Kazakhstan Transport Basics at a Glance
Fly the long distances, take trains overnight, use apps in the cities and hire a driver for the mountains. This table shows which option suits which trip.
| Transport | Best for | How to book or pay |
|---|
| Domestic flights | Anything over about 700km, such as Almaty to Aktau | Airline websites and apps |
| Trains | Overnight trips between cities | bilet.railways.kz or the station |
| Intercity buses | Medium distances where trains are awkward | Bus station ticket office |
| Marshrutkas | Short regional hops; they leave when full | Cash, usually to the driver |
| Shared cars | Faster regional hops, door to door | Yandex Go City to City, inDrive |
| City buses and metro | Getting around Almaty and Astana | Bank card, QR code or transport card |
| Car with driver or tour | Mountains, lakes, canyons and desert | Hostels, tour operators, local drivers |
How Is Public Transport in Kazakhstan?
Better than most visitors expect, and very cheap — but uneven. Inside the big cities it is genuinely good; between cities it is slow but reliable; in the countryside it barely exists and you will end up hiring a car and driver.
In Almaty and Astana you can get by entirely on public transport. Both run dense bus networks, Almaty has a small, clean metro and Astana opened its first LRT line in May 2026. Most rides cost about 100–200₸, paid by card, phone or QR code. Buses are frequent, app-tracked, and often crowded at rush hour. Ride-hailing (Yandex Go, inDrive) is so cheap that most visitors mix it in freely rather than waiting — a cross-town trip in Almaty typically runs 800–2,000₸.
Between cities, the railway is the backbone. Trains are punctual, safe and comfortable in the newer Talgo carriages, but distances are enormous: Almaty to Astana is roughly 1,200km and takes 12–18 hours overnight, against a 1.5-hour flight. Intercity buses and shared taxis cover shorter hops where the train is awkward. Domestic flights are the pragmatic choice for anything over about 700km, and are inexpensive if booked ahead.
Outside the network — the national parks, Mangystau, most of the mountain destinations — there is no scheduled service at all. Kolsai, Kaindy, Charyn, Big Almaty Lake and the Mangystau sites are reached by hired car, taxi or tour, and that is simply how it is done.
What public transport costs
Indicative 2026 fares, in tenge (₸). Prices change, but the order of magnitude is stable:
- Almaty bus or metro: about 100–150₸ by card or QR code, around 200₸ in cash where accepted
- Astana bus: 110₸ by contactless payment; a rise to 150₸ from 1 December 2026 has been reported
- Astana LRT: 200₸ a trip, or 500₸ for a one-day pass
- City taxi / ride-hailing, short hop: 800–2,000₸
- Intercity bus, 300–400km: 3,000–6,000₸
- Train, Almaty–Astana, 2nd class sleeper: roughly 10,000–15,000₸ depending on train and season
- Domestic flight, Almaty–Astana: from around 20,000₸ booked in advance
- Car with driver for a day trip from Almaty: about 25,000–60,000₸ from local drivers; tours booked on international sites cost much more
Two weeks of moving around the country on trains and buses costs a fraction of what the same distances would cost in Europe; it is the hired transport to remote sights, not the public network, that dominates a travel budget here. For what everything else costs, see our guide to money and daily budgets in Kazakhstan.
Which Map App for Public Transport: 2GIS or Yandex?
Use 2GIS as your main app. It is the one locals use for city buses: it shows every route and stop, plans journeys with changes, often shows buses moving in real time in Almaty and Astana, and works offline once you download the city. It has an English interface and doubles as a directory of every shop, café and pharmacy with opening hours.
- 2GIS: best for bus routes, stops, entrances to buildings and offline use
- Yandex Maps: good second opinion, with live bus positions and traffic in the big cities; pairs with Yandex Go for taxis
- Google Maps: fine for walking and driving, but its public-transport data in Kazakhstan is patchy — do not rely on it for buses
How to pay on city buses
In Almaty and Astana most buses have validators that take a contactless bank card or phone wallet; you can also use the local transport card (Onay in Almaty), sold and topped up at kiosks and stations, or pay by QR code. Tap once when you board. Cash is accepted on fewer and fewer routes, so do not count on it. Intercity buses are paid at the bus station ticket office, and trains on bilet.railways.kz or at the station. For data to run these apps, see our SIM card and eSIM guide.
