Sary-Arka Airport: where to stay, areas and recommended hotels

Karaganda's Sary-Arka Airport is about 24-26 km from the city centre, with a 20-25 minute taxi transfer costing around 14-18 dollars; there are no international hotel chains, but a few good local properties cover the centre, between the circus and the city park. It's the only zone in the city with a sufficiently verifiable offering: the rest of the market is made up almost entirely of private apartments, excluded from this guide.

City centre

24-27 km from the airport, 20-25 minutes by taxi (around 14-18 dollars depending on bargaining); no direct train from the airport.

Best for: Those who want the historic centre, the circus and the city park within a few minutes' reach, with Karaganda's best-reviewed properties.

Pros

The city's best-reviewed properties are all concentrated in this zone, close to one another
Karaganda railway station just minutes on foot, useful for those continuing their journey by train

Cons

No international hotel: the offering consists of independent local properties
The transfer from the airport always takes more than 20 minutes, with no fast alternatives

Recommended hotels in this area

Metelitsa Hotel: On Bukhar Zhyrau Avenue, a 6-minute walk from Karaganda's circus and the central park; 24 rooms, in-house restaurant and free parking.
Voyage Hotel: Boutique hotel in the Oasis district, a 5-minute walk from the city's sports arena and 4 km from the centre; rooms with minibar and a restaurant serving European cuisine, shuttle to the airport on request.
Hotel CONTINENT halal: On Tereshkova Street, with halal cuisine available and a free buffet breakfast every morning; family rooms with air conditioning and private bathroom.

See more hotels in this area →