diff --git a/docs/environments/ess.yml b/docs/environments/ess.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..913cbc5a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/environments/ess.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+name: ess
+
+channels:
+  - conda-forge
+  - scipp
+  - nodefaults
+
+dependencies:
+  - ess
+  - astropy
+  - matplotlib
+  - tifffile
+  - jupyterlab
+  - jupyterlab_widgets
+  - pythreejs
+  - scipy
+  - ipympl
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/installation.rst b/docs/getting-started/installation.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6751649de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/getting-started/installation.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+.. _installation:
+
+Installation
+============
+
+The easiest way to install ``ess`` is using `conda <https://docs.conda.io>`_.
+Packages from `Anaconda Cloud <https://conda.anaconda.org/scipp>`_ are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
+It is recommended to create an environment rather than installing individual packages.
+
+With the provided environment file
+----------------------------------
+
+1. Download :download:`ess.yml <../environments/ess.yml>`.
+2. In a terminal run:
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      conda activate
+      conda env create -f ess.yml
+      conda activate ess
+      jupyter lab
+
+The ``conda activate`` ensures that you are in your ``base`` environment.
+This will take a few minutes.
+Above, replace ``ess.yml`` with the path to the download location you used to download the environment.
+Open the link printed by Jupyter in a browser if it does not open automatically.
+
+If you have previously installed ``ess`` with conda we nevertheless recommend creating a fresh environment rather than trying to ``conda update``.
+You may want to remove your old environment first, e.g.,
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+   conda activate
+   conda env remove -n ess
+
+and then proceed as per instructions above.
+The ``conda activate`` ensures that you are in your ``base`` environment.
+
+Without the provided environment file
+-------------------------------------
+
+To create a new conda environment with ``ess``:
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+   conda create -n env_with_ess -c conda-forge -c scipp ess
+
+To add ``ess`` to an existing conda environment:
+
+.. code-block:: sh
+
+   conda install -c conda-forge -c scipp ess
+
+.. note::
+   Installing ``ess`` on Windows requires ``Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 C++ Runtime`` installed.
+   Visit `this page <https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads-2647da03-1eea-4433-9aff-95f26a218cc0>`_ for the up to date version of the library.
+
+After installation the modules ``ess``, ``scippneutron``, and ``scipp`` can be imported in Python.
+Note that only the bare essential dependencies are installed.
+
+To update or remove ``ess`` use `conda update <https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/commands/update.html>`_ and `conda remove <https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/commands/remove.html>`_.
diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index 11900feb0..bc0b92508 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@ This involves a "filtering" process, since scope and contribution guidelines are
 Documentation
 =============
 
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 3
+   :caption: Getting started
+
+   getting-started/installation
+
 .. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 3
    :caption: Instruments