Pavlodar

From Almaty by train either through Astana or through Semei. Through Astana, trains run everyday and through Semipalatinsk every other day.

From Astana either by evening train or several buses a day.

From Omsk (Russia) by bus.

Flights on Air Astana are available from Astana and Almaty and on S7 from Moscow.

Long-distance and regional buses are available from most surrounding cities.

Within the city, there are many options for getting around. A fairly simple yet complete bus and marshrutka system exists as does a tram system. Taxis can be taken most places in the city for 350 tenge (2012). Outer regions of the city usually run about 400-450 tenge.

To learn more about the bus system, download an electronic interactive map ^{[formerly dead link]} of the city. Click on the little "A" circles, which are the bus stops, to see what buses go there.

Many things are in walking distance as well if you're looking for a little exercise.

Pavlodar is a fairly quiet and uneventful former Soviet city. The main attractions to see here are the Mosque, the Orthodox Church, and the World War II memorial park and statue.

Near the river is a nice trail to walk along that will take you south to the old River Station, which operates summer boat rides for a couple hundred tenge.

There are a number of old theaters, including the old Chekhov theater, and concert halls. There are also a few museums of interest.

• 1 Mashkhur Jusup Mosque (Mechet' Imeni Mashkhur Zhusupa). Most probably Pavlodar's defining landmark, this striking mosque has minarets surrounding a sky blue dome that is supposed to resemble the top of a yurt. It is named in honor of a respected Kazakh poet and historian.  (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Historical and Regional Studies Museum of Pavlodar Province, Lenin St 147, ☏ . Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-18:00. Place to learn everything you wanted to know about the Pavlodar region, its Soviet industrial background, natural history, etc. (updated Mar 2021)
• 3 Pavlodar Regional Art Museum, Sultanmakhmut Toraygyrov St 44/1, ☏ . daily 10:00-18:00. Art and even some models of prehistoric animals. (updated Mar 2021)
• 4 Museum of Military Glory, ☏ . Here you can walk around looking at relics of military prowess. (updated Mar 2021)
• 5 Memorial House Museum D.p. Bagayeva, Lenin St 200. A house museum where a photographer who showcased Kazakhstan lived. (updated Mar 2021)
• 6 Pavlodar Blagoveshchensky Cathedral, 5, Sultanmakhmut Toraygyrov St. An orthodox cathedral built in the 1990s that has 54 icons. (updated Mar 2021)

• 1 The Embankment and Waterfront Beach (Naberezhnaya and Plyazh Na Naberezhnoy), Lenin St. daily 08:00-18:00. This is one of Pavlodar's main diversions, an embankment and observation deck overlooking the turbid, languid Irtysh River, and, when it's not a Siberian wonderland outside, a riverine beach for playing and relaxing. (updated Mar 2021)
• Ертіc-Cinema, Makhmet Qayyrbayev St 70 (next to Irtysh Hotel), ☏ . Movie theater where you can hang out when it's too cold to go outside. (updated Mar 2021)
• Football: FC Irtysh Pavlodar^{[dead link]} were promoted in 2025 and now play soccer in Kazakh Premier League, the top tier. Their Central Stadium (capacity 12,000) is midtown on Lunacharskii. The playing season is March-Oct.

• 1 River Pub (имени Владислава Кинсфатора), 2, Academician Shapiq Shökin St 38/2, ☏ . A happy-go-lucky dining and drinking establishment by the river. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Eastern Cuisine (Vostochnaya Kukhnya), Mira Street 40, ☏ . Here you can try some authentic Kazakh dishes like laghman (a noodle stew), baursak (fried dough pieces), and possibly even some beshbarmak (the national dish of Kazakhstan that means five fingers, generally boiled mutton or horse meat and noodles that you eat with your hands). (updated Mar 2021)

• 1 Pablo Bar, Lenin St 160, ☏ . daily 18ː00-late at night. A Mexican-themed bar with murals that also serves as a live music venue. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Winter Cherry (Zimnyaya Vishnya), Lenin St 160/11, ☏ . daily 08ː00-21ː00. You can come here for some coffee and a fried pastry called a winter cherry that is the namesake for their place, if you're feeling ambitious. They also serve breakfasts with omelettes and hot dog looking things, and lunch with salmon and soup for example. (updated Mar 2021)

Like all cities, there are several major open and closed bazaars in the city. There are also several large shopping centers ("Артур", "Тулпар", and "Цум") and several large grocery store chains (GROS, Рубиком, Аманат Махх).

• 1 Batyr Moll, Kamzin St 67/1. daily 10ː00-22ː00. Shopping mall with food court, ice rink, bowling alley, and movies. (updated Mar 2021)

You may be better off staying in an apartment available for nightly occupancy, especially if you are trying to save money.

• 1 Residence Hotel, Lermontov St 1, ☏ . Clean with a pleasant restaurant and grounds. Breakfast included. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Respect Hotel, Sultanmakhmut Toraygyrov St 79/1. Housed in a modern-looking city building along with a bar and restaurant. Complimentary breakfast. US$59. (updated Mar 2021)
• 3 Irtysh Hotel, Ulitsa Akademika Bekturova 79, ☏ . Big cement and glass building from which you may be able to see all the other cement bloc buildings. Indoor pool, gym, spa, restaurant/bar, and complimentary breakfast. (updated Mar 2021)
• 4 Hotel Dvin, Ulitsa Puteyskaya 2, ☏ . Modest country-looking structure with a contrasting gaudy neon entrance. Indoor pool and sauna, cafe and, not to be outdone by the others, complimentary breakfast available. US$38. (updated Mar 2021)
• 5 Light House Pavlodar Hostel, Kairbaeva 104 sq 56, ☏ . Budget place to stay that puts you within walking distance of Mashkhur Jusup Mosque. Dorm beds looking out on a snowy lot in winter. (updated Mar 2021)

As of September 2024, Pavlodar has 4G from Beeline and Kcell, and 5G from Tele2. The signal is mostly good on the highway from Astana.