Listvyanka - Listwjanka

Listvyanka is a village right on Baikal lake with about 2500 inhabitants. It is due to the drain Angara and is from Irkutsk from the nearest village on Lake Baikal. Although it is currently experiencing an enormous building frenzy, the village still has a certain charm.

getting there

Between Irkutsk and Listvyanka regularly run buses and route taxis (marshrutkas). The trip costs about 70 rubles and takes a good hour. The buses run about every two hours. A taxi driver usually wants around 2000 rubles for the 70 kilometers, with a little negotiating skills can save around 100 rubles. Taxis are readily available at Irkutsk Railway Station.

In summer hydrofoils ship the Angara and Lake Baikal, which also stop in Listvyanka.

mobility

The center of the village is the port which is almost at the western end of Listvyanka. It's about 4 km from here to the entrance to the village (by the museum). If you don't feel like walking, you can take a taxi from the port (if there is one) or use the bus to Irkutsk.

map from Listvyanka

Tourist Attractions

After being thrown off the bus in Listvyanka at the port, one feels a bit lost at first. Maybe try the smoked omul at the market next door and take the opportunity to buy one of the overpriced souvenirs?

Listvyanka doesn't offer any major highlights apart from Lake Baikal, but the St. Nicholas Church and that Limnological Museum are quite nice. In the latter, two cute baikal seals can be admired in the aquarium area. Behind it is a path that leads past the Sovietsk Baikal Hotel to a lookout point.

activities

The only year-round activities here are horse riding and hiking. Listvyanka is on Great Baikal Trail, Horses can be rented in the village, but you should bring your own walking shoes. Hiking trails along the coast lead to lookout points with spectacular views of the coast.

A cable car leads to the Sobolinaya mountain, where you can go hiking in summer and skiing in winter. At the top you have a beautiful view of the Angara River and Lake Baikal.

In winter, smaller and larger tours with dog sledding are offered.

Unfortunately, there is no beach in Listvyanka. But there are still some places where you can get into the water, which is around 15 ° C in summer. It is easiest near the ferry dock below the museum.

shop

There are souvenirs at the harbor, and there is a small grocery store a little further down the street. In the direction of Irkutsk you will find Baikal souvenirs after about 500 meters.

kitchen

The smoked one Omul, which can be bought at the port, is the classic snack on Lake Baikal. Thanks to the tourist development, especially due to the many newly rich Russians, many new restaurants are also emerging in the village. These mainly serve local fish dishes, but other Russian specialties can also be enjoyed. The cuisine in the big hotels is a bit more western.

accommodation

Of course, in a small Siberian village, you cannot set up a Western European standard for accommodation. But there are still some comfortable places to sleep.

Cheap

Rooms are rented in the houses at the beginning of most of the side streets. These rooms can be booked through agencies in Irkutsk. An alternative is to ring the bell and ask. Knowledge of Russian is essential for this. Such an accommodation is available from $ 5 with an outside toilet.

If you walk right Irkutsk from the port and then take the first right up, you will find a campsite at the end.

medium

After the harbor, take the first left up at number 71, you will find the Hotel Bris. The family-run hotel has 7 rooms from 600 rubles (attention, official price is higher) including a good breakfast.

Upscale

The Hotel Intourist above the museum has a bar, a souvenir shop and tennis courts. In addition, half of the rooms have a great view of Lake Baikal. The service is warm, the standards of the rooms Siberian.

trips

A ferry leaves about three times a day Port Baikal. The former end of the Trans-Siberian Railway is a destination worth mentioning, especially for railway fans.

Between June and September^[1] can be reached by ship Bolshye Koty drive, where you can enjoy a great view and beautiful wooden architecture. Three hours should be enough. This also corresponds to the docking time of the scheduled ship.

Individual evidence

Web links

• Information on Listvyanka at Baikalinfo
• Travel information to Listvyanka in English
• Homepage for Great Baikal Trail