If you’re planning a trip to Kazakhstan, don’t just visit Almaty. Explore the other cities too!
Here are the four major cities I visited in Kazakhstan.

4 cities

1. Astana
2. Turkestan
3. Shymkent
4. Almaty

Airlines

1.  Singapore to Astana via Beijing – Air China SGD498 (meal included)
2. Astana to Turkestan – Quzaq Air SGD109 (no meal)
3. Turkestan to Shymkent – Yandex Go SGD25
4. Shymkent – Almaty – Scat Airline SGD52 (Water only)
5. Almaty- Singapore via KL – Air Asia SGD617 (no meal)

Avoid Scams at the Airport

Airports in Kazakhstan are known for frequent taxi scams. To stay safe, don’t use the taxis waiting outside. Instead, use Yandex Go — it’s reliable, safe, and usually cheaper.

Download Yandex Go

• Getting around is very easy with Yandex Go. The city is safe, organised, and very tourist-friendly, so using the app is simple even for first-time visitors. I used Yandex in all four cities I visited in Kazakhstan, and I had no issues at all — cars are always available and the prices are very affordable.

Getting Around in Almaty

• If you’re a solo traveller, you can also use the bus in Almaty. The bus system is very good, affordable, and easy to understand. Most routes are clearly shown on Google Maps, so you can just follow the directions and hop on. It’s a great option if you want to save money or explore the city like a local.
• Almaty’s subway is small, with only 9 stations, but it’s very convenient. You can simply tap your credit card to pay, so there’s no need to buy separate tickets. It’s a quick and easy way to get around the city.

Currency – Tenge

Roughly SGD1=400 tenge

You can change your money to Tenge at the airport, but don’t exchange too much. Most places in Kazakhstan accept cards, including credit cards and YouTrip. For an 11-day trip, you only need to change around 100 SGD/USD. Kazakhstan is very modern — even in small towns, shops and kids use mobile payments just like in China. Cash is only needed for small things like toilet breaks (about 100 tenge) when you visit places like Kolsay Lake or Charyn Canyon. You may also need cash for the old Russian bus ride (1000 tenge, around SGD 2.50) or for horse riding to the lake (5000 tenge, around SGD 12.50). Other than that, card payment works almost everywhere.

Using a credit card usually gives a better rate than exchanging cash at a money changer. For example, my credit card gave 400 tenge for 1 SGD, while the money changer only gave 385 tenge for 1 SGD. So it’s often easier and more cost-effective to pay by card whenever possible.

Mobile Network – Beeline

For mobile data, Beeline works the best in Kazakhstan. You can buy a SIM card at the airport or in the city, and the process is very quick. Coverage is strong in major cities like Almaty, Astana, Turkistan, and Shymkent, and even in many countryside areas.

1. Astana (2-3 nights)

Astana is the modern capital of Kazakhstan, and it feels completely different from cities like Almaty or Turkistan. The city is full of futuristic buildings, wide roads, and beautiful landmarks that make it perfect for travellers who enjoy clean, well-planned cities. One thing you must know before coming is the weather — Astana is famous for being one of the coldest capitals in the world. Winter can be extremely cold with strong winds, while summer is warm and comfortable. If you visit outside summer, make sure you pack proper jackets, gloves, and shoes because the wind makes it feel even colder. Astana is a great starting point for your Kazakhstan journey, especially if you love modern architecture and a calm, clean city environment.

Astana is a very new and modern city, filled with unique and futuristic buildings that you won’t find anywhere else in Kazakhstan. If it’s your first time here, I really recommend joining the Red Bus tour, which costs 6000 tenge (around SGD 15). You can find it right next to Bayterek Tower. The tour is a great way to get an introduction to the whole city, especially if you want to understand the layout and see all the major landmarks in one go. It’s an easy, relaxed way to start your Astana trip.

• Bayterek Tower – The symbol of the city with a great panoramic view. 2500 tenge (SGD6.50)
• Hazrat Sultan Mosque – One of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Central Asia.

