Stand in the courtyard of the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi and the scale of the place registers before anything else does: a vast, unfinished portal commissioned in 1389, still the reason most travellers come to Turkistan. Around it, the grounds hold a cluster of historical buildings and a large mosque, with a park that rewards a slow walk between them.
Turkistan suits travellers tracing the Silk Road through southern Kazakhstan, pilgrims drawn to the shrine of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, and anyone breaking a rail journey across the steppe. It is a compact, centre-focused destination: the sights sit close together, and outside the centre there is little to occupy a visitor.
This guide covers the main sights, a workable one-day plan, and the practical questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Turkistan
1. Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi
Commissioned in 1389 for the 12th-century Sufi poet and mystic Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, the mausoleum was never finished, yet it remains a major destination for pilgrimages from across Central Asia and has come to epitomise the Kazakh national identity. It is the anchor of any visit to Turkistan.
This is a religious place, so dress accordingly: shorts are not permitted and shoulders should be covered. Headscarves are handed out free at the entrance. Expect the grounds and interior to be busy with hawker stalls selling mass-produced trinkets, and even camel and pony rides, so do not arrive imagining austerity. Entry is 5000 tenge for foreigners and 2000 tenge for nationals of neighbouring countries; the site is open 09:00-18:00.
2. Hilvet Mosque
A semi-underground mosque, and a short, inexpensive addition to a visit to the mausoleum area. Entry is 500 tenge.
Combine it with the mausoleum and the surrounding grounds, since the historical buildings and large mosque here sit close together.
3. Turkestan Railway station complex
Built around 1906 in art-nouveau style, the station and its adjacent blocks are a good example of railway architecture. Worth a look if you are arriving or departing by train, and easy to fold into a walk if you are already in the centre.
4. The park and historical buildings around the Yasavi Mausoleum
The area around the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi holds a number of historical buildings and a large mosque, and makes a pleasant park to walk around for the monuments alone. This is the natural way to fill the time between the mausoleum and the Hilvet Mosque.
5. Football at Turkistan Arena
FC Turan were relegated in 2025 and now play in the First Division, the second tier. Turkistan Arena, capacity 7000, sits 5 km east of the city centre, and the playing season runs from March to November. Check the fixture list if your visit coincides with a home game.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi when it opens at 09:00, dressed with shoulders and knees covered, and give the interior and the grounds proper time before the hawker stalls draw your attention.
Afternoon: Walk the park and the historical buildings around the mausoleum, then visit the Hilvet Mosque nearby. If you have time before or after, look in on the Turkestan Railway station complex.
Evening: If FC Turan are playing at Turkistan Arena during your stay, head 5 km east of the centre for the match; otherwise close the day with another slow circuit of the mausoleum grounds.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear at the Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi?
Dress for a religious place. Shorts are not permitted and shoulders should be covered. Headscarves are handed out free at the entrance of the mausoleum.
How much does entry cost?
The mausoleum charges 5000 tenge for foreigners and 2000 tenge for nationals of neighbouring countries. The Hilvet Mosque charges 500 tenge.
When is the mausoleum open?
The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi is open 09:00-18:00.
Is there much to do outside the centre?
Not a great deal. The area around the Yasavi Mausoleum holds the historical buildings, the large mosque and the park, and there is not a huge amount to do in Turkestan outside of the centre. Turkistan Arena is the main exception, 5 km east of the city centre.
Decide your dates, check the FC Turan fixtures and the train times into the 1906 station, and you have everything you need to start planning a trip to Turkistan.