The ‘Paris of Siberia’, Irkutsk is the closest city to Lake Baikal. It started life as a fort, part of the Russian push into Siberia, grew with the discovery of gold in size and elegance and was where emperors and communists were exiled, making it an intellectual centre. The many scientific and research facilities in the city are the legacy of the many brainy Russian exiles.

A popular stop on the Trans Siberian Railway, the climate is subarctic, which means really cold in winter and surprisingly warm in summer.

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The best things to do in Irkutsk

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