A good base for exploring Lake Baikal
Travelers tend to have low expectations for Irkutsk, but it is pleasantly surprising - there are decent restaurants, a nightlife of sorts, and some fanciful 19th century architecture. It's a fine place to spend a couple of days, but really, when Lake Baikal is so close, you might as well maximize your time there. If you don't feel like trying to figure things out in Russian, Irkutsk is the easiest place to get your bearings and organize a trip to Baikal.


more Irkutsk photos



