Kazakhstan
Republic of Kazakhstan
Central Asia · KAZ
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a huge but rewarding trip for travelers who want modern cities, steppe scale, and landscapes that can swing from alpine to desert in one country. It works best as a focused Almaty-or-Astana itinerary with one major nature extension rather than a long cross-country run.
Popular For
Things To See
- Almaty
- Astana
- Charyn Canyon
- Lake Kaindy
- Altyn-Emel National Park
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- Distances are large, so keep the route regionally focused.
- Spring and fall are the most comfortable all-round seasons.
- Nature stops often need extra time, so do not overpack the itinerary.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Kazakhstan.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Kazakhstan Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Kazakhstan.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Astana
- Population
- 20,426,568
- Area
- 2,724,900 km²
- Region
- Central Asia
Languages
- Kazakh
- Russian
Currency
Kazakhstani tenge (₸)
KZT
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
34.6
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 30.0
- Restaurants
- 31.2
- Rent
- 10.9
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Astana (51.16°N, 71.45°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
32/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 54/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.837
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.009
- 10-year change
- +0.029
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 1.004
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.182
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.687
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (6)
- 🌿
Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
Inscribed 2023
- 🌿
Western Tien-Shan
Inscribed 2016
- 🏛️
Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
Inscribed 2014
- 🌿
Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan
Inscribed 2008
- 🏛️
Petroglyphs of the Archaeological Landscape of Tanbaly
Inscribed 2004
- 🏛️
Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Inscribed 2003
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 10.1%
- Forest cover
- 1.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 17
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 28
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
41/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
30/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
80/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Kazakhstan. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Kazakhstan. If you decide to travel to Kazakhstan: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Kazakhstan. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data