Find places in Kazakhstan

Must-Haves

• Medeu Skating Rink (Medeu Gorge)
  The famous high altitude outdoor rink sits in a mountain valley just above the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Kok Tobe (Kok Tobe Hill)
  Ride the cable car up for city views, a small amusement park and the Beatles statue.
• Almaty Arbat (Zhibek Zholy)
  The pedestrian street fills with buskers, painters and families in the evening.

Off the Beaten Path

• Almaty Metro Art Stations (City Centre)
  Ride the short metro to see mosaic and marble stations such as Alatau and Zhibek Zholy.
• Arasan Baths (Panfilov Park)
  Grand Soviet era bathhouse with Russian, Finnish and Turkish steam rooms.

Must-Haves

• Shymbulak Mountain Resort (Ile Alatau)
  A cable car ride lifts you from Medeu to snowy peaks for skiing in winter and hiking in summer.
• Big Almaty Lake (Ile Alatau National Park)
  A turquoise reservoir ringed by peaks, about an hour into the mountains south of the city.
• Charyn Canyon (Almaty Region)
  Red rock walls of the Valley of Castles make a long but rewarding day trip.
• Kolsai Lakes (Kolsai Lakes National Park)
  Three spruce lined mountain lakes, with village guesthouses in Saty.

Fun for Everyone

• Panfilov Park (Medeu District)
  Shady paths, the Eternal Flame war memorial and the cathedral make a gentle first walk.

Must-Haves

• Green Bazaar (Zhibek Zholy)
  The city market for horse meat, kurt, dried fruit and honey, with generous tasting.
• Mega Alma-Ata (Rozybakiev Street)
  A large mall with shops, ice rink and restaurants under one roof.

Off the Beaten Path

• Barakholka Market (Northern Outskirts)
  A vast bazaar where locals buy everything from clothes to carpets.

Fun for Everyone

• Dostyk Plaza (Samal)
  A modern shopping centre with a food court and cinema, good on a hot or snowy day.

Must-Haves

• Ascension Cathedral (Panfilov Park)
  A colourful wooden Orthodox cathedral built without nails in the leafy central park.
• Central State Museum of Kazakhstan (Samal)
  The best overview of Kazakh history, from Saka gold to nomad yurts and Soviet times.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kasteyev State Museum of Arts (Bostandyk)
  The country's largest art collection, strong on Kazakh painting and applied arts.

Fun for Everyone

• Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments (Panfilov Park)
  A charming wooden building full of dombras and kobyz, with live demonstrations at times.

Great for Date Night

• Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre (Kabanbay Batyr Street)
  See ballet or opera in a grand Soviet era hall.

Must-Haves

• Navat (Zhibek Zholy)
  A popular chain for plov, lagman, manty and Central Asian teahouse dishes in a lively setting.
• Del Papa (Kabanbay Batyr Street)
  Busy Italian restaurant that has been a favourite date spot for years.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kaganat (City Centre)
  Fast canteen style Kazakh and Central Asian food that locals use for quick lunches.

Must-Haves

• Nedelka (Kabanbay Batyr Street)
  A long running café and terrace for breakfast, people watching and cakes.

Fun for Everyone

• Coffee Boom (City Centre)
  A homegrown coffee chain with branches across the city, handy for a break.

Must-Haves

• Line Brew (Al Farabi Avenue)
  A big beer hall and grill brewing its own beer.

Must-Haves

• Nauryz Celebrations (Citywide)
  Spring new year on 22 March brings yurts, games and kozhe soup to city squares.

Fun for Everyone

• Almaty Marathon (City Centre)
  A popular spring road race with shorter runs open to families.

Must-Haves

• The Ritz Carlton Almaty (Esentai Tower)
  Luxury rooms high in the Esentai tower with mountain views.

Great for Date Night

• Rixos Almaty (Seyfullin Avenue)
  Classic city centre luxury with a big spa.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kazakhstan Hotel (Abay Avenue)
  The landmark Soviet tower hotel with views and good value.

Must-Haves

• Baiterek Tower (Nurzhol Boulevard)
  The symbol of the capital, with an observation deck in its golden sphere.
• Khan Shatyr (Turan Avenue)
  A giant transparent tent with a mall, indoor beach and rides.

Fun for Everyone

• Nurzhol Boulevard (Left Bank)
  A long walk linking the city's landmarks, lively on summer evenings.
• Duman Oceanarium (Left Bank)
  A large aquarium with a shark tunnel, a favourite with children.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nur Alem Sphere at EXPO (EXPO District)
  A vast glass sphere housing a museum of future energy.

Must-Haves

• National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Independence Square)
  A huge museum with the Golden Man and halls on nomad and modern history.
• Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Independence Square)
  A glass pyramid by Norman Foster with an opera hall and a light-filled apex.
• Hazret Sultan Mosque (Tauelsizdik Avenue)
  One of the largest mosques in Central Asia, with white domes and calm interiors.

Great for Date Night

• Astana Opera (Left Bank)
  A palatial opera house staging ballet and opera seasons.

