View source for Yakutsk

{{ai-enhanced}}
{{infobox Location
|country = Russia
|map = <map lat='62.0339' lng='129.7331' zoom='9' view='0' />
|state = Sakha (Yakutia)
|motorways = [[A360]], [[R504]], [[R004]], [[R503]], [[A331]], [[A502]]
}}
'''Yakutsk''' (Russian: Якутск) is a city in [[Russia]]. It is the capital of the largest region of Russia, the Republic of [[Sakha (Yakutia)]].

== Hitchhiking in ==
Most people arrive in Yakutsk by plane. In 2014, freight traffic was opened to Tommot station on the Amur–Yakutsk railway, but there is still no regular passenger service. In summer, river crossings are by ferry; in winter, by ice. The only year-round road linking Yakutsk with the outside world is the federal highway [[A360]] "Lena" (Never–Yakutsk). To get an idea of road conditions, [https://yandex.ru/images/search?text=%D0%B0%D0%B2%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D0%B4%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B0%20%D0%9C56%20%C2%AB%D0%9B%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0%C2%BB see pictures here].

Passenger river services operate from Yakutsk to Olekminsk, Lensk, Zhigansk, Khandyga, and a few other district centers of Yakutia, as well as to Ust-Kut (Irkutsk region). In the summer, cargo is also shipped via the Northern Sea Route from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, but this is not recommended due to unpredictable travel times.

- [http://www.yks.aero/ Airport] Information: (4112) 14-006
- [http://avtovokzal.ykt.ru/ Bus station] Ul. Oktyabrskaya, 24. Phone: +7 (4112) 36-47-66 (information); +7 (4112) 36-14-61 (administration).
- [http://rechport.ykt.ru/ River port]. Phone: +7 (4112) 31-74-44 (ticket office); +7 (4112) 31-73-01 (passenger services).

== Hitchhiking out ==
=== South on the right bank of the Lena towards [[Never]] (Amur Oblast) on the federal highway [[A360]] "Lena" ===
To leave Yakutsk, you need to cross to the right bank of the Lena River. The road starts from the town of Nizhny Bestyakh. There are two options: 1) take bus #8 to the final stop "River Port", go down to the river, and find a river taxi (about 300 rubles per person); 2) take bus #1 to the final stop "Ferry Crossing," then walk a bit to the pier; pedestrians may be charged, but crossings are generally free. You may be able to find a ride in your desired direction here.

=== Northeast on the right bank of the Lena towards [[Magadan]] via federal highway [[R504]] "Kolyma" ===
The Kolyma Highway also starts from Nizhny Bestyakh on the right bank of the Lena River.

=== South on the left bank of the Lena towards the village of [[Bulgunnyahtakh]] via the "Umnas" road [[R004]] ===
The Pokrovsky Trakt begins at the ring intersection with Ul. Chernyshevskogo. Buses #101, 103, and 108 go to the "Post GIBDD" bus stop.

=== North on the left bank of the Lena towards the village [[Namtsy]] via "Namsky Trakt" [[R503]] ===
The farthest bus stop on bus #104 is "Kangalassy." Bus #105 turns off earlier to "Kildyamtsy."

=== West towards the city of [[Mirny]] via the "Vilyuy" road [[A331]] ===
The Vilyuysky Trakt begins from Lermontov Avenue. There is a police checkpoint at the turn to Sergelyakh Highway. The bus stop nearby is "Chochur Muran", accessible by buses #121, 122, 123 (these are not their final stops). For those not wanting to hitch at the checkpoint, buses will go to the last stop "Country Houses (Vilyuysky Trakt)" at the 13th kilometer.

=== Southeast towards the village of [[Amga]] via [[A502]] ===
The Mayinskaya highway begins from the "Lena" road in the village of Nizhny Bestyakh.

== Places to avoid ==

== Accommodation and Sleep ==
'''Free'''
* [[Couchsurfing]] – as of early 2025, there are around 3,000 registered Couchsurfers, but none have logged in during the past month.
* BeWelcome, Servas, Trustroots, Couchers, and other hospitality platforms.
* You can also try to find a host via CouchBot: send a message with the name of the city in the [https://vk.com/im?sel=-114256136 VK group] or via [https://t.me/Couch_Robot CouchBot on Telegram].
* For tips on how to request accommodation, see [https://vk.com/topic-1398178_31882458 this guide].
* You can camp with your own tent – beware of mosquitoes!
* Social hostel "Sardana", 14/6 Fyodor Popov St. Phone: 8 (411) 221-01-39

'''Paid'''
* 2GIS provides [https://2gis.ru/yakutsk/search/хостелы a list of hostels]
* Hotel "Lena": Lenina Ave, 8

== Other useful info ==
* Full list of canteens: [https://2gis.ru/yakutsk/search/столовые/ at 2GIS]
* [[Wikivoyage]] – [https://ru.wikivoyage.org/wiki/%D0%AF%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA Yakutsk]
* [https://varandej.livejournal.com/tag/%D0%AF%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA Travel blog post by Ilya Buyanovsky (Varandej)]
* [https://travelask.ru/russia/yakutsk TravelAsk portal]
* [https://guide.travel.ru/russia/yakutsk/ Travel.ru portal]

=== Useful Telegram links ===
* [https://t.me/novosty_yakutska Novosti_yakutska]
* [https://t.me/stolica_yakutsk Stolitsa Chat]
* [https://t.me/narodniy_chat_yakutsk National Chat Yakutsk]

[[Category:Russia]]
[[Category:Sakha (Yakutia)]]
{{IsIn|Sakha (Yakutia)}}