Shymkent (Kazakh: Шымкент) is a city in the Kazakh Desert, and is the third largest city in Kazakhstan.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Shym - means clay or adobe, and kent means city. Place around Shymkent hillfort was settled millennia ago due to proper relief and water source. Recent excavations on Hillfort discovered ash from thick layer of ash from arias and their fire worshiping around the 5th century BC. Place was always a nice oasis next to Sayram but got a big expansion after the railway was built in late Russian Empire. During World War II, many factories were moved to Shymkent and placed near the railway and compact blocks of apartments were built nearby. Also a lead factory was established to process the huge lead ore deposits in nearby Karatau mountains. It produced 9 out of 10 Soviet lead bullets.
You can take "gypsy cabs" for 300-400 tenge anywhere in the city. Bargain if they try to overcharge. Buses run to and from the center and all of the microdistricts. They cost 100 tenge as of 2026 which for short distances is frustrating. Routes are marked at some bus stations and locals know where most of them go. "Marshrutkas" are mini-buses that run largely the same routes as the buses. If you plan on walking remember that the districs are broken into "microryons" which look like city blocks on the map but are often four times the size.
1 Shymkent hillfort Shym-Qala. 09:00 to 18:00. Place was settled in the 5th century BC by arias due to proper relief and water source then developed in Citadel which was destroyed and rebuild many times. Shym-Qala have museum and archaeological exhibitions (updated Feb 2025) 2 Museum of Turkestan Region, Baidibek Bi avenue, 115a, ☏ +7 7252 77-55-79. 09:00-18:00. Used to be in old city center, moved to the new building with all archaeological exhibitions and collections which are great. (updated Feb 2025) 3 Art museum, Madeli Kozha street, 2B. 09:00-18:00. Gallery and museum exhibiting local artists (updated Feb 2025) 4 Private Carpet Museum, Ilyaeva street, 40.
Shymkent marathon usually takes place on the second Sunday of September. Mega Planet: most popular youth hangout place in town, a mall with indoor skating rink, movie theater, Western-style chain grocery store and an upstairs food court. On Tauke-Khan avenue. Spartak - awesome outdoor swimming pool, soccer field and basketball court. Across from Mega on Tauke-Khan avenue. Cinema: playing (mostly Western movies dubbed in Russian) on the top floor of Mega Center. Babylon: arcade complex also on the top floor of Mega Center, complete with games and laser tag Football: FC Ordabasy play soccer in the Premier League, the top tier.
Shymkent is all about eating and drinking. Among local Kazakhstani people Shymkent has a reputation of a gastronomic center. It is relatively easy to find proper place to eat just check if it is crowded or not. It is crowded so people like it and food is fresh. Generally every market has huge pedestrian traffic and many places to eat cheap and good food. 1 Жеті тандыр restaurant, Ayteke Bi street, 10/4, ☏ +7 701-260-70-70, jetitandyr13@gmail.com. 08:00-23:00. Located in the old Soviet restaurant Oral building not far from Shym-Qala. Retained all Soviet mosaics and most of decorations. Great variety of Kazakh, Uzbek or European cuisine.
Traditional drinks like kumys, kozhe and others are available mostly on bazaars. Try it on your own risk but better taste drinks in crowded place where demand is high. 1 Koshkar-Ata spring. This spring was water source for Shymkent for millenia and still has great drinking water for free. (updated Feb 2025) 2 Puer, Askarova street, 3, ☏ +7 700-711-82-21. 12:00-20:00. Small tea house in a quiet place to sit and contemplate. (updated Feb 2025) 3 Amber bar and beer, Republic avenue, 4, ☏ +7 705-342-44-72. 16:00-02:00. Local craft beer and snacks. (updated Feb 2025) 4 Jaman Bar, Turkestanskaya street, 4. 19:00-03:00. Local craft beer and snacks.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Shymkent typically sees ~38°C daytime highs and 0 rainy days.
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