Explore Astana's futuristic architecture
Kazakhstan's purpose-built capital showcases dramatic, sometimes surreal contemporary buildings including the Baiterek Tower and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.
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Central Asia
Things to do in Kazakhstan
The world's largest landlocked country, a futuristic purpose-built capital rising from the steppe, and canyon and lake scenery that remains genuinely undiscovered by mass tourism.
Explore Kazakhstan on the map →Budget$
Best for10-12 days
CapitalAstana
VisaVisa-free entry for up to 30 days for US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders, capped at 90 days in any 180-day period.
CurrencyKazakhstani tenge (KZT)
LanguagesKazakh and Russian (both official)
InternetGood in Almaty and Astana, more limited in remote regions
Typical lodging$20–$50/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage220V / 50Hz (Type C/F plug)
Time zoneUTC+5
Emergency number112
Dialing code+7
★★★★★ Adventure★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Culture
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended. Not customary. Rounding up is fine.
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country on Earth, spanning nine time zones' worth of longitude despite using only one, and its capital, Astana, was built almost entirely from scratch in the 1990s into a showcase of ambitious, sometimes surreal contemporary architecture. The Baikonur Cosmodrome, from which Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, remains an active launch site leased to Russia, giving Kazakhstan an unusual direct connection to the history of human spaceflight.
When to go
SpringApril–May
Mild and green after a harsh winter, with wildflowers across the steppe before summer heat sets in.
SummerJune–August
Hot in the lowlands but comfortable at altitude, the best window for the Tian Shan mountains near Almaty.
AutumnSeptember–October
Comfortable temperatures and vivid color in the mountains, widely considered a strong window for both cities and nature.
WinterNovember–March
Extremely cold, especially on the open steppe and in Astana: a genuinely serious winter, though ski resorts near Almaty operate through the season.
20 things to do
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Culture & history
8Visit the Baiterek Tower for an Astana skyline view
Astana's most recognizable landmark, a 97-metre tower symbolizing a mythical tree of life, with an observation deck over the planned capital.
Visit the Central State Museum in Almaty
Kazakhstan's largest historical museum, covering nomadic Kazakh culture, Silk Road history, and the Soviet era in depth.
Explore the Hazrat Sultan Mosque in Astana
One of the largest mosques in Central Asia, an impressively scaled modern addition to the capital's skyline of architectural landmarks.
Visit the Baikonur Cosmodrome region
The launch site of Yuri Gagarin's historic 1961 spaceflight, still active today under lease to Russia, with limited specialist tours available.
Explore Almaty's Zenkov Cathedral
A wooden Russian Orthodox cathedral built without a single nail in 1907, still standing after surviving a major earthquake, in the city's central Panfilov Park.
Visit the National Museum of Kazakhstan in Astana
One of the largest museums in Central Asia, tracing Kazakh history from ancient nomadic tribes through Soviet rule to independence.
Visit the Independence Monument in Almaty
A central square commemorating Kazakhstan's 1991 independence, with a golden man atop a snow leopard statue symbolizing the nation's nomadic warrior heritage.
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Adventure & outdoors
4Hike or gondola up to Big Almaty Lake
A turquoise alpine lake in the Tian Shan mountains, a short drive and hike from Almaty, offering genuine high-altitude scenery close to the city.
Ski at Shymbulak resort near Almaty
A modern, well-regarded ski resort in the mountains directly above Almaty, reachable by cable car from the city itself.
Trek in the Tian Shan mountains near Almaty
Central Asia's dominant mountain range offers serious high-altitude trekking within striking distance of Almaty, from day hikes to multi-day routes.
Ride a horse across the open steppe
Horsemanship remains genuinely central to Kazakh nomadic heritage, and countryside operators offer riding experiences reflecting a tradition still practiced today.
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Nature & scenery
4Explore Charyn Canyon's 'Valley of Castles'$2–4
Dramatic red sandstone formations often compared to a smaller Grand Canyon, carved by the Charyn River over millions of years.
Explore the Kolsai Lakes, the 'Pearl of the Northern Tian Shan'
A chain of alpine lakes surrounded by spruce forest, a popular multi-day trekking and horseback destination near the Kyrgyzstan border.
Hike Kok-Tobe hill above Almaty
A cable-car-accessible hill overlooking the city with the Tian Shan range as a backdrop, a popular sunset viewpoint for locals and visitors alike.
Explore the Singing Dunes of Altyn-Emel National Park
A massive sand dune that produces a low humming sound under certain wind conditions, in a national park also home to wild petroglyphs and diverse steppe wildlife.
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Food & drink
4Eat beshbarmak, Kazakhstan's national dish
Boiled meat served over wide noodles with onion sauce, traditionally eaten by hand and central to Kazakh hospitality and celebration.
Try kumis, fermented mare's milk
A traditional nomadic Kazakh drink, mildly alcoholic and tangy, still produced and consumed as a genuine cultural staple, especially in rural areas.
Shop at Almaty's Green Bazaar
A bustling covered market selling dried fruit, spices, and Central Asian specialties, a good introduction to Kazakh and regional food culture.
Try Kazakh plov and manty dumplings
Spiced rice pilaf and steamed meat dumplings reflect Kazakhstan's Silk Road-era culinary crossroads between Central Asian and broader regional cuisines.
Common questions
▾Do I need a visa for Kazakhstan?
US, UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, capped at 90 days in any 180-day period.
▾Almaty or Astana, which is the better base?
Almaty has the mountain backdrop, older architecture, and easier access to Charyn Canyon and Big Almaty Lake; Astana (the capital) showcases dramatic modern architecture but sits on flat open steppe with a harsher climate.
▾Is Kazakhstan safe and easy to travel around independently?
Yes, generally considered one of the more stable and manageable Central Asian countries for independent travel, with reasonable infrastructure in Almaty and Astana and organized tours available for more remote regions.
▾How many days does Kazakhstan need?
10-12 days lets you combine Almaty's mountains and canyons with Astana's architecture and possibly the Baikonur Cosmodrome region, given the country's vast size and long travel distances.
▾Is Kazakhstan affordable?
Yes, among the more budget-friendly destinations in Asia, with strong value for food, accommodation, and domestic flights relative to the distances covered.
▾How much does it cost to visit Charyn Canyon?
Foreign visitor entry to Charyn Canyon National Park runs a modest KZT 1,000-2,000 (about $2-4), inexpensive relative to the scale of the canyon itself. Most visitors budget more for the transport and guided tour from Almaty than for the entry fee.