Where to walk in Semey
across the Irtysh and Abay's parks

Short version, if you're in a hurry

Semey is compact but interestingly laid out. The main axis is the Irtysh: anything worth walking is either along the river, across the bridge or on the island in the middle. Winters are seriously cold (down to -30°C), but the air is usually dry and windy — easier on you than damp cold elsewhere. Summers run +28–35°C: hot at noon, cool in the morning and evening when the breeze comes off the river

The basic rule: Semey's best routes follow water or run through forest. The suspension bridge, the embankment, Polkovnichy Island and the Semipalatinsk Pine Forest are the four pillars of pedestrian life here. All four are reachable without a car — the pine forest by city bus

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Pick a route

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Check the air and the weather first

Semey has two seasonal challenges. Winter brings frost down to -30°C and Irtysh winds, plus occasional urban smog from private heating and the CHP plant on calm January–February days. Summer brings dust, heat and dryness, with the rare dust storm rolling in from the southern steppe. Before heading out, check:

• kazhydromet.kz — official Kazhydromet. Government stations, slower updates but reliable
• IQAir / AirVisual — app and website that aggregate available sensors. Colour indicator and hourly forecast
• Windy.com — for the wind forecast. Semey wind clears smog quickly; if it's windy, the air will improve in hours

What the PM2.5 numbers mean (μg/m³): 0–12 clean, 13–35 acceptable, 36–55 short walk OK, no sport, 56+ stay indoors — especially kids and the elderly

Temperature rule of thumb: below -25°C with wind, long walks become dangerous — exposed skin freezes in 15–20 minutes. Above +35°C, hard effort is also risky, especially in the first two weeks before you acclimatise

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City routes — Semey by the Irtysh

1. The suspension bridge across the Irtysh

Length: ~1.3 km out and back · Steps: ~4,000 · Profile: flat

Semey's most recognisable pedestrian landmark and one of the largest cable-supported structures in the region: 750 metres of main span over the Irtysh, opened in 2000. From the deck you get the best views of the river, Polkovnichy Island and the silhouette of the old town. At sunset, newlyweds and photographers gather here. In strong wind the deck noticeably sways — that's normal, and part of the experience

Getting there: buses 3, 16, 30 to the stop near the bridge; 15–20 minutes on foot from downtown

2. The Irtysh embankment

Length: ~2.5 km · Steps: ~3,500 · Profile: flat

Semey's main embankment runs from the suspension bridge along the Irtysh's left bank. Paved promenade with benches, lamps and access to the water. Mornings belong to runners, evenings to families and couples. Some of the best views in town: wide river, the island opposite, the bridge silhouette. Beautiful even in winter — snow on the trees, low sun, complete silence

Getting there: walk from the suspension bridge; buses 16, 30 stop nearby

3. Abay Park

Length: ~1.8 km big loop · Steps: ~2,800

The heart of literary Semey. A shaded central park with the statue of Abay Kunanbaev, birch and linden avenues, benches along the main axis. Perfect for a short walk or an hour with a book on a bench. Chess players show up on weekends, families with strollers in the evenings

Getting there: downtown, walkable from anywhere; buses 3, 8, 12

4. Pushkin Park (Central Square)

Length: ~2.3 km · Steps: ~3,500

The oldest city park, with classic Soviet planning. Fountains, birches, poplars, ice cream in waffle cones. Quieter and cleaner on weekdays — ideal for a measured pace and a few chapters of a book on a bench. Air is noticeably better than the surrounding streets thanks to the mature trees

Getting there: downtown, walkable from anywhere

5. Victory Park + Friendship of Peoples Park

Length: ~4.5 km combined · Steps: ~6,500

A modern public space with monuments, avenues and sports facilities. Victory Park has been recently redone — new paths, lights, outdoor gym kit. Friendship of Peoples Park next door has more trees and is quieter. A solid longer walk for anyone living near the bridge

Getting there: buses 16, 30; 10 minutes on foot from the suspension bridge

6. Resurrection Cathedral + old town

Length: ~3.5 km loop · Steps: ~5,500

A walk through history. The Resurrection Cathedral (1857) is Semey's oldest stone church, dating to the Semipalatinsk fortress era. Around it: 19th-century wooden merchant houses, former trade rows, fragments of the old city where Dostoevsky once lived. Don't skip the Abay Museum or the Dostoevsky Museum on the way

Getting there: downtown; 10 minutes on foot from Abay Park

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Across the river — Polkovnichy Island

