9 Awesome Things to Do in Shymkent

9 Best Things to Do in Shymkent

1. Stroll Around Abay Park

As you arrive in Shymkent, the first place I highly recommend you check out is Abay Park, a massive park located right at the center of the city. The place is considered to be the lung of Shymkent, just like Central Park is to New York, and a lot of locals often spend time, strolling around here, socializing and enjoying each other's company.

The park features well-maintained walking paths, lush gardens, and open spaces where you can stroll around and enjoy a nice evening walk as you get acquainted with Shymkent and the lovely people here.

Within the park, you will also find attractions like a Ferris wheel, a small zoo, and several cafes and restaurants where you can indulge yourself.

For a great restaurant at Abay Park, I highly recommend you check out Barvilla Restaurant, a nice and cozy restaurant with its own garden and outdoor seats, perfect for dinner and a glass of wine.

The price is a bit higher than average but you are really getting your money's worth here. I ordered a beef kebab and it was unlike any kebab I'd seen before and it was delicious!

The restaurant is open from 10:30 AM to 12 AM every day so if you have just arrived in Shymkent and you want to take it slow, be sure to check out Abay Park and Barvilla Restaurant.

Where to Stay in Shymkent?

Budget

Art House Sweet home

$ | Dorm

See Availability

👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Express City Hotel

$$ | Double Room

See Availability

High-End

Rixos Khadisha Shymkent

$$$ | Double Room

See Availability

View More Hotels

2. Check Out the Museum of Victims of Political Repression 🏛️ Best Museum

For those who are interested in the history of Kazakhstan and its struggle for independence, an interesting museum you should visit is the Museum of Victims of Political Repression located right next to Abay Park.

The museum is dedicated to documenting and commemorating the victims of political repression during the Soviet era. The purpose of the museum is to raise awareness about the tragic events of the past and educate both tourists and locals about the history of political repression in Kazakhstan by providing a historical perspective on the impact of the totalitarian regime on individuals, families, and communities.

The exhibits include photographs, artifacts, personal belongings, and testimonies of those who experienced repression. It is not a very big museum and many of the exhibitions are not in English but you are given a brochure with all the information in English you can read later on.

It is a great place to drop by as you explore Shymkent and its attractions. The museum is open from 9 AM to 6 PM every day except on Sundays and the entrance fee is 500 KZT per person.

3. Explore the abandoned Palace of Culture

Update 2025: Unfortunately, it has been reported that this place has now been torn down. 😥

Now, if you love urban exploration as much as I do and you want to see some really cool abandoned ruins of Kazakhstan's Soviet past, you are going to want to check out the Palace of Culture (Dk Fosfor/ДК Фосфор).

Back during the Soviet era, the Socialist state began building these Palaces of Culture across the Union to function as a propaganda platform to help amplify the socialist messages of the Soviet Union.

They built more than 140,000 Palaces of Culture across the USSR before it collapsed onto itself like a dying star, and Dk Fosfor is one of the remnants of that era located on the outer rim of Shymkent. You should be able to reach it easily by hailing a taxi via the YandexGo app.

Like most abandoned Soviet ruins around the world, you can expect the whole experience to be both eerily and fascinating at the same time. Decorated with elaborate mosaics, and stained glass windows, the interior of the place is quite a sight to behold.

You can still find many rooms with over-the-top socialist-style decoration as well as a massive auditorium which was likely used as a venue for leisure where Soviet citizens could watch films, theatre, dance, art, and literature.

It is one of my favorite things to do here and if you like urban exploration as well as the interesting aesthetics of old Soviet architectural style, you are going to love Shymkent's Palace of Culture.

Although, the place is not closed off or anything, keep in mind that it is probably illegal to be inside and since you are in a crumbling structure, be extra careful where you foot on. Explore at your own risk!

As I wandered around the ruins, I spotted a cop car parked smack in the middle of the field near the structure. My heart raced, and I couldn't have sprinted out of there fast enough, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

4. Check Out Akmeshit Mosque

Another impressive structure to see in Shymkent is Akmeshit Mosque, the largest mosque in Turkestan province. The mosque features a tall minaret tower crowned with a massive white dome creating a really unique tent-like shape, unlike any mosque you've seen before.

