Things to Do in Kazakhstan: Top Attractions, Tours & Tickets

#1Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed YasawiMustKazakh Desert4.8(12,000)

This is Kazakhstan’s essential architectural and spiritual monument, and the strongest reason to make the journey to Turkistan. Give it time beyond the main facade: the complex is most meaningful when approached as a living pilgrimage place as well as a historic site.

2h FreeArrive early, before pilgrimage groups and day tours fill the courtyards.

Pairs with: Tamgaly Petroglyphs

#2Charyn Canyon National ParkMustAlmaty Province4.8(5,400)

Charyn delivers the dramatic, eroded landscapes many visitors expect from Kazakhstan and is a classic long day trip from Almaty. Walk into the canyon rather than only stopping at the rim, but plan transport carefully because services are limited.

4h Walk upStart early to avoid the hottest part of the day and the main convoy of Almaty day tours.

Pairs with: Kolsai Lakes National Park · Kaindy Lake · Altyn Emel National Park

#3Altyn Emel National ParkMustAlmaty Province4.7(1,700)

This vast desert-and-mountain park is among the country’s strongest landscape experiences, rewarding travelers who want more than a quick canyon excursion. It requires a properly planned overnight or long private excursion, with transport and route logistics settled before leaving Almaty.

8h Book aheadTravel on weekdays and begin drives early, as the distance and heat shape the day more than crowds do.

Arrange a vehicle, park access, and any required local guide in advance; independent transport options are limited.

Pairs with: Charyn Canyon National Park · Kolsai Lakes National Park · Kaindy Lake

#4Kolsai Lakes National ParkMustAlmaty Province4.8(270)

The forested lakes and mountain trails here offer a markedly different landscape from Charyn’s dry canyon country. It is best approached as an overnight escape or as part of a longer southeastern Kazakhstan route, not a rushed add-on from Almaty.

6h Walk upStay overnight nearby or leave Almaty before dawn to get meaningful trail time before day-trip groups arrive.

Pairs with: Kaindy Lake · Charyn Canyon National Park · Altyn Emel National Park

#5AstanaMustKazakhstani North

Kazakhstan’s capital is itself the attraction: an audacious planned skyline of monuments, boulevards, and civic buildings set against the open steppe. Spend time walking its major axes rather than only checking off individual buildings, ideally with at least one evening view of the illuminated city.

8h FreeExplore outdoors in the late afternoon and evening, when the city is more comfortable and its architecture is best lit.

Pairs with: Baiterek · National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

#6Kaindy LakeMustAlmaty Province

The submerged trunks rising from this cold mountain lake make it one of Kazakhstan’s most unusual and photogenic natural scenes. Reach it as part of an overnight Kolsai-area itinerary, since the approach is rough enough that it should not be squeezed into an already long day.

3h Walk upArrive early, before tour vehicles concentrate at the lake and its approach.

Pairs with: Kolsai Lakes National Park · Charyn Canyon National Park · Altyn Emel National Park

#7Boszhira ValleyMustCaspian Basin

Boszhira is the signature otherworldly landscape of Mangystau, with pale cliffs and vast empty desert vistas that feel unlike the greener southeast. It is a major expedition-style destination rather than a casual stop, so use a reliable local driver and allow room for weather and road conditions.

4h Book aheadOvernight desert tours let you reach viewpoints at sunrise or sunset, when heat and harsh light are lower.

Book a Mangystau jeep tour or experienced driver ahead; the route is remote and unsuitable for ordinary rental cars.

Pairs with: Altyn Emel National Park

#8BaiterekShouldKazakhstani North4.6(16,000)

This is Astana’s clearest visual shorthand: a highly stylized observation monument amid the planned government-city skyline. Go up for orientation, then use the surrounding boulevard to understand the capital’s theatrical urban design.

45m Walk upGo near opening or around sunset; observation queues build in the middle of the day.

Pairs with: National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Palace of Peace and Reconciliation · Astana

#9Hazrat Sultan MosqueShouldKazakhstani North4.9(9,600)

The capital’s grand mosque is worth visiting for its scale and serene interiors, not as a long standalone stop. Dress conservatively and combine it with the National Museum and nearby landmark architecture.

40m FreeVisit outside prayer periods, preferably on a weekday morning.

Pairs with: National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Palace of Peace and Reconciliation · Astana

#10Kok-Tobe HillShouldAlmaty Province4.6(18,000)

This hilltop is Almaty’s easiest big-picture view, with the city spreading below and the mountains behind it when the air is clear. Take the cable car up if operating, linger for the view, and treat the entertainment facilities as secondary.

1.5h Walk upGo late afternoon on a clear weekday for the best light and shorter cable-car lines.

Pairs with: Green Bazaar · 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park · Ascension Cathedral

#11National Museum of the Republic of KazakhstanShouldKazakhstani North4.6(4,000)

This is the most useful single introduction to Kazakhstan’s history, culture, and state-building story before traveling farther afield. Its broad scope makes it especially worthwhile early in an itinerary rather than as a final rainy-day backup.

2.5h Walk upWeekday mornings are calmest; allow more time than the exterior suggests.

Pairs with: Hazrat Sultan Mosque · Palace of Peace and Reconciliation · Baiterek

#1228 Panfilov Guardsmen ParkShouldAlmaty Province4.8(14,000)

This leafy central park is a compact introduction to old Almaty, with memorials, strolling locals, and the city’s best-known historic church. It is best used as a relaxed walking stop between the bazaar and the cathedral rather than as a destination by itself.

