Kazakhstan flag

Kazakhstan

History

Janybek and Kerey founded the Kazakh Khanate on the steppe.
Alash Autonomy expanded local self-rule.
Kazakh ASSR placed the territory inside the Soviet administrative system.
Kazakh SSR placed the territory inside the Soviet administrative system.
Kazakhstan became independent from the Soviet Union, marking a key step in modern statehood.
Kazakhstan's sovereignty gained formal recognition.
The current constitution came into force, setting the basic framework for today's Kazakhstan.
Asia thumbnailPart ofAsiaMore countries, cities and routes.
CapitalAstana
Population20.4M
Area2,724,900 km2
CurrencyKazakhstani tenge

Short facts

RegionCentral Asia
LanguageKazakh, Russian
Time zoneALMT (UTC+5/+6)
Drives onRight

Worth seeing

  • Charyn Canyon: Dramatic red canyon often called Kazakhstan's Grand Canyon.
  • Altai Mountains: Remote wilderness of glacial lakes, nomadic eagle hunters, and wild landscapes.
  • Baikonur Cosmodrome: Historic Soviet space launch facility where Yuri Gagarin flew to space.

Find a city in Kazakhstan

Showing all cities

Astana thumbnailAstanaCity

Planning questions

What is Kazakhstan known for?Charyn Canyon, Altai Mountains, Baikonur Cosmodrome.
What is the capital?Astana.
Which language is useful?Kazakh, Russian.
When is the national day?16 December.
How should I browse it here?Start with the facts, jump to linked cities, then check events and topics.

Upcoming events

Use Astana as the first planning anchor for Kazakhstan, then compare the city, food and worth-seeing notes on this page.

Food & drink

Plov thumbnailPlovSignature dishTea thumbnailTeaLocal drink

Known for

Charyn CanyonAltai MountainsBaikonur CosmodromeAstanaPlovTea
Eurovision Song Contest thumbnailMusic & CultureFestivals, concerts and cultural calendars.Asia thumbnailMountains and routesHighland landscapes, trekking windows and protected nature.