A brief history

Although Pavlodar officially became a city in 1861, the area had been settled long before that. In the Middle Ages, the city of Imekia, the capital of the Kimek-Kipchak confederation, existed near what is now Pavlodar and persisted until the 12th century.

The development of modern Pavlodar began in the 18th century during the Russian Empire's colonization of Kazakhstan. To protect the new territories from Dzungar raids, defensive fortifications were built along the right bank of the Irtysh River, including the Koryakovsky outpost, which would later become Pavlodar. As colonization moved further south, these fortifications lost their strategic importance, and the outpost evolved into a regular settlement. In 1838, it became the village of Koryakovskaya, which grew into a regional merchant center. In 1861, Emperor Alexander II elevated the village to a provincial town and renamed it Pavlodar in honor of his son, Prince Pavel Alexandrovich, who was born the previous year. The city has been known as Pavlodar ever since.

Transportation

Pavlodar has an international airport and a railway station, making it accessible by air and rail. Pavlodar International Airport, located 14 kilometers (9 mi) from the city center, offers flights to destinations including Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tashkent, Urumqi, Istanbul, Minsk, Antalya, and more. Upon arrival, you'll notice a large sign on the airport building reading "Әуежай," which means "Airport" in Kazakh.

Pavlodar Railway Station provides regular rail services within Kazakhstan and to several Russian cities. Domestic destinations include Astana, Karaganda, Semey, Shymkent, Almaty, Kyzylorda, Ekibastuz, and smaller towns along the train routes. Internationally, trains regularly depart for Russian cities such as Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Moscow, Tomsk, and Chelyabinsk.

Pavlodar also boasts the largest river port in Kazakhstan, from which barges carrying sand and crushed stone depart for Russia.

Transportation within Pavlodar 

Pavlodar is a small city, where you can drive from one end to the other in about 40 minutes. One advantage of the city is the rarity of traffic jams. For navigating the city, the 2GIS mobile app is highly recommended as it offers the best map of Pavlodar.

Public transportation in Pavlodar includes buses and trams, and taxi services are also available. A ride on public transport costs 100 tenge ($0.22) when paying online and 200 tenge ($0.45) when paying in cash. The Avtobys mobile app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, allows you to track public transport and pay for travel.

Pavlodar is one of the few cities in Kazakhstan where trams are still in operation. The tram network is extensive, making it possible to reach almost any point in the city by tram.

Taxis in Pavlodar are inexpensive compared to many other cities in Kazakhstan. The average cost of a trip within the city ranges from 800 to 1200 tenge ($1.80-2.70). It is not customary to hail a taxi on the street in Pavlodar; instead, taxis are called using apps like Yandex Go, or by contacting a taxi service by phone.

Climate and weather

Pavlodar experiences a sharply continental climate characterized by long, snowy winters and strong winds. Cold weather and snow typically begin around the end of October and continue until early April. However, a significant advantage of this climate is the comfortable summer, with an average July temperature of 21.5°C (70.7°F).

 

Important to know before you go to Pavlodar! 

Wind. It's often windy even on hot summer days. It's advisable to always carry a windbreaker.

Insects in the summer. Pavlodar is located by a river, so during summer, especially in June, there are many insects like mosquitoes and midges. Be sure to bring insect repellent and antihistamines if you are allergic to insect bites.

Mobile Communications and Internet

In Pavlodar, you can purchase a SIM card from any Kazakhstani mobile operator, including Activ, KCell, Altel, Beeline, and Tele2. These operators offer special low-cost guest tariffs for tourists, providing Internet access at speeds up to 4G. Mobile communication shops are conveniently located throughout the city. To purchase a SIM card, you will need to register it. Simply show your ID or passport to an employee and they will handle the registration process for you.

Wi-Fi is widely available in many public areas. Typically, you will need to log in using your mobile phone number to connect in these spaces. Many cafes and restaurants also offer free Wi-Fi; you don't need a local number to connect, simply ask the staff for the Wi-Fi access password.

Languages

Pavlodar is a multicultural city, home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including Kazakhs, Russians, Tatars, Uzbeks, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, Ukrainians, Germans, Koreans, Poles, and many others. Kazakhs make up the majority of the population.

Due to historical factors and the city's multinational composition, Russian is widely spoken in everyday life by most residents. The Kazakh language is also prevalent. Hotels and other establishments that frequently serve foreign guests typically have staff who speak English. However, it is less common for the average person on the street to speak English fluently.

To learn about tourist attractions in Pavlodar, be sure to read our article “A Guide to Must-See Attractions in Pavlodar.”