• National Museum of Kazakhstan – Perfect for learning about the country’s history and culture.

• Palace of Peace and Reconciliation – A unique pyramid-shaped building.

• Nur-Astana Mosque – Another beautiful landmark with golden domes.
• Khan Shatyr – A giant tent-shaped mall with shops, food, and indoor activities.
• Ishim River Promenade – Nice place for a walk, photos, and relaxing by the water.

• Triumphal Arch – A beautiful monument dedicated to Kazakhstan’s independence.
• Astanalyk Bazaar – local market up to 6 th floor

Where I stay in Astana?  Blue Western Plus Astana

I highly recommend this hotel — the rooms are spacious and clean, the breakfast has a good variety, and the location is perfect. It’s just an 8-minute walk to Bayterek Tower and a 5-minute walk to the Presidential Palace. From the airport, it’s about a 30-minute taxi ride for 2390 tenge (less than SGD 10).

Food in Astana

For lunch, I usually eat at mall food courts, keeping it simple and quick. For dinner, I prefer to choose a nicer restaurant to enjoy a more relaxed meal and try local dishes.

Restaurants

Saksaul -Authentic Kazakh cuisine

Northern Lights, Dostyq St 5, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan

What I ate in Saksaul =Grand total 28006 tenge (SGD68)

• Apricot Kompot drink 2990 tenge
• Draft Beer 1690 tenge
• Shashlyk Orama Kebab Horse meat with chili sauce 6950 tenge
• Beef Shashlyk with Charcoal bake vegetable serve with Garlic Sauce 5650 tenge
• Warm salad with eggplant 5650 tenge
• Dessert Khvorost Napolean 2990 tenge
• 10% service Charge

Korean House Restaurant – Korean cuisine

Turan Ave 23, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan

What I ate in Korean House = Grand total 15510 tenge (SGD38.70)

• Pork BBQ 6300 tenge
• Cold noodle 5600 tenge
• Cranberry drink 2200 tenge
• 10% service Charge

Lunch at Khan Shatyr mall food court, having wok beef and fried rice =5100 tenge (SGD12.70)

• Wok beef 2400 tenge (SGD6)
• Fried rice 2100 tenge (SGD5.2)
• Coke 600 tenge (SGD 1.5)

Lunch at another mall in Astana

• Lanzhou Astana noodles 4490 tenge (SGD11.20)

Yandex Taxi in Astana

Day 1

• Astana airport to Best Western Plus Astana 2390 tenge

Day 3

• Hotel to National Museum 870 tenge 2.18 SGD
• National Museum – Khan Shatyr Tenth Mall 2230 tenge 5.58 SGD
• Khan Shatyr – Hotel 1660 tenge 4.15 SGD
• Hotel – Astanalyk Bazaar 2370 tenge 5.93 SGD
• Astanalyk Bazaar to Korean House Restaurant 1800 tenge 4.50 SGD
• Korean House – walk back to hotel

Day 4 Hotel to Airport – 1960 tenge 5 SGD

2. Turkestan (1 night)

• Illegal taxi to Hotel 4000 tenge 10 SGD
• At Turkestan airport, I had trouble getting a Yandex Go car — the app wasn’t responding well. The app showed a fare of around 3000+ tenge, but the local driver asked for 4000 tenge, so I ended up taking the taxi anyway.  Not a big difference.

Where to stay : Karavan Saray Hotel Turkistan

This is the best hotel in town and also very affordable.

Spacious and comfortable rooms located right inside the Caravanserai complex, making it easy to explore the area. The breakfast has a good variety, perfect to start your day. There are also a few restaurants and a food court selling fast food — I grabbed some fried chicken and fries at the food court 5320 tenge (SGD13) when I arrived around noon.

To catch the fountain and boat show at 8:30 PM, I had dinner at the hotel as well — super convenient. Don’t miss the 8D Flying Theatre ‘Altyn Samuryk’, which is free for hotel guests (non-guests pay 6500 tenge, about SGD 16). There’s a free shuttle buggy that takes you straight to the Flying Theatre.

