The historic centre of Irkutsk is compact enough to walk. The main sights — the embankment, the 130th Quarter, the Decembrist museums, and the various churches — are all within a reasonable walking distance of each other. Trams and buses cover the city for local trips, and taxis are cheap by Western standards.
For Baikal, the simplest option is a marshrutka (shared minibus) to Listvyanka from the Central Bus Station — the journey takes about 45 minutes. The minibuses run throughout the day. For trips further along the shore, private taxis or organised day tours are more practical. The Trans-Siberian station (Irkutsk-Passazhirsky) is on the opposite bank of the Angara from the old centre, a short taxi or tram ride from the main sights.