Best of Irkutsk

Lake Baikal

The Pearl of Siberia or Baikal is a beautiful lake located in the South-Eastern part of Siberia. It is the deepest freshwater lake on the earth and the largest reservoir of fresh surface water. Baikal is famous for unique clarity of its waters and diversity of flora and fauna.

The lake is so huge and enormous that locals call it sea. This “sea” is rapidly growing with the average speed of 2 cm per year. Baikal was added to the World Heritage list by UNESCO in 1996.

In 2007, the Russian government declared the Baikal region a special economic zone. The alleged Lake Baikal Monster draws in tourists from across the world hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary creature.

Irkutsk Regional Museum

The museum contains about 300 thousands of exponents. Exposition History of Irkutsk Region from Paleolithic to nowadays presents collection of ethnographic staff made of bone, wood, metal, national cloth practically of local Siberian populations. Museum has complete set of Orthodoxy Cult, Pagan's, Lamaism & Shaman's staff, collections of weapon & jewellery.

Spasskaya Church

It has the expositions of Siberian Fauna, Home craft & trades of Siberian local populations, Bells of Russia presents different bells: used in churches, for rituals, on the sheep & railroad station. On the second floor you can buy souvenirs in the shop of Siberian arts. Here you can find pictures, graphics, jewellery and decorative applied-arts of Siberian Masters.

Sukachev Art Museum

Probably Siberia's best collection of fine art, including several early icons, Russian secular art of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, including a few works of Repin, a section of Mongolian and Chinese art, and a section of European art including a collection of lesser-known Dutch masters. It is closed Tuesdays.

The Cathedral of Kazan

The Cathedral of Kazan Icon of God's Mother consecrated in 1651, at the reign of Aleksey Mihailovich Romanov. It was closed in 1941-1942, but then the services restarted and have been performed daily till now.

The City History Museum

It has an interesting and thorough display of Irkutsk from its inception to the present day. It is currently located across the river from the city center; take bus 8, 11, 23, or 25, although one will probably have to ask which stop to get off at. The museum is closed Wednesdays and holidays.

The Geology Museum

The Geology Museum at Irkutsk State Polytechnical University has an extensive display of gems and minerals found in Siberia and the Russian Far East, even a block of asbestos under glass. The Polytechnical University (behind the railway station); the museum itself is located in the central of the three southern wings of the university do not enter through the main entrance, but rather walk around the outside of the building to the right.