By air
Astana (NQZ), ~17 km from the centre
East Asia · Kazakhstan
Astana, Kazakhstan
A futuristic capital on the steppe
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — the steppe winter is severe
Don't miss
Baiterek Tower
Khan Shatyr
Hazrat Sultan Mosque
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
National Museum of Kazakhstan
Nur-Astana Mosque
Ishim embankment
Things to do
Climbing the Baiterek tower
The Khan Shatyr
The Hazrat Sultan Mosque
A river walk on the Ishim
The National Museum
Where to eat
What to pack
Sun protection in summer, very warm clothes in winter, walking shoes for the long boulevards
A quieter corner
The Khan Shatyr's indoor beach on the top floor, with sand brought from the Maldives
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Astana?
May to September — the steppe winter is severe. What to pack: Sun protection in summer, very warm clothes in winter, walking shoes for the long boulevards.
How do I get to Astana?
Fly into Astana (NQZ), ~17 km from the centre.
What is there to do in Astana?
Climbing the Baiterek tower, the Khan Shatyr, the Hazrat Sultan Mosque, a river walk on the Ishim, the National Museum. A quieter find: The Khan Shatyr's indoor beach on the top floor, with sand brought from the Maldives.
What should I eat in Astana?
Beshbarmak, kazy horse sausage, plov, Korean salads at the markets, tea with baursak.
About Astana
- Inland
- Riverside
Where it is
Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, on the Ishim River in the north-centre of the country, on the open steppe.
History
A small provincial town called Akmola became the capital in the late 1990s, and a new city of landmark buildings by international architects was raised on the river's left bank. It was renamed Nur-Sultan for a few years before taking back the name Astana, and it hosted a world expo in the late 2010s.
People
A young city of civil servants, students and newcomers from across Kazakhstan, where Kazakh is heard more than in Almaty and the pace is formal and orderly.
Known for
- The Baiterek Tower
- The Khan Shatyr tent
- Grand boulevards and modern architecture
- Bitter winters
Did you know?
It is one of the coldest capital cities in the world, with winter temperatures far below freezing for months.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.