7. Polkovnichy Island (full loop)

Length: ~7.5 km · Steps: ~11,000 · Profile: flat

Semey's main green jewel — a large wooded island in the middle of the Irtysh. Forest trails, sandy beach, cafés by the water, views of both banks. Swimming in summer, cross-country skiing or just walking in the snow in winter. You can do the full perimeter or stick to the main avenues (5–6 km). Minimum city noise, maximum air

Getting there: on foot via the suspension bridge; by car via the older road bridge

8. Suspension bridge + Polkovnichy Island (loop)

Length: ~7 km loop · Steps: ~10,000

The best single-loop urban route. Start on the left bank, cross the Irtysh on the suspension bridge, walk the main avenues of Polkovnichy Island, return via the same bridge or via the road bridge if you want extra steps. 10,000 closes itself — every kilometre looks different

Getting there: start at the suspension bridge; buses 16, 30

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Outside the city — where the air is honestly cleaner

9. The Strelka — confluence of Irtysh and Semipalatinka

Length: ~9 km out and back · Steps: ~14,000 · Profile: flat

The point on the map where the small Semipalatinka empties into the big Irtysh. Wild bank, willow trees, open sky, very few people. Locals come here mostly — photographers, fishermen, long-distance runners. Open route, windy: a relief in summer, dress warm in winter. One of the most authentic walks around Semey

Getting there: bus 7 to its terminus + 1.5 km on foot; 15–20 minutes by car from downtown

10. Semipalatinsk Pine Forest

Length: from 5 to 25 km depending on the trail · Steps: up to 35,000 · Profile: nearly flat

A relict strip pine forest south of Semey — one of eastern Kazakhstan's signature natural features. Pines, sand dunes, clearings, trails and dirt roads. You can walk for two hours on a short loop or all day deeper in. Air is honestly better than in town — measurements show 30–40% lower PM2.5. Especially beautiful in winter: snow, silence, the creak of pines

Getting there: city buses to the southern districts (Zhuldyz, Alash) + 15–20 minutes on foot to the edge of the woods; 20 minutes by car from downtown

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Seasonality — what works when

Winter (December — February)

The main test is the cold: average -15…-20°C, dropping to -30°C overnight. What to do: short routes, three-layer warm clothing, face protection. Best winter options: the embankment (sun reflecting off snow and the Irtysh), Polkovnichy Island (forest cover from the wind), the pine forest. On heavy-smog January days, stay indoors or drive to the pine forest

Spring (March — May)

Transition season. March is still cold; in April the Irtysh ice breaks up — a sight worth a special trip to the embankment. By May the air is comfortable, +15–22°C. What to do: grab April–May for long walks on the island and the literary trail

Summer (June — August)

Warm and dry. +25–32°C, cool at night. The breeze off the Irtysh saves you at noon. What to do: Polkovnichy Island, the pine forest, the embankment — the three pillars of summer Semey. Mornings (before 10) and evenings (after 6) are the prime hours. The Strelka is for when you want open horizon

Autumn (September — November)

The best season here. September is the golden month — yellow birches in Abay Park, rust-coloured pine needles, transparent Irtysh. What to do: get everything done by late October, before the weather turns and the heating season starts the smog

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What to bring — short checklist

• Water. A 0.5 L bottle for any walk, a litre for a long route in summer
• Seasonally appropriate clothing. Three layers and a hat in winter, a cap against the sun in summer
• Decent shoes. Trails on Polkovnichy Island and in the pine forest are dirt — runners or trekking boots
• Gloves and a scarf in winter. The Irtysh wind is deceptive — feels mild but freezes cheeks in 15 minutes
• A charged phone. Coverage is patchy in the pine forest
• A mask if winter PM2.5 in town spikes

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Bottom line

• Semey rests on three pedestrian pillars: the Irtysh, Polkovnichy Island and the Semipalatinsk Pine Forest
• The most recognisable route is the suspension bridge: 750 metres over the river, the best views in town
• The biggest green zone is Polkovnichy Island: a wooded island in the middle of the Irtysh, up to 11,000 steps for a full loop
• The literary trail — Abay Museum → Abay Park → Dostoevsky Museum: 6,000 steps with history attached
• The most "natural" route is the Semipalatinsk Pine Forest: relict pines, up to 35,000 steps
• The wildest spot is the Strelka: confluence of the Irtysh and Semipalatinka, 14,000 steps out and back
• Seasonality matters: best windows are September–October and May; in winter, short routes and the pine forest; summer, mornings and evenings

The rule is simple: in Semey you can't live around the Irtysh — the river sets the rhythm of the whole place. But if you know five or six trusted spots and a couple of apps, you can hit 10,000 comfortable steps year-round. And Qozgal will count every step — no subscriptions, no ads, no junk numbers