9 Best 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.

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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 2026: The abandoned Dk Fosfor Palace of Culture was demolished in 2025 after a technical assessment found the structure could not be restored. A new youth/cultural center is planned for the site, so the abandoned building shown in my photos is no longer there.

When I visited Shymkent, one of my favorite pieces of Soviet architecture was the abandoned Palace of Culture (Dk Fosfor/ДК Фосфор). The building has since been demolished, but I am keeping these photos and my experience below as a look at what used to stand here.

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.

Palaces of Culture were built throughout the Soviet Union as public venues for cultural, educational, and recreational activities. Dk Fosfor was one of Shymkent's surviving examples when I visited, which made its mosaics, stained glass, and auditorium especially interesting to photograph.

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 was one of my favorite discoveries in Shymkent, especially because of its Soviet-era architecture and stained glass. Unfortunately, this experience is now part of the city's recent history rather than something you can still do today.

These photos were taken before the building was demolished. Do not use the old map pin as an invitation to enter the construction/redevelopment site today.

When I explored the ruins, I even spotted a police car parked in the field nearby, which was my cue to leave. That was part of my original visit; with the old building now gone, there is no reason to try to recreate this urban-exploration experience.

4. Check Out Akmeshit Mosque

Another impressive structure to see in Shymkent is Akmeshit Mosque. The mosque features a tall minaret and a massive white, tent-like roof that gives it a very distinctive silhouette.

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.

Akmeshit is an active place of worship, so I would visit outside the main prayer times rather than relying on the old 12 AM-to-11:30 PM listing. Dress modestly, remove your shoes where required, and follow any instructions from mosque staff.

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, known in medieval sources as Isfijab, is one of the oldest historic settlements in southern Kazakhstan. Local tradition has long claimed an age of around 3,000 years, but official historical material traces its documented history back roughly 1,500 years, with an early written reference from 629. The old Khizir mosque itself has not survived; today, its partially ruined 19th-century minaret remains as one of Sayram's recognizable historic landmarks.

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, an ancient Silk Road city with a history that predates the Timurid Empire by centuries. Its best-known landmark is the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the monumental 14th-century complex commissioned by Timur.

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.

Samal Bus Station's current 2026 timetable lists the Shymkent-to-Turkestan service at 1,500 KZT with a scheduled journey time of about 2 hours. Departures are frequent, but the exact vehicle and drop-off point can vary, so confirm that you are going to Turkestan and ask where you should get off for the mausoleum area before departure.

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). I paid 1200 KZT when I was there, but the price may have changed since then. Please confirm with the driver before getting on. It should take you 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 traveling beyond Shymkent, Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve is one of the region's natural highlights. Established in 1926, it is Kazakhstan's oldest state nature reserve and protects part of the Western Tian Shan landscape.

Important 2026 access note: Aksu-Zhabagly is a strictly protected nature reserve, not an open-access hiking park. The reserve operates designated ecological routes, and visitors are not allowed to enter its tourist trails without professional guides. Arrange your route, permission, guide, and current fees with the reserve or a local operator before you go.

When I visited, my friends and I drove toward Sovetskoye and hiked in the surrounding landscape for views of the Tian Shan. I would treat this as a record of my trip rather than a current route recommendation: before hiking anywhere near the reserve boundary today, confirm whether the route is outside the protected zone or arrange an approved route with the reserve.

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 one of the most spectacular landscapes associated with Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve. Access inside the protected reserve is regulated, so confirm which canyon route is open and arrange the required permission and guide before setting out.

When I visited, we approached the canyon area from the Sovetskoye side and parked our car here before hiking. Because access rules around the reserve are stricter than this old route description suggests, do not rely on this as current permission to enter; confirm your route with the reserve first.

On my visit, it took us roughly 30 minutes along a mostly flat trail to reach the viewpoint, and we stayed for sunset with nobody else around. That timing describes my experience only. With the current protected-area rules, use an approved route and follow your guide's return-time instructions rather than planning to navigate the reserve after dark.

I also visited the Kyzylzhalau side of the canyon during my trip. The old map pins are useful for showing where I went, but I would no longer present the cave/descent route as an independent hike: ask the reserve which Aksu Canyon routes are currently open and whether that area is included in an approved guided excursion.

All in all, Aksu Canyon is well worth considering if you are exploring the region, but plan it through the reserve or an authorized local operator. Since access has changed, I don't think winging it as I did is possible anymore.

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 national park south of Shymkent with opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and nature trips.

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.