The Adventures of Nicole was invited to attend the 2024 World Nomad Games held in Astana and to work along with the Ministry of Tourism to promote Northern Kazakhstan, all opinions are her own.

Astana Travel Guide: Things to Do, Where to Stay & More

Updated September 2026, Astana Travel Guide: Things to Do, Where to Stay & More was originally published in November 2024

Astana is one of the strangest capital cities I’ve visited, and I mean that as a compliment.

Kazakhstan’s futuristic capital rises out of the flat Kazakh Steppe with enormous monuments, gleaming skyscrapers, giant mosques, wide boulevards, Soviet-era neighborhoods, and enough bizarre architecture to keep you entertained for days. It is a city that seems determined to prove that a capital does not have to look like anywhere else.

Before visiting Astana for the 2024 World Nomad Games, I had mostly heard that the city was soulless, sterile, empty, and boring. After spending several days exploring it, I came away with a very different impression. Yes, parts of Astana can feel strangely quiet and oversized, but that is also part of what makes the city interesting.

Astana is Kazakhstan’s capital and one of the youngest capital cities in the world. The city became the capital in 1997 after the government moved Kazakhstan’s capital from Almaty to the north. Since then, Astana has developed into a futuristic showcase of modern Kazakhstan, while older neighborhoods along the Yesil River reveal the city’s Soviet and pre-capital past.

In this Astana travel guide, I’ll cover the best things to do in Astana, where to stay, the best day trips from Astana, where to eat, how to get around, how to get to Astana, and the best time to visit.

And yes, I’ll also explain why everyone keeps changing the city’s name.

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Astana Travel Guide at a Glance

Country: Kazakhstan

Location: Northern Kazakhstan, on the Yesil (Ishim) River

Capital since: 1997

Former names: Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, Nursultan

Best known for: Futuristic architecture, massive monuments, mosques, museums, Soviet architecture, and extreme weather

Best time to visit Astana: May to September

How long to spend: 2–3 days

Main areas to explore: Left Bank, Right Bank/Old Town, Nurzhol Boulevard

Airport: Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ)

Language: Kazakh and Russian

Currency: Kazakhstani tenge (KZT)

Why Is Astana the Capital of Kazakhstan?

Astana’s story is unusual because the modern capital is relatively young, even though people have lived around the Yesil River and across the surrounding steppe for centuries.

In 1997, Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty to the northern city then known as Akmola. The decision was driven by a combination of geographic, economic, strategic, and political considerations, including the desire to develop the northern part of the country.

Akmola became Astana in 1998, and the city began transforming at a remarkable pace. Government buildings, skyscrapers, monuments, parks, shopping centers, and enormous public spaces began appearing across what had previously been a much smaller regional city.

The result is the Astana you see today: a purpose-built capital where futuristic architecture rises almost comically dramatically from the flat Kazakh Steppe.

And honestly, that contrast is half the fun.

The city is not ancient, but Astana’s location has a much older history. The medieval settlement of Bozok, dating to roughly the 8th–10th centuries, lies near the Yesil River and is considered an important archaeological link to the history of the modern capital.

Astana Weather: One of the Coldest Capitals in the World

Astana is a city of serious weather extremes.

When I arrived in mid-September for the World Nomad Games, I had just come from the warmer temperatures of Almaty and was not remotely mentally prepared for how cold the wind could feel blowing across the open Kazakh Steppe.

Winter is the real beast. Astana regularly experiences temperatures well below freezing, with severe cold and strong winds making winter conditions particularly challenging. Summers can go in the opposite direction, with temperatures reaching the upper 30s°C and occasionally around 40°C.

That extreme climate is actually part of what makes Astana so unusual. The city’s futuristic buildings were designed for a place where the weather can swing from brutal winter cold to hot summer days.nd plummeting to -30°C and colder in the winter, the city’s weather matches its funky architecture.

Why Was Astana Renamed Nursultan?

IAstana has had more names than most cities need.

The city was known as Akmolinsk from 1830, Tselinograd from 1961, and Akmola from 1992 before becoming Astana in 1998.

In 2019, Astana was renamed Nursultan in honor of Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. The name did not last particularly long. In September 2022, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the decree restoring the city’s name to Astana.

So if you’re searching for information about Nursultan, you’re looking for the same city.

Astana is the official name today.

