Listvyanka
The most popular way to see Baikal
Listvyanka village is located on the shore of Lake Baikal, at the source of the Angara River. The town was founded in the 18th century; it is one of Lake Baikal’s oldest settlements. Listvyanka got its name from a large number of larch trees growing. Larch in Russian sounds like «Listvennitza,» so the word «Listvyanka» means a place with many larch trees.
Tourists from all over the world come here every year to see the beauty of Lake Baikal. Listvyanka is the right choice as the starting point for travel and exploration of the Lake.
Angara river near Listvyanka
Listvyanka
The most popular way to see Baikal
Listvyanka village is located on the shore of Lake Baikal, at the source of the Angara River. The town was founded in the 18th century; it is one of Lake Baikal’s oldest settlements. Listvyanka got its name from a large number of larch trees growing. Larch in Russian sounds like «Listvennitza,» so the word «Listvyanka» means a place with many larch trees.
Tourists from all over the world come here every year to see the beauty of Lake Baikal. Listvyanka is the right choice as the starting point for travel and exploration of the Lake.
Listvyanka on the map
Angara river near Listvyanka
What’s interesting in Listvyanka?
- The first mention of the village of Listvyanka dates back to 1772
- Located right on the shore of Lake Baikal
- Village population – about 1500 people
- One of the main touristic places on Baikal
- Circum-Baikal railway isn’t far from Listvyanka
- Listvyanka is a starting point of the Great Baikal Trail
- A place for Baikal ferry trip
- The second most popular place in the Baikal region (after Olkhon Island)
- The easiest and the fastest way to see Baikal
What’s interesting in Listvyanka?
- The first mention of the village of Listvyanka dates back to 1772
- Located right on the shore of Lake Baikal
- Village population – about 1500 people
- One of the main touristic places on Baikal
- Circum-Baikal railway isn’t far from Listvyanka
- Listvyanka is a starting point of the Great Baikal Trail
- A place for Baikal ferry trip
- The second most popular place in the Baikal region (after Olkhon Island)
- The easiest and the fastest way to see Baikal
Listvyanka attractions
The popularity of the village provided the conditions for the creation of a tourist infrastructure. Here you can buy souvenirs, try local delicacies, get acquainted with the inhabitants of Baikal and much more.
In addition, Listvyanka is closely connected with such popular tourist routes as the Circum-Baikal Railway and the Great Baikal Trail.
Read more about things to do in the village and its attractions below.
Listvyanka from a ship
Circum-Baikal Railway
The finish point of the Circum-Baikal Railway is on the opposite shore of the Angara river. It is a small village called Port Baikal. But very often, tourists do not finish but start their trip through Circum-Baikal Railway from Port Baikal. Use ferry service to transport to the other shore. It costs about 500 roubles.
Learn more about Circum-Baikal Railway in our topic:
Ferry goes to Port Baikal village
The cableway
View from the cableway top
Listvyanka ships wait for tourists
Nerpinarium
Here you can taste Baikal fish…
…and buy souvenirs!
Chersky Stone observation platform
Cherskiy Stone in Listvyanka is a rock with a height of 728 meters, named after the well-known Siberian geographer Ivan Cherskiy. The rock is an exciting place for tourists because of its observation platform. From this place, tourists can enjoy a beautiful view of many significant places, like:
- Source of Angara River;
- Pier of Listvyanka;
- Shaman Stone;
- Solar Observatory;
- Village of Port Baikal;
- Peaks of the Khamar Daban mountain ridge.
You can reach the platform by the footpath behind the Baikal Museum or cableway (funicular). It costs 300 rubles to go there and back.
Shaman Stone
Another attraction of Listvyanka is the Shaman Stone. This monument of nature can be seen where the Angara River flows out of Lake Baikal. The Shaman Stone is famous because of an ancient legend of local people – the Buryat people.
The beautiful Angara River was enclosed among the rocks, according to the legend. She was under the strict overseeing of her father – Great Baikal Lake. He loved his daughter very much and wanted to marry her to the fast and strong Irkut River (another big river near Baikal). However, Angara didn’t love him. All her heart was with the Yenisei River. After a few centuries, sending prayers to the gods, Angara dared to make an escape. Baikal became furious and threw a massive stone after his daughter in the hope of stopping her. Nevertheless, it was too late: the Angara rushed into the Yenisei’s arms, merging their waters. So today, we can see that stone, Shaman Stone.