Off the Beaten Path

• ALZHIR Memorial Museum (Akmol Village)
  A moving memorial to wives of so-called traitors held in a Soviet camp.

Fun for Everyone

• Mega Silk Way (EXPO District)
  A big mall near EXPO for shopping and food in cold weather.

Great for Date Night

• Line Brew Astana (Left Bank)
  A big brewhouse grill for an easy evening meal.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Navat Astana (City Centre)
  Teahouse plov and lagman for a filling and affordable meal.

Must-Haves

• Coffee Boom Astana (Left Bank)
  A reliable spot for coffee and breakfast near the landmarks.

Must-Haves

• Astana Central Park (Right Bank)
  Riverside park for strolling, cycling and summer cafés.

Fun for Everyone

• Botanical Garden Astana (Left Bank)
  New botanical garden with lakes and paths close to the centre.

Off the Beaten Path

• Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve (Akmola Region)
  A UNESCO listed steppe wetland where flamingos breed in summer.
• Burabay National Park (Akmola Region)
  Lakes, pine forest and granite peaks, a few hours north of the capital.

Must-Haves

• Astana Day (Citywide)
  The capital's birthday in early July brings concerts and fireworks.

Fun for Everyone

• Astana Opera Season (Left Bank)
  Autumn to spring brings the main ballet and opera programme.

Must-Haves

• The Ritz Carlton Astana (Talan Towers)
  Luxury rooms in the city's business district.

Great for Date Night

• St. Regis Astana (Right Bank)
  Refined luxury overlooking the central park.

Must-Haves

• Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi (Hazret Sultan Reserve)
  A UNESCO listed Timurid masterpiece and one of the holiest sites in Central Asia.
• Rabiga Sultan Begim Mausoleum (Hazret Sultan Reserve)
  A smaller restored mausoleum beside the main shrine.

Off the Beaten Path

• Otrar Archaeological Site (Otrar)
  Ruins of a great Silk Road city linked to the philosopher Al Farabi.
• Arystan Bab Mausoleum (Otrar)
  A pilgrimage site traditionally visited before Yasawi.
• Sauran Ruins (Turkistan Region)
  The walls of a medieval caravan city on the open steppe.

Fun for Everyone

• Karavan Saray (Turkistan)
  A modern Silk Road style complex with canals, boat rides and a night show.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hilvet Underground Mosque (Hazret Sultan Reserve)
  A small underground cell where Yasawi is said to have spent his later life.

Must-Haves

• Hampton by Hilton Turkistan (Turkistan)
  A modern hotel close to the mausoleum.

Must-Haves

• Nauryz in Turkistan (Turkistan)
  The spring festival is celebrated with games and music in the historic city.

Must-Haves

• Shymkent Dendropark (City Centre)
  A huge leafy park that is the city's favourite place for an evening walk.

Fun for Everyone

• Shymkent Zoo (Al Farabi District)
  One of the biggest zoos in the country, popular with local families.
• Independence Park Shymkent (Al Farabi District)
  A big park with monuments, fountains and city views.

Must-Haves

• Shymkent Central Bazaar (City Centre)
  A noisy southern bazaar full of melons, spices and fresh lepeshka bread.

Fun for Everyone

• Shymkent Plaza (City Centre)
  A modern mall for shopping and food courts.

Fun for Everyone

• Shymkent Regional History Museum (City Centre)
  A small museum on the history of the south, from the Silk Road to today.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sayram Old Town (Sayram)
  One of the oldest towns in Kazakhstan, with mausoleums and minarets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Aksu Zhabagly Nature Reserve (Turkistan Region)
  Central Asia's oldest nature reserve, with spring tulips and walnut forests.
• Sairam Su Gorge (Sairam Ugam National Park)
  Mountain streams and walking trails in the western Tian Shan.

Must-Haves

• Rixos Khadisha Shymkent (City Centre)
  The city's best known upmarket hotel.

Must-Haves

• Bozzhyra Valley (Mangystau)
  Towering white chalk fangs in a remote desert valley, best with a guided 4x4 trip.
• Torysh Valley of Balls (Mangystau)
  A plain strewn with giant round stone concretions.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sherkala Mountain (Mangystau)
  A lone flat-topped mountain shaped like a lion or a yurt.
• Karagiye Depression (Mangystau)
  One of the lowest points on earth, well below sea level, close to the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Aktau Embankment (Microdistricts)
  A seaside walk along the Caspian with sunset views.

Off the Beaten Path

• Beket Ata Underground Mosque (Mangystau)
  A revered underground mosque in desert cliffs, reached by pilgrims from across the country.
• Shakpak Ata Underground Mosque (Mangystau)
  A carved cave mosque with an ancient necropolis.

Fun for Everyone

• Mangystau Regional Museum (Microdistricts)
  A museum on local history, geology and necropolis culture.

Fun for Everyone

• MiG Fighter Monument (Microdistricts)
  A Soviet jet monument on the seafront, a popular photo spot.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fort Shevchenko (Mangystau)
  A seaside town with a museum to the Ukrainian poet once exiled here.

Must-Haves

• Renaissance Aktau Hotel (Microdistricts)
  A reliable seafront hotel with Caspian views.