Overview
Semey is located on the Asian continent in Kazakhstan’s province of East Kazakhstan, in the northeastern part of the country. Semipalatinsk was the previous name for Semey. Oskemen is the capital of the province of East Kazakhstan. Semey is located 750 kilometers from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital. The location is 50026’0″ N and 80016’0″ E, according to the coordinates. Semey is a 210-square-kilometer city. Semey is remembered mostly for the neighboring Semipalatinsk Test Site, the USSR’s principal nuclear testing site, where 456 atomic bombs were detonated. Semey’s cancer rates are still high, therefore a trip to the Polygon as well as the anti-nuclear movement’s museums and memorials is a must.
Strolling in Semey
Semey is a wonderful area to go for a walk. For Soviet aficionados, there are mosaics, WW2 memorials, and Lenins to see, while Kazakh patriotism may take selfies with enormous sculptures of Abai and Shakarim. The Abay theater, the fire station, the old Chinese consulate, the synagogue, the new bridge, and the former governor’s mansion (now a regional museum) are all architecturally noteworthy.
Semey, like Oskemen, has amassed a group of antique Lenins and other Soviet icons in a park. It may be found directly behind Hotel Semey (OSM / Gmaps).
Museums In Semey
We don’t usually recommend museums in Kazakhstan, but Semey has a few that are worth seeing. Semey’s Fine Arts Museum features one of the top fine art collections in the country. The collection of deformed fetuses at the Anatomical Museum is a freak show for dark tourism aficionados. The Dostoevski Museum takes you on a journey through the life of this much-heralded but little-understood Russian icon. Big, but largely for literature buffs and people who can communicate well in Russian.
The Abay museum is oriented toward Kazakhs honoring their revered literary icon, but it will also appeal to expats who have spent time in Kazakhstan and want to learn more about the country. Finally, the Krayevecheskiy museum is a typical regional history museum in Kazakhstan. If you have time left.
Transport in Semey
Semey is located on the train line that runs from Nur-Sultan to Ust-Kamenogorsk (6 hours) and Ridder in the far northeast. The route to Nur-Sultan (14,5 h) is served by regular Talgo trains as well as a few slower trains (17,5 to 29 h). Pavlodar is around 6,5 hours away. Almaty is also served by a daily train (18-22 hours). A train travels most days to Novosibirsk (16 hours) through Barnaul, Russia (11 hours).
All of these locations are also accessible by road, through shared cabs and rickety old buses. It is not something we recommend.
Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Moscow, Urzhar, and Oskemen are all served by Semey Airport (map).