Where to Stay in Astana

The best area to stay in Astana depends on whether you want to be close to the futuristic architecture of the Left Bank or the older neighborhoods and restaurants of the Right Bank.

I stayed at the Radisson Hotel Astana while covering the 2024 World Nomad Games. It sits on the right bank of the Yesil River near the Old Town, which I found particularly convenient for exploring that side of the city on foot.

For budget travelers, Hostel Nomad 4×4 offers dorm accommodation near the city center.

If you’re looking for something more upscale, Rixos President Hotel is centrally located and has views toward some of Astana’s major landmarks.

Best Area to Stay in Astana

Left Bank: Best for first-time visitors who want to be close to Baiterek, Nurzhol Boulevard, Ak Orda and the city’s futuristic architecture.

Right Bank: Better for Old Astana, Soviet-era architecture, local restaurants and a more lived-in atmosphere.

Best Things to Do in Astana

Astana is one of those cities where simply walking around can feel like sightseeing. The futuristic skyline is packed with enormous monuments, unusual buildings, mosques, museums and public spaces.

If you only have one or two days in Astana, concentrate on Baiterek Tower, Nurzhol Boulevard, Khan Shatyr, the National Museum of Kazakhstan, the Grand Mosque, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and the Old Town.

If you have more time, the following Astana attractions are worth adding to your itinerary.

Baiterek Tower

Baiterek is the symbol most associated with Astana and one of the first places I would visit in the city.

The futuristic tower represents the Kazakh legend of Samruk, a mythical bird that lays its egg in the branches of the Tree of Life. The design combines that ancient symbolism with the very modern aesthetic that defines Astana.

You can take an elevator up into the golden sphere for panoramic views across the capital. From the observation deck, you get a particularly good sense of just how strange Astana is: monumental government buildings, futuristic towers, enormous boulevards and the completely flat steppe stretching beyond the city.

If you’re looking for the classic Astana skyline view, this is the place to get it.

The city’s official tourism site currently lists Bayterek is open daily from10:00 to 21:00.

You can opt to purchase an entry ticket for 2000 KZT to ride up to the lower viewing deck by elevator into the inside of the golden egg.

The second floor of the viewing deck features a book that Nur Sultan Nazarbayev himself placed his hand inside of, leaving a handprint. Join the queue of locals to place your hand on his handprint for good luck.

Nurzhol Boulevard

Nurzhol Boulevard is the two kilometer pedestrian spine of modern Astana and one of the best places to see the city’s futuristic architecture on foot.

The boulevard runs between the Presidential Residence, Ak Orda, and Khan Shatyr, passing Baiterek and a parade of enormous government buildings, offices, and finally ending between the archway of the KazMunayGaz & KazTranOil building and the iconic tent of Khan Shatyr.

Khan Shatyr Entertainment Complex

Khan Shatyr is one of the most recognizable buildings in Astana, a gigantic tent-shaped entertainment and shopping complex designed by British architect Norman Foster.

The tent-like structure is a nod to Kazakhstan’s nomadic traditions, while the interior is essentially a giant modern shopping and entertainment complex.

One of its strangest features is an indoor beach, which makes Khan Shatyr particularly entertaining in the middle of an Astana winter.

An interesting feature of Khan Shatyr is that it is made out of ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, a material designed to absorb heat helping keep the temperature inside at an even comfortable temp, even when it’s -30°C outside.

Khan Shatyr is open from 10:00–22:00 daily.

Jastar Park (Lover’s Park)

35 acre Jastar Park is located just outside Khan Shatyr on Dongelek Square, which you will surely pass through if you’re strolling Nurzhol Boulevard.

Jastar Park features many trees, one of which was planted by Nursultan Nazarbayev himself.

Ak Orda Presidential Palace & Presidential Park

Topped by a blue and gold dome, symbolic of the Kazakh flag, and located at the far end of Nurzhol Boulevard, Ak Orda Presidential Palace serves as the president’s place of work and as the residence of his administration (he lives elsewhere).

On the backside of Ak Orda Presidental Palace, you will find Presidental Park.

The Ak Orda Presidential Palace is not open to the public.

Central Park

Central Park, another sprawling green area of Astana, is a popular place for youth to hang out and have picnics. Central Park is also home to a giant Ferris wheel and an oceanarium.

