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Voykit pocket guide · Kazakhstan
Baikonur
Take a guided one‑day Baikonur Cosmodrome tour (US$700) – longer only for multiple launch trips or special interest.
Baikonur is a closed city centred on the Russian‑run Cosmodrome. Visits require a guided tour with a permit arranged 45 days ahead; a single‑day tour costs about US$700, while multi‑day excursions run into the thousands.
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KZT
- Money
- The tenge (KZT) is used everywhere; cards work in Almaty shops, hotels and restaurants; bazaars and rural areas need cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₸5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ₸8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ₸12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Beeline, Kcell, Activ and Tele2/Altel sell SIMs with a passport at airports and city shops.
- Emergency
- Police 101 · Fire 102 · Ambulance 103 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs fit; bring an adapter for UK or US plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Check for a service charge (10–15%); otherwise 10%.; Taxis: Round up; nothing on app rides.; Drivers and guides: KZT 3,000–5,000 a day is appreciated.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people drink bottled or boiled water; bottled costs KZT 150–400.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in malls, cafés and hotels; squat toilets and pay toilets at bus stations and on rural roads.
Get in
By air
- Krainiy Airport (city)
- Charter flights from Almaty and Moscow; no regular schedule
- Yubileyniy Airport (cosmodrome)
- Charter flights serving the Cosmodrome; limited service
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tours provide transport within the Cosmodrome; otherwise walking is the only option and security checks apply.
See and do
Known for
- Baikonur Cosmodrome
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kyzylorda | Train from Toretam station, about 3–4 h | About 4 h |
| Turkestan | Train from Toretam station, about 5–6 h | About 6 h |
| Shymkent | Train from Toretam station, about 8–10 h | About 10 h |
Sleep
- Kafe "Ray"
- Basic rooms for tourists on tours; higher prices, limited amenities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Извинитеizvinite |
| Thank you | Спасибоspasibo |
| How much is it? | Сколько стоит?skol'ko stoit? |
| Can I have a guide? | Можно гида?mozno gida? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake among men; greet elders first; avoid: Shaking a woman's hand unless offered
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring sweets or a small gift; avoid: Stepping over the threshold to shake hands
- Hospitality: Accept tea and eat a little of everything; avoid: Refusing food outright
- Language: Try a few Kazakh words; avoid: Assuming everyone is Russian
Scams and watch-outs
- Closed city – a permit is mandatory; arrange via a specialist tour operator at least 45 days in advance.
- Tours are expensive: US$700 for a one‑day visit from Almaty, up to US$5,000 for multi‑day trips from Moscow.
- Launch schedules are unpredictable; visits may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Baikonur is a secure, closed city; the main risk is the permit process – ensure you have a valid tour and follow security instructions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Baikonur yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Baikonur Cosmodrome
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Baikonur, revision 4997873 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4997873
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/baikonur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.