based on 9 experiences from female travelers
Sandra
Australia
I loved my time in Kazakhstan. I felt safe everywhere, including walking around at night in all the cities and at sites with my earphones in. I wasn't bothered, hassled, or harrassed by Kazakh men once. It was a relief and a pleasure! I visited Almaty and some of the mountains and lakes nearby; Astana; and Turrkistan. There were SO many interesting and beautiful things to see and do at each place. Almaty is a particularly gorgeous city: very livable and full of great museums, cafés, parks, theatres, churches, etc. The metro is great (and stunning!), taxis (I think it was Grab?) are cheap, and the sites are interesting. I stayed in a cute vintage-inspired Airbnb and was cosy and comfortable. Ascension Cathedral was a highlight. There's also lots of Soviet history (buildings, mosaics, museums with stories) everywhere if you're interested in that. I did have a few poor experiences with people in customer service (especially at metro stations and restaurants) being unnecessarily rude, and definitely didn't get the 'Kazakhstan is so warm, friendly, and welcoming' thing people talk about. I also faced some troubles from men in large tour groups from India, which was a shame. Astana is... ok 😂 I love quirky architecture, so that part was interesting, but it's definitely got a cold/dead vibe compared to Almaty. I also found people even colder and ruder here, lol. Still, I'm glad I went. It's really like nowhere else in the world, and I say that having been to over 50 countries! I also stayed in an Airbnb with a STUNNING view of the city, and I was so obsessed with it. I would just sit on my bed and stare out the window for hours lol. Turkistan is gorgeous 😍 I absolutely adored my time there. I stayed in the new Karavan Sarai, which is super different to how I usually travel, and I was mesmerised by it. It had Venice vibes with awesome Islamic architecture and culture. The people were also far friendlier here. The ancient mosque site nearby is gorgeous, and such a good introduction to Islamic architecture, culture, and history if it's new to you. I caught the train from there across the border to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and that was also a highlight. I'm vegan and found the food was below average everywhere. Almaty has the best options: heaps of them, and some super delicious things, too. I still think about the incredible vegan lagman I had at As-Kazan Gogolya at least once a month! I'd go back just for that – it was that good. Tokyo Ramen was also a standout. There's a solid train network throughout the country, although the vast distances mean flying is often easier, quicker, and – in my experience – cheaper. I went in winter and loved it, although Astana was definitely too cold, even for a winter bunny like me (-10°C, but with a CRISP and constant wind) and walking on the sidewalk ice there proved more dangerous than I expected. I also had a fall (at the world's highest ice rink, no less!) and ended up in the ER, which was actually a great experience: service was prompt, I got an X-ray done, was given clear treatment instructions, and everything was 100% free. Overall, Kazakhstan was a super easy, reasonably affordable, very interesting place to travel to as a solo female, and I highly recommend it. If you're a photographer, you'll adore it. If you're a foodie, maybe less so 😂 But if you have any interest at all in culture, it's a haven. So definitely go!
Posted: August 9, 2025Experienced: October, 2024Ayazhan
Kazakhstan
I feel safe, because there are a lot of other people that also do it. You should take warm clothes, water, food, snacks, some sweets, maybe chocolate, spf, T-shirt, socks, good mood. No need to pay for entry or overnight stay, take everything with you, you just need to rent a tent and other accessories.
Posted: May 23, 2025Experienced: July, 2024I felt myself safe, but i didn't walk alone during nights, only during a daylight. There aren't that many attractions to visit, but I felt myself more calm there. After being surrounded by city noise for a long time, I felt like Kokshetau was a calming reset place for me.
Posted: April 17, 2025Experienced: February, 2025I loved Kazakhstan and with a clear heart I can recommend it. Almaty and Astana are amazing cities, and the Tien Shan mountains are astounding. People in Kazakhstan are also some of the friendliest I have ever met, and I felt so safe there.
Posted: December 26, 2023in July 2023, my family and I flew to Kazakhstan (Almaty). This was my first trip. Although we did not visit many places, I really enjoyed this trip. Almaty has landscapes of incredible beauty, mountains, nature, fruits and berries grow right on the streets. The city itself is also very beautiful, because it has beautiful architecture and many garlands and lights, as well as many restaurants with live music, decorated with garlands and flowers. To be honest, I didn't really like the local cuisine, since I'm not a fan of spices and fatty foods (this is purely my personal opinion), but some dishes were really tasty, and, importantly, everyone in Kazakhstan is served in large portions ;) What As for prices, for me, being a Russian, the prices were quite amazing, since everything here costs 2-3 times lower than in Russia (I even managed to bring a whole suitcase of snacks and drinks lol ). I also want to note that Kazakhstan has a rather warm climate, I can’t stand the heat, but here it felt much more pleasant, and we also lived in an observatory on a mountain, which helped us escape the heat. We visited the famous Medeo and climbed 842 steps, terribly tired, but admired the beautiful views. We also went up the funiculars to Kok-Tube, where we visited the zoo, fed the animals, and also visited the amusement park there. Not far from this place we also went to the cinema. We also visited the Butakovsky waterfall, where we were able to fully experience and see the beauty, and also take many beautiful photos. We also visited an open water park and a market. Also we visited the park of the first president, where we just walked, ate ice cream and admired the viewsWe had such a short but eventful vacation, I liked everything very much and I would like to visit Almaty again ♡
Posted: June 18, 2023Experienced: June, 2022Based on 37 local experiences
Based on 37 local experiences
If you’re alone , At night You can safely walk and chill at the city center . But in a small streets you should be careful because there are some men who tries to know you . But if you’re with your friends or with a guide that’s not a problem.
Posted: August 2, 2025