Getting Around Ulan-Ude
Ulan-Ude is a compact city at the confluence of the Selenga and Uda rivers, and its central tourist area is small enough that most visitors will find walking the easiest way to cover the main sights. For longer hops across town, the city offers a mix of trams, buses, and marshrutkas (shared minibuses), plus plentiful taxis. The city sits on the Trans-Siberian Railway and is also the junction where the Trans-Mongolian line branches south toward Mongolia and Beijing, so the rail station is a central anchor for arrivals and onward travel.
On Foot
The central tourist area of Ulan-Ude is compact and very walkable. The main street, ulitsa Lenina, runs through the heart of the city, and the train station sits in the city centre just a short walk from it. Ploshchad Sovietov, the square dominated by the giant Lenin head, is the central orientation point for the downtown area. If you are basing yourself centrally, you can reasonably plan to cover the core sights on foot.
Trams
Ulan-Ude has a tram network, though it is limited to a few routes rather than a dense grid. Trams are one of the three main forms of intracity public transport, alongside buses and marshrutkas. They are a straightforward option for reaching parts of the city beyond the immediate centre, and fares are low.
Buses and Marshrutkas
Buses and marshrutkas form the backbone of public transport in Ulan-Ude. Marshrutkas are shared minibuses that run on fixed routes; they are the most common way locals move around and are useful for connecting the centre with outlying districts and transport hubs. A few tram routes supplement the bus and marshrutka network.
Practical points for using public transport:
- Trips on public transport cost less than 30 rubles.
- Fares are typically paid to the driver or conductor on board.
- Marshrutkas often depart when full rather than on a strict timetable, so allow a little flexibility.
- Route numbers are the main way to identify services, so it helps to note the number you need before setting out.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful in Ulan-Ude and are a convenient option, especially for trips with luggage or late at night. One practical caveat: drivers rarely speak any English, so it helps to have your destination written down in Russian or shown on a map. Negotiating the fare in advance is the norm for informal taxis.
Arriving by Air: Baikal International Airport
Ulan-Ude is served by Baikal International Airport (airport code UUD), located west of the city centre. The airport handles regular flights to major Russian cities as well as international services to destinations such as Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, and Seoul. A smaller airfield, Ulan-Ude Vostochny Airport, also exists.
To get from the airport into the city:
- Bus: Buses #55 and #77 run between the airport and Ploshchad Sovietov in the city centre, the square with the giant Lenin head. To find the airport bus stop, walk straight out from the terminal, turn left at the crossroads, and continue for a few minutes. The fare is about 20 rubles.
- Taxi: A taxi to the city centre takes roughly 20 minutes. If you negotiate the fare in advance, expect to pay around 300 rubles.
Arriving by Train
The train station is in the city centre, a short walk from ulitsa Lenina, which makes it very convenient for onward travel into the city. All Trans-Siberian trains stop at Ulan-Ude, and the station is also the departure point for the Trans-Mongolian route south through Mongolia toward Beijing. Ulan-Ude is the first major Russian city reached on the train journey from Mongolia. Timetables and fares are published on the RZD website.
Arriving by Bus
The main bus station, "Selenga" (also called "Yuzhniy" or the South Bus Station), is at the end of Sovetskaya Street. It is within walking distance of the train station, or you can reach it by marshrutka #30 or #29. There is a baggage storage room open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Note that the former north bus station no longer exists.
Many buses and marshrutkas — including services to Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Arshan, and Chita — also stop at or depart from the train station, so it is worth checking there as well as at the bus station. Buses and marshrutkas are generally less comfortable than the train but are usually cheaper and faster, and for many small towns in Buryatia they are the only public transport option. Tickets can often be bought directly from the driver, and services frequently leave early in the morning once full.
Practical Tips
- Keep small change handy for public transport fares.
- Have destination names written in Russian for taxi drivers, who rarely speak English.
- For intercity departures, check both the train station and the Selenga bus station, since many services leave from either.
- The compact centre makes walking the simplest option for sightseeing; save public transport and taxis for longer trips or when carrying luggage.