How long does it take to get from Almaty to Astana?

The two cities lie more than a thousand kilometres apart, a flight of under two hours or a night on the train. Many travellers take the train one way for the steppe and fly the other to save a day, as part of a trip from Almaty.

Do I need a car in Kazakhstan?

Not in the cities, where the metro, buses and ride-hailing apps cover the distances. For the canyon, the lakes and the mountain valleys a car is needed, and most visitors hire one with a driver or join a tour from Almaty rather than drive the long roads themselves.

Getting around

Getting Around Kazakhstan: a Country Measured in Nights and Flights

Kazakhstan is about the size of Western Europe, and its cities lie far apart: Almaty and Astana are an overnight train journey or a flight of under two hours from each other. Domestic flights buy time, overnight trains show the steppe, and the canyons and mountain lakes are reached by road with a driver.

Updated 2026-10-09

Domestic Flights

Flights link Almaty and Astana with each other and with the regional cities, among them Shymkent, Turkistan and Aktau on the Caspian. On a trip of one or two weeks they are the way to add a second region without losing days to the road.

Overnight Trains

Overnight trains run between Almaty and Astana and across the south to Shymkent and Turkistan, with sleeper compartments that turn a long journey into a night's rest. The train is part of the country's character, with the steppe passing at the window at dawn.

By Road

Outside the cities, the canyons, lakes and mountain valleys are reached by car, most easily with a driver or on a tour from Almaty. Distances are long and the roads vary, so a journey takes longer than the map suggests: Charyn Canyon is about three hours from Almaty each way.

In the Cities

Almaty has a metro line under the centre and a network of buses, Astana is spread out and best crossed by taxi or bus, and in both cities ride-hailing apps are the simplest way between districts, at the fare the app shows.

Visaja keeps this page's contact details and visa guidance under continuous review — still, requirements can change at short notice, so confirm the essentials with the mission or the official government portal before you travel.