Getting Around Turkestan
Turkestan is a compact city whose main sights cluster around the Yasawi mausoleum, and getting around is straightforward: public buses cover the core, Yandex Go handles door-to-door trips, and much of the historic centre is manageable on foot. The notes below cover each option in turn, plus how to reach the city from its airport.
By Public Bus
Public buses operate in Turkestan and are the workhorse of local transport. One line worth remembering is bus 15, which links the train station with the mausoleum by way of the Merey bus station — handy if you arrive by rail and want to head straight to the main monument. A ticket costs 100 tenge, and cash is accepted on board. On buses fitted with a validator or a QR sticker, card or Kaspi QR payment may also be available.
To plan a route, use Yandex Maps or 2GIS, both of which carry public transport directions for the city.
By Taxi and Ride-Hailing
The Yandex Go ride-hailing app operates in Turkestan, making it easy to summon a car without needing to negotiate in Russian or Kazakh. This is a practical choice for short hops across town or for trips where you are carrying luggage.
On Foot
The city's headline attraction, the Yasawi mausoleum, anchors the historic core, and the surrounding area is walkable. If you are staying near the centre, walking is a reasonable way to reach the mausoleum and nearby points of interest, with buses or a taxi as backup for longer legs.
Arriving by Air
Hazrat Sultan International Airport (HSIA) serves Turkestan. FlyArystan flies here from Almaty, and Qazaq airline flies from Aktobe; there are also flights from Astana, Uralsk, Istanbul and Kuwait City, plus Wizz Air service from Abu Dhabi.
An alternative is to fly into Shymkent and continue overland. From there you can take quite frequent minibuses (costing about US$2), trains, or taxis on to Turkestan.
Arriving by Rail
Train connections are available from Almaty and from the Uzbek capital, Tashkent. Note that on the Tashkent line, the border crossing and customs inspection take place around midnight.
Arriving by Minivan from Shymkent
Minivans (marshrutkas) are a common and inexpensive way to reach Turkestan from Shymkent. From Shymkent city on Tauke Khan str., take bus #26 to Bekzhan Bazaar (Бекжан); marshrutkas 87 and 47 also run there. With the blue/orange bazaar building to your right, go past a yurt, through a car park and a building with parking underneath. The minivans are parked across from the Toyota and Hyundai dealership, and drivers stand next to their vans calling out destinations. Vans depart when full, and each has its destination written on the windshield. The trip takes about two hours and drops you at Merey (мерей) bus station in Turkestan, though it is also possible to be dropped off near the Yasawi mausoleum. The fare from Shymkent is 800 tenge in a 20-passenger minivan.
Alternatively, from Shymkent city on Tauke Khan str., take bus #93 to Samal Bazaar. Walk across Samal Bazaar to Samal bus station, where minibuses to Turkestan depart; the fare from Samal Bazaar is also 800 tenge.
Practical Tips
- Keep small change handy for bus fares, since cash is accepted on board.
- Download Yandex Maps or 2GIS before you arrive to check bus routes and directions.
- Install Yandex Go if you plan to use ride-hailing.
- If you arrive by train, bus 15 connects the station to the mausoleum via Merey bus station.
- Minivans from Shymkent leave only when full, so allow some flexibility in your timing.