Kokshetau may be small, but it has a big soul. Founded in 1824, it has managed to preserve its historic charm while steadily transforming into a more vibrant and inviting destination. In recent years, the city has gained a cozy lakeside promenade, refreshed alleys and squares.

In the following pages, we’ll take you through the very best places in Kokshetau that you won’t want to miss.

Embankment and parks

The pride of Kokshetau is Lake Kopa, whose embankment has, in recent years, become one of the most popular walking spots. In 2025, a new section was opened with great fanfare, and now the renovated promenade stretches from the Premiera residential complex in the Old Airport district to the intersection of Mukhtar Auezov and Kenesary Kasymuly streets. Life here is always lively: fairs, festivals, and concerts take place throughout the year. For those who prefer active recreation, the embankment offers sports and children’s playgrounds, a skate park, a performance stage, and well-maintained bike paths.

From the promenade, you can clearly see the “Kokshetau” sign on the slope of Bukpa Hill – one of the city’s unofficial symbols. A TV tower also crowns the hill, alongside an observation deck that offers a panorama of the lake and the city. To reach it, you’ll need to climb 144 steps. It’s a gentle ascent made easier by railings and benches along the way. You can drive to the base of the hill by car, and the staircase begins at the start of Abay Kunanbayev Street.

Nearby, another hill rises, crowned with a flagpole and its own viewing platform. The stairs here begin at the start of Erkin Auelbekov Street and lead to a vantage point that reveals Kokshetau from entirely new angles.

Kokshetau’s Central Park is located along Abay Kunanbayev Street, next to the Kazakh Drama Theater. Within its grounds, you’ll find amusement rides, a Ferris wheel, several monuments, and shady green alleys perfect for a stroll.

To the west, the park opens onto the spacious Tauelsizdik Square (Square of Independence), where the Independence Stele rises proudly. Beside it stands the Cinema Alem movie theater, and just across the road you can see the city akimat (administration building) and a monument to the renowned explorer Shoqan Walikhanov.

On the eastern side, the park borders Abylai Khan Square, at the center of which stands a monument to the khan himself. Across the road, in front of the Kokshetau Hotel & Restaurant, lies a foundation stone inscribed with “Kokshetau 1824” – a reminder of the city’s founding year.

From Central Park, a walk along the 500-meter Alley of Military Glory leads to the Park of Heroes. This park is home to the city’s WWII Memorial: a silver five-pointed star and a sculpture of a soldier holding a banner. Opened in November 1977, it has since become a significant place of remembrance for residents. The Eternal Flame burns here in tribute, and nearby stand monuments to 47 natives of the Akmola Region who were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

In the southeast of Kokshetau, tucked away among quiet residential streets, lies the Fighters for the Revolution Park. At its center stands a monument honoring 60 Bolsheviks executed here by soldiers of White Guard General Annenkov. This event took place during the Russian Civil War, when the Bolsheviks fought the White Guard to establish Soviet rule in the region. This is not a manicured city park polished to perfection, but rather a slightly wild green space. It’s a place to find solitude, enjoy a peaceful walk, or have a quiet picnic. There are playgrounds for children and an open-air cinema.

For an even deeper connection with nature, head to Ecopark, located just outside the city in the dacha district along the Kokshetau-Kostanay highway. It’s a true forest only minutes from the city center. The territory is privately owned, so entry costs 700 tenge per person. Here you can rent a yurt or a gazebo, and the owners regularly host entertainment programs and sports games, turning a simple outing into a small adventure.

Museums

Kokshetau is home to two museums that offer a deeper understanding of the city’s past and the history of the surrounding region.

Just steps from Central Park, at 35 Ramazan Yelebayev Street, you’ll find the Akmola Regional History Museum, housed in the former residence of merchant Gennady Shmurlo, once the owner of a wine factory. Today, its collection includes more than 90,000 exhibits showcasing the nature, culture, and historical events that have shaped the Akmola Region.

The City History Museum is located at 32 Kanai Bi Street in an old wooden house where revolutionary Valerian Kuibyshev lived between 1889 and 1905. During World War II, the building served as a rear hospital for wounded soldiers, and in 1949 it became the Kuibyshev Memorial Museum. Since 2000, it has housed the City History Museum. Its five exhibition halls guide visitors through the key stages of Kokshetau’s story.

Theaters

Kokshetau boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with several theaters and concert venues where you can enjoy an evening out.

The city’s main stage is the Kazakh Music and Drama Theater (216 Mukhtar Auezov Street), known for its diverse repertoire ranging from timeless classics to contemporary productions. All performances are accompanied by simultaneous translation into Russian, though English translation is not provided.

Next to the Park of Heroes stands the Kokshetau Palace of Culture (90 Akan Sery Street), the venue for many of the city’s major events. It features a 600-seat auditorium, exhibition areas, and dance and ballet halls.

A little farther from the center, at 10 Toleu Suleimenov Street, you’ll find the Dostar Palace of Culture, a smaller venue with 320 seats. Its intimate atmosphere makes performances feel especially warm and engaging.

Another cultural highlight is the Akmola Regional Philharmonic (160 Abay Kunanbayev Street), located near the train station. This is a hub for live music and shows: local and visiting artists perform here, musicals are staged, and audiences can enjoy concerts by the orchestra of Kazakh folk instruments, a brass band, and a theater studio.

Mosques and churches

Kokshetau is a city where mosques and Christian churches coexist harmoniously, each adding its own charm to the urban landscape.

On the Alley of Military Glory, at 91 Erkin Auelbekov Street, stands the Zhakia Kazhy Mosque. Next to its modern brick building is a small wooden mosque dating back to the late 19th century. This is the oldest mosque in Kokshetau, still preserving its historic spirit.

Not far from the embankment rises the city’s main mosque, Nauan Khazret (6/1 Nursultan Nazarbayev Avenue), impressive in both scale and architecture. Directly opposite, at the intersection of N. Nazarbayev and Abylai Khan Avenues, you’ll find an unusual landmark – Mount Maktai. It’s not a real mountain, but more like a sculptural composition of stones that recalls the Okzhetpes rock in Borovoe. At its summit stand sculptures of deer, and a small landscaped park surrounds the base.

On the embankment, where the Kylshakty River flows into the lake, stands the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ (7/6 N. Nazarbayev Avenue). This modern Orthodox cathedral, opened in 2021, has quickly become a striking architectural accent of the area.

Kokshetau is also home to the Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony (7a Akan Sery Street) – a peaceful place where visitors can enjoy a quiet atmosphere.

Shopping spots

Kokshetau offers several popular spots for shopping and entertainment. The largest is the Rio Shopping Mall (12 Ramazan Yelebayev Street), located near the embankment, right behind the Nauan Khazret Mosque. Here you’ll find everything under one roof – from fashion boutiques and a food court to children’s play areas and a cinema.

Right next to Rio is the Central Market. It’s no longer a bustling open-air bazaar, but a modern complex of pavilions and indoor shopping spaces. It’s just a short walk from Central Park or the embankment.

On the other side of the park, near Tauelsizdik Square, stands the Central Department Store (82 Abay Kunanbayev Street), another convenient place to shop while enjoying a stroll around the city center.

Beyond the City Limits

Kokshetau is surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. Within just one to two hours’ drive, you can reach Kokshetau National Park, the picturesque Imantau and Shalkar Lakes, the famous Borovoe resort, and Lake Zerenda. We cover these destinations in detail in our separate article, A Guide to Must-Visit Attractions near Astana.