11 Things to Do in Aktau, Kazakhstan (Beyond Ustyurt Plateau)

Post overview: This guide chats about things to do in Aktau, Kazakhstan… including historic sites, must-visit cafes, where to eat, and more. There are many things to do in the Mangystau region’s Aktau that it warrants a day or two outside of your Ustyurt trip, and I’m here to share the reasons why.

I knew when I planned my trip to Mangystau that I wanted to spend a few days in Aktau before and after the Ustyurt part of my trip. So, I did just that… added two nights on each side of the Ustyurt trip. I think I spent about 3 full days in Aktau in the end.

While there is a lot to see in Aktau, I think you can do a lot with just one full day. I have been traveling to Kazakhstan for years, so I wanted to relax and get a better feel for the city so I could write about it like I’m doing now. But one full day is sufficient if you’re okay taking taxis around to cut down the walking a bit.

In this guide, I will discuss my favorite things to do in Aktau. I am not going to write much about Ustyurt and the rest of Mangystau because I will have a more comprehensive guide to the region in the future. So if you’re curious about what to do in Aktau, keep reading!

Things to Do in Aktau (Overview)

Before diving into what I got up to in Aktau, I will say that Aktau was incredibly beautiful but also had some parts that were a bit run-down.

I think it largely has to do with the environment out this way. It is dry, windy, and kind of wild. This has definitely had an impact on buildings (along with the lack of maintenance, of course).

You can see a lot of the city and the promenade on foot, but I would recommend using Yandex taxis when you’re able to do so to cut down time between places in this guide.

There is a map at the end that you can save to determine when that is suitable. Taxis are affordable in Aktau.

Things to Do in Aktau (The Details)

1. Walk the promenade along the Caspian.

My favorite thing to do in Aktau is to walk along the Caspian Sea. You can actually start the promenade where Te Quiero coffee shop (I mention below) is, grab a to-go cup, and walk.

This walk along the newer promenade is around 1.5 kilometers long (about 1 mile), and it takes you along a rocky coast, which is where the sea used to be. You can continue from there for another 5 kilometers on a different and older pathway if you wish.

The rock formations out this way are pretty special, as a lot of building material comes from the Mangystau region for the rest of Kazakhstan (it is limestone-heavy). Anyway, if you want to talk the entire thing, you can start at Te Quiero and continue to Aydin Restaurant, which is 5.7 km north. It will pass beaches, piers, bars, etc.

2. See the WWII eternal flame.

Like most cities in Kazakhstan, there is a pretty impressive WWII memorial, and the one in Aktau has a large eternal flame surrounded by a structure that looks like it is opening up.

There is also a stretch of memorials beside it (and the Night Witches murals nearby). This is a must-visit when you’re in Aktau.

3. Check out the Aktau Lighthouse (Melovoy Lighthouse).

The Melovoy Lighthouse (sometimes just called the Aktau Lighthouse) is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. Built on the roof of a residential building in 1974 by Soviet state construction and naval authorities, the 10m structure sat inactive for many years as ships were using more modern ways to navigate, but it was reactivated in 2021… mostly for tourism purposes. Its light can be seen 21 nautical miles away (around 38km).

You can apparently visit the viewing platform (I didn’t), which takes you to the top and overlooks the Tyupkaragan Bay in the Caspian Sea.

The easiest way to visit is by taxi and it is situated in the 4th Microdistrict on building 9.

4. Get a coffee at a local cafe.

Aktau had a cool little coffee scene when I was there! The places I enjoyed the most were Te Quiero, Wave, and Blur.

Te Quiero

Located right on the Caspian Sea (literally!) in Aktau, Te Quiero is a small cafe at the harbor where you can grab a coffee or small bite to eat and watch the sunset. I got my coffee to-go as it was too crowded to hang around, and it was tasty and the staff was incredibly friendly (they even wrote me a nice message on my cup).

I ordered a flat white that was 1390 KZT. Te Quiero can be found by the sea (at the start of the Rock Trail) in the 4th Microdistrict in Aktau. They are open daily from 8am to 2am.

Blur

Blur was located super close to my hotel and had really tasty coffee. They also sold beans and had a very cute cat to hang out with (making it an easy 10/10).

I ordered a flat white for 1000 KZT and enjoyed it so much I would have gone back there the next day had I not had a flight out! Blur is open daily from 8am to 12am

Wave Coffee

Wave Coffee has such a perfect location in Aktau, very close to the main shopping centers and thoroughfare of the city. There was a large terrace and the inside was light and airy, which was no surprise given its name.

I ended up ordering a flat white for 1090 KZT. Wave is open daily from 8am to 10pm.

5. Go to see the famous MiG-21 fighter plane.

Along Victory Boulevard in Aktau is a large MiG-21 fighter plane that serves as a public monument to commemorate the past.

It is situated between the 7th and 9th microdistricts, and I actually had a view of it from my hotel room at Renaissance Sulo Hotel.

6. Visit the Mangystau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore.

I didn’t prioritize visiting the Mangystau Regional Local History Museum when I was in Aktau, but I hope to check it out the next time I am in town.

