Fun and entertainment Kazakhstan

Timetable

Kazakhstan doesn't have a wild nightlife. In the big cities, Almaty and Astana, there is a plethora of bars and pubs catering mainly to Western expatriates. In the medium-sized towns, expats and the golden youth also have their addresses, but they are already fewer and less upscale. In the villages and in the rest of the country, while it's possible to find establishments that close a little later, the atmosphere is not necessarily there. And most of the time, after 10pm, the streets are quiet. While Almaty used to stand out for its many underground bars, the Covid pandemic has wiped out the nightlife scene, and most of the clubs and discotheques were either being converted or were waiting to be taken over at the time of writing.

Night transport

Public transport doesn't operate at night, but wherever you are, there are always cabs running at night, even if there are fewer of them. Fares are obviously harder to negotiate than during the day. Don't forget to use the Yandex app, which will save you tedious haggling.

Age restrictions

The sale of alcohol to minors is forbidden.

If you're out with friends, it's best to have a man buy the alcohol: it's frowned upon for a woman to buy beer or a bottle of vodka.