Getting to Kazakhstan
By Air
Main International Airports:
- Almaty (ALA): Largest airport, international hub
- Astana (NQZ): Modern international airport
Airlines: Air Astana (national carrier), FlyArystan, SCAT, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, LOT and others
Direct flights from: Istanbul, Frankfurt, Warsaw, Seoul and regional cities, among others. Timetables change by season, so check with the airline. Coming from Europe? See our route advice.
By Train
Kazakhstan has passenger trains to Uzbekistan and Russia. The Almaty–Tashkent Talgo runs daily, and Khorgos is the main rail gateway from China.
- Daily Talgo train from Tashkent to Almaty
- Several routes from Russia
- Check bilet.railways.kz for current timetables
Domestic Transportation
Domestic Flights
Best for: Long distances
- Air Astana, FlyArystan, SCAT, VietJet Qazaqstan (formerly Qazaq Air)
- Almaty-Astana: 1.5 hours
- Affordable prices (often $50-100)
- Book online in advance
Trains
Best for: Scenic travel, overnight journeys
- Extensive rail network
- Comfortable sleeper cars
- Almaty-Astana: 12-18 hours
- Very affordable
- Book via bilet.railways.kz
Buses
Best for: Budget travel, regional routes
- Extensive bus network
- Often cheaper than trains
- Varying comfort levels
- Buy tickets at stations
Getting Around Cities
Almaty
Metro
- Single line, 11 stations and 13.4km
- A 12th station, Kalkaman, is due by the end of 2026
- Clean, efficient, modern
- Same fare as the buses, about 100–150₸
Buses
- Extensive network
- Fare: about 100–150₸, by card or QR code
- Use contactless payment card
- Can be crowded during rush hour
Taxis & Ride-Sharing
- Yandex Go: Most popular app
- inDrive: Negotiate price
- Very affordable (800–2,000₸ for a typical ride)
- Safe and convenient
- Cash or card payment
Walking
- City centre is walkable
- Wide pavements
- Pleasant in good weather
- Beware of uneven pavements
Astana
- Extensive bus network
- The LRT, opened in May 2026, links the airport and Nurly Zhol railway station
- Taxis via Yandex Go, inDrive
- City is spread out—public transport recommended
- Nurzhol Boulevard pleasant for walking
- Intercity buses and minibuses leave from Saparzhay bus station beside the railway station — including to Borovoe (Burabay), about 3–4 hours
Car Rental & Driving
Renting a Car
- International agencies in major cities
- Bring an international driving permit: British drivers need one, and hire companies often ask for one
- Good for mountain trips and remote areas
- Book in advance for better rates
Driving Tips
- Drive on the right side
- Roads vary from excellent highways to poor rural roads; avoid driving at night
- Winter driving can be challenging
- Traffic police checkpoints are common; officers should give you an official paper for an offence
- Have documents ready: license, registration, insurance
- Zero tolerance for drunk driving
Getting From the Airport
Ride-hailing is the easiest way into town from either main airport, and the cheapest options are the city bus in Almaty and the LRT in Astana.
Almaty Airport
- Bus: routes 92 and 79 run towards the centre for the normal city fare. The stop is about 400m from the terminal, and the ride takes 30–60 minutes depending on traffic. Services thin out at night, so check the last bus if you land late.
- Yandex Go: typically about 2,500–4,500₸, more at rush hour. Ignore touts in the terminal, who ask much more.
- No train or metro: neither reaches the airport.
Astana Airport
- LRT: the first line opened on 16 May 2026 and links the airport with Nurly Zhol railway station. A single trip costs 200₸.
- Taxi: Yandex Go and inDrive work here too.