Nur Astana Mosque

Nur Astana Mosque’s gleaming golden dome is impossible to miss as your eyes scan Astana’s skyline. The mosque is relatively new, having been completed in only 2008.

Nur Astana Mosque is Central Asia’s 3rd largest mosque with the capacity to hold up to 5000 worshippers inside and an additional 2000 outside.

Kazakhstan National Museum

If you want to understand Kazakhstan beyond Astana’s shiny new skyline, spend a few hours at the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The museum traces the history and culture of Kazakhstan from ancient times through the Soviet period and into independent Kazakhstan. For me, the Hall of Ethnography was particularly interesting because it gives context to the nomadic cultures that shaped the region.

Don’t skip the Hall of Gold, where you can see displays related to Kazakhstan’s famous Golden Man, an 18 year old Scythian warrior buried in an armor of gold near Almaty.

Entry to the Kazakh National Museum is 700 KZT, including the permanent exhibits. Entry to the Hall of Gold costs an additional 1000 KZT. Special permission is needed for the use of DSLR cameras, however, photos taken with a smartphone are fine.

The National Museum open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00–18:00.

Palace of Peace & Reconciliation

The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is one of Astana’s most recognizable buildings: a 63-meter glass pyramid designed by British architect Norman Foster.

The pyramid was built to host the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and represents the city’s attempt to position itself as a meeting place for different religions, cultures and ethnic groups.

The interior contains a concert hall, exhibition spaces and the circular Hall of Religions. The building was completed in 2006 and has become one of the defining pieces of Astana’s futuristic skyline.

Kazakhstan Eli Monument

The Kazakh Eli Monument stands 91 meters high (another significant number seeing Kazakhstan gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991).

The Kazakh Eli commemorates Kazakh culture, history, and its people. Atop the monument is a statue of the Golden Man.

Independence Park

Independence Park is centered around the Kazakh Eli Monument but several other important buildings and monuments are scattered about the square.

Here in Independence Park, you will also find the Palace of Independence, the Astana Museum of City History, the Kazakh National University of Arts, the Modern Art Gallery, and the Gallery of Applied History.

Hazrat Sultan Mosque

Hazrat Sultan Mosque is one of the largest and most impressive mosques in Astana. Opened in 2012, the enormous white building combines traditional Islamic architecture with Kazakh decorative motifs.

The mosque can accommodate around 10,000 worshippers and features a 51-meter-high central dome surrounded by four 77-meter minarets. Entry is free.

Even if you’re primarily interested in architecture rather than religion, Hazrat Sultan is worth visiting for the interior details and sheer scale of the building.

Grand Mosque of Astana

Don’t confuse the Nursultan Grand Mosque with Hazrat Sultan Mosque. The newer Nursultan Mosque opened in 2022 and is one of the most enormous additions to Astana’s skyline.

Its four minarets rise to 130 meters and its main dome is 62 meters in diameter. The mosque is clad in white marble and is currently described by Astana’s tourism authority as the largest mosque in Kazakhstan.

Entry to the mosque is free, although those who would like to ride the elevator up to the observation deck built on one of the mosque’s minarets will need to pay 2000 KZT to do so.

Nur Alem Future Energy Museum (Formerly Expo 2017)

The giant glass ball on the horizon in the Kazakh capital is a remnant of Astana hosting Expo 2017.

The glass sphere at present, features an eight-floor museum dedicated to energy and power sources.

Entry to Nur Alem Future Energy Museum is 1500 KZT.

Astana Arbat

Astana Arbat is a pedestrian street in the city center lined with cafes, shops, souvenir stalls and spaces for street performances.

It is a good place to experience Astana as a functioning city rather than simply a collection of monumental buildings.

Astana’s Old Town

For me, Astana’s Old Town was one of the most interesting parts of the city.

The futuristic center gets most of the attention, but the right bank of the Yesil River tells a different story. Here you’ll find older low-rise homes, Soviet apartment blocks, older commercial buildings and remnants of the city that existed before Astana became Kazakhstan’s capital.

Walking through the Old Town feels almost like stepping into another city. One minute you’re surrounded by enormous glass towers and grand government buildings; the next you’re looking at Soviet murals and weathered apartment blocks.

As someone who has an unhealthy appreciation for Soviet and brutalist architecture, this was easily one of my favorite parts of Astana.

