This was our first time at Irkutsk, which we found to be a very nice city. Together with the Lake Baikal area, this makes a nice stopover if you are doing the Trans-Siberian. We stayed at this hotel for 2 nights.

The hotel webpage does not indicate clearly how to get there from the train station. If you are not carrying a lot of lugagge, the cheapest way to do it is taking bus #16 or minibus (mikriki) #116. I saw no proper bus stop outside the station, so just stop them behind the row of parked cars outside the station (the 12 rub fare is to be paid before getting off). The mentioned buses cross the bridge to the East bank of the river, and go all the way along Ul Lenina, turning right on Baikalskaya, where you should get off just in front of the hotel.

Should you choose to go by taxi, the fare should be around 250 rub (which is what I paid on my way back to the station, and had been anticipated by the hotel staff). Price may be higher if you are heading TO the hotel, due to the taxi cartel in the train station.

The good:

- Check-in process was fast and efficient. The ladies at the reception showed different degrees of english knowledge, but still managed to answer simple requests, such as calling a taxi, checking the boat schedule to Listvyanka, etc.

- Free wi-fi connection is available throughout the hotel. Connection speed was not that good (there was a significant delay in Skype calls) but still acceptable for email checking and basic Internet usage.

- ATMs are available in the lobby area, but hotel staff recommended Radian Bank to exchange money (it is located 100 mts eastwards along Baikalskaya st). Exchange rate was a bit below the standard (similar to Western Union in Ul Lenina) but still acceptable.

The not-so-good:

- Location is perhaps the main drawback. The Europa is located away from the city centre, and there are hotels with better location such as Sayen, Angara and Courtyard by Marriott (when it opens). Having said this, we walked all the way several times (around 25 minutes to Karl Marx street); during daytime it's a nice walk, but at night you may want to avoid it. There is also a good public transport network which can be used to reach the hotel. Bus 16 runs all the way on Ul Lenina from Kirova Square (actually from the train station) and there is at least one trolleybus line that runs on the opposite direction (I took it at the stop in front of the Puppet Theatre).

- Rooms are small (as it happens to be the standard in Russia), but clean. Sleep quality was mediocre, taking into account that the walls were very thin (loud conversations from the neighbouring rooms could be clearly heard) and curtains were not adequate to block the morning sunlight. No safebox available, at least in our room.

- Breakfast was average. No pastries (as one would expect in a hotel which pretends to be 4-stars) and no fresh fruits or juices.

In case I have the chance to visit again Irkutsk, I would look for offers in other hotels with better location (as there are promotions every now and then). However, I would not rule out the alternative of staying again at Europa Hotel.

Nice new hotel situated not in a center which should not be a problem at all for not lazy walkers. Lack of service is unfortunately notable. Upon my arrival at 5.30 am I found air con in my room isn’t operative. Was too tired to bother and slept with window open, luckily night was fresh. Next day leaving the hotel asked to settle the issue. Coming back in the afternoon found no changes. Leaving for a eve walk asked again to settle the issue or to change the room since it was +35C during the day. Coming back later same eve found same broken air con, but as a reaction to my request they put huge fan inside my little room!!! Had to call reception and ask for another room. Was moved within 10 mins. Also note that if you ask reception to call a taxi for you they won’t call you when it arrives. You should call reception again and ask if it’s there yet. Breakfast is perfect with the meal which should fit all demands. If you take smallest room, be prepared it’s small indeed, but equipped well enough for good sleep and bath. Would stay again, but maybe choosing bigger room.

We booked this hotel on Booking.com, our room was very small but fine for us and clean with Russian channel TV, and a small mini bar. Shower was powerful with plenty of hot water. Check in was fast and efficient and passport registration and complimentary drinking water was included in the rate so we had no extra charges. The beds were fine and the staff on reception were very helpful and friendly and did try and help us when one of the tours we had arranged through another agency got cancelled because of the snow.

The biggest downside was the location, probably a 20 minute walk from town which in summer shouldn’t be too bad but it was snowing for most of the time we were there. However, the hotel does have its own taxi, or can easily order other taxis, which we took in to town and which weren’t too expensive. We had room service for one meal which was very tasty.

Breakfast was good although the staff were a bit miserable – it was very early and it seemed that they had been working late for a wedding the night before so maybe understandably so… Our room overlooked the road although it wasn’t too noisy and we slept fine. The curtains were quite thin again but we were up early in any event so it wasn’t an issue. I’m not sure if it was the hotel’s official wi-fi but we managed to access free wi-fi when we were at the hotel!

Would consider staying here again if we wanted somewhere nice to stay.

Stayed here in late December, when it was -25C outside. Not that central but only a 20 min walk to the centre so wasn't complaining much. Hilariously Russian luxury - marble, brass, weird art, red carpets. Nice rooms, well stocked toiletries. Superb buffet breakfasts but get in there early, as all the good stuff gets taken and not replaced. Lots of Mongolian and Siberian businessmen drinking brandy with their breakfasts. Try to avoid a first floor room directly over the kitchen and restaurant and you'll be kept awake by loud music until 1am. Only other complaint was that, despite agreeing in advance to us paying a half day rate for a late checkout, they tried to fleece us for a full additional day. Eventually, they relented, when shown email proof of the prior agreement.