Turkestan to Shymkent: Bus, Marshrutka, Train or Shared Car
The marshrutka is the cheapest way between Turkestan and Shymkent, and a shared car is the most convenient. The road distance is about 168km, and it is an easy day trip in either direction.
Where to Get the Marshrutka
- In Turkestan: marshrutkas to Shymkent leave from the Altyn Orda bus station, also called Merey.
- In Shymkent: use Samal bus station, which is further from the centre than you might expect. Some marshrutkas from Turkestan also stop at Bekzhan bus station on the way in.
- Time and fare: about 2 hours, roughly 1,500–1,700₸ in cash. They leave when full and travellers report waits of 45 minutes or so, so go early.
Other Ways to Travel
- Shared car: Yandex Go's City to City option costs about 3,300₸ a seat, or around 9,500₸ for the whole car, and saves the taxi fare out to Samal.
- Train: direct trains take about 2.5–4 hours depending on the service. They are slower than the road but more comfortable. Check bilet.railways.kz.
Fares change, so treat these as a guide. Our pages on Turkestan and Shymkent have more on each city, and Taraz is the next stop east along the same line.
Other Useful Routes
These are the routes travellers ask about most, beyond the main flight and rail corridors.
- Almaty to Bishkek: 4–6 hours by marshrutka or bus via the Korday crossing, including the border. Recent fares are around 3,500–4,500₸, and departure stations vary, so check locally.
- Almaty to Tashkent: a daily Talgo train has run since December 2025.
- Almaty to Shymkent: two daily Talgo trains were listed in January 2026, with a stop at Taraz on the way. It is usually an overnight trip.
- Shymkent to Aktau: SCAT and FlyArystan fly nonstop in about 2.5 hours, which saves a very long train journey.
- Astana to Borovoe: buses and minibuses leave from Saparzhay station, about 3–4 hours. See the Borovoe guide.
- Almaty to Kaindy and Kolsai: no scheduled service reaches the lakes. Use a tour or a car with a driver to Lake Kaindy, 5–6 hours each way.
- Aktau to the Mangystau sites: a 4x4 with a driver is the only practical option. See the Mangystau guide.
Officials can close land border crossings at short notice, and winter weather can delay them, so leave some slack in your plans. For how these routes fit together, see our Kazakhstan itineraries and the best time to visit.
Transportation Tips
- Download apps: 2GIS (bus routes, offline maps), Yandex Go, inDrive
- Learn basic Russian/Kazakh: Helps with directions
- Keep small bills: Not all taxis/kiosks have change
- Plan ahead: Distances are vast, travel takes time
- Book in advance: Trains and flights during holidays
- Stay flexible: Weather can affect travel plans
Transport in Kazakhstan: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get around Kazakhstan?
Fly anything over about 700km, take overnight trains between cities, and use Yandex Go or inDrive in town. For lakes, canyons and desert sites, hire a car with a driver or join a tour.
Where do you get the marshrutka from Turkestan to Shymkent?
In Turkestan, marshrutkas to Shymkent leave from the Altyn Orda bus station, also called Merey. The trip takes about 2 hours and costs roughly 1,500–1,700₸ in cash. They leave when full.
How do I get from Shymkent to Turkestan?
Take a marshrutka from Samal bus station, about 2 hours, or book a shared car on Yandex Go's City to City option. Direct trains are slower, at about 2.5–4 hours.
How do I get from Almaty airport to the city?
Yandex Go typically costs about 2,500–4,500₸. City buses 92 and 79 are much cheaper but stop about 400m from the terminal. There is no train or metro to the airport.
How much is a bus ride in Almaty and Astana?
About 100–150₸ by card or QR code. An Astana bus ride costs 110₸ by contactless payment, and one report says this may rise to 150₸ from December 2026. The Astana LRT costs 200₸.
Do I need an international driving permit in Kazakhstan?
Expect to need one. The UK Foreign Office says British drivers need a 1968 international driving permit as well as their licence, and hire companies often ask for one too. Check the rule for your own licence.
Start Your Kazakhstan Journey
Once you know how the distances work, getting around Kazakhstan is straightforward.
See Sample Itineraries