The world's ninth-largest country — the futuristic domes of Astana (Nur-Sultan), the Tian Shan mountains above Almaty, the Silk Road ghost towns of Turkestan, and the vast steppe where horse culture was born.
- Capital
- Astana
- Population
- 20,407,844
- Area
- 2,717,300 km²
- Languages
- Kazakh, Russian
- Currency
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
- GDP
- $300,538M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
Annual visitors
2,035,000 (2020)
Safety
Low (2.55/100k)
Avg temp
7.1°C
Religion
Islam
Coast
Landlocked
☎ Police 102 · Ambulance 103 · Fire 101
Travel guide
Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Қазақстан Qazaqstan; Russian: Казахстан) is the largest of the states of the former Soviet Union apart from Russia, and it dwarfs the other countries of Central Asia and stretches into Eastern Europe. Kazakhstan is the richest country in the region due to its large oil and natural gas reserves and is also the largest in Central Asia. And while the endless, featureless steppe might repel some visitors the emptiness and mystery of this goliath state keeps many others captivated.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Kazakhstan
Best time to visit
May–September is the best period. Almaty is pleasant April–October. Astana is very cold in winter (down to -30°C). Charyn Canyon best May–June and September. The steppe is extraordinary in June when it flowers.
Visa
Citizens of most Western countries including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia receive 30 days visa-free or can apply for e-Visa. Kazakhstan has significantly liberalized its visa policy.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (6)
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