Major city · Kazakhstan
Kostanay
Skip Kostanay unless you have a specific reason (work, visiting friends, or a football match). One night is enough; the city is a steppe transport hub, not a tourist destination.
Kostanay is a regional centre on the Tobol River in northern Kazakhstan, 571 km from Astana. It has a few parks, a football stadium and a riverside embankment, but no major sights. Most travellers use it as a stopover on the way to or from Russia, or for a FC Tobol match. The airport is 2 km from the centre.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- KZT
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, snow)
- Airport
- KSN
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut w…
- Central Asia ↗Keep every hotel registration slip or its e-registration record until you leave Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; border officers can ask for proof of where you slept and fine gaps.
- Central Asia ↗Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut with politics and demarcation deals; confirm the exact post is open to foreigners the week you cross.
- Kazakhstan ↗Visa-free entry applies to many nationalities, usually up to 30 days; check your own passport on the official government portal before you book, and keep your entry record.
- Kazakhstan ↗Use a ride-hailing app (Yandex Go or inDrive) or the airport rank; do not accept unmarked cars offered in the arrivals hall.
- Kazakhstan ↗Some mountain areas near the Kyrgyz and Chinese borders need a border-zone permit; ask your driver or the park office before you go.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Kostanay102 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kostanay, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?The tenge (KZT) is used everywhere; cards work in Almaty shops, hotels and restaurants; bazaars and rural areas need cash.Kazakhstan-wide
- SIM or eSIMBeeline, Kcell, Activ and Tele2/Altel sell SIMs with a passport at airports and city shops.Kazakhstan-wide
- Tap waterTreated in cities, but most people drink bottled or boiled water; bottled costs KZT 150–400.Kazakhstan-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurants: Check for a service charge (10–15%); otherwise 10%.Kazakhstan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Kazakhstan-wide
- SafetyKostanay is generally safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls, cafés and hotels; squat toilets and pay toilets at bus stations and on rural roads.Kazakhstan-wide
- Emergency numbers102 police · 101 fire · 103 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums often close on Monday; mountain roads and cable cars close in storms.Kazakhstan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportKSN Kostanay Airport (2 km (1.2 mi) south-west of the centre; regular flights from Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Turkistan).KSN Kostanay Airport (1.2 mi (2 km) south-west of the centre; regular flights from Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Turkistan).
- Getting aroundTaxis up to 1,000 tenge within the city; buses 80 tenge.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee₸400–700
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within citycheck₸500–1,000
- Metro or bus rideBus ridecheck₸80
- Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personKZT 3,000
- Mid-range bedDouble room (e.g. Celinnaya Hotel), a night, per roomKZT 10,000
- High-end bedDouble room (e.g. Celinnaya Hotel), a night, per roomKZT 20,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget KZT 5,000 · Mid KZT 10,000 · High KZT 20,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- KSN Kostanay Airport (2 km (1.2 mi) south-west of the centre; regular flights from Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Turkistan)KSN Kostanay Airport (1.2 mi (2 km) south-west of the centre; regular flights from Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Turkistan)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
Feb
Avoid
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
Mar
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Apr
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
May
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jun
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jul
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Aug
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Sep
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Oct
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Nov
Avoid
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
Dec
Avoid
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)), coolest Jan (−20°C (−4°F)−4°F (−20°C) low), wettest Jun (7 rain days), driest Feb (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kostanay: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
−20°C (−4°F)−4°F (−20°C)
5 rd
Feb
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
−19°C (−2°F)−2°F (−19°C)
4 rd
Mar
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−12°C (10°F)10°F (−12°C)
4 rd
Apr
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
5 rd
May
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
6 rd
Jun
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Jul
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
7 rd
Aug
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Sep
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
5 rd
Oct
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
6 rd
Nov
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
6 rd
Dec
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
−17°C (1°F)1°F (−17°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Taxis up to 1,000 tenge within the city; buses 80 tenge. The centre is walkable.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 4–5 h
Train or bus, about 4–5 h
Too far for a day trip; consider it as a separate stop.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre
Near Central Park and the embankment; most hotels and restaurants are here.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₸5,000–8,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- ₸8,000–15,000 excl. bed
- High
- ₸15,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room (e.g. Celinnaya Hotel)1 × 1 night × KZT 10,000 | KZT 10,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × KZT 10,000 | KZT 10,000 |
| Taxi from airport to centre1 × KZT 1,000 · check | KZT 1,000 |
| Bus ride within city1 × KZT 80 · check | KZT 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | KZT 2,110 |
| Trip total≈ KZT 23,190 per person per day, bed included | KZT 23,190 |
2026 estimate in tenge; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ₸400–700 |
| Meal at a mid-range restaurant | ₸2,000–4,000 |
| Taxi within citycheck | ₸500–1,000 |
| Bus ridecheck | ₸80 |
| Hotel room (Celinnaya Hotel)check | ₸6,000+ |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Winter temperatures can drop below -30°C (−22°F); dress in layers.Winter temperatures can drop below −22°F (-30°C); dress in layers.
- 4G/5G coverage is patchy on approach highways (check).
- FC Tobol matches run March–November; check the schedule if you want to attend.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 102
- Fire
- 101
- Ambulance
- 103
- Single emergency number
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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KostanayKostanay
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Осы мекенжайға, өтінемінTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police102
- Fire101
- Ambulance103
- Single emergency number112
Embassy
Most foreign embassies are in Astana or Almaty; check your country's consular services before travelling.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport → centre taxi: about ₸1,000 (check)
- Bus within city: ₸80 (check)
Say or show
- Сәлеметсіз бе — Hello (sälemetsiz be)
- Рахмет — Thank you (rakhmet)
- Қанша тұрады? — How much? (qansha turady?)
- … қайда орналасқан? — Where is…? (… qaida ornalasqan?)
- Көмектесіңіз — Help (kömektesiñiz)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kostanay. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, snow) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Kostanay
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