Kazakhstan Things to Do

  KazMunaiGaz
by Alsu
 
  • KazMunaiGaz
      KazMunaiGaz
    by Alsu
  • Apartment complex
      Apartment complex "7 barrels" (7 bochek)
    by Alsu
  • Heading up
      Heading up
    by lalikes
  • VT
      VT
    by lalikes
  • Top of the mountain
      Top of the mountain
    by lalikes
 
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Book now for big savings!
hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The 28 Panfilov Heroes Memorial Park

by paulvir

I had a chance to visit The 28 Panfilov Heroes Memorial Park. It's in the city of Almaty so getting there is easy. There is a large monument which is the 1st picture I posted with this tip. I was surprised to see many wedding parties there taking picture/video and also dropping off flowers in front of the eternal flame in front of the monument. They are there to pay their respects to those who sacrificed themselves so that they could enjoy their life and get married etc. Some may feel the urge to get onto the large dark granite platform (2nd photo) in front of the monument and run across it but don't do it. It's a sacred place where people come to pay respects.Behind the 28 Panfilov monument is an Orthodox church built in 1870. It's still used as a church so one must remove hats before entering.

Tip Photo
Kok Tube

by paulvir

Kok Tube is a mountain near the downtown Almaty. It's quite peaceful up there. One side of the mountain is just green hills while the other side is view of the city of Almaty.Once our car got up to a small parking lot, we got off and got onto different mini buses which took us to Kok Tube. I was told the souvenir shops here were cheaper than other places. There are only about 5 or small shops so not that great of variety but I think they were pretty cheap.

Tip Photo
Hiking in Aksu-Jabagly Nature Reserve

by Over60

I spent two delightful days hiking in the Aksu-Jabagly Nature Reserve near Shymkent. My visit was arranged by Svetlana Baskakova, who is Director of the NGO “Wild Nature. Ms. Baskakova met me at the train station in Tulkubas in the early morning after an overnight trip from Almaty. (The train is an antique no doubt dating to the Sovier era, but my bed in the two-person first-class sleeper compartment was not bad, and the experience itself was interesting.) "Wild Nature's" program accomodates tourists in homes in the village. My accomodations were completely satisfactory, the food was good, and my hosts were gracious. Their young daughter spoke English, Turkish, Russian, and Kazakh (wow!). The meals were excelllent., and there were other backpackers there to chat with--a plus since I was travelling alone. Ms. Baskakova guided both hikes, one down into a deep dry canyon with a beautiful...

Tip Photo
Visit the Museums

by TheWanderingCamel

Whilst the Museum of Traditional Instruments is the most attractive museum in Almaty, it is by no means the only one worth visiting.The Central State Museum is a huge, gloomy building just off Republic Square. There is quite a lot of interesting stuff here with exhibits dating from prehistoric times through to the modern era of independence. There are good displays of everyday objects and applied folk art -including a stunning yurt hanging encrusted with embroidery and coral beadwork. The signage, like a lot of the lighting, is barely adequate but a visit will leave you with a fair idea of the history of the country.The Art Museum houses fine and applied arts - with the applied arts section - textiles, jewellery and costume - probably being more interesting than the fairly ordinary paintings on display unless you are interested in the rather esoteric study of the recent development of...

Tip Photo
The Alma-Ata Tower

by traveldave

Located on an outlying foothill of the Tien Shan Mountains, the Alma-Ata Tower (best seen by enlarging the picture) is Kazakhstan's tallest structure and can be seen from throughout Almaty. (Alma-Ata is the former name of Almaty). Built by the Soviets in 1983, and used for telecommunications, the 1,219-foot (371-meter) tower is the tenth-tallest telecommunications tower in the world.Visitors can take a cable car up the hill to the Alma-Ata Tower, where there is an outdoor cafe with a panoramic view over Almaty, and which offers such Kazakh specialties as shashlik, spiced mutton grilled on a skewer.

Tip Photo
Republic Square

by TheWanderingCamel

All the capital cities of the old Soviet Union staged huge parades in a massive square watched by the Party leaders and their apparachiks from a central podium. Almaty was no exception but now the square is named for the Republic (Respublika Algany) and, although the podium is still there, the monuments that adorn the space celebrate Kazakh history.A tall column in the centre - the Monument to Independence - is topped with a replica of the famous Golden Warrior, so symbolic of Kazakh pride in their past, and there are large bas-reliefs depicting the great moments in the country's history and some nice sculptures of an old-style Kazakh man and woman.The Presidential Residence - known as the White House - is on the square, and the State Museum is nearby.

