City: Kazakhstan
Top Things to do in Kazakhstan
- 1. The State Theatre of Opera and Ballet Astana Opera
- 2. Charyn Canyon
- 3. Kolsai Lakes
- 4. Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima
- 5. Museum of Baikonur Cosmodrome History
- 6. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
- 7. Big Almaty Lake
- 8. Hazret Sultan Mosque
- 9. KarLag / Museum of Political Repression Victims’ Memory of the Dolinka Settlement
- 10. Medeu Skating Rink and Ski resort
What to do and see in Kazakhstan: The Best Places and Tips
Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан, translit. Qazaqstan, IPA: [qɑzɑqˈstɑn] ( listen); Russian: Казахстан, IPA: [kəzɐxˈstan]), officially the Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан Республикасы, translit. Qazaqstan Respýblıkasy; Russian: Республика Казахстан, tr. Respublika Kazakhstan), is the world's largest landlocked country, and the ninth largest in the world, with an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres (1,052,100 sq mi). Kazakhstan is the dominant nation of Central Asia economically, generating 60% of the region's GDP, primarily through its oil/gas industry. It also has vast mineral resources. Some argue that Kazakhstan may be considered a European country because Kazakhstan's Western region is on the European continent and meets the Council of Europe's criteria for European inclusion.
Restaurants in Kazakhstan
1. The State Theatre of Opera and Ballet Astana Opera
Overall Ratings
5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By kiltmaker2 - Evanston, Illinois
Located on the west part of Astana city center. You could see this structure standing tall with its beautiful landscape in front of it. It close to Khan Shatyr and other attractions nearby.
2. Charyn Canyon
Overall Ratings
5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By areveurecat - Barcelona, Spain
Silent and impressive. There are two trails to walk, one along the upper side, a second through the canyon itself. Two different complementary perspectives. Don't miss the opportunity to sleep down by the river, either in a yurt, bungalow or in your own tent. The colors of the rocks in the evening are brilliant!
3. Kolsai Lakes
Overall Ratings
5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By globtravel2017 - Astana, Kazakhstan
Get ready for a heavenly experience away from the city and away from mobile range :) The terrain is mountain so be ready for long difficult walks. Get climbing shoes or ride horses.Six hours ride from Almaty.
4. Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima
Overall Ratings
5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By GLBonora - Ferrara, Italy
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima erected in Karaganda and opened in september 2012, is the biggest Cathedral in Central Asia. Many countries helped build it and donations have been received not only from Kazakhstan but also from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, America and even South Africa. The Cathedral was initially meant to “become a memorial to victims of Karlag (Karaganda labor camp of Stalinist era), a place of prayer for the victims of the totalitarian regime.
Construction of the Cathedral in Karaganda started in 2003.
5. Museum of Baikonur Cosmodrome History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By alfonso p - Ankara, Turkey
A comprehensive story of the space adventure. Documents and objects lead you from the victory after the carniage, in the II WW, to the astonishing surprise of the Sputnik's bip-bip and to the first man in the space. Of course it isn't worth the trip to this place that is lost in, and surrounded by hundreds of miles of desert, but if by chance you are here don't miss it.
6. The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 67 reviews
Built in the 14th century by Tamerlane to commemorate the Sufi leader, the building is a national symbol.
Reviewed By Saskia S
We took a daytrip together from Shymkent with the hotel taxi driver and an English speaking guide, including lunch package, arranged by the hotel staff (about 175 euros). The highway to Turkistan is very quiet, the trip took about two hours.
Arraving at the mausoleum it took us a while before we realised it's not just a mosque but actually a Sultan's palace, with a build-in mosque and mausoleum. The building is very impresive, rising up in the flat land, the whole town of Turkistan consists of just a few other houses.
Once inside our guide explained that the building was reconstructed from the inside by the Kazakh government. Lots of details like all sealings were removed and the walls plastered again with new details by hired Turkish builders. This means that the official womens quarters in the top of the building were removed and looked like empty caves near the ceiling. Such a shame.
Also the place has got different rooms with Exhibitions of ancient coins and a writers room. Both have got nothing to do with the mausoleum, but are put there for tourist attraction only. Best ridiculous detail: there is a 'water-well' in one of the cells, made of stones that absolutely do not match the rest of the stones the mausoleum is made of, and looks very new. Geologists say there is no way the well was there, but the info on the display has got drawings to prove it. A very good take on rewriting history!
The building has tipped over a bit on the back, and the precautions they made for collapse are simple and ugly: they just build three modern stone pillars against the beautiful blue tiled walls..
It's an amazing place, an absolute must-see, but they really did a horrible job preserving it.
What the other reviewers have said below is absolutely true: I was stared at and noticed young visitors took pics of me (It's a Tourist!!) and there are a lot of Pelgrims, mostly Oezbek.
Without the explanations from our Kazakh guide Ruslan I would not have been able to comprehend the real story of the mausoleum, so I strongly advise to take a guide!
7. Big Almaty Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 497 reviews
Reviewed By johncY5607GX
I was in Almaty for a week on a holiday cum business visit.... one of the warmer days, I decided to go to Big Almaty Lake with a friend... I had seen some pics online before my visit and I was really looking forward to this visit...
I was staying in the city centre and took over an hour to reach the lake... drive through the city was ok with the usual hush hush around... after a long drive, there is a sudden calm and slight chill in the air... beautiful scenery around u... it’s a sign that u r not too far from the Big Almaty Lake...
Last 15 mins of the drive was amazing and u wish to get ur head outside the window like a puppy...
I visited this place on the morning of 3rd October... and it was really chilly at the lake although city temperature was about 10 degrees but it felt like 1 degree here... Make sure to carry warm clothes especially to cover ur head, feet and hands... Make sure to visit early morning before 12 as later it can get little crowded there... as there is a limited space to park..
On the day of my visit, we could go till the lake as there was no snow and had plenty of opportunity to click pictures... and trust me it’s a beautiful sight..
I had couple of friends visiting 3 days later and it had started to snow there and they could not step outside the parking area as it was pretty slippery and risky... although the sight was beautiful...
Surely recommend a visit here...
8. Hazret Sultan Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 277 reviews
Reviewed By Eyad A - Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
A must visit of this Mosque to have a complete visit to Astana. A very well organized mosque, which I performed Friday prayer it. The provided facilities, outdoor piazza and ablution area are awesome. The Islamic art and calligraphies indoor are great too.
9. KarLag / Museum of Political Repression Victims’ Memory of the Dolinka Settlement
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By Burdenkov - Minsk, Belarus
Such places should be promoted in a more active way so people remember the atrocities of the regime against its own people!
10. Medeu Skating Rink and Ski resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 627 reviews
Medeu Alpine Sports Complex is located in picturesque canyon Ile Alatau on 1691 metres high above the sea level. The highest ice skating rink in the world. • Working schedule: whole year • Activities in winter: ice skating • Activities in summer: skating, bicycles, skateboarding, streetball and volleyball. • Ice field area: 10 500 sq.m • Average temperature: summer time +20 C, winter -10 C •
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