Where to stay in Kazakhstan

Accommodation

When choosing accommodation for your first days in Almaty and Astana, location relative to transport infrastructure and safety plays a key role.

Suitable districts in Almaty:

• Almaly District: The historic city center. Ideal for the first nights, within walking distance of the main sights, parks and metro stations. There are many cafes and restaurants here. The indicative price for a standard hotel room is around 15,000–30,000 KZT per night. A proven example is the Uyut Hotel.
• Medeu District: The prestigious and safest southeastern part of the city, closer to the mountains and the Kok-Tobe cable car. Suitable for families and more demanding travelers seeking quiet and cleaner air. Prices are higher: standard hotels start at 25,000 KZT, luxury complexes exceed 50,000 KZT per night. The district's traditional landmark is Hotel Kazakhstan.
• Bostandyk District: A modern financial and business district with the Forum Mall, Atakent and modern high-rises. Suitable for business travelers and those preferring modern infrastructure. Prices are around 20,000–40,000 KZT per night. A notable hotel in the area is the Holiday Inn Almaty.

Suitable districts in Astana:

• Left Bank (Esil District): The futuristic center of the capital, home to the skyscrapers, the Bayterek tower, the Khan Shatyr mall and the government quarter. It is the cleanest, most modern and best-guarded area of the city, ideal for a safe first encounter with Astana. Mid-range hotel prices are around 20,000–35,000 KZT per night.

Common accommodation practices:

• Check-in: On arrival the reception is required to ask for the original passport to verify identity. Hotels commonly require a refundable deposit in cash or a card hold, usually 10,000 KZT per stay.
• Registration obligation: At check-in guests must explicitly confirm whether the hotel has filed the digital notification of their stay to the eQonaq system. Reputable hotels do this automatically and, on request, print a confirmation with a QR code. For private rentals (e.g. via Airbnb), you must remind the landlord of this obligation right when booking.