Kazakhstan Sightseeing Highlights
Two cities, two centuries apart in style, and both worth a full day of walking with your camera out. Here’s what to prioritize in each.
Almaty: wood, brick, and mountains
Start at Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park: 56 meters of Tian Shan spruce, raised in 1907 by architect Andrei Zenkov without a single metal nail, and still standing after the 7.7-magnitude 1911 earthquake that leveled buildings around it. It’s open daily 07:00 to 19:00, admission free, and women should bring a headscarf (or borrow one at the door). A few steps away, the Memorial of Glory’s bronze triptych and eternal flame honor the Almaty soldiers who died defending Moscow in 1941. For a wider view, ride the Kok Tobe cable car up to 1,100 meters and take in the whole Zailiyskiy Alatau backdrop behind the city. GetYourGuide lists Almaty sightseeing tours covering Panfilov Park and Kok Tobe .
Astana: glass, steel, and scale
Everything here has gone up since 1997, and it shows in the size of the ambition. Baiterek Tower , at 97 meters (105 including its spire), commemorates the capital’s founding with an observation deck at 86 meters, including the gilded handprint of the first president; tickets run 2,500 KZT adult, 1,250 KZT child. Khan Shatyr, Norman Foster’s 150-meter translucent tent, covers 140,000 square meters and houses the Sky Beach Club, an indoor tropical pool with imported Maldivian sand kept at 35°C regardless of the weather outside. The Astana Grand Mosque, opened in 2022 on Mangilik El Avenue, is the largest in Central Asia, its main dome reaching 83.2 meters and its interior holding 30,000 worshippers, 235,000 across the full courtyard complex; entry is free outside prayer times, with robes provided for visitors who need them. Viator lists Astana architecture tours covering Baiterek and Khan Shatyr .
The pyramid worth the detour
Norman Foster’s other Astana project, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, is a 62-meter glass pyramid built for the Triennial Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Guided English tours run 2,000 KZT and typically last under an hour, which makes it an easy add-on to a Nurzhol Boulevard afternoon. Ticket counters for most Astana monuments, including the National Museum, run through ticketon.kz .
Timing and logistics
Both cities reward a full day on foot, so wear shoes that can handle several kilometers of pavement. Almaty sits at higher elevation and cools fast once the sun drops behind the mountains, even in summer, so carry a layer. Astana’s open boulevards funnel wind off the steppe; a windbreaker earns its space in your bag. Museum and monument tickets are cash-friendly in KZT, but most accept foreign Visa or Mastercard at the counter too.
For a route that strings Almaty’s sights together on foot, see the walking tours guide , and for a structured itinerary across both cities, the Kazakhstan 4-day itinerary is built around exactly this split.