Tip Photo
The Green Market

by TheWanderingCamel

Zelyony Bazaar (aka the Green Market) is the main market in Almaty. Mountains of fresh fruit and vegetables lovingly arranged in pyramids of different colour - try the white apricots if you are there in early summer, they are delicious; dried fruits and nuts in abundence; caviar; Korean salads of every combination of vegetable you can think of; kumys (fermented mare's milk) and shubat (fermented camel milk); salty white balls of cheeses -Safeway was never like this.There are several cheap eating places here.The other areas of the market are a bit depressing, jammed as they are with cheap and shoddy goods and anxious people, both buyers looking for a bargain and sellers looking for a sale.

Tip Photo
Almaty's playground

by TheWanderingCamel

Surrounded as it is by mountains, it's only a short drive to one of the city's favourite recreation areas - Medeo. Whether you come in the summer for the cafes, the walks and the fresh mountain air, or in the winter to skate on the huge ice rink (open on weekends to the public), it will only take you half an hour to get here.aT 1700m, Medeo is always cooler than Almaty,and if it's raining in the city, it wil be snowing in the mountains, so come prepared for the rapid changes that alpine regions can, and do, experience.Weekends are always busy, so if it's real peace and quiet you are after, come on a weekday.

Tip Photo
The view from the top

by TheWanderingCamel

A cable car ride up to the top of Koktyube -one of the hills hill overlooking Almaty is a pleasant outing. At the top you'll find several outdoor restaurants where you can get a snack or a drink while you decide whether to take the ride down or walk. The view all around is lovely, it confirms the impression you will already have of just what a green and attractive place this is.The TV transmitter on top of the hill is an Almaty landmark.This is a popular weekend outing with the locals and therefore very busy.The cable car leaves from a small station beside the Palace of the Republic between 1100 and 1900.

Tip Photo
Celestial domes

by TheWanderingCamel

The gold-starred blue onion domes, turquoise blue walls and white wooden fretwork of St Nicholas's Cathedral (Nikolski Sobar) reflect the charm of the interior. The church is a remnant of Old Russia - much loved and used by the babushkas who have remained in the city as many young Slavic people have left.Although the church was used as stables for a while, it became a church again as early as 1980 -long before independence saw the Zenkhov Cathedral returned to religious service

Tip Photo
Fun things to do in Kazakhstan

Top 3 Hotels in Kazakhstan

Intercontinental Almaty  Almaty

 58 Opinions

 Hotels in Almaty

Radisson Sas Hotel, Astana  Astana

 33 Opinions

 Hotels in Astana

Renaissance Atyrau Hotel  Atyrau

 4 Reviews and 21 Opinions  Best and most expensive business Hotel to stay in Atyrau. However this is not saying much. This... 

 Hotels in Atyrau

50 Hotels in Kazakhstan
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Kazakhstan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Kazakhstan sightseeing.

Experience Kazakhstan
Things to Do: Cities in Kazakhstan
  1. Almaty Things to Do
  2. Astana Things to Do
  3. Aktau Things to Do
  4. Tengiz Things to Do
  5. Shymkent Things to Do
  6. Taraz Things to Do
  7. Turkestan Things to Do
  8. Petropavlovsk Things to Do

More Cities in Kazakhstan

 

Popular Regions in Kazakhstan

Almaty Qalasy Things to Do  Gorod Astana Things to Do  Atyrau Oblysy Things to Do  Qaraghandy Oblysy Things to Do  Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy Things to Do  Pavlodar Oblysy Things to Do  Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy Things to Do  Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy Things to Do  Aktyubinskaya Oblast' Things to Do  Zhambyl Oblysy Things to Do 

More Regions in Kazakhstan

Questions and Answers

jojoawesome profile photo

Q:  Would you consider taking a 9 year old and 13 year old child to Kazakhstan? is it safe enough? and where would be the best place... 

Fluffy_bunny profile photo

A: "Safe" is always a relative term. Personally, when i was in Afghanistan i felt safe. That doesn't mean i'd recommend Afghanistan, it's just how i felt. Both feeling... 

Read 3 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for Kazakhstan

Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Plenty of choices
agoda.com Save up to 75%, Don't miss! Live support, Instant confirmation.
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Book now for big savings!
hotels.com Outstanding choice of hotels all over the world at fantastic prices.

Sponsored Links