Meoweler
Kazakhstan

Semey / Where the steppes meet the stars

MeowScore 😼71/100
What is MeowScore?
🐈 Cats in the city 😼
☀️ Sun-soaked days 😸
🚗 Traffic density 😸
🔈 Noisiness 😼
📸 Views and Sightseeing 😼
🌳 Parks and greenery 😸
👮‍♂️ Safety 😸

Best month

August

Best time to explore outdoor activities.

🎉
january

Experience the winter festival with indigenous music and dance.

❄️
february

Visit to experience the beauty of snowy landscapes and frozen lakes.

🏰
march

Discover the history and culture of Semey through guided tours.

🌸
april

Enjoy the pleasant weather and visit the city's botanical garden.

🎨
may

Attend the traditional crafts festival and try local delicacies.

🎭
june

Watch the ballet and opera performances at the national theater.

🎶
july

Participate in the city's international jazz festival.

🌲
august

Visit the nearby Burabay National park and trek through the forest.

🕌
september

Explore the architecture and visit historic mosques during Eid al-Adha.

🎨
october

Enjoy the autumn foliage and visit the city's museums.

📚
november

Experience the Semey literary festival and meet Kazakh authors.

🎆
december

Visit during the New Year's Eve celebration with fireworks and festive events.

⚖️

Reasonable prices

Bigmac $?

🤑

As a visiting cat, I found Semey to be moderately affordable. Prices were not super cheap, but also not extremely expensive. It was possible to find good deals if you looked carefully, but some items were more costly than expected.

Consider shopping at the local markets for good deals on fresh produce and souvenirs, and be prepared to haggle for lower prices.

Usual visit duration

1-2 days

Transit city

Usual visit duration

1-2 days

Transit city

Semey is mostly visited as a stopover en route to other destinations in Kazakhstan.

Tipping

0%

No tipping culture in Semey

Tipping

0%

No tipping culture in Semey

Cash is preferred, some restaurants accept credit cards. Splitting the bill is not common, but can be requested.

internet situation

good Speed

Decent speeds but inconsistent

great Availability

Widespread availability but occasional outages

great Cellular

Good coverage across the city

Electric socket type C

Common in Europe, South America, and Asia. Non-grounded, 2-pin plug, accepts Type C & Type E&F (non-grounded variant).

KZT

1 KZT =
? USD

Currency converter

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Sunrise
Sunset
Day length



biking hostile

Lack of infrastructure

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LGBTQ hostile

Limited acceptance

For the curious cat, Semey offers unique Soviet-era architecture to explore.

For the adventurous cat, a trip to the nearby Altai Mountains will satisfy their wild side.

Things to do

The mainstream

🗻
Koshoi Korgon 🌄
💣
Semipalatinsk Test Site Museum 🏛️
🌸
Victory Park 🌳
🔍
Semey Regional Museum 🏛️
📚
Abay Museum 🏛️

The mainstream

🗻
Koshoi Korgon 🌄

Take in the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from this ancient fortress. Located on a hilltop, Koshoi Korgon was built in the 7th century.🏯

Google Maps
💣
Semipalatinsk Test Site Museum 🏛️

Learn about the devastating effects of nuclear testing on the nearby Semipalatinsk area. Exhibits include photographs, documents, and artifacts.☢️

Google Maps
🌸
Victory Park 🌳

Take a stroll through this peaceful park dedicated to the soldiers who fought in WWII. Admire the beautiful flower gardens and enjoy a picnic by the fountain.🌺

Google Maps
🔍
Semey Regional Museum 🏛️

Discover the history and culture of Semey and the surrounding region. Exhibits cover topics such as ancient nomads, Russian colonization, and World War II.🏰

Google Maps
📚
Abay Museum 🏛️

Visit this museum to learn about the life and work of the famous Kazakh poet and composer Abay Kunanbayev. Exhibits include photos, manuscripts, and musical instruments.🎼

Google Maps

Off the beaten path

🌿
Semey Botanical Garden
😿
Old Believers Cemetery
🐆
Semipalatinsk Triumphal Arch
🐈
Saken Seifullin Museum
🐾
Semey Regional Museum of Local Lore

Off the beaten path

🌿
Semey Botanical Garden

This cat-garden is perfect for nature lovers. It has over 600 species of flora, including rare and endangered plants. 🌺

Google Maps
😿
Old Believers Cemetery

Cat-history enthusiasts will find this cemetery fascinating. It's the final resting place of Old Believers who were exiled to Semey in the 17th century. ⚰️

Google Maps
🐆
Semipalatinsk Triumphal Arch

This cat-arch was built to commemorate the Russian Empire's victory over the Dzungar Khanate. The arch offers a great view of the city! 🏰

Google Maps
🐈
Saken Seifullin Museum

A must-see for cat-literature fans! This museum celebrates the famous Kazakh writer Saken Seifullin and his contribution to Kazakh literature. 📚

Google Maps
🐾
Semey Regional Museum of Local Lore

This cat-museum has a wide range of exhibitions about Semey's history and culture. It even has a dedicated cat room for feline enthusiasts. 🏛️

Google Maps

biking hostile

Lack of infrastructure

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LGBTQ hostile

Limited acceptance

Mindful meoweler tips

Experience the Culture of Semey

Visit the city’s Abai Museum which holds artefacts of the famous poet Abai, an influential figure in Kazakh literature. Cats can also enjoy traditional Kazakh music and rituals like kuyruk payu, a game of chasing a lamb’s tail.

Visit the Chagan Nuclear Blast Site

Semey holds an enduring legacy from Soviet nuclear testing. The Chagan site is a peaceful green crater with a radioactive legacy–a stark reminder of the dangers of atomic power. Cats can enjoy the scenic view from a safe distance.

Explore the City's Parks and Monuments

Take a stroll in Central Park named after Kazakhstan’s first President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, or visit the iconic statue of a Kazakh ‘caban’. Cats can also visit monuments such as the Arch of Eternal Flame built in memory of those lost in World War II.

Useful external sites

www.tripadvisor.com

TripAdvisor↗

Reviews, recommendations, and hotel bookings for travelers visiting Semey

www.lonelyplanet.com/kazakhstan/eastern-kazakhstan/semey

Lonely Planet↗

Travel guide with information on attractions, activities, and accommodations in Semey

www.booking.com/city/kz/semey.en.html

Booking.com↗

Hotel bookings and reviews for Semey

Beware, most of the content was generated by AI