Nearby, the main highlight is the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, (2000 tenge) a UNESCO site. Compared to the mausoleums in Bukhara or Samarkand, it feels smaller, but if you’ve never been to Uzbekistan, it’s definitely worth including in your Kazakhstan itinerary. The Khilgan Ata Underground Mosque is also close by, making it easy to explore the historical sights.

What I ate in Turkestan

Food court in Karavan Saray  = total 5320 tenge (SGD13)

• Fried Chicken 6 pcs: 1350 ÷ 400 ≈ 3.38 SGD
• Beef Wrap Kebab: 2160 ÷ 400 ≈ 5.40 SGD
• Fanta Orange: 420 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.05 SGD
• Coke: 550 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.38 SGD
• Fries: 850 ÷ 400 ≈ 2.13 SGD

• Mushroom
• Spinach
• Lamb
• Kazakh Noodles soup
• Fanta orange

Yandex Taxi in Turkestan

• Hotel – Unesco site 750 tenge
• Unseco site – Hotel 670 tenge

3. Shymkent (1-2 nights)

I stayed for 2 nights but I think 1 night is enough.  From Turkestan just take a Yandex 9500 tenge (SGD25)

Where I stayed in Shymkent : Double Tree by Hilton

I stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton, but personally it wasn’t my favourite — the location wasn’t ideal, the room felt small, and the breakfast was just average. And for the price I paid, other hotels I stayed at in Kazakhstan offered a much better overall experience. Out of the four hotels I stayed in, this one ranked the lowest for me. If you’re coming to Shymkent, I’d recommend picking a hotel closer to the city centre instead.  May be you can try out :

City Hotel
Respublika Avenue 4,
Shymkent 160012

Where to eat?

Walk 2 mins from Double tree, try Jeti Tandir serving good kebab.  It Uyghur restaurant and this is a popular chain restaurant in Shymkent.

Jeti Tandir Restaurant = Total 5396 tenge SGD 13.50

• Beef shashlyk
• Noodles
• Bread

Dinner at KFC 2650 tenge SGD6.625

Yandex taxi in Shymkent

Day 1

• Jeti Tandir-Independent Square 1000 tenge SGD2.5
• Independent Square – Arbat Street 1000 tenge SGD2.5
• Arbat Street – walk back to hotel

Day 2

Getting to Aksu-Zhabagly

We initially planned to take a minibus to Tulkibus and then a Yandex from there to Aksu-Zhabagly. However, the bus wouldn’t leave until it had enough passengers. After waiting for about an hour, we decided to give up and simply called a Yandex to go directly to Aksu-Zhabagly. It was much more convenient and saved us a lot of time.

To walk inside Aksu-Zhabagly National Park, you need to hire a guide. Since we didn’t arrange one, we just explored the small town nearby instead, which still gave us a feel of the area and its local life.

When it was time to return, we couldn’t get a Yandex car. So, we flagged someone on the roadside to drive us back to Tulkibus. This seems to be a common practice in the area.

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Travel Lesson from Tulkibus to Shymkent

We had planned to grab something to eat in Tulkibus, but it was too late after lunch. Most restaurants were closed, and there weren’t many options in the small town.

We then tried to get a Yandex back to Shymkent, but no cars were available. Again, we flagged someone on the roadside, and he asked for 10,000 tenge for the roughly 2-hour ride — I agreed. Halfway through, he asked me to top up petrol, another 3,000 tenge, which I hadn’t expected.

Lesson learned: If you can’t get a Yandex and need to flag a car for a long distance, always ask upfront if there are any extra charges, like fuel or tolls, before agreeing.