It’s no wonder the Buryats are very respecting the Shaman stone. There is a belief that Ama-Sagaan-Noyon, the Angara source’s spirit, chose the stone as his sacred home. Shamans offered prayers here made ceremonies and sacrifices.
Today there are special tours to the Shaman stone for tourists. They can see impressive performances in national clothes and shamanic rites.
Monument of Alexander Vampilov
A monument in the memory of soviet dramatist Alexander Vampilov.
Museum of Baikal
Don’t forget to visit Baikal Museum to learn more about Baikal’s flora and fauna. In the Museum aquariums live endemic animals of the Lake, which you will never see anywhere else!
Also, we recommend you visiting «A virtual trip to the Baikal bottom.»
The museum is opened for visitors:
from 8:00 to 21:00 without days off
Ticket price:
Adults — 310 rubles
Kids – 190 rubles
Baikal Arboretum
A walk through the Baikal Arboretum is an excellent opportunity to discover how the natural Baikal forest with its unique vegetation looks.
Work hours:
from 8:00 to 21:00 without days off
Ticket price:
50 rubles
Baikal Museum of Gems
A small museum with a collection of local minerals and gems mined on the shores of Lake Baikal.
Work schedule:
from 10:00 to 20:00 without days off
Ticket price:
50 rubles.
Listvyanka Nerpinarium
At this place, tourists can see nerpas. It is the Baikal seal that lives only in the Lake. These cute and ingenious animals are a symbol of Baikal. They can sing, dance, count, play musical instruments, spin a hoop, and even paint pictures! You can take photos with charming artists and buy souvenirs with their photographs for an additional fee.
Opening hours:
every day, except Monday, from 11:00 to 17:00, on weekends until 18:00
Ticket price:
500 rubles for adults
400 rubles for children from 2 to 12 years
Great Baikal Trail
This popular touristic route starts in Listvyanka. Usually, tourists go by foot from here to some point on the Trail and then go back to Irkutsk or Listvyanka by minibus or ferry. You can learn more about the route by clicking the link.
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Fish Market of Listvyanka
All international tourists should visit this place. Here you can buy all kinds of souvenirs: local tea, statuettes, ritual masks, amulets, toys, crafts made of charoite and seraphinite and so on. Also, tourists can taste delicious Baikal fish like golomyanka, omul, and others here. So just buy some fish and go to the beach to enjoy it!
Listvyanka attractions
The popularity of the village provided the conditions for the creation of a tourist infrastructure. Here you can buy souvenirs, try local delicacies, get acquainted with the inhabitants of Baikal and much more.
In addition, Listvyanka is closely connected with such popular tourist routes as the Circum-Baikal Railway and the Great Baikal Trail.
Read more about things to do in the village and its attractions below.
Listvyanka from a ship
Circum-Baikal Railway
The finish point of the Circum-Baikal Railway is on the opposite shore of the Angara river. It is a small village called Port Baikal. But very often, tourists do not finish but start their trip through Circum-Baikal Railway from Port Baikal. Use ferry service to transport to the other shore. It costs about 500 roubles.
Ferry goes from Listvyanka to Port Baikal village
Chersky Stone observation platform
Cherskiy Stone in Listvyanka is a rock with a height of 728 meters, named after the well-known Siberian geographer Ivan Cherskiy. The rock is an exciting place for tourists because of its observation platform. From this place, tourists can enjoy a beautiful view of many significant places, like:
- Source of Angara River;
- Pier of Listvyanka;
- Shaman Stone;
- Solar Observatory;
- Village of Port Baikal;
- Peaks of the Khamar Daban mountain ridge.
You can reach the platform by the footpath behind the Baikal Museum or cableway (funicular). It costs 300 rubles to go there and back.
The cableway
View from the cableway top
Shaman Stone
Another attraction of Listvyanka is the Shaman Stone. This monument of nature can be seen where the Angara River flows out of Lake Baikal. The Shaman Stone is famous because of an ancient legend of local people – the Buryat people.
