# Kazakhstan in 4 days: an itinerary city by city > Four days in Kazakhstan: the capital, Almaty below the mountains and the ancient south. A day in Astana: the Hazrat Sultan mosque, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Bayterek and Khan Shatyr. A day in Almaty: the Arbat, the Green Bazaar, the Ascension Cathedral and Kok-Tobe. A day in Shymkent: its mosques and rebuilt citadel. And a day in Turkestan — the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, begun by Timur. Between Astana, Almaty and the south you fly. Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/in-4-days ## Who it suits - First trip to Kazakhstan - You want both the new capital and the ancient south - Evening flights between cities Not for: - The mountains near Almaty — Medeu, Shymbulak, Big Almaty Lake and Charyn — need extra days - Burabay near Astana is not included When to go: Spring and autumn: Astana is not freezing and the south is not too hot. ## Day 1 — [Astana](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana.md) 1. [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque.md) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free ↓ 6 min on foot 2. [Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monument](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ↓ 8 min on foot 3. [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation.md) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour ↓ 21 min by transport 4. [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 8 min on foot 5. [Bayterek Tower](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower.md) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT ↓ 21 min by transport 6. [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/khan-shatyr.md) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸ Total with walks: 7 h 29 min Transfer Astana → Almaty: flight, ≈ 1.5–2 h ## Day 2 — [Almaty](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty.md) 1. [Almaty Arbat](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/almaty-arbat.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free, open 24/7 ↓ 16 min on foot 2. [Green Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/almaty-green-bazaar.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry ↓ 10 min on foot 3. [Ascension Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/almaty-ascension-cathedral.md) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 22 min by transport 4. [Republic Square](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/almaty-republic-square.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, open 24/7 ↓ 23 min by transport 5. [Kok-Tobe](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/kok-tobe.md) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Cable car 10,000 KZT return Total with walks: 7 h 11 min Transfer Almaty → Shymkent: flight, ≈ 1.5 h ## Day 3 — [Shymkent](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent.md) 1. [Abdulhamid Kattani Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/kattani-mosque.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free ↓ 3 min on foot 2. [Ordabasy Square](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/ordabasy-square.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free ↓ 4 min on foot 3. [Independence Park](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-independence-park.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free ↓ 7 min on foot 4. [Shymkent Citadel](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-citadel.md) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 1,000 ₸ for foreign visitors Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 20 min by transport 5. [Shymkent Arbat](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-arbat.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free, open 24/7 ↓ 33 min by transport 6. [Shymkent Central Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/shymkent/shymkent-central-mosque.md) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free Total with walks: 6 h 2 min Transfer Shymkent → Turkestan: train or car, ≈ 2–3 h ## Day 4 — [Turkestan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan.md) 1. [Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/khoja-ahmed-yasawi-mausoleum.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, 2,000 ₸ CIS ↓ 3 min on foot 2. [Hilvet Underground Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/turkestan-hilvet.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS ↓ 3 min on foot 3. [Turkestan Oriental Bathhouse](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/turkestan-bathhouse.md) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · 5,000 ₸ foreigners · 2,000 ₸ CIS ↓ 3 min on foot 4. [Mausoleum of Rabiya Sultan Begim](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/rabiya-sultan-begim-mausoleum.md) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Yasawi zone ticket · 2,000–5,000 ₸ ↓ 3 min on foot 5. [Turkestan Citadel Walls](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/turkestan-citadel.md) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Reserve ticket: 5,000 ₸ for foreigners Lunch break, about 1 h ↓ 12 min on foot 6. [Keruen Saray](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/turkestan/keruen-saray.md) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; rides and shows extra Total with walks: 5 h 34 min ## Kazakhstan itinerary: how the four days work Kazakhstan is huge, so between Astana and Almaty and on to the south you fly — best in the evening, so you wake up in the next city. Shymkent and Turkestan are close: 2–3 hours by train or car. Each day is a YesGo one-day city itinerary: the main places, the order with the least walking, lunch. ## The cities on the route Astana — architecture on both banks of the Yesil: Bayterek with its deck at 97 metres and the 150-metre Khan Shatyr tent. Almaty — a city below the mountains: the Green Bazaar, the wooden Ascension Cathedral and the cable car up Kok-Tobe. Shymkent — the gold-domed Kattani mosque and the citadel. Turkestan — the Azret-Sultan reserve with the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum. ## Can I do it in reverse? Yes: start in Turkestan or Shymkent and finish in Astana. Mind the closing days: the Green Bazaar in Almaty and the Shymkent citadel are closed on Mondays. ## Kazakhstan in 7 days Add a mountain day near Almaty (Medeu and Shymbulak) and a day for Charyn Canyon. From Astana — Burabay, a resort 250 km away. ## Tips - Fly in the evening: see the city by day and start the next one in the morning. - The Green Bazaar in Almaty and the Shymkent citadel are closed on Mondays. - Ride up Kok-Tobe towards sunset; the cable car runs until 22:00. - Kazakhstan uses the tenge (₸). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; bazaars are easier with cash. - Summer in the south is very hot — walk in the morning and evening. ## Questions ### What is a good Kazakhstan itinerary? For 4 days: Astana, Almaty, Shymkent and Turkestan, a day each, with flights between them. ### Where should I start? In Astana or Almaty — they have the most flights. You can also start in the south. ### How do I get from Shymkent to Turkestan? By train or car, 2–3 hours. ### Can I travel around Kazakhstan independently? Yes: flights and trains between cities, walking and taxis in town. ### How much does this itinerary cost? Many sights are free; you pay for the Bayterek deck, the Kok-Tobe cable car and museums. Flights and hotels are the main costs. ### What is the best time to go? Spring and autumn. Astana is very cold in winter, the south is hot in summer. ### Is it good with kids? Yes: Khan Shatyr, Kok-Tobe and the Shymkent citadel are popular with children. ### What else is there to see near Almaty? Medeu, Shymbulak, Big Almaty Lake and Charyn Canyon — a day each. ### Can I change the itinerary? Yes: in any day remove a stop or add another — the times recalculate. ### What currency is used? Kazakhstan uses the tenge (₸). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; bazaars are easier with cash. ## Sources - Wikipedia: Bayterek, Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Kok Tobe --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.