The mosque was constructed in 2013 and it is located halfway between Shymkent's city center and the airport. You can get there via YandexGo's taxis from the city center or drop by there on your way back from Turkestan, which we will discuss next.

The mosque is open from 12 AM to 11:30 PM every day. The mosque gets really lively in the evening before sunset which is probably the best time to visit. Be sure you are dressed appropriately when you visit Akmeshit Mosque.

5. Explore the Ancient Town of Sayram

If you are interested in seeing one of the oldest towns in Kazakhstan which was a big part of the ancient Silk Road, you are going to want to check out Sayram and all of its ancient mosques and structures.

Sayram is over 3000 years old and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city is so old it is believed that the first mosque ever built in the region is located here. Unfortunately, the original mosque has not survived to see the present day.

That said, there are several other interesting mosques and structures you can check out in Sayram like Abdil Aziz Bab Mausoleum, Mavzoley Ibragim Ata, and the most impressive of all, Sayrom Central Mosque.

Much of the structures in Sayram predate the Soviet era while much of the buildings here still maintain their mud-brick architecture. The absence of Soviet-style architecture here is something that is no longer so easy to find in Kazakhstan.

To get to Sayram, you can hail a taxi via YandexGo or if you wish to explore other further away attractions like Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve and Sairam-Ugam State National Park, you can rent a car from Shymkent and drive there. You can rent the car from Kazautorent or other car rental places in the city. Expect to pay a European-level price though as car rental is still pretty expensive here.

6. Visit Turkestan as A Day Trip ❤️ Must Visit

One of the main reasons why people travel all the way to this part of Kazakhstan is to visit Turkestan, a historic city that dated all the way back to the Timurid Empire period when the city was founded and it is home to the famous Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and other cool ancient ruins.

The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is the place where you want to begin your exploration. It was constructed in the 14th century and serves as a tribute to the influential Turkic poet and philosopher, Khoja Ahmed Yasawi.

The mausoleum is renowned for its stunning architecture, featuring intricate tile work and a large dome. It attracts both pilgrims and tourists alike, who come to admire its beauty and spiritual importance.

Turkestan also features other historical sites such as the Citadel that surrounds the mausoleum and once served as a fortress, as well as the underground mosque of Rabiga Sultan Begim, which is not so easy to find. The city is extremely rich in history, having been a prominent center of Islamic culture and trade along the Silk Road.

Not too far from the citadel, you will also find Karavan Saray, a large open-air shopping complex where you will find some of the most impressive modern architecture here as well as a place for you to escape the heat of Southern Kazakhstan.

It almost feels like I was in Dubai or Abu Dhabi when I was walking around Karavan Saray. You can also find a nice restaurant and cafe here to take a break from exploring Turkestan.

Traveling from Shymkent to Turkestan as a day trip independently is also very easy and straightforward. All you have to do is get a YandexGo taxi to Samal Bus Station and from there, you can ask the people there where you can get a marshrutka to Turkestan (Туркестан) and they will direct you to the right car.

For an air-con marshrutka, it will cost you around 1500 KZT and you will usually have to wait around 30 minutes for the car to fill up. From then, it will take about 1.5 hours to get to Turkestan one way. Make sure you tell the driver to drop you off at the mausoleum before you get on the marshrutka. Just say "mausoleum" and show them the picture and they should understand what you mean.

Once you are done in Turkestan, you can catch a taxi via YandexGo and get to Merey Bus Station where you can then ask people there to direct you to cars going to Shymkent (Шымкент) and it should cost you no more than 1200 KZT and takes about 1.5 hours to get back to Shymkent. Easy peasy!

Looking for a travel guide to Turkestan? Check out:A Complete Travel Guide to Turkestan

7. Hike Around Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve ☀️ Great Day Trip

If you don't mind renting a car in Shymkent, you can also explore this part of Kazakhstan further by visiting Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, the oldest nature reserve in the country and it is home to north-western mountain chains of the Tian Shan and the beautiful Aksu River, the longest river in the province.

The nature reserve is not as well facilitated with not much information on hiking trails and the best spots to visit so you are going to have to improvise most of the time.

