Getting there
The main gateway to Buryatia is Ulan-Ude. Baikal is a few hours away from there.
By air
Ulan-Ude Baikal International Airport (UUD) handles direct flights from Moscow, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and other cities. From the airport, take a taxi (~20–30 minutes) or a city bus to the centre.
By train
The Trans-Siberian Railway runs through Ulan-Ude, connecting it with Moscow, Irkutsk, Vladivostok and Mongolia (toward Ulaanbaatar). The station is in the city centre.
By car
The R-258 “Baikal” federal highway links Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude (~450 km along the southern shore). Renting a car is convenient for independent trips around the republic.
To the Baikal shore
From Ulan-Ude to the eastern-shore villages (Gremyachinsk, Goryachinsk, Ust-Barguzin) there are scheduled buses, marshrutkas or transfers. Travel time ranges from 2 to 6 hours depending on the destination.