Kazakhstan
Country · Asia, Central Asia
Kazakhstan is a country in Central Asia, bordered by China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Its capital is Astana, and the country spans an area of 2,724,900 square kilometres with a population of about 21 million. It offers travellers a mix of modern cities, historic sites, and natural landscapes across 11 featured sights.
Highlights
The 11 featured sights across Kazakhstan include major urban centres and cultural landmarks. In the cities of Astana and Almaty, visitors can see the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Parliament of Kazakhstan, Baiterek, Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Central State Museum of Kazakhstan, and Ascension Cathedral, Almaty. Other notable sights include the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Charyn Canyon, the UNESCO-listed Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Jetisu, and Burabay National Park.
Food and drink
Traditional dishes available in Kazakhstan include Tandyr nan, Kuurdak, Dimlama, Shelpek, and Nauryz kozhe.
When to go
The climate at the capital, Astana, features cold winters and warm summers. January and February are the coldest months, with daily highs of -9 °C to -10 °C and lows of -17 °C. Summer months bring warmer weather, with July recording an average daily high of 26 °C and a low of 15 °C alongside 49 mm of rain over about 10 days. May through September offer milder conditions with highs ranging from 19 °C to 26 °C.
Practical notes
Kazakhstan uses the Kazakhstani tenge currency. The official languages are Kazakh and Russian. The country operates on a voltage of 220.0 V using plug types C and F, with the time zone UTC+05:00. Driving is on the right side of the road.
Cities
Food and drink to try in Kazakhstan
- Tandyr nan
- Kuurdak
- Dimlama
- Shelpek
- Nauryz kozhe
Top sights in Kazakhstan
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -10 | -9 | -2 | 11 | 19 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 18 | 9 | -2 | -8 |
| Average low, °C | -17 | -17 | -11 | -1 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 7 | 0 | -9 | -15 |
| Rainfall, mm | 17 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 36 | 38 | 49 | 29 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 22 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Astana (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts
- Aisha Bibi
- Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve
- Emerald Towers
- Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments
- Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve
- National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Nur-Astana Mosque
- Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
- Tanbaly