We are going to the sacred Baikal! All ways to get to Irkutsk, and then to Baikal from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg. We choose how to make it easier and cheaper: fly by plane or take a train. Transport prices and schedules for 2021.
Before traveling, we always carefully prepare: we work out routes and look for information on a variety of issues. And now, on the eve of a possible trip to the glorious sea, we have collected useful information on how to get by plane and train to Baikal (Irkutsk), as well as how to get directly to the lake and "resorts" - Listvyanka, Olkhon and so on. Use it to your health!
Thus, the article consists of two parts:
- How to fly to Irkutsk by plane or take a train from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.
- How to get from Irkutsk directly to Lake Baikal and villages popular with tourists by public and water transport, as well as by car.
We also have a special material on how to get to Lake Baikal by car from various cities of Russia and how to prepare for the trip.
Stage I. How to get to Baikal cheaply: we go to Irkutsk
Attention: prices for air tickets are indicated in rubles for a round-trip flight and are relevant at the time of publication.
How to fly by plane
Get to Baikal from Moscow by plane is as easy as shelling pears - you can fly to Irkutsk on S7, Ural Airlines and Aeroflot, there are both direct flights and with a transfer in Novosibirsk. The cheapest tickets cost 21 thousand rubles in both directions - in spring, summer and autumn 2021. Direct flights in March cost from 22 thousand rubles, in summer and autumn - from 27 thousand.
An example of a cheap flight from Moscow to Irkutsk with a connection in Novosibirsk (found on Skyscanner):
Get to Baikal from Saint-Petersburg will not be a problem either - the prices for flights to Irkutsk are almost the same as from Moscow: flights with one and two transfers cost from 19 thousand rubles for March, for summer and autumn 2021 - from 23 thousand rubles. S7 fly with a change in Novosibirsk or Moscow and Aeroflot with a change in Moscow.
From Novosibirsk you can fly to Irkutsk on direct flights of the "IrAero" airline, tickets for the spring can be purchased from 13 thousand rubles, for summer and autumn - from 15 thousand.
From Yekaterinburg It is impossible to get to Baikal by direct flight, there are flights with transfers via Moscow and Novosibirsk, but it is long and rather expensive - from 20-22 thousand rubles. Therefore, the cheapest option would be to fly to Novosibirsk on Pobeda (from 4-6 thousand rubles round trip, and the period of promotions - only 2 thousand), and then on the above-mentioned IrAero flight (from 13 thousand rubles).
How to get there by train
Note: ticket prices are one way.
The train, in our opinion, is a long and uncomfortable option to get to Lake Baikal, unless you are one of those who appreciate the clatter of wheels and the romance of long journeys, despite all the inconveniences.
3-4 trains run daily from Moscow to Irkutsk, a ticket to a reserved seat carriage costs from 4000 rubles, to a compartment carriage - from 5.8 thousand rubles. Travel time is 3-3.5 days.
It is possible to get from St. Petersburg to Lake Baikal by train only with a change in Moscow, Perm, Yekaterinburg and other cities - direct communication (branded train "Baikal") was canceled in 2013.
There are 5-6 trains a day from Novosibirsk to Irkutsk, tickets for reserved seats cost from 1800 rubles, in a compartment - from 2500 rubles. Travel time is 28-30 hours.
From Yekaterinburg - 5 trains, reserved seats - about 3 thousand rubles, compartment - from 4300 rubles.
Remember that Russian Railways almost always has dynamic pricing, that is, the earlier you buy a ticket, the cheaper it will cost.
Conclusions: how best to get to Irkutsk
As you can see, it is cheaper to travel to Baikal by train. However, if the route lies from the European part of Russia, then, perhaps, it is better to overpay and fly to Irkutsk by plane than to spend a whole week on the train journey (travel time from Moscow and back). Agree, it will be more pleasant to spend this week on the shore of the lake than in a cramped carriage.
As for travelers who leave from Novosibirsk and other cities not so far from Lake Baikal, they can go by train. A day or a little more - this is just the time for which you can have time to enjoy the romance of travel by train, and not get too tired of the trip. Especially if a family or a company is traveling, then time will fly by, and the savings will be significant.
