When planning a trip to Kazakhstan, usually two cities come to mind: Almaty and Astana — both top-notch destinations and widely recognized as the best in Central Asia. However, the country’s potential goes far beyond that, and even smaller, less glitzy cities like Kostanay have something to offer.
For many, Kostanay is a grain-growing and industrial region, with much of its economy relying on wheat and the automotive industry — and that image is actually quite accurate. As soon as you leave the airport, you’re greeted by an ad for a domestically manufactured tractor, setting the tone for what’s to come.
After a quick nod to the region’s industrial achievements, here are a few things to do in this city.
Unwind in Therma Park
Therma Park is one of the largest sauna complexes in Central Asia, featuring over a dozen types of saunas, indoor and rooftop pools, some even filled with salt water and open even in the depths of Kostanay’s harsh winters. But only the brave takes a dip.
Sauna types range from the familiar (Turkish hammam, Russian steam bath) to the unusual, including hay and Scythian saunas, offering a wide variety of steaming experiences. Beyond sweating, guests can enjoy food and drinks — including alcohol — at food courts inside and on the rooftop. According to Therma’s event manager Konstantin Marchenko, the venue attracts not just locals but also visitors from nearby Russian cities like Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, as well as from farther afield, including China and Germany. Most, he says, come as part of business trips related to the agro-industrial sector.
The standard fare is $4 per hour with every additional 10 minutes costing 70 cents over the initially paid duration. A standard unlimited stay would cost $17.60. Note that towels are not included in the price, nor are they available for rent. However, they can be purchased at the shop along with other bathing accessories.
Dine and drink at one of Kazakhstan’s best restaurants
One of the most popular venues in Kostanay to have lunch or enjoy a meal with family and friends is Fessla Pub. In February, Tatler Kazakhstan ranked it among the 50 best restaurants in the country. The pub serves various styles of tap beer, delivered directly from its own brewery established in partnership with Czech partners — no kegs involved. The food menu mixes Georgian cuisine with traditional grilled favorites.
Explore the historic legacy
During the Russian Empire’s rule over the lands inhabited by the Kazakhs, now part of modern-day Kazakhstan, Kostanay became the birthplace of a major historical figure in the region — Ybyrai Altynsarin. A 19th-century educator and cultural reformer, Altynsarin is remembered across Kazakhstan for his efforts to modernize education and for creating the first Kazakh alphabet based on Cyrillic script.
Several landmarks in and around Kostanay commemorate his legacy. Just 7 kilometers outside the city is a memorial complex built over his grave. Originally established in 1991, it was renovated in 2017 and now features a stone map marking the locations of the schools he founded.
There’s also a striking mural of Altynsarin painted on the side of a high-rise apartment building near the Tobol River.
Another eye-catching mural is dedicated to Abay (Ibrahim) Kunanbayev, a 19th-century Kazakh poet, philosopher and reformer.
Murals are a popular art form in Kazakhstan — not just for honoring historical figures, but also for promoting events. For instance, last year’s World Nomad Games in Astana had its own mural on one of the capital’s residential blocks.
Take in the city’s historical architecture
Kostanay is notable for its preserved late 19th- and early 20th-century architecture, including merchant homes and civic buildings. Notable landmarks include the Yaushev family’s trading arcade, the Maral Ishan Mosque, and the former treasury department building — the latter may appear modest at first glance but played a key role during the Great Patriotic War when it housed part of the State Museum Collection evacuated from Moscow.
Built in 1902, the Yaushev Arcade now hosts the Regional Museum of Local Lore and the House of Friendship. The Maral Ishan Mosque, constructed in 1893 with donations from the local Muslim community — especially merchant Abdulvali Yaushev — has had a varied history. During Soviet times, it served as a laborers’ club, a wartime shelter, a movie theater and later a concert hall. Today, it is once again a functioning place of worship.
Take an evening stroll along the Tobol River
A perfect way to end the day is a walk along the promenade by the Tobol River. The best time is at dusk, when the city lights come on and the summer heat begins to fade.
