The Republic of Kazakhstan is a unitary state, which means that it does not have any state entities with elements of sovereignty in its composition.
Kazakhstan is divided into 17 regions and 3 cities of republican significance. It also includes the city of Baikonur, which is leased by the Russian Federation until 2050 and therefore has a special status corresponding to the city of federal significance of the Russian Federation.
In 2022, 3 new regions were created: Abay region, Zhetysu region, Ulytau region, which were allocated from previously existing regions.
For those who travel around Kazakhstan, our travel agency advises you to visit these 3 cities of republican significance:
• Astana
• Almaty
• Shymkent
In these cities you will find attractions that attract travelers from all countries with their beauty and diversity.
The Abay region is located in the eastern part of Kazakhstan and borders the East Kazakhstan region in the east, Russia in the north, and China in the southeast. This is a new region formed in 2022, the area of which is 185,500 square kilometers and is divided into 8 districts and 2 cities of regional subordination, the administrative center is the city of Semey (until 2007 — Semipalatinsk).
In this newly formed region of Kazakhstan, you will find such attractions as: Semey bridge, F.M. Dostoevsky Literary Memorial Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts named after the Nevzorov Family and much more.
Akmola region is located in the north of Kazakhstan and covers an area of 146,219 square kilometers. It borders in the west with Kostanay, in the north with North Kazakhstan, in the east with Pavlodar, in the south with Karaganda regions. The region consists of 17 districts and 3 cities of regional significance. The administrative center is the city of Kokshetau.
Attractions that you can visit in the Akmola region: salt lake Kobeituz, Shortankol (Pike lake), Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve, Borovoe Lake, Burabay National Natural Park and Abylai Khan Glade, etc.
Aktobe region is located in the western part of Kazakhstan and is the largest region in terms of territory with an area of 300,629 square kilometers. It borders in the north with Russia, in the northeast with Kostanay, in the southeast with Ulytau and Kyzylorda regions, in the south with Uzbekistan, in the southwest with Mangystau, in the west with Atyrau and in the northwest with West Kazakhstan regions.
The region is divided into 12 districts and 1 city of regional subordination. The administrative center is the city of Aktobe.
In this beautiful area you will discover the following attractions: Nurdaulet Mosque, in the city of Aktobe, Plateau Aktulagay, Nur Gasyr regional central Mosque, Aktobe Regional Museum of Local Lore, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Pushkin Park, etc.
Almaty region is located in the south-east of the country, which borders Zhambyl region in the west, Karaganda region in the northwest, Zhetysu region in the northeast, China in the east and Kyrgyzstan in the south. The area of the region is 105,263 square kilometers.
The region consists of 9 districts and 1 city of regional subordination. The administrative center since 2022 is the city of Konaev (formerly Kapchagai).
In Almaty region you will find many beautiful places that are worth visiting:
- Altyn-Emel National Park
- Charyn State National Nature Park
- Ile-Alatau National Park
- Issyk Lake
- Tamgaly Tas
- Kaindy lake
- Kolsay lake
- Kok Zhailyau
- Kapchagai reservoir
- Derevyannoe lake etc.
Atyrau region is located in the western part of Kazakhstan and borders with the West Kazakhstan region, Mangystau region, Aktobe region and the Russian Federation. Atyrau region has 7 districts and 1 city of regional subordination. The administrative center is the city of Atyrau.
If you are traveling in Atyrau region, then you should see these beautiful places: the city mosque, Cathedral of the Assumption in Atyrau, the Saraishyk settlement, the Retro Park, Inder Lake and the Inder Mountains.
East-Kazakhstan region is located in the eastern part of the country with an area of 97,800 square kilometers. It borders on the west with the Abai region, on the east with China, on the north with Russia. It is divided into 9 districts and 2 cities of regional subordination: the administrative center is the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk and Ridder (Leninogorsk).
In this area, tourists can visit: Bukhtarma reservoir, Lake Yazove, city mosque, Holy Trinity Monastery, Roman Catholic Church, St. Zinoviev Temple, various museums and parks.
Zhambyl region is located in the south of the country, the area of which is 144,264 square kilometers. It borders on the west with the South Kazakhstan region, on the south with Kyrgyzstan, on the east with the Almaty region and on the north with the Karaganda regions. It consists of 10 districts and 1 city of regional subordination – Taraz, which is also the capital of the region.
In Zhambyl region, you can see historical architectural monuments such as: Karakhan Mausoleum, Aisha-Bibi Mausoleum, Babaji Khatun Mausoleum, Zhenis Park, Archaeological Park, Ak Meshit cave etc.
Zhetysu region is located in the south-east of the Republic of Kazakhstan and was established in 2022. It appeared as a result of the division of the Almaty region into two – Zhetysu and Almaty regions. The area of the territory of the new region is 118,500 square kilometers. The region consists of 8 districts and 2 cities of regional subordination. The administrative center is the city of Taldykorgan.
The capital of the Zhetysu region presents to your attention such sights as: the Museum of Local Lore named after. Tynyshpaev, I. Zhansugurov Literary Museum, City Mosque, St. John the Theologian Cathedral, etc.