Residents of other cities can improvise and combine different ways to get to Lake Baikal. For example, from Yekaterinburg you can fly to Novosibirsk by plane (a / c "Pobeda") for just a few thousand rubles, and from there go by train to Irkutsk. The costs will be low.
Tourist notes: Hotels, guest houses, campings, etc. are most conveniently searched for on the Roomguru service, and for private accommodation on Lake Baikal, on Airbnb, where you can find many interesting offers from the hosts.
Stage II. How to get from Irkutsk to Baikal
By bus or minibus to Baikal: Listvyanka, Olkhon, Baikalsk
Note: ticket prices are one way.
Read about the places worth visiting near the lake in the article "7 interesting places of Baikal".
Listvyanka
Listvyanka is a popular destination on Lake Baikal, so it is very easy to get there from Irkutsk. Regular buses run, and not far from the bus station, you will see a parking lot for minibuses that leave as they fill up. According to tourists, a lot of minibuses always go to Listvyanka (not only from the bus station, but also from the central market - from the shopping complex) and there is no problem to go there or back even during the peak season. The first minibuses from Irkutsk leave at 7:00, the last from Listvyanka - usually at 8 or 9 pm. Travel - 150 rubles.
Tourists advise to buy return tickets for regular buses immediately upon arrival in Listvyanka (at the ticket office), since they may not be available in the evening. The fare is 103 rubles one way (hand luggage - 26 rubles). The first bus from Irkutsk at 9 am, the last from Listvyanka at 18:00. The timetable is subject to change, check the official website of the bus station. You can also buy tickets online there.
Olkhon
You can get from Irkutsk to Olkhon by regular buses. Departure every day at 9:00 from the Trud stadium in Irkutsk. The fare to Khuzhir costs 1000 rubles, to the bays of the Maloye More - 900. Buses leave Khuzhir at 11:30. The journey will take about 7 hours.
According to tourists, minibuses to Khuzhir can be found at the bus station of Irkutsk (Master Grill cafe), departures at 8, 10, 12, 14 and 17 hours (summer schedule). The ticket costs 600-800 rubles. There are also minibuses running from the Central Market.
Please note that the ferry service only operates from May to December. In the rest of the months, buses only reach the MRS (ferry).
Baikalsk and Slyudyanka
You can get to Baikalsk from Irkutsk by bus - however, there is only one flight. Departure - at 9:30, on the way - 3.5 hours. The fare is 300 rubles. You can contact private traders - route taxis go from the Irkutsk bus station. There are 5 flights to Slyudyanka: at 11, 13, 16, 17:30 and 20 hours. The ticket costs 190 rubles.
Water transport from Irkutsk
High-speed ships run from Irkutsk to various cities. The ticket price depends on the distance. For example, a ticket to Olkhon costs 420 rubles, to Peschanaya Bay - 2800 rubles. The schedule and cost of travel for 2021 can be found on the website of the carrier "East Siberian River Shipping Company". You can find out all the current routes, schedules and prices for 2021 here - just select the direction you are interested in.
Electric train or train
You can get to the southern coast of Lake Baikal both by a passing train and by train - for example, to Baikalsk, Slyudyanka and other settlements. For example, there are 3 electric trains to Slyudyanka daily, departing at 9:32, 17:34 and 18:43. The fare is 116 rubles.The schedule may change, the actual departure time and prices can be found on the website of the "Baikal Suburban Passenger Company".
By car from Irkutsk
It will not work along the entire coast of the lake (2 thousand kilometers) by car, since in many places there are protected areas, but there are no roads. From Irkutsk by car you can take the Baikalsky tract (M55L, runs along the mouth of the Angara) to reach the popular tourist village Listvyanka - there are many hotels and tourist centers, you can relax after a long journey.
The second way is to go along the M-55 (R-258) highway along the southern coast (through Slyudyanka and Baikalsk), where the railway runs.
The third option to get to Lake Baikal by car is to go to the picturesque island of Olkhon and the coast of the Small Sea. From Irkutsk you need to go to the Yakutsky, or Kachugsky, tract (P-418), then turn right at the Bayandai village and go to the MRS crossing. Only ferries from Sakhyurta go directly to Olkhon. The ferry schedule for 2021 can be found here, travel is free.
You can get around Olkhon by car - there is a road along the coast of the Small Sea.
