Major city · Russia
AldanАлдан
Go only if you are already in Yakutia and want a gold-rush town on the way to the Lena Pillars: 1 night, June–August, no more.
Aldan is a small gold-mining town in the Aldan Highlands, about 470 km south of Yakutsk by road and roughly 11 hours by rail on the Tynda–Nizhny Bestyakh line, which stops here daily at 22:04. It has a compact centre, a local-lore museum, an Orthodox church and the Lena waterfalls 10 km out. It is a one-night stop for travellers already moving through Yakutia, not a destination on its own.
advisory country
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- RUB
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- avoid Oct–Apr (deep cold), May and September (mud and snow)
- Airport
- ADH
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Reach this subregion only from the EU side — Romania for …Check your own government travel advice for Russia before…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Eastern Europe ↗Reach this subregion only from the EU side — Romania for Moldova — through crossings run by recognised authorities; no route through Ukraine, Belarus or Russia is planned here.
- Eastern Europe ↗Re-read your government's advice for Moldova (it covers Transnistria) in the week you travel; the situation next door changes fast.
- Eastern Europe ↗Carry euros in cash for Transnistria and village Moldova; cards stop working at the Dniester.
- Russia ↗Check your own government travel advice for Russia before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Russia ↗Direct flights from much of Europe and North America are suspended; no independent tourist route is documented here.
- Russia ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Russia before you rely on it.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Aldan112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Aldan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign-issued cards, ATMs and most transfers do not work: see Insurance & payments above.Russia-wide
- SafetyAldan is a quiet, small town and street crime is not the main risk.
- Emergency numbers112 All emergencies (fire, police, ambulance) · 102 police · 103 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportADH Aldan Airport (About 1 km (0.6 mi) east of town on Mayakovskogo Street; small paved runway, flights from Yakutsk.).ADH Aldan Airport (About 0.6 mi (1 km) east of town on Mayakovskogo Street; small paved runway, flights from Yakutsk.).
- Getting aroundThe centre is compact and walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a caféRUB 150–350
- Sit-down mealRestaurant main courseRUB 600–1,200
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi across townRUB 500–800
- Metro or bus rideTown bus rideRUB 31
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekRUB 1,500–3,000
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheck
- Budget bedGuesthouse or budget room, a night, per roomRUB 3,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or budget room, a night, per roomRUB 4,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse or budget room, a night, per roomRUB 5,500
A day, not counting the bed: Budget RUB 2,500 · Mid RUB 4,500 · High RUB 8,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ADH Aldan Airport (About 1 km (0.6 mi) east of town on Mayakovskogo Street; small paved runway, flights from Yakutsk.)ADH Aldan Airport (About 0.6 mi (1 km) east of town on Mayakovskogo Street; small paved runway, flights from Yakutsk.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−25°C (−13°F)−13°F (−25°C)
Feb
Avoid
−20°C (−4°F)−4°F (−20°C)
Mar
Avoid
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
Apr
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
May
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Jun
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jul
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Oct
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Nov
Avoid
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
Dec
Avoid
−23°C (−9°F)−9°F (−23°C)
Best: Jun–Aug. Avoid: Sep–May. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jan (−35°C (−31°F)−31°F (−35°C) low), wettest Jun (9 rain days), driest Jan (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Aldan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−25°C (−13°F)−13°F (−25°C)
−35°C (−31°F)−31°F (−35°C)
4 rd
Feb
−20°C (−4°F)−4°F (−20°C)
−31°C (−24°F)−24°F (−31°C)
4 rd
Mar
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
−22°C (−8°F)−8°F (−22°C)
5 rd
Apr
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
6 rd
May
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
8 rd
Jun
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
Jul
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
9 rd
Sep
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
9 rd
Oct
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
8 rd
Nov
−16°C (3°F)3°F (−16°C)
−25°C (−13°F)−13°F (−25°C)
6 rd
Dec
−23°C (−9°F)−9°F (−23°C)
−33°C (−27°F)−27°F (−33°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is compact and walkable. Taxis are the main way to reach suburbs and nearby settlements, roughly RUB 500–800 per trip. Daytime buses run town routes 1A–5A for about RUB 31 and suburban routes 101–104.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Lena waterfalls
goDoor to door: About 30–45 min each way
Taxi or a hired car from town
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Aldan; go in summer when the track is dry.6.2 mi (10 km) southeast of Aldan; go in summer when the track is dry.
