Hazrat Sultan International Airport

Ancient Silk Road city where Kazakh history and spirituality converge.

Turkistan is one of Central Asia's oldest and most sacred cities, located in southern Kazakhstan along the historic Silk Road. Its crown jewel is the magnificent Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site commissioned by Timur in the 14th century and one of the finest examples of Timurid architecture in the world.

In recent years the city has undergone massive redevelopment, with Kazakhstan investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, new museums, a reconstructed medieval medina, and a gleaming modern city center. The result is a fascinating blend of ancient heritage and ambitious modern construction that reflects Kazakhstan's pride in its Turkic roots.

As a regional capital of Turkistan Region, the city is compact and walkable in its historic core, making it easy to absorb centuries of nomadic and Silk Road history in a short visit.

• •Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi — UNESCO masterpiece and Kazakhstan's most important pilgrimage site.
• •Hilvet Underground Mosque — a small subterranean sanctuary where Yasawi spent his final years in seclusion.
• •Azret Sultan Historical and Cultural Reserve — walled complex housing multiple mausoleums and archaeological layers.
• •Museum of the Great Steppe — modern museum showcasing nomadic culture, artifacts, and Kazakh identity.
• •Reconstructed Old City (Medina) — new but atmospheric bazaar district with crafts, teahouses, and traditional architecture.
• •Domed Mausoleum of Rabiga Sultan Begim — elegant 15th-century tomb within the main sacred complex.

Getting around: Turkistan is best navigated on foot within the historic core, as key sights are clustered near the Azret Sultan complex. The city is served by Turkistan railway station with direct trains from Almaty, Shymkent, and Astana, making rail the most comfortable long-distance option. Local minibuses (marshrutkas) and shared taxis connect the train station to the city center and surrounding areas cheaply. Rideshare apps such as InDriver and Yandex Go operate in the city and are a convenient, affordable option for getting around quickly.

Best time: Late spring (April–May) and early autumn (September–October) offer the most pleasant temperatures, avoiding the harsh desert heat of summer and the cold winters.

Local food: Try samsa (baked meat pastries), beshbarmak (boiled meat over flat noodles), and shelpek flatbread at local teahouses and bazaar stalls near the old city.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.