• Hotel – Aina Station 970 tenge SGD2.5
• Aina Station – Aksu Zhabagly visitor center 12000 tenge SGD30
• Aksu Zhabagly – Tulkibus 3000 tenge (illegal taxi)
• Tulkibus-Shymkent 10000 tenge +3000 petrol =13000 tenge SGD32.5
• Hotel – Grand Praga restaurant 1000 tenge SGD2.5
• Grand Praga to Arbat Street 1200 tenge SGD 3
• Arbat Street walk back to Hotel

Dinner at Grand Praga European Cuisine – total 24960 tenge SGD62.4

What I Ate

• Ribeye — 7,500 tenge (≈ SGD 18.75)
  Absolutely super delicious and nearly 1 kg, a huge portion! Cooked perfectly to my liking — well-done but still super tender. Definitely worth trying if you’re in the area.
• Spaghetti Seafood — 5,500 tenge (≈ SGD 13.75)
• Napoleon Dessert — 650 tenge
• Drinks: Beer, Fanta

Overall, the food was awesome, very cheap, and portions are huge. It’s European/Western cuisine — super yummy. The only thing to note is the service charge, which is 20% here. Usually in Kazakhstan it’s 10%, but some posh restaurants charge 20%. Still, in Shymkent, people say things are generally very cheap.

Day 3

I still had half a day in Shymkent in the morning, so I visited the Oyrgy Bazaar. There, I saw the local fresh market, tried Kumis (the traditional horse milk yogurt drink), and watched how people make pilaf on traditional wood-fire stoves.

Nearby, I explored Shamshi’s World Square, right next to the bazaar, and the Shymkent Citadel. It was a great way to experience the local culture, see some historic sites, and enjoy a relaxing stroll before heading

Yandex taxi

• Hotel → Shymkent Oyrgy Bazaar: 610 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.53 SGD
• Oyrgy Bazaar → Citadel: 450 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.13 SGD
• Citadel → Hotel: 640 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.60 SGD
• Hotel → Shymkent Airport: 1290 ÷ 400 ≈ 3.23 SGD

4. Almaty (3-5 nights)

Day 1 Yandex

• Almaty airport – Almaty Hotel 4550 tenge

Where I stayed in Almaty?  Almaty Hotel

I highly recommend Almaty Hotel! The room is spacious, and the balcony offers a stunning view of the mountains as soon as you open the window. The breakfast here is one of the best among all the hotels I stayed at in Kazakhstan, with an amazing variety and range.

The hotel’s location is also great — beautiful parks and universities are nearby, making it easy to meet and chat with students while exploring the city. Overall, it’s a perfect stay for comfort, convenience, and local vibes in Almaty.

How to Plan Your Almaty Trip

I recommend spending 1–2 days exploring the outskirts of Almaty.

I joined a day tour to 2 lakes and 2 canyons through Trip.com for SGD 78+, which was one of the cheapest options I could find online. It was a great way to see the natural beauty around Almaty in just one day!

• Day Tour Around Almaty (SGD 78+) via Trip.com

  • Destinations: Charyn Canyon + Black Canyon, Kaindy Lake + Kolsay Lake

  • Time: 5 AM – 9 PM, with hotel lobby pickup

  • Meals: Lunch at a local Kazakh home with pilaf (choose chicken, beef, or vegetarian)

  • Communication: Coordinated via WhatsApp one day before

  • 

    Tips & Extra Costs:

    • Prepare your own breakfast — not much is sold at the rest stops.

    • Bring coins for toilet breaks (100 tenge each).

    • Extra cash: 1,000 tenge for a Russian-style old bus ride up the mountain.

    • 5,000 tenge for a one-way horse ride at Kaindy Lake.

    It’s a full day adventure seeing some of Kazakhstan’s most stunning nature, so plan accordingly!

    

If your hotel includes breakfast but it’s too early for the tour, check if they can prepare a bento box or takeaway for you. If not, make sure to grab something from a supermarket in Almaty before you leave.

Day 2 in Almaty – 2 mountains in a day

In the morning, I visited Shymbulak Mountain, and in the evening, I went to Kok Tobe, which is famous for its night view of Almaty.

Almaty has a Switzerland-like mountain vibe and beautiful European-style parks, but everything is so much more affordable. The food also suits Asian taste buds, making it an easy and enjoyable city to explore.