That's exactly what I and my friends did as we drove all the way to Sovetskoye town and start hiking from this trailhead to the top of the hill for a better view of the Tian-Shan mountain.

The nature around here is stunning and if you decide to rent a car in Shymkent, which you can do so from Kazautorent, be sure to drive to Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve and admire the beauty of the Tian Shan mountain there. You can also visit Aksu River and Aksu Canyon which we will discuss next.

8. Check Out Aksu Canyon

Aksu Canyon is a beautiful area inside Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve, named after the Aksu River, the longest river in the region. Within the nature reserve, there are several viewpoints you can get to depending on what you want to see.

If you want to see the canyon from above and you have just visited Sovetskoye I recommended above, I highly recommend you park your car here and start hiking along the trail towards Aksu Canyon.

In about 30 minutes along the mostly flat trail, you should arrive at the viewpoint where you will be able to admire the beauty of Aksu Canyon from above. It is also a nice place to watch the sunset if you don't mind walking back in the dark. We went there and there was no one around but us which was pretty awesome.

There is also another viewpoint you can get to if you want to see the Aksu River up close. You will first have to drive to Kyzylzhalau and from there, you can hike to this viewpoint where you will find an underground river cave that you can descend to. It should take about an hour in total.

All in all, if you can rent a car, be sure to spend some time and check out these great viewpoints of Aksu Canyon or go off on your own and improvise as we did.

9. Explore Sairam-Ugam State National Park

Last but not least, if you have time to spare, you can also visit Sairam-Ugam State National Park, a mountainous nature reserve located south of Shymkent with plenty of opportunities to go camping, horseback riding, and hiking.

The park encompasses a vast expanse of natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, rivers, and unique ecosystems, covering an area of approximately 100,000 hectares. Even if you do not want to camp or hike, you can still enjoy the beautiful mountainous views of the area by just driving around the park.

The place is not too far from Shymkent making it a great spot to escape the bustling city and be among nature for a few hours. If you like nature and do not mind renting a car, be sure to check out Sairam-Ugam State National Park while you are in Shymkent.

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Omio when traveling in Shymkent, Kazakhstan while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for trips and tours to join.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions.

Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Central Asia

Are you looking to dive deeper into Central Asia? Here are a selection of travel guides and itineraries for traveling in Central Asia:

• Looking for a complete one-month itinerary and a travel guide for Central Asia? One Month Itinerary For Central Asia
• For a complete itinerary to Kazakhstan, check out: 10-Day Backpacking Kazakhstan Itinerary.
• Looking for things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan? Check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Almaty.
• If you are staying in Almaty for a while and want to explore the city's culinary delights, be sure to check out our 10 Best Cafes and Restaurants to Try in Almaty.
• Want to visit Turkestan in Kazakhstan? Check out our Complete Travel Guide to Turkestan.
• If you want to witness the city of the future in Central Asia, Astana is definitely the place you want to be. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Astana.
• A great country to start your journey in Central Asia is Kyrgyzstan since it is the easiest country to enter the region. Here's a a complete 3-week itinerary travel guide to Kyrgyzstan.
• Bishkek, the capital city, is a great place to use as a base for getting all tourist visas for surrounding countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and the city has a ton to offer. Here are the 10 things to do in Bishkek.
• Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, and one of the best treks you can do is the Ala Kul trek. Here's a travel guide for trekking the Ala Kul trail, and how you can do it in 2 days.
• The Pamir Highway is one of the best road trips you can do in your life, and it begins in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and ends in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Here's a complete guide on how to plan your Pamir Highway road trip.
• If Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, then Uzbekistan is known for its culture and architecture. With several ancient Silk Road cities, there is a ton to see in Uzbekistan. Here's a 2-week itinerary and a travel guide in Uzbekistan.
• Last but not least, one of the hardest countries to visit in Central Asia is Turkmenistan, and you will require a lot of planning before you can visit. Here's a complete travel guide with a one-week itinerary for Turkmenistan.
• You can watch all my travel videos from Central Asia here: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
• Looking for more travel guides for Central Asia? You can find more on my Central Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides, visit our All Destinations Travel Guide page.