Hotel Europe

Weddingcake style good hotel, but overpriced

In August 2011 we stayed here for one night.

The hotel's outside looks like a wedding cake... and also the interior (of the ground floor at least) is rather pompuous. But that's all right.

This hotel is on the road to Lake Baikal and therefor convenient for those travelling to or from places on the Lake. It is also on the right side of the city for those coming from or going to the airport.

It is a bit far from the centre : The city market (univermag) is a 15 minutes walk, the centre around ul. Karl Marx almost half an hour. City buses stop in front of the hotel.

Reception staff is very friendly and speaks good English. Service was a bit on the lazy side.

At 4100r(102,50 EUR) a night for our double room this hotel is too expensive for what is offered...

Our room was on the small side but clean and well-equipped.
Wifi is available, just connect to the open "STC"-network.

Breakfast is included. Lonely Planet writes that the breakfast buffet of this hotel is the best in town and we therefor had high expectations. These were not really met. Even if it is true that there was a wide choice, basic things like coffee and bread were not good at all.

Bus 16 brings you to the hotel from the railwaystation as well as from Raketa harbour, bus stop in front of the hotel.

To travel on to lake Baikal
- All marshrutkas to Listvyanka pass by the busstop in front of the hotel. In busy periods however, they may all be full... obliging you to go to Irkutsk bus station to find places.
- Bus 16 and 16k travel to the Raketa stop near the Angara dam. Here is the little river port where you can get the hydrofoil to Listvyanka and Bolshie Koty or to Port Baikal and Olchon island.

We also had dinner in the hotel's restaurant (open 24/7). It is rather pricey compared to the prices of the restaurants downtown. But after 10 days of Russian food we were very happy to find some spaghetti here. These were very nice. (Portions were rather small)

Unique Quality: Ideally located for those going to or coming from Lake Baikal