Yandex Taxi Day 2

• Hotel → Shymbulak Mountain Cable Car: 3,000 tenge ≈ 7.50 SGD
• Shymbulak → Hotel: 2,800 tenge ≈ 7.00 SGD
• Hotel – Kok Tobe 1470 tenge
• Kok Tobe to Sandyq restaurant 1250 tenge

Shymbulak Mountain

• Shymbulak Mountain Cable Car return: 5,000 tenge ≈ 12.50 SGD
• Chair Lift return: 4,000 tenge ≈ 10.00 SGD

Kok Tobe

The cable car return at Kok Tobe costs 8,000 tenge, but I only bought a one-way ticket up for 4,500 tenge because I planned to come down by taxi. I didn’t realize that taxis aren’t allowed to drive all the way up the mountain.

I booked a Yandex, but the driver had to pay an entrance fee of 10,000 tenge to enter the park, so he couldn’t come all the way up and waited halfway. It was too far for me to walk down, so I had no choice but to take another cable car down for 4,500 tenge.

In the end, I lost 1,000 tenge. Lesson learned: always buy the round-trip cable car ticket for 8,000 tenge to avoid extra hassle and costs!

Kok Tobe is an amusement park famous for its iconic fast coaster ride. At night, the park lights up beautifully, making it look super fun and lively. From my hotel window, I could even zoom in and see the lights shimmering across the park. The TV tower also glows with colorful neon lights, adding to the night-time magic.

At the top, you get a panoramic view of the Almaty skyline, perfect for photos. The park is popular with young couples, and photographers are everywhere capturing the fun moments. Don’t miss the iconic apple fountain (Almaty means “apple”), the Beatles statue, and the quirky upside-down car — all great spots for memorable pictures.

Day 3 Exploring the Almaty cities

My flight was in the evening, so I still had half a day to explore Almaty city.

• Metro to  Zenkov Cathedral
• Panfilov Park
• Green Bazaar

Yandex Taxi

• Zenkov Cathedral- Hotel 720 tenge
• Hotel – Green Bazaar 960 tenge
• Hotel – Airport 2510 tenge

Restaurants recommendation in Almaty

Restaurant Sandyq -Kazakhstan cuisine = Total 27554 tenge 68.89 SGD

• Abylai Khan Ave 55, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

WOK WOK = Total 9647 Tenge 24 SGD

• Abylai Khan Ave 113, Almaty 050000

Korean House 11200 tenge 36.24 SGD

• Kabanbay Batyra St., 92/87, Almaty, Kazakhstan
• just 2 mins walk from my hotel -> Almaty Hotel

Top Food to Eat in Kazakhstan

1. Beshbarmak

The national dish of Kazakhstan. Flat noodles topped with boiled meat (usually beef or horse) and onions. Very hearty and very Kazakh.

2. Lagman

Hand-pulled noodles served either as a soup or stir-fried style. Rich, savoury, and full of vegetables. Very popular and safe choice if you like noodles.

3. Plov (Pilaf)

A Central Asian classic — rice cooked with carrots, onions, and meat. Every city has its own version. Really flavourful and filling.

4. Shashlik

Skewered grilled meat, similar to kebab. You’ll see this everywhere — beef, lamb, or chicken. Usually served with raw onions and vinegar.

5. Baursak

Kazakh doughnuts — small fried bread pieces that are soft and slightly sweet. Locals eat them with tea.

6. Samsa

Baked pastry stuffed with meat or potato. Similar to a curry puff but more flaky. Good for breakfast or snack.

7. Manty

Steamed dumplings filled with minced meat and onions. Super juicy, usually quite big in size.

8. Horse Meat Sausages (Kazy / Shuzhuk)

Traditional Kazakh sausages made from horse meat. Unique local speciality — try if you’re adventurous.

9. Kumis (Fermented Horse Milk)

A famous Kazakh drink. Sour, fizzy, and very traditional. Many tourists try it just for the experience.

10. Chak-chak

A sweet dessert made from fried dough coated in honey. Very popular as a snack or souvenir