The West-Kazakhstan region is located in the north-west of the country, with an area of 151 339 square kilometers. It borders on the east with the Aktobe region, on the south with the Atyrau region and Russia, on the north, west and northwest also with the Russian Federation. It is divided into 12 districts and 1 city of regional subordination – Uralsk, which is also the administrative center.
In this area you will see: Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, House-Museum of Yemelyan Pugachev, Kirov Park, Toryatbas mountain, etc.
Karaganda region is located in the central part of Kazakhstan and borders: Akmola, Pavlodar, Abai, Zhetysu, Almaty, Zhambyl, Ulytau and Kostanay regions of Kazakhstan. The area of the region is 239,045 square kilometers and includes 7 districts and 6 cities of regional subordination. The administrative center is the city of Karaganda.
The Karaganda region has such attractions as: Holy Vvedensky Monastery, the Roman Catholic Cathedral, the Ecological Museum, in addition there are many wonderful theaters and museums.
Kostanay region is located in the north of the republic and borders with the Russian Federation and with 5 regions of the country as: Aktobe, Ulytau, Karaganda, Akmola, North Kazakhstan regions. The area of the region is 196,001 square kilometers. There are 16 districts and 4 cities of regional subordination on the territory of the region. The administrative center is the city of Kostanay.
In Kostanay, you can walk along the embankment, in Victory Park, as well as visit the Kostanay Regional Museum and theater, etc.
Kyzylorda region is located in the southern part of Kazakhstan. The area of the region, excluding leased lands of the Russian Federation, is 240,414 square kilometers. The region borders in the northwest and north with Aktobe region, in the east with Turkestan region, in the west and south with Uzbekistan, in the northeast with Ulytau region. The region is divided into 7 districts and 1 city of regional subordination – Kyzylorda, as well as 1 city of republican subordination Baikonur.
The nature in this area is beautiful, there are such natural wonders as: the nature reserve and the Barsakelmes tract, Aral Sea, the Kokaral Dam, the Kamyslybas salty lake, etc.
The city of Baikonur is not part of the Kyzylorda region, as it is under long-term lease from Russia, Russian legislation is in force on its territory and Russian currency is used. Here you can see the museum of the history of the cosmodrome and the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Mangystau region is located in the southwestern part of the country and covers an area of 165,642 square kilometers. The region is bordered in the northeast by Atyrau and Aktobe regions, in the south by the state of Turkmenistan and in the east by Uzbekistan. It is divided into 5 districts and 2 cities of regional subordination – Aktau and Zhanaozen, where Aktau is the administrative center.
In this area you will get acquainted with such sights as: Mangyshlak Peninsula, the desert and the Ustyurt plateau, a lonely mountain of unusual shape – Sherkala, a rock trail, lake Saura (Turtle Lake), Dostar Beach, Marrakech Beach etc.
Pavlodar region is located in the north-east of the country, on the banks of the Irtysh River, the largest river in Kazakhstan. It borders on the north, northeast and east with the Russian Federation, in the south with the Abai and Karaganda regions, in the west with the Akmola and North Kazakhstan regions. The area of the region is 124,755 square kilometers and includes 10 districts and 3 cities of regional subordination. The administrative center is the city of Pavlodar.
In Pavlodar region you will see: Mashhur Zhusup Mosque, the Annunciation Cathedral of Pavlodar, Bayanaul National Park, as well as theaters and museums.
North-Kazakhstan region is located in the north of the country. It borders Russia in the north, Pavlodar region in the southeast, Akmola region in the south, Kostanay region in the west. The territory of the region is 97,993 square kilometers. It consists of 13 districts and 1 city of regional significance – the city of Petropavlovsk, the administrative center of the region.
The most famous sights of the North Kazakhstan region are Lake Imantau, Lake Shalkar, Lake Zhaksy-Zhalgyztau, the monument to Abai and Pushkin, the Central Park of Culture and Recreation, the bridge over the Ishim River, etc.
Turkestan region is located in the southern part of Kazakhstan, the area of which is 116,280 square kilometers. It borders Uzbekistan, as well as Zhambyl, Ulytau, and Kyzylorda regions. The region is divided into 14 districts and 3 cities of regional subordination – Arys, Kentau, Turkestan. The administrative center is the city of Turkestan.
One of the most famous regions of Kazakhstan is the Turkestan region. It is rich in such sights as: the mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the ruins of Sauran, the mausoleum Ukash ata, the mausoleum of Rabigi Sultan Begim, the mausoleum of Yesim Khan, the Juma mosque, the settlement of Kultobe, Kyzyl Kol lake, the Karatau State Nature Reserve, the cave of Zhylygan Ata, Sairam Ugam National Park, etc.
Ulytau region is located in the central part of the country and was formed in 2022, the area of which was 188,936 square kilometers. It borders in the north with Kostanay, in the east with Karaganda, in the southeast with Zhambyl, in the south with Turkestan and Kyzylorda, in the west with Aktobe regions. The administrative-territorial structure of the region includes 2 districts and 3 cities of regional subordination, such as Karazhal, Satpayev and the administrative center – the city of Zhezkazan.
In this new area there are such attractions as: the city fountain, the monument to the conquerors of space, the Kengir reservoir, etc.