45m FreeCome in the morning or late afternoon, when the park feels local rather than busy.

Pairs with: Ascension Cathedral · Green Bazaar · Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

#13Ascension CathedralShouldAlmaty Province4.8(7,100)

Set inside Panfilov Park, this vividly colored wooden cathedral is one of Almaty’s most distinctive historic sights. Step inside respectfully, then pair it with the park and Green Bazaar for an easy old-center walk.

30m FreeVisit in the morning, outside services, for a quieter interior.

Pairs with: 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park · Green Bazaar · Kok-Tobe Hill

#14Palace of Peace and ReconciliationShouldKazakhstani North4.5(2,000)

The glass pyramid is one of Astana’s most memorable pieces of symbolic architecture and helps explain the city’s ambition to be a showcase capital. See it with the National Museum and the mosque; the exterior is nearly as important as an interior visit.

1h Walk upLate afternoon gives the pyramid cleaner light; check access before relying on an interior tour.

Pairs with: National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Hazrat Sultan Mosque · Baiterek

#15Green BazaarShouldAlmaty Province4.3(39,000)

Almaty’s central market is the most immediate place to encounter regional produce, dried fruit, dairy, spices, and everyday city life. Go hungry, browse rather than rush, and pair it with Panfilov Park a short walk away.

1.3h FreeVisit in the morning, when the food stalls are fullest and the aisles are less congested.

Pairs with: 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park · Ascension Cathedral · Kok-Tobe Hill

#16MedeuShouldAlmaty Province4.7(21,000)

Medeu is the gateway to Almaty’s mountain recreation and a useful first taste of how quickly the city gives way to alpine scenery. Combine it with a cable-car outing toward Shymbulak if conditions suit, rather than treating the rink alone as a major sightseeing stop.

1.5h Walk upGo early on weekends, especially in winter, before local visitors arrive in force.

Pairs with: Kok-Tobe Hill · Big Almaty Lake · Alma-Arasan Sanatoriy

#17Tamgaly PetroglyphsShouldAlmaty Province

This open-air archaeological landscape offers a deep-time counterpart to Kazakhstan’s modern cities and spectacular scenery. It is most rewarding with a guide or good preparation, since the meaning of the rock art is easy to miss when treated as a quick photo stop.

2.5h Book aheadGo in cooler morning or late-afternoon light; there is little shelter on site.

Arrange transport or a guided visit from Almaty in advance, as independent connections are limited.

Pairs with: Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Kolsai Lakes National Park · Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

#18Burabay National ParkShouldKazakhstani North

Burabay is the northern counterpoint to the country’s better-known southern landscapes: pine forest, lakes, and granite outcrops amid the steppe. It makes a worthwhile nature break from Astana, particularly for travelers who want easy walks and a resort-town base.

6h Walk upVisit on weekdays outside peak summer weekends, when the lakeshore is much quieter.

Pairs with: Astana · Baiterek · National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

#19Baikonur CosmodromeShouldKazakh Desert

The world-famous launch site is a rare chance to see the infrastructure behind spaceflight in the middle of the Kazakh steppe. It is only worthwhile for travelers willing to accept strict access procedures, changing schedules, and a highly organized visit.

8h Book aheadBuild flexibility into the itinerary, as access and launch-related timing are not reliably fixed.

Secure access through an accredited tour operator well ahead, especially if timing a launch; permits and schedules can change.

Pairs with: Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi

#20First President’s ParkIf timeAlmaty Province4.6(29,000)

This is a pleasant landscaped city park with wide mountain views on clear days, but it is not a reason to displace Almaty’s historic center or mountain excursions. Use it if staying nearby or if you want an unhurried local evening walk.

1h FreeLate afternoon is best, particularly after rain has cleared the mountain views.

Pairs with: Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · Abilkhan Kasteev State Art Museum

#21Central State Museum of the Republic of KazakhstanIf timeAlmaty Province4.3(3,700)

This museum provides useful historical depth, especially on archaeology, ethnography, and Kazakhstan before the modern capital era. It is a good choice for travelers who want context after the National Museum in Astana, but can be skipped on a short Almaty stay.

2h Walk upWeekday mornings are the quietest time to visit.

Pairs with: Abilkhan Kasteev State Art Museum · First President’s Park · 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park

#22Abilkhan Kasteev State Art MuseumIf timeAlmaty Province4.7(3,000)

Kazakhstan’s leading art museum is the best place to see how local artists interpreted steppe life, Soviet modernity, and national identity. It is an excellent focused stop for art-minded travelers, though not essential ahead of Almaty’s outdoor and historic sights.

1.8h Walk upVisit on a weekday afternoon for the quietest galleries.

Pairs with: Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan · First President’s Park · Green Bazaar

#23Alma-Arasan SanatoriyNicheAlmaty Province4.7(650)

This mountain-side area can be a pleasant local escape from Almaty, but the sanatorium itself is not a defining national sight and facilities can feel uneven. Consider it only if you specifically want a casual mountain outing or are continuing toward hiking areas.

2h Walk upGo on a weekday morning; mountain roads and parking are easier before weekend traffic.

Pairs with: Medeu · Big Almaty Lake · Kok-Tobe Hill