Pribaikalsky National Park
A national park along the lake's western shore, with forests, cliffs and hiking trails that look over the deep water. It protects wildlife and many traditional lakeside routes.
Lake Baikal (Irkutsk)
From Irkutsk, visitors reach a vast, deep Siberian lake with clear water, hiking in summer and ice in winter.
Attractive locations
Baikal Museum
A museum in the lakeside village of Listvyanka explaining the natural history of Lake Baikal, its unusual wildlife and the science behind the deepest lake on Earth.
Shaman Rock
A rock that rises from the water where the Angara River leaves Lake Baikal. It is sacred in local tradition and is an easy stop on a walk through Listvyanka.
Chersky Stone
A viewpoint above Listvyanka, reached by a trail or chairlift, with wide views over the lake and the source of the Angara. It is named after a geologist who studied the area.
Taltsy Museum
An open-air museum on the Angara River with wooden houses, a fort tower and churches from across Siberia. It gives a picture of everyday life in the region's past.
Listvyanka
The main lakeside village near Irkutsk, with a waterfront promenade, craft market and stalls selling smoked fish. Boat trips and a nearby museum make it the usual first stop on Lake Baikal.
Circum-Baikal Railway
A scenic former main-line railway along Lake Baikal's southwest shore, with tunnels, stone bridges and viewpoints. Heritage trains and hiking paths follow parts of the route.
Airports
Irkutsk International Airport IKT
It is about 56 km in a straight line from Lake Baikal (Irkutsk).
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-21.0 °C14 mm
- Feb-17.7 °C10 mm
- Mar-7.9 °C16 mm
- Apr2.4 °C26 mm
- May9.4 °C50 mm
- Jun17.6 °C63 mm
- Jul20.2 °C96 mm
- Aug17.2 °C101 mm
- Sep9.8 °C57 mm
- Oct0.8 °C25 mm
- Nov-10.5 °C19 mm
- Dec-18.8 °C20 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 35% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 for all emergencies. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
ngo
Russian Red Cross Society
Helps with: Russia's national Red Cross society. Its programmes include first aid training, restoring family links and tracing, disaster relief, and a migration desk. Reception is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 19:00.
Who qualifies: People in Russia who need its first aid, family tracing, disaster relief or migrant support services.
Phone: +7 (499) 126-75-71
Email: mail@redcross.ru
Address: Cheremushkinsky Proezd 5, Moscow
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Russia
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Moscow office has worked in Russia since 1992 on migration management, crisis response and cooperation with partners. Contact is through its office and online form.
Who qualifies: Migrants and migration partners in Russia. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +7 495 660 77 82
Address: 4 Stasovoy Street, 119071 Moscow
local government
Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergencies and Disaster Relief (EMERCOM)
Helps with: Russia's national ministry for emergencies and disaster response. Its site lists the fire and rescue number 101 and an information helpline, and offers psychological aid and registration of tourist groups.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia needing fire, rescue or disaster help; tourist groups can use its registration service.
Phone: 101
Address: 1 Vatutina Street, Fili-Davydkovo, Moscow 121357
local government
Single emergency number 112 (Moscow city portal)
Helps with: Russia's single emergency number, listed on the Moscow city portal. The page also lists separate numbers for fire 101, police 102, ambulance 103 and gas 104. Calls to 911 are forwarded to 112.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Russia, including from mobile phones; the page says it works without an inserted SIM card.
Phone: 112
embassy
Finding your embassy or consulate in Russia (Moscow city portal)
Helps with: For emergencies, lost passports or detention, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. This Moscow city portal page explains what they do and says the Foreign Ministry website lists the missions in Moscow.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.