Two international hubs, a vast rail network, domestic flights, shared taxis, and modern ride-hailing — Kazakhstan has more transport options than most travellers expect. From budget-friendly trains crossing the steppe to direct flights connecting Almaty with Istanbul, Dubai, and Frankfurt, getting around this vast country is easier than you think.
2 int'l airports
16 domestic airports
15,000 km rail network
~$0.50/L petrol (~220 KZT)
Primary International Gateways
ALA
Almaty
Most connections
Distance15 km to city
Taxi~2,500 KZT (~$5)
Airlines:
Air Astana, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, flydubai, FlyArystan, Pegasus
NQZ
Astana
New Terminal 2 (2024)
Distance17 km to city
Taxi~3,000 KZT (~$6)
Airlines:
Air Astana, Turkish Airlines, Air Arabia, FlyArystan, SCAT
Other Airports
GUW Atyrau Oil hub, Moscow/Dubai
CIT Shymkent Southern gateway
AKX Aktobe Western KZ, Russia
SCO Aktau Mangystau, Caspian
Visa Tip: 65+ nationalities get visa-free entry (30 days). Check evisa.mfa.gov.kz for e-Visa.
Transport Pro Tips
- Download Yandex Go and Yandex Maps before arrival — more accurate than Google in Kazakhstan
- Get a local SIM (Kcell/Activ or Beeline) at the airport — essential for apps and navigation
- Book trains at tickets.kz — English available, book early for overnight routes
- Use FlyArystan for budget domestic flights — saves time over long train journeys
- Keep cash (KZT) for rural areas, national parks, and minibuses