Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
The main gateways are Almaty (ALA) and Astana/Nur-Sultan (NQZ). From either airport, you can reach the city by airport bus, taxi or ride-hailing apps such as Yandex Go and inDrive. Ride-hailing is usually the easiest option, as it shows a fair price upfront and avoids fare haggling.
- Airports
- Almaty (ALA), Astana (NQZ)
- To city
- Bus, taxi, ride-hailing
- Easiest
- Yandex Go / inDrive
- Ride-hailing shows a fair price upfront
- Airport buses are the cheapest option
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
Almaty has a single-line metro plus an extensive bus and trolleybus network, all paid with the Onay! transit card. Astana relies on buses using its own Astana transport card. Buy and top up the card at kiosks and stations, then tap on board.
- Almaty
- Metro (1 line), bus, trolleybus
- Astana
- Buses
- Card
- Onay! (Almaty)
- Almaty uses the Onay! card across all modes
- Astana uses its own transport card
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
In Almaty the transit card is Onay!, used on the metro, buses and trolleybuses. Buy and top it up at kiosks, terminals and stations, then tap when you board. Astana uses its own separate transport card, so a card from one city does not carry over to the other.
- Almaty card
- Onay!
- Covers
- Metro, bus, trolleybus
- Top up
- Kiosks, terminals, stations
- Tap the Onay! card when you board
- Astana uses a separate card
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Renting a car is possible, but be mindful of driving conditions: Kazakhstan drives on the right, distances between cities are vast, and rural road quality varies. For long journeys, allow plenty of time, carry water and fuel up when you can. In cities, ride-hailing is often easier than driving.
- Drives on
- The right
- Distances
- Vast between cities
- Roads
- Rural quality varies
- Allow plenty of time and fuel up on long routes
- In cities ride-hailing is often easier
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
The national railway KTZ (Kazakhstan Temir Zholy) links major cities, including overnight and fast Talgo trains between Astana and Almaty. Long-distance buses cover many routes too. Because the country is so vast, domestic flights are often the most practical choice for the longest distances.
- Rail
- KTZ (Astana–Almaty)
- Bus
- Long-distance routes
- Long distances
- Flights often practical
- Overnight and fast Talgo trains run Astana–Almaty
- The country is vast, so flights save time
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
Because Kazakhstan is one of the world's largest countries, domestic flights are a common and practical way to travel between major cities. Carriers such as Air Astana and its low-cost arm FlyArystan link cities across the country, saving many hours over trains or buses on the longest routes.
- Why fly
- Country is vast
- Carriers
- Air Astana, FlyArystan
- Benefit
- Saves hours over land travel
- FlyArystan is the low-cost carrier
- Flying is common between major cities
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
Plan long trips carefully: distances are huge, so combine flights, trains and buses to suit your route. Ride-hailing (Yandex Go, inDrive) is the safest way to get a car, and Kaspi.kz handles most payments. Note that the Baikonur Cosmodrome is leased to Russia and requires a special permit to visit.
- Plan
- Combine flights/train/bus
- In town
- Yandex Go, inDrive
- Baikonur
- Special permit required
- Kaspi.kz handles most everyday payments
- Baikonur is leased to Russia; a permit is needed