It was established in 1975 and has expanded over the years, now including the Mangystau Regional Museum of Local Lore, which is the one located in Aktau. It contains 50,000 exhibits across multiple halls where you can learn more about the local flora and fauna, ethnography, and more. It is located in Microdistrict 19A. Tickets are 1500 KZT for foreigners (and 1000 for local adults).

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 6:30pm (ticket office closes at 6pm) with a lunch break from 12:30pm to 2pm. They are also open Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm (no lunch breaks). It is closed on Mondays.

7. See the few pieces of Soviet-era monumental art leftover.

Aktau seems to have gotten rid of most of the Soviet-era monumental art it likely once had, but there are a few remnants in town.

The first is a set of 3 apartment buildings that have reliefs on them of local scenes. This area likely needs a taxi ride, but there is a mall pretty close, as well as a mini bazaar, so I found the trek worth it (I walked). The apartment reliefs are at 43.6639260, 51.1633100 and I do not know the artist or year.

The second is a mosaic-relief on a light green building. There is not much to say about this and it is located in a pretty central part of the city, so you can likely reach it on foot (I have included it on the map). 43.6357910, 51.1733000 are the coordinates and I am not sure of the year or artist.

8. Photograph the mural of the Night Witches.

In the center of Aktau are three murals of Kazakh women that span across three buildings.

The mural in front is of Khiuaz Dospanova, a Kazakh aviator who flew 300 combat missions during WWII and was part of the ‘Night Witches’.

The Night Witches were an all-female unit that flew over 23,000 missions against the Nazis during the war, but because they were women, they were given outdated, slow planes with no parachutes, which required them to use stealth tactics to get the job done. The Germans were the ones who gave them the name ‘Die Nachthexen’ (Night Witches).

The second mural is of Manshuk Mametova, a machine gunner of the 100th Rifle Brigade for WWII. She was the first Kazakh woman to receive the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ posthumously after being killed in action in 1943.

The third mural is of Aliya Moldagulova, a sniper for the Soviets during WWII who killed more than 30 Nazis. She was also awarded the title ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ and the Order of Lenin posthumously after being killed in action in 1944. She was only 18.

You can find these murals at 43.647, 51.15873 in Aktau (very close to the Eternal Flame WWII Memorial).

9. Have dinner at Bozjyra.

I had dinner at a few places in Aktau, but the best meal I had was at Bozjyra (it was so tasty I went back there a second time for lunch!). They serve local food here, so you can try fish beshbarmak (I didn’t when I was here), kuurdak, and more.

They also serve camel in a few dishes if you’re keen on trying. It is located at 11a Microdistrict 1/4, so you might want to grab a taxi out this way. Bozjyra is open daily from 11am to 12am.

10. Enjoy a beer or cider at UnderBeer.

I no longer drink alcohol, so I rarely write about it in my travel guides these days. However, I do know a lot of people still do so I want to recommend this place even though I didn’t head inside myself.

UnderBeer is located in a popular area of Aktau in the 7th microdistrict and serves an array of craft beers and ciders. A cat is working there (important information) and you can take bottles away with you.

UnderBeer is open Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 1am, Friday from 4pm to 2am, Saturday from 2pm to 2am, and Sunday from 2pm to 1am.

11. Say hello to the statue of Taras Shevchenko.

Between the 4th and 5th microdistricts is a statue of Taras Shevchenko, the famous Ukrainian poet with one of the most iconic mustaches.

Aktau was actually called Shevchenko from 1964 to 1991 after the famous Ukrainian, as he was exiled to a settlement around 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Aktau.

Whenever I passed the Shevchenko monument, kids were playing on it, so I didn’t take many photos. But it is worth stopping if you’re walking around the neighborhood!

What to Do in Aktau (On a Map)

Things to See in Aktau FAQ

What are the top things to do in Aktau?

Most people find themselves in Aktau as a base for the Mangystau region and its impressive sites on the Ustyurt Plateau.

But in Aktau city, you can walk the Caspian promenade, visit the local museum, see the WWII memorials (and the Night Witches mural), and try fish beshbarmak, a popular local dish in the region.

When is the best time of the year to visit Aktau?

The best time of the year to visit Aktau is in spring or autumn. Summer can be quite hot and winters can be pretty cold. Do know that Aktau can get windy at times, so that may make it feel colder than it actually is during the shoulder season.

Is Aktau walkable or should I take a taxi or bus around?

Aktau is somewhat walkable, but since the city is a little ‘newer’, it is spread out and doesn’t have a proper city center like other places in Kazakhstan.

You can move between longer distances with affordable taxis from Yandex.

How many days should I spend in Aktau?

If you are coming as part of a Mangystau and Ustyurt trip, I would plan a full, additional day in Aktau to see the city without it being an afterthought.

Most of what’s on this guide can be seen in one day, especially if you don’t mind moving around the city with a taxi in between larger distances.

Is Aktau safe?

Yes, Aktau is just as safe as any other city in Kazakhstan. Be aware of pickpockets or wild taxis during the high season, but I never felt uncomfortable walking around Aktau as a solo female traveler.

Do you have any questions about visiting this part of Kazakhstan and what to do in Aktau? Let me know your favorite things to do in Aktau if I missed them. Thanks!

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