsk State Linguistic University
More About the City of Irkutsk
SRAS Thanks student Elizabeth Trammell for contributing to this guide.