Lena Pillars Nature Park
overnightDoor to door: A full day or more
Car or ferry from Aldan, roughly 300 km (186 mi) northeastCar or ferry from Aldan, roughly 186 mi (300 km) northeast
Too far for a comfortable return day; plan it as a separate leg.
Neryungri
cautionDoor to door: Several hours by car
Road south through the Aldan Highlands
Only with a confirmed driver and daylight; check road conditions.
Door to door: 1.5 h by air, about 11 h by rail
Flight from ADH, or the Tynda–Nizhny Bestyakh rail line (about 11 h, departs 22:04 daily)Flight from ADH, or the Tynda–Nizhny Bestyakh rail line (about 11 h, departs 10:04 PM daily)
Rail departure time is from the source; re-check before travel.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre (Lenina and Oktyabrskaya streets)
Walkable to the museum, church, market and most cafés; best for a one-night stop.
Dzerzhinskogo Street area
Hotels and the central library; a few minutes' walk from the main square.
Near the railway station
Practical for the 22:04 departure; fewer food options within walking distance.Practical for the 10:04 PM departure; fewer food options within walking distance.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- RUB 2,500–4,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- RUB 4,000–7,000 excl. bed
- High
- RUB 7,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 1 night × RUB 4,400 | RUB 4,400 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × RUB 4,500 | RUB 9,000 |
| Taxi around town, per trip1 × RUB 700 | RUB 700 |
| Town bus ride2 × RUB 30 | RUB 60 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × RUB 2,500 | RUB 5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | RUB 1,920 |
| Trip total≈ RUB 10,540 per person per day, bed included | RUB 21,080 |
2026 estimate in rubles; flights and rail tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a café | RUB 150–350 |
| Canteen lunch (soup and main) | RUB 400–800 |
| Restaurant main course | RUB 600–1,200 |
| Taxi across town | RUB 500–800 |
| Town bus ride | RUB 31 |
| Museum entry | check |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | RUB 1,500–3,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Winter runs to −40 °C (−40 °F) and below; summer is the only realistic season for a short visit.Winter runs to −40 °F (−40 °C) and below; summer is the only realistic season for a short visit.
- Aldan is remote: road and rail links are long and schedules change, so confirm departures before you commit.
- English is rarely spoken outside hotels; carry a translation app and your address in Russian.
- Read your own government's travel advice for Russia before booking anything.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies (fire, police, ambulance)
- 112
- Police
- 102
- Ambulance
- 103
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
AldanАлдан
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
По этому адресу, пожалуйстаTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies112
- Police102
- Ambulance103
Embassy
No embassies in Aldan; consular help is in Moscow, and most travellers should follow their government's advice page for Russia.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi in town: RUB 500–800
- Town bus: about RUB 31
- Rail to Yakutsk side (Tynda–Nizhny Bestyakh line): about 11 h, departs 22:04 daily (check)about 11 h, departs 10:04 PM daily (check)
Say or show
- Здравствуйте — Hello (zdravstvuyte)
- Спасибо — Thank you (spasibo)
- Сколько стоит? — How much is it? (skolko stoit)
- Можно оплатить картой? — Can I pay by card? (mozhno oplatit kartoy)
- Где туалет? — Where is the toilet? (gde tualet)
- Отвезите меня по этому адресу — Please take me to this address (otvezite menya po etomu adresu)
Print or screenshot this card: mobile data is patchy outside the centre.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Aldan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Aug · avoid Oct–Apr (deep cold), May and September (mud and snow)
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for ADH: confirm the Yakutsk flight days and a taxi fallback before arrival.
- Walking cluster for the centre: museum, church, WWII memorial, market and Oktyabrskaya Street shops.
- Winter and shoulder-season fixtures so the page can go green or red by month.
- Rail and road arrival fixtures with checked departure times.