Moscow to Irkutsk Train Route

There are two train routes connecting Moscow to Irkutsk. The length of the shorter one is 5043 km and it goes through Kazan. The longer one is 5194 km long and it passes through Nizhny Novgorod, Kirov, and Perm. Novgorod. Most Trans-Siberian trains follow the second route.

Depending on the season and the day of the week, there are 2 to 4 trains travelling between Moscow and Irkutsk daily. Most trains continue on to Russia's Far East. The trip takes about 3.5 days. The same trains run on the Irkutsk to Moscow route.

Distance
5043-5194 km

Up to 6 trains
per day

36-69 stops
on the way

Fastest train
3 days 3 hours

Slowest train
3 days 16 hours

Price from
91 USD

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

Can I bring my own food on board the Trans Siberian train?

Yes, you may bring as much food and soft drinks as you’d like on board. Please note that it’s illegal to drink alcohol in your cabin. You can do it only in the restaurant car.

Is there Wifi on board the Trans Siberian train?

No, there’s no WiFi on board Trans Siberian trains. Also, for most of the train trip, a mobile connection will not be available.

How long does it take to travel from Moscow to Irkutsk by train?

The trip from Moscow to Irkutsk by train takes approximately 4 days. The travel time depends on which train you choose.

What are the departure and arrival train stations for the Moscow to Irkutsk train?

The Trans Siberian trains from Moscow to Irkutsk depart from the Yaroslavsky train station, address Komsomolskaya Ploshad, 5, metro Komsomolskaya. It arrives at the Irkutsk Passenger station, address Ulitsa Chelnokova, 1, Irkutsk.

Can I travel from Moscow to Irkutsk with a bicycle?

Bicycles may be transported if they are packed into a luggage-sized casing (60x100x40 cm). Bikes may have to be disassembled to fit within these dimensions.

How do I charge my phone/laptop when I travel from Moscow to Irkutsk?

Some (but not all) Trans-Siberian trains have 220V AC sockets next to each passenger’s seat within each cabin. It depends on the train type (firmenny or regular) and the ticket type that you choose. If you travel by train without AC sockets, you may kindly ask the train conductor to charge your phone in their cabin.

Can I take shower on board the Trans Siberian train?

Some (though not all) Moscow to Irkutsk trains have showers on board. You can use them for a small fee, approx $5. Please ask the conductor if a shower is available. 

Should I book Trans Siberian train tickets in advance or is it possible to buy them at the train station?

We highly recommend that you buy Moscow to Irkutsk tickets well in advance, as soon as they are available for purchase, usually 90 days before the trip. The tickets sell out very quickly and the later you buy tickets, the more expensive they become due to the dynamic pricing policy of the Russian Railroad.

I’d like to stop on the way. Are there hop-on hop-off tickets?

No, there are no hop-on hop-off tickets on Russian trains. According to the railroad office’s policy, if you would like to make stops during your trip you must purchase tickets to each city that you’d like to visit.  The Russian railroad does not offer any flexible tickets with stopovers. 

Testimonials

The Moscow to Irkutsk Railway: History, Things to See

The train journey from Moscow to Irkutsk truly is an immersion into Russian culture. Taking 3.5 days and covering all of the Trans-Siberian’s main sights (except for Ulan-Ude and Vladivostok), it is the perfect option for those who want to explore Russia’s east and west without spending too much time in a train carriage. There are two routes to Irkutsk. The less common route goes via Kazan—the capital of Tatarstan. If you’re interested in Turkic cultures, then this is the route to take. Most tourists, however, travel on the trains that pass through the historically Slavic cities such as Nizhny Novgorod and Perm.

Regardless of the route, we highly recommend buying separate tickets so that you have time to see the sights on the way that interest you most and give your legs a stretch! Here’s a list of the most well-known stops on the Moscow to Irkutsk train with our recommendations for how to make the most of a short stopover in each:

Perm: The last major city before the Siberian tundra begins may already be familiar to you from the book Dr Zhivago which was set here. Apart from visiting the mansions which inspired Pasternak’s writings, it is also worth buying tickets to PERMM. Experimental and eccentric are two out of the many words that could be used to describe one of Russia’s most progressive contemporary art galleries. Perm 36, an innocuous name for Stalin’s most heinous inventions—the gulag— is the only gulag open to the public in Russia and is definitely worth the journey to the outskirts of the city.

Yekaterinburg: The leaning bell tower near the main church of Yekaterinburg is ripe territory for snapping hilarious holiday photos. More seriously, this city has one of the largest military museums in Russia.

Omsk: Dostoevsky fans can’t miss this city as this is where the author was exiled for four years. The literary museum isn’t large, but its walls are steeped in history.

Novosibirsk: The history of Siberia's largest city is fascinating. In the USSR, a whole secret city for scientists was built in its suburbs. In this settlement made up of futuristic buildings, you can visit a museum entirely devoted to the Sun which was set up by one of the Soviet scientists and a statue dedicated to laboratory mice. For something a little more conventional, Novosibirsk’s opera house is the largest in Russia and shows top-class ballet performances.

Irkutsk: Though it may be a city, Irkutsk feels more like a village thanks to the wonderfully ornate wooden houses lining its central streets. The other reason it mightn’t feel so busy is the fact that almost everyone bypasses this charming city to go directly to Lake Baikal, which is just a bus ride away.

Once you have your tickets, look forward to a wonderful, smooth
and enjoyable journey through the Russian countryside.

Buy your ticket safely and securely and then sit back
and enjoy the ride!

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