If you are planning a trip along the Trans-Siberian Railway, one of the most popular places for tourists to stop is Irkutsk, which is a city divided by the Angara River. The two main parts of the city are known as the left bank and the right bank. Irkutsk is in many travel bloggers’ top destinations along the Trans-Siberian Railway.
There are many things to see and do when you visit this Siberian city. Below you will find some of the most popular attractions for visitors going to Irkutsk, which may help you make a bucket list of places you want to go and things that you want to do.
Step Back In Time Along 130 Kvartal
When you take a stroll along 130 Kvartal, it is almost like you are stepping back in time, giving you a glimpse of the past. 130 Kvartal is a restoration project that has restored traditional Siberian wooden buildings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with some of the houses being transported from other locations and made to blend in with the local architecture.
The Stunning Lake Baikal
No Trans-Siberian holidays are complete without a visit to Lake Baikal, which is the deepest and the oldest freshwater lake in the world. The lake gives stunning views and it is also rich in wildlife, with some people calling it the Galapagos of Russia. Take a picnic lunch and go for a hike along the many trails around the lake and enjoy the spectacular views and quaint little villages. If you visit during the winter, you can also enjoy ice skating and dog sleds, and although cold, the scenery is fantastic.
The Icebreaker Angara Museum
If you are looking for something a little unusual, then a visit to the Icebreaker Angara Museum might be right up your street. The museum first opened their doors in 1991, but the history of the icebreaker itself can be traced back to the year 1900. It is one of the oldest ice breakers in the world and travelled between Port Baikal and Mysovaya twice a day for only five years when it was stopped in 1905 before being fitted out as a passenger transport in 1918. A novel museum, it gives you a real insight into the harsh conditions that the people endure there during the winter months.
Visit The Pribaikalskiy National Park
Another must-see destination for nature lovers is the Pribaikalskiy National Park which is home to over 200 different species of birds and animals, making it a rich and diverse habitat. The area was first declared as a national park in 1936, and it is open all year round with several guest houses and hotels available for tourists. There are some buses, and ferries, that can take you into the park from Listvyanka, so getting to it is simple. The park runs along the side of Lake Baikal, so you are also going to enjoy some spectacular scenery no matter what time of year you visit.
There are just a few of the things that you can enjoy when you visit the city of Irkutsk and make sure that you do not forget your camera as you will be able to take some stunning pictures when you visit. If you are travelling along the Trans-Siberian Railway, make sure that you visit Irkutsk and see what all the fuss is about for yourself.
