Irkutsk airport is a regional hub, so flights to Irkutsk from all over Russia are frequent and not too costly. However, it isn’t a major international hub, so most visitors to Irkutsk will have to change planes at Moscow.
Flight routes to Irkutsk
The most common route is to fly from Moscow to Irkutsk. Between them, Aeroflot and Transaero run several flights a day, and the flight time is approximately five hours. It is also possible to fly from St Petersburg to Irkutsk but this is more costly – if you are flying from London to Irkutsk or from New York to Irkutsk then we recommend that you fly via Moscow.
If you are already in Russia, then there are flights to Irkutsk from almost every major Russian and Siberian city, mostly run by small, local carriers. You can also fly direct to Irkutsk from a few international destinations – notably Beijing, Seoul, Munich and Ulan Bator (Ulanbaataar).
Getting from Irkutsk Airport into the city
Irkutsk airport is sited inside the city, although away from the city center. Taxis are readily available at the airport and, although many of the drivers speak limited English, they are adept at deciphering mangled addresses. A taxi ride into Irkutsk city center takes about 15 minutes, and will cost between $3 and 5$. Alternatively, a city bus or mini-bus (marshrutka) trip into the city center will cost 10-12 roubles (about 40 cents) and take about 30 minutes.
It’s absolutely no problem to take a taxi or bus although we recommend that, if you are unfamiliar with Irkutsk, you pre-book an airport transfer with your hotel – partly because arriving in a new city can be disorienting, and partly because most of the flights from Moscow arrive early in the morning.
One tip about arriving at Irkutsk airport – when you leave the plane you are usually deposited on the tarmac. The walk to baggage reclaim isn’t long but, if you are arriving in winter, make sure you have warm clothes.