The city’s tourism authority now even offers dedicated Old Town walking tours focusing on the surviving historic buildings and streets.

Astanaluk Bazaar

The six-story Astanaluk Bazaar sells just about anything you could ever need from produce, meat, and dairy products, to clothing, shoes, and even furniture. On the sixth floor among the furniture shops, you will also find an open-air nail salon, beauty salons, and barber shops.

Yesil River Walk

For another perspective on the Astana Skyline, take a stroll along the Yesil River Bank’s Waterfront. It’s also a great place to go for a morning jog or an evening walk.

Military Historical Museum of the Armed Forces

Once the Kazakh Cultural Center, the yurt-shaped building now houses the Military Historical Museum of the Armed Forces.

The museum explores the historical stories of Kazakh nomadic warriors all the way up to Kazakhstan’s role within the Soviet Army and the Great Patriotic War (WWII).

Entry to the Military Historical Museum of the Armed Forces is free.

Museum of the First President

Dedicated to Nazarbayev and his contributions to Kazakh society, the Museum of the First President features not only an exhibition of Nazarbayev’s childhood as well as a hall featuring his extensive gift collection of items bestowed to him by other world leaders.

Entry to the Museum of the First President is free.

Astana Circus

Resembling a giant spaceship, the Astana Circus (or Fountain Circus is worth a gander if you will be passing by.

Atameken Ethno-Memorial Complex

Want to see all of Kazakhstan but don’t have time to leave Astana? The Atameken is the perfect place to go featuring a giant map of the country with miniatures of the nation’s most famous symbols and sites.

Entry to the Atameken is 1200 KZT.

Best Day Trips from Astana

Astana makes a surprisingly good base for exploring northern Kazakhstan. Within a few hours of the capital you can visit Soviet-era memorials, vast steppe landscapes, wetlands filled with migratory birds, and the forested landscapes around Burabay.

ALZHIR Malinovka Gulag/Memorial in Akmol

One of the most sobering day trips from Astana is the ALZHIR Memorial and Museum, located in the village of Akmol.

ALZHIR was a Soviet labor camp for women who were classified as relatives of “traitors to the motherland.” Thousands of women passed through the camp during the Stalinist period.

Today, the site preserves the history of the camp and those imprisoned there through a memorial complex and museum.

It’s not a lighthearted day trip, but it is an important place to visit if you want to understand Kazakhstan’s Soviet history and the scale of Stalinist repression in the region.

Korghalzyn National Park

If you’re interested in wildlife, Korgalzhyn is one of the best day trips from Astana.

The reserve sits within the steppe-and-wetland ecosystem south of the capital and is particularly famous for its birdlife. Flamingos, pelicans and numerous migratory species can be found around the wetlands.

Korgalzhyn is part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Saryarka – Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, recognized for its important wetlands and role along major migratory bird routes.

The Korgalzhyn wetlands can support enormous concentrations of birds, and the reserve contains the northernmost nesting population of greater flamingos.

For wildlife photographers and birders, this is one of the more unusual excursions you can make from Astana.

Burabay National Park & Lake Borovoe

Burabay National Park is one of the most popular nature escapes from Astana, with pine forests, lakes, rocky hills and resort towns replacing the flat steppe around the capital.

Lake Borovoe is the centerpiece, but there are hiking trails, viewpoints and other lakes throughout the park.

This is the day trip I’d choose if you’ve had enough of Astana’s concrete and futuristic architecture and want some actual nature.

Best Restaurants in Astana

Astana’s restaurant scene is considerably more interesting than I expected. You’ll find traditional Kazakh food, broader Central Asian cuisine, Russian dishes, international restaurants and an increasingly good coffee scene.

If you’re visiting Kazakhstan for the first time, this is also a good city to try dishes such as beshbarmak, qazy, baursak and kurdak.

Saksul

Saksul is a popular restaurant among locals and visitors serving up contemporary takes on traditional Kazakh and Central Asian cuisine.

Navat

Navat is a chain found in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with a fun interior offering great Kazakh, pan-Central Asia, and Russian dishes.

Coffee Boom

Coffee Boon is a Kazakh chain found all over Astana and the country. With an array of salads, burgers, pizza, Central Asian, and desserts you can likely find something no matter what you’re hungry for.