The beautiful Angara River was enclosed among the rocks, according to the legend. She was under the strict overseeing of her father – Great Baikal Lake. He loved his daughter very much and wanted to marry her to the fast and strong Irkut River (another big river near Baikal). However, Angara didn’t love him. All her heart was with the Yenisei River. After a few centuries, sending prayers to the gods, Angara dared to make an escape. Baikal became furious and threw a massive stone after his daughter in the hope of stopping her. Nevertheless, it was too late: the Angara rushed into the Yenisei’s arms, merging their waters. So today, we can see that stone, Shaman Stone.
It’s no wonder the Buryats are very respecting the Shaman stone. There is a belief that Ama-Sagaan-Noyon, the Angara source’s spirit, chose the stone as his sacred home. Shamans offered prayers here made ceremonies and sacrifices.
Today there are special tours to the Shaman stone for tourists. They can see impressive performances in national clothes and shamanic rites.
Listvyanka ships wait for tourists
Museum of Baikal
Don’t forget to visit Baikal Museum to learn more about Baikal’s flora and fauna. In the Museum aquariums live endemic animals of the Lake, which you will never see anywhere else!
Also, we recommend you visiting «A virtual trip to the Baikal bottom.»
The museum is opened for visitors from 8:00 to 21:00 without days off. A ticket for adults costs 310 rubles, for children 190 roubles.
Work hours:
from 8:00 to 21:00
without days off.
Ticket price:
310 rubles for adults
190 for children.
Baikal Arboretum
A walk through the Baikal Arboretum is an excellent opportunity to discover how the natural Baikal forest with its unique vegetation looks.
The cost of a visit is 50 rubles. Opening hours: from 8:00 to 21:00
Work hours:
from 8:00 to 21:00
without days off.
Ticket price:
50 rubles.
Baikal Museum of Gems
A small museum with a collection of local minerals and gems mined on the shores of Lake Baikal.
Work schedule:
from 10:00 to 20:00
without days off.
Ticket price:
50 rubles.
Listvyanka Nerpinarium
At this place, tourists can see nerpas. It is the Baikal seal that lives only in the Lake. These cute and ingenious animals are a symbol of Baikal. They can sing, dance, count, play musical instruments, spin a hoop, and even paint pictures! You can take photos with charming artists and buy souvenirs with their photographs for an additional fee.
Opening hours – every day, except Monday, from 11:00 to 17:00, on weekends until 18:00. The ticket price is 500 roubles for adults, 400 roubles for children from 2 to 12 years.
Work hours:
every day, except Monday, from 11:00 to 17:00,
on weekends until 18:00.
Ticket price:
500 roubles for adults, 400 roubles for children from 2 to 12 years.
Listvyanka Nerpinarium
Great Baikal Trail
This popular touristic route starts in Listvyanka. Usually, tourists go by foot from here to some point on the Trail and then go back to Irkutsk or Listvyanka by minibus or ferry. You can learn more about the route by clicking the link.
Fish Market of Listvyanka
All international tourists should visit this place. Here you can buy all kinds of souvenirs: local tea, statuettes, ritual masks, amulets, toys, crafts made of charoite and seraphinite and so on. Also, tourists can taste delicious Baikal fish like golomyanka, omul, and others here. So just buy some fish and go to the beach to enjoy it!
Here you can buyt souvenirs…
… and taste Baikal fish!
Listvyanka weather
Any traveler will like the weather in Listvyanka. Because of the close location to Lake Baikal, there is always sunny in the village. In the summertime, the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. However, the cold Baikal wind will quickly remind you that you are in Siberia! Do not forget to take a jacket just in case. And if you get hot, you can swim in the cool water of the Lake.
Listvyanka weather
Any traveler will like the weather in Listvyanka. Because of the close location to Lake Baikal, there is always sunny in the village. In the summertime, the temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. However, the cold Baikal wind will quickly remind you that you are in Siberia! Do not forget to take a jacket just in case. And if you get hot, you can swim in the cool water of the Lake.
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How to reach Listvyanka
It is straightforward to go from Irkutsk to Listvyanka. Learn how below.
How to reach Listvyanka
It is straightforward to go from Irkutsk to Listvyanka. Learn how below.
