Hostels in Kazakhstan Hostels in Kazakhstan

You are looking for hostels in Kazakhstan? Good news, you have come to the right place.

On this page we list every single city with hostels and other budget accommodations. Hostelz.com helps you to find your Kazakhstan hostel and compare its prices on the major booking sites such as Hostelworld, Hostelsclub and Booking.com. So you can sleep on a budget and save money while backpacking Kazakhstan.

All Cities in Kazakhstan

We list every single hostel in Kazakhstan and the world. In total, we have 16 cities in Kazakhstan for you. Please note that not all cities actually have a hostel to stay in. Below you can filter for cities with hostels and with no hostels-type accommodation, but guesthouses and budget hotels. This will help your planning.

All Kazakhstan hostels on a map

Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.

Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Kazakhstan. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.

Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is the world's ninth largest country by size, thus it covers a huge area. Each corner of the country has a different vibe. Kazakhstan is a diverse country with beautiful people, a good nightlife, nice cities and lots of unspoiled areas.

Places of interest are spread out over the entire country. Due to the large area, it can take a long time to travel by land between the different places. Overnight train travel is very cheap as is traveling around by minivans, the so-called “marshrutkas” that are affordable for travel in Kazakhstan. For tourists who are on a tighter schedule, it is also possible to fly between the cities.

In Kazakhstan's main cities, there are many different hostels available. A hostel can easily be chosen based on the traveler’s budget, location or need for certain facilities. Especially in Almaty and Astana, a lot of hostels can be found. In the smaller cities on your itinerary, the availability of hostels might be limited.

Most travelers arrive in Almaty or Astana as these cities have a large international airport. Almaty is also located close to the Kyrgyz border. Astana is unlike every other city in Kazakhstan. The city centre has a very modern and prestigious architecture. It's a great place to wander around for those who are very into architecture. Many travelers, however, also claim that the city lacks a soul as the city centre is very quiet. The vibe of a city can only be seen in the suburbs and centre.

Almaty is Kazakhstan's former capital and the most popular city among travelers. It is a pleasant city to spend some time in, has a few sights to see and offers many hiking opportunities in the surrounding mountains. It's a city that does have the vibe of a typical former Soviet country. The hiking opportunities are plenty and easily can be reached by marshrutka from the city. Beautiful mountains and lakes can be explored. Almaty is also the gate to the Charyn Canyon, the Grand Canyon's little sister which is just as impressive to visit. A stop at the Charyn Canyon can easily be booked as a tour, possibly via your hostel.

In the southwest of Kazakhstan is an Uzbek majority. This means that the vibe in those places is different from the rest of Kazakhstan. If you wish to experience a city that is not as developed as Almaty and Astana and has an Uzbek vibe, then Shymkent is a good place for you to see. Shymkent is close to the Uzbek border and may be used as gateway to or from Uzbekistan. The city of Turkistan is only 1.5 hours away by marshrutka. It features several important historical monuments since it once used to be an important place on the Silk Road. This city can be visited as a day trip; alternatively, you can book an overnight stay in a hostel in Turkistan in order to explore the place for several days.

Although it may not be the first thing you think about when you hear about Kazakhstan, it is also possible to spend some days at the beach. Aktau, in west Kazakhstan located on the Caspian Sea, is a beach destination. Nice beaches and a good nightlife can be found here. For those that don't mind traveling far into the country side, the Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in Kazakhstan, too. Baikonur is a Russian spaceport where rockets are launched into space.

expert for Kazakhstan hostels

Handwritten by local expert for Kazakhstan hostels Martin Straatman

Travel Tips for Kazakhstan - from the Community

Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Kazakhstan. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Kazakhstan. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!

FAQ on Hostels in Kazakhstan

There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:

Finding Hostels and Prices

What hostel booking sites are best to use?

There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.

This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.

For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.

How much are hostels in Kazakhstan?

Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.

You can search for exacty hostel prices in Kazakhstan here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.

When to book hostels?

If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.

We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.

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Safety and Packing

Are hostels in Kazakhstan safe?

Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.

What to pack when staying in hostels?

There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.

  1. Padlock
  2. Earplugs
  3. Sleeping Mask
  4. Quick Dry Travel Towel
  5. Head Lamp

There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.

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