Kokshetau is a city of 151,000 people (2022) in the north of Kazakhstan, part of the former Soviet Union, and sits on the shore of Lake Kopa Kona, though the urban design doesn't seem to embrace it much.

Get in

Ablai Khan Square

By plane

The capital city Astana is close, it has an international airport.

From Almaty (the only flight!), which stops in Kokshetau, unloads passengers, and then takes off for Petropavlovsk. From the airport, buses to the city center run about every 30 minutes, and taxis are plenty and inexpensive (about US$5-7).

Get around

By taxi

Abundant taxis. Average trip cost US$2.

See

• The end of the world's biggest powerline: it starts in Ekibastusz and ends here
• Burabai (Borovoe): Mountainous resort area 50 km (30 miles) from town. Numerous other lakes.

Do

• Elikti ski resort, on the slopes of Mount Elikti (25 km from Kokshetau city by the P11 road on the way from Kokshetau to Ruzayevka). At the elevation of 500 metres above sea level. It is popular for its mild climate, many sunny days and a great amount of snow through the winter. Visitors can buy or rent any necessary skiing and snowboarding equipment. 
• Bowling alley
• Movie theatre
• The Central Park has a small amusement park with a slow-moving ferris wheel and other fast-moving rides.
• In warmer weather, there are lots of amusements for small kids in the paved square opposite the new movie theater.
• In freezing cold weather, the same paved square hosts an amazing ice-carved village, including a very long ice slide. Lots of fun, but bundle up because it gets c-c-c-cold.

Eat

• Crosta Restaurant, Ulitsa Auyel'bekova 116. Daily 12:00-02:00. Kind of a fussy bourgeoisie eating establishment on the 9th floor of the Greenwich Hotel. If you like looking at cityscapes of old concrete buildings, you're in for a treat.
• Toykhana Shalkar, Ul.mira 24. They do weddings, but also serve kabobs and other nice dainties.
• Coffee Boom, Gorkogo St дом 57. Daily 08:00-22:00. You can get some pretty big breakfast dishes here along with a coffee. Waffles, potato and onion and sausage stir fry, plov, bread focaccia things.

Eating shish kebabs (shashlyk) is definitely in.

The bowling alley might also have a food court. You could enjoy good food and a fun game.

Drink

Do not drink from tap, only drink bottled water. Local bottled water is also sold in 5-liter containers.

Cheap, good beer, including the ubiquitous Brazilian import, Brahma.

Nightclub: A'ngar (Ulitsa Kanaybi 31). Su-Th 08:30-22:00, F Sa 21:00-06:00.

Sleep

The hotel industry is in rudimentary state. There are world-class hotels in Borovoe (Burabai) resort region. In Kokshetau, however, the hotels are built on the legacy of the Soviet Union. There are high quality apartments available.

• Hotel Samruk, Abay Street 121. Here you get a standard room and a restaurant on the premises of the stone building serving halal food.
• Hotel Green Which, Ulitsa Auyel'bekova 115. Highrise place featuring a karaoke room, bar, breakfast buffet, and the previously mentioned penthouse restaurant.

Stay healthy

• Avicenna: a private hospital in Kokshetau.

Connect

As of September 2024, Kokshetau has 4G from Beeline and Kcell, and 5G from Tele2. The signal is patchy on the approach highways.