Irkutsk (Russian: Ирку́тск; eer-KOOTSK) is the capital of the Russian province of Irkutsk Oblast in Eastern Siberia. The historic centre of Irkutsk is included on UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Sites.
Irkutsk was founded in 1661 as a settlement for trading gold and furs. It was connected to Europe via a road constructed in 1760. After the Decemberist Revolt of 1825, many Russian artists, officers, and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the revolt against Tsar Nicholas I and in the late 1800s, 30% of the population of the city were exiles. Irkutsk became the major centre of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage is a result of these exiles. Many of their wooden houses, adorned with ornate, hand-carved decorations, survive today in stark contrast with the surrounding Soviet apartment blocks.
The historical center of Irkutsk is relatively compact and walkable. Traffic congestion is not bad for a city of nearly 600,000 people. For those who want to save time or travel between one side of the river and the other, the public transit system is a good option. Knowing at least how to read the signs on the buses and bus stops is helpful, and on the minibuses, one must call out to the driver to request a stop. Oddly enough, the names of major bus stops are posted on kiosk roofs parallel to the road so that the names are not often visible from inside the bus. Bus and minibus ("marshrutka") fare is usually 15 руб.
Among the Soviet concrete monstrosities, Irkutsk features many of atmospheric, decaying wooden buildings. Most of these are either abandoned or still used as private residences and add to the atmosphere of the city. 1 City History Museum (Музей истории города Иркутска), ul Frank-Kamenetskogo 16А. Closed Wednesdays and holidays. Has an interesting and thorough display of Irkutsk from its inception to the present day. 2 Irkutsk Regional Museum (Иркутский областной краеведческий музей), Ul. Karla Marksa, 2 (across from the Alexander III memorial on the Angara embankment). Closed Mondays.
City drama theater (Иркутский городской театр народной драмы), Ul. Karla Marksa, (Карла Маркса,) 14. Built in 1898. Angara embankment, end of Ul. Karla Marksa. In the evening, this is the place for meeting of the youth. Statue of famous Russian writer A. Vampilov, Karl Marx St (Near Drama theatre). He was born near Irkutsk. Visiting for good luck and happiness in your life. It is a new and popular tradition in Irkutsk, started from Vampilov's anniversary. Central park in winter. There many ice sculptures as well as an ice castle that you can walk around in. There are ice slides in this park also. Most Russians stand up and slide on the soles of their shoes.
For a local speciality, Omul, Sig and Kharius are local fishes found in the lake Baikal (available in many restaurants). Cold smoked kharius is good with beer. Hot smoked kharius you can find in Listvyanka or Kultuk villages near Baikal lake. Price depends on fish size and is usually about 150-25 руб for one. In the Central or New market (Noviy Rinok) you can buy kharius and sig caviar - tasty. National Buryat big dumplings (boozy, pozy) can be found in Amrita cafés. It's a special Buryat fast food chain with some cafés in the middle of town. Cheap, tasty. Pozy is a steamed meat (beef with pork) big dumplings that must be eaten using only hands. Cafe Shokolad at Ul.
Liverpool — Is a somewhat Beatles themed restaurant which is also a nightclub with young beautiful Russian hipsters and 2 dance floors. Not much on out of season. Broadway, 29, Sedova st, info@broadway.irk.ru. Tue-Thu 12:00-02:00, Fri Sat 12:00-06:00, the bar works around clock. European and Russian cuisine, a dance floor at nights. Club Megapolis (Мегаполис), 4, Ulanbatorskaya st, ☏ +7 3952 42-64-10. Daily 22:00-07:00. A night club for 2000 persons. admittance fee 50-200 руб depending on the weekday. Club Stratosfera (Стратосфера), 15 Karla Marksa st. Three bars (big, beer and disco), dance floor, pizzeria, two 3D cinemas, bowling.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Sep, Irkutsk typically sees ~17°C daytime highs and 7 rainy days.
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