Getting Around in Astana

Bus

Astana boasts a good public transportation network served by buses. I would advise downloading and using 2GIS as it is what the locals use and is heaps more useful than Google Maps (this holds true for other parts of Kazakhstan and the greater Central Asia region).

Astana LRT

One of the newest ways to see Astana is from the city’s elevated light rail system, known as Tarlan Astana (or Astana LRT).

The system now connects parts of the capital on an elevated route, giving visitors a completely different perspective on Astana’s enormous boulevards and futuristic architecture.

If you’re an infrastructure nerd like me, this is a surprisingly fun way to experience the city.

Taxi

If needing to get around a bit quicker than what the public buses can provide, the Yandex Taxi App works well in Astana. Prices can fluctuate depending on traffic and demand but most rides seemed to range from 700-2000 KZT.

Walking

The central sightseeing areas are very walkable once you get yourself into the right neighborhood. Nurzhol Boulevard in particular is best explored on foot.

But Astana is huge, so don’t assume everything you want to see is within walking distance.

Getting to Astana

Flying to Astana

Most international visitors arrive through Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ), Astana’s main international airport.

Astana is connected by air to cities across Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with Air Astana and other airlines serving the capital.

Getting to Astana by Train

For travelers already exploring Kazakhstan, the train is one of the best ways to cover the country’s enormous distances.

Astana is connected by rail with major cities including Almaty and other destinations across Kazakhstan.

If you’re traveling overland through Central Asia, check current train schedules before planning around a particular departure because journey times and service patterns can change.

Best Time to Visit Astana

The best time to visit Astana is generally May through September, when temperatures are much more manageable and the city’s parks, boulevards and outdoor attractions are at their most enjoyable.

May and June

Late spring and early summer are excellent for sightseeing. Temperatures are generally comfortable, although spring weather can be unpredictable.

July and August

Summer is warm and can occasionally get seriously hot, with temperatures reaching the upper 30s°C and sometimes higher.

September

September is one of my favorite times to visit. The worst summer heat has usually eased, but you’re still able to comfortably spend long days outside.

I visited Astana in September for the 2024 World Nomad Games and was surprised by how quickly the weather could turn cold and windy.

October to April

Winter is where Astana gets extreme.

Temperatures can fall far below freezing, and strong winds across the open steppe can make conditions feel even colder. If you’re coming specifically to experience Astana’s winter, pack accordingly. This is not the destination for your cute little city-break jacket.cularly spring, can be quite so with snow melt and unpredictable rain showers.

How Many Days Do You Need in Astana?

I recommend spending 2–3 days in Astana.

One day in Astana

Focus on Baiterek, Nurzhol Boulevard, Ak Orda, Khan Shatyr and one or two museums or mosques.

Two days in Astana

Add the National Museum, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Grand Mosque, Old Town and Yesil River.

Three days in Astana

Use your third day for the Old Town in greater depth or take a day trip to ALZHIR, Korgalzhyn or Burabay.

Astana 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Futuristic Astana

Morning: Baiterek Tower and Nurzhol Boulevard
Late morning: Ak Orda and Presidential Park
Lunch: Kazakh restaurant
Afternoon: National Museum of Kazakhstan
Evening: Khan Shatyr

Day 2: Old Astana and Cultural Sights

Morning: Old Town and Astanaluk Bazaar
Late morning: Military Historical Museum
Afternoon: Hazrat Sultan Mosque and Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
Evening: Yesil River waterfront

Is Astana Worth Visiting?

Astana isn’t the easiest city in Kazakhstan to understand at first.

It is enormous, strange, occasionally empty, incredibly modern in places, distinctly Soviet in others, and built on a stretch of steppe where the weather clearly has something to prove.

But that’s exactly why I liked it.

Astana doesn’t have the instantly recognizable historical character of Almaty, nor does it try to. Instead, the city feels like Kazakhstan experimenting with what a 21st-century capital can look like. One neighborhood gives you futuristic towers and giant monuments, while another puts you in front of a Soviet mural or a weathered old apartment block.

I went to Astana expecting sterile modernism and left thinking that the city’s weirdness was its greatest strength.

If you’re traveling through Kazakhstan, I think Astana is worth at least two days. Give yourself enough time to see the famous futuristic landmarks, but don’t spend the entire trip staring at shiny buildings. Walk the Old Town, visit the museums, eat some proper Kazakh food, and get outside the city into the steppe.

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