Baikonur
Kazakhstan · Kyzylorda Region · 90 m
Description
Baikonur is a Russian city inside Kazakhstan, leased with the cosmodrome beside it and closed to anyone without a permit arranged weeks ahead through an accredited agency. Everything worth coming for is behind that fence. Gagarin left from pad one in 1961 and the pad is still there, along with his cottage, Korolev's, and a Buran orbiter left in an assembly hall. Movement inside is escorted throughout. Without the paperwork a traveller reaches the railway village of Toretam and sees the outside of a wall, which is why the lead time matters more than the season.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – May or September – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Gagarin's Start, launch pad one
- Cosmodrome history museum
- Cottages of Gagarin and Korolev
- Buran orbiter in the assembly hall
- Soyuz rollout along the rail spur
- Watching an actual launch
- Gagarin monument and Korolev Avenue
- Soviet space mosaics around the city
- Toretam village bazaar outside the checkpoint
Getting there
- Train stations:
- Toretam