How safe is Kazakhstan for travelers?

Safety and the most common scams

Kazakhstan is generally a safe country with a low level of violent crime; government advisories as of August 2026 recommend following standard personal safety precautions. Travelers should nonetheless be extra careful in crowded places (the Zelyony Bazar market in Almaty, the Almaty-1 and Almaty-2 railway stations), where there is a risk of pickpocketing.

The most common scams targeting tourists:

• Overpriced airport taxis: Unofficial drivers in the arrivals halls approach new arrivals and offer rides into the center. At the end of the trip they demand astronomical sums (often 15,000 to 22,000 KZT instead of the standard 3,000–5,000 KZT). If you refuse, they may lock the luggage compartment. The defense is to ignore these people and use only the official desks (Blue Sky Taxi in Almaty, Astana Taxi in Astana) or the Yandex Go app.
• Exchange-rate manipulation: Some unofficial exchange offices in tourist areas display a very favorable rate on the board that in fact applies only to transactions above extremely high amounts, while charging small customers a hidden fee. Always ask for the exact final amount before handing over cash and require a printed receipt.
• Fake police: There have been cases of people in uniform demanding to check documents and cash on the street under the pretext of checking for counterfeit banknotes. Real police have no right to check a foreigner's cash on the street. If in doubt, insist on going to the nearest police station.