Irkutsk is famous for its theaters, with a philharmonic and a beautiful symphony orchestra and an organ hall. Two of the city's many museums - the Museum of Art and the Museum of Local Lore - are among the oldest in Siberia and are famous throughout Russia for their rich collections.

Despite the fact that Irkutsk is a fairly large industrial center, its location surrounded by taiga, close to the Angara River and Lake Baikal, led to the development of a network of resort institutions in the city. Sanatoriums, boarding houses, balneotherapy centers are located directly within the city's park territory. Irkutsk offers its guests a wide range of opportunities for outdoor activities. In the warm season, hiking, biking, horseback riding are popular activities nearby. On the Angara coast there is a yacht club, a water sports center, where you can rent a boat, a boat and go on a trip along the river. The beach complex is located near Irkutsk, and the distance between the city and Lake Baikal is only 2 hours by car.