Popular Destinations in Kazakhstan
Almaty
Almaty is a modern city set in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau
mountains. It is the trading and cultural hub of the country. The top
tourist attractions to check out in the city include - the Central State
Museum boasting thousands of historic Kazakh artifacts. Panfilov Park
featuring bright-yellow towers of Zenkov Cathedral. Kazakh Museum of Folk
Musical Instruments displays traditional Kazakh horns, harps, and bagpipes
while the A. Kasteyev State Museum of Art’s showcases historic and
contemporary works by Russian and Kazakh artists. Republic Square features
the towering Independence Monument, topped with a statue of the Golden Man,
an ancient Scythian warrior and national icon. Almaty Tower is the city's
371.5m-high television tower perched on Mount Kok-Tobe.
Astana
The capital city of Kazakhstan, Astana is located on the banks of the Ishim
River in the north of the country. The top attractions to check out in the
city include - Bay Terek Tower, located in the northern part of the city,
it offers scenic views from its observation deck. Khan Shatyr Entertainment
Center is home to a shopping mall and indoor beach resort. National Museum
of the Republic of Kazakhstan located on the north bank of the Ishim River
showcases Kazakh contemporary art and an assortment of exhibits on the
history of the country and the city. Astana also features several mosques
including the likes of the giant Hazret Sultan Mosque, and Nur-Astana
Mosque.
Shymkent
Shymkent is the third most populous city in Kazakhstan behind Astana and
Almaty. Shymkent is a significant railroad junction on the
Turkestan-Siberia Railway. The city is also a major cultural center with an
international airport. Some of the major tourist attractions in Shymkent
include Dendropark, Shymkent Zoo, Abay Park, and Independence Park.