Top places to visit in Aktau

• Caspian Sea Promenade & Beach

  caspian sea beach · 4.3 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Aktau's waterfront stretches for 5 km along the Caspian Sea — the world's largest inland body of water. The city's clean beaches and warm summer waters (up to 26°C in July–August) draw domestic tourists from across Kazakhstan. The seafront…

• Valley of Castles (Airakty)

  rock formations · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  An otherworldly landscape of eroded chalk formations rising from the Mangystau steppe 130 km northeast of Aktau — columns, mesas, and towers of pure white limestone sculpted by millions of years of wind and water erosion into shapes…

• Shakpak-Ata Underground Mosque

  underground mosque · 4.7 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 9th–10th century subterranean mosque carved into the white chalk cliffs of the Mangystau plateau, 150 km north of Aktau. One of the most extraordinary religious sites in Central Asia — four chambers with niches, carved Arabic…

• Bozzhyra Canyon

  canyon · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Otherworldly white chalk canyon and former seabed in the Mangystau desert, one of Kazakhstan's most photographed landscapes.

• Karagiye Depression

  geological · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The lowest natural point in Kazakhstan (-132m), a vast salt depression in the Mangystau desert.

• Aktau Clifftop Walk & Caspian Panorama

  Viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Aktau sits atop a dramatic limestone plateau that drops sharply to the Caspian Sea. The clifftop walk running along the city edge offers some of the most striking coastal scenery in Central Asia — pale chalky bluffs contrasting with the…

• Aktau Central Park

  urban-park · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Seafront park in central Aktau with promenades, cafes and views over the Caspian Sea.

• Aktau Regional History Museum

  history-museum · 4.2 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Museum covering the history, geology and Silk Road heritage of the Mangystau region.

Things to do

• Beket-Ata Sacred Underground Mosque 4WD Pilgrimage Adventure · 11 h · from KZT 28,100 per person
• Mangystau Desert & Underground Mosque 4WD Tour Adventure · 10 h · from KZT 23,000 per person
• Bozzhyra Canyon Day Tour Adventure · 10 h · from USD 90 per person
• Karagiye Depression Excursion Adventure · 5 h · from USD 55 per person

Day trips and tours

• Mangyshlak Desert & Caspian Wonders Tour 11 h · from KZT 28,100

Where to stay in Aktau

• City Centre / Microdistricts about KZT 50 per night

  Aktau's unique numbered-block layout clusters most hotels, restaurants, and services in the central microdistricts. Close to the Caspian seafront.

• Seaside Promenade about KZT 90 per night

  The beach-facing strip of hotels and resorts along the Caspian — best for summer beach holidays. Higher-end options with sea views.

Hotels

• Rixos Water World Aktau 5-star · USD 150 to USD 350 per night
• Renaissance Aktau Hotel 5-star · KZT 55,000 to KZT 180,000 per night
• Caspian Riviera Grand Palace 5-star · USD 100 to USD 260 per night
• Holiday Inn Aktau 4-star · USD 70 to USD 150 per night
• Hotel Aktau 4-star · KZT 20,000 to KZT 45,000 per night

Where to eat

• Chaika Restaurant Kazakhstani, Seafood, Russian · about KZT 4,000 per person
• Atlas Cafe European, Kazakhstani, Café · about KZT 2,500 per person
• Caspian Pearl Restaurant Kazakhstani, Seafood, Caspian · about KZT 3,500 per person
• Qazan House Kazakh · about USD 14 per person
• Bukhara Central Asian · about USD 12 per person

Getting to Aktau

Airport: Aktau (SCO)

How visitors arrive in Aktau

• Fly into Aktau Airport By air from Aktau International Airport · common

  The airport lies north of the centre; taxis and ride-hailing are the usual way into town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Mangyshlak station By train from Atyrau · common

  Trains from Atyrau, Nukus, Astana and Almaty arrive at Mangyshlak station, outside the city centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Caspian ferry from Baku By ferry from Baku · possible

  The Baku-Aktau ferry actually runs between Alat and Kuryk, both well outside the nominal cities. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi or ride-hail

  Taxi or ride-hailing is the easiest way from the airport. Agree the fare first or arrange a hotel pickup. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• City bus 6 unconfirmed

  Bus 6 serves the airport and central Aktau, but don't rely on it for a tight departure. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Check live bus routes in 2GIS or Yandex Maps before relying on city buses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Bus 105 from the station unconfirmed

  The train station is well outside the centre. Taxis wait outside and bus 105 runs into Aktau. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Check live bus routes in 2GIS or Yandex Maps before relying on city buses. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Car With Driver

  Sights outside Aktau have no public transport and little signage, so trips usually go through a local guide or a tour agency in town.

• Offroad Vehicle
• Taxi

  Taxis and informal cars are used for trips within Aktau; drivers rarely speak English, so having the district and building number ready helps.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unofficial Caspian Boat Trip Offers

  Aktau seafront promenade

  Men offer informal boat trips to Mangyshlak Peninsula for cash, with no safety equipment or documented route.

  How to avoid it: Book excursions through licensed operators at the local tourism office or via your hotel.

• ATM Skimming

  Aktau city centre ATMs

  Card skimmers have been reported on standalone ATMs in side-street locations.

  How to avoid it: Use ATMs attached to bank branches during opening hours. Cover the keypad when entering PIN.

Best time to visit Aktau

• Jan 2°C
• Feb 4°C
• Mar 10°C
• Apr 17°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 29°C
• Jul 32°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 25°C
• Oct 18°C
• Nov 9°C
• Dec 4°C

More in Kazakhstan

• Almaty
• Astana
• Shymkent
• Turkistan
• Oskemen

Frequently asked questions about Aktau

How many days do you need in Aktau?

A typical trip to Aktau is 1-2 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Aktau?

The highest-rated places in our Aktau guide are Bozzhyra Canyon, Valley of Castles (Airakty), Shakpak-Ata Underground Mosque, Karagiye Depression, Aktau Clifftop Walk & Caspian Panorama.

Where should I stay in Aktau?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Aktau: City Centre / Microdistricts, Seaside Promenade.

How do I get around Aktau?

Ways to get around Aktau covered in our guide: Car with driver, Off-road vehicle, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Aktau?

Scams reported to us for Aktau include Unofficial Caspian Boat Trip Offers; ATM Skimming. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Aktau?

Average daytime highs in Aktau run from 2°C in Jan to 32°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Aktau?

The nearest airport to Aktau has the code SCO.