Do buses in Kazakhstan accept card payments?

The inconsistency was frustrating. Some buses in Almaty let me use my Wise debit card, while others demanded the Onay! card or coins. The marshrutkas near Almaty-2 train station were especially cash-only, and I ended up wasting time at kiosks breaking down larger tenge notes. The metro is modern, yes, but once you leave that small system, things aren’t so smooth. Tourists expecting a full tap-and-go city might get annoyed, so keep cash ready or buy the Onay! card immediately.

I thought Almaty’s public transport system was far better than expected. The metro trains from Zhibek Zholy station were spotless, safe, and clearly signed in English as well. Contactless payment worked every time in the metro, and I didn’t even bother buying the Onay! card. The buses I used between the Green Bazaar and Mega Center Mall also took my card on the reader, which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, I didn’t need much cash at all during my stay.

When I stayed at Sky Hostel Almaty, I used the Abay metro station daily and loved how clean and simple it was. My Revolut card tapped in fine, and it was way easier than buying tokens. But when I took a bus from Dostyk Avenue toward Kok-Tobe, I tried the same card and nothing happened. The driver wasn’t amused and asked for cash. Luckily I had some tenge coins left from a corner shop. My tip: always keep a little change in Almaty, even if you think cards will work.

Almaty has a small but efficient metro, and yes, you can pay with a contactless bank card directly at the gates. I tried both Mastercard and Visa without problems. For buses, they mostly use the Onay! card system. You can sometimes tap your bank card, but it’s inconsistent. On several routes near Sayran Bus Station, drivers pointed me toward the validator that only accepts the local card. If you’re staying longer, buying an Onay! card at kiosks makes things simpler, though small cash still works on certain marshrutkas.