Overview
Slyudyanka is the classic Trans-Siberian stop for passengers heading to or from Lake Baikal. The town sits at the southern tip of the halfmoon-shaped lake where the Trans-Siberian Railway and Highway descend by hairpin turns from the Olkhinsky Plateau.
Architecture · Day Trips · History · Nature · Transit Hub
Before you go
Accommodation
Budget options: Hostel Slyudyanka (multi-bed room) or train station dormitory. Mid-range guesthouses near lake from 2500 RUB/dbl. Edelweiss has tent camping for 100 RUB/person.
Activities
Marble railway station, two mineral museums (300 RUB), Shaman's rock peninsula, beach, and mountain hiking trails. Two-day hike to Chersky Peak (2090 m).
Connectivity
Megafon has 4G in town, 3G/2G further out. MTS sistema and Tele2 offer 4G coverage outside town. Beeline VEON has GSM service.
Money
Prices in Russian rubles. Supermarket Kurbatovski near central square (9-21) for provisions. Roadside market at Kultuk switchbacks sells fish and souvenirs.
Transport
Slyudyanka lies 110 km east of Irkutsk on both the Trans-Siberian Railway and P258 Baikal Highway. Trains stop at Slyudyanka-1 (main station) and Slyudyanka-2 (near beach). Local marshrutka 101 runs to Kultuk every 20 minutes.
