Things to Do in Astana
Where steppe winds sculpt glass towers and ice cream costs less than vodka
Top Things to Do in Astana
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Climate Guide
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See packing list →When Should You Visit Astana?
Tap a month for weather, crowds, and highlights
Explore Astana
Bayterek Tower
Landmark
Expo 2017 Sphere Nur Alem
Landmark
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
Landmark
Nur Astana Mosque
Landmark
Palace Of Peace And Reconciliation
Landmark
Almaty District
District
Baykonur District
District
Left Bank Yesil District
District
Nurly Zhol Transport Hub Area
District
Right Bank Saryarka District
District
Your Guide to Astana
About Astana
The silence hits first. Not emptiness, the particular quiet of a city built where nothing should exist. 600 kilometers from the nearest ocean, on frozen steppe where temperatures hit -40°C/F. Then you see the buildings: Bayterek tower, 97 meters of silver tree punching skyward. Khan Shatyr tent, transparent ETFE keeping a beach club warm in January. Walk Nurzhol Boulevard January through March and wind shoves you sideways. Locals call it character-building. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, glass pyramid, looms above Soviet blocks on the right bank. The left bank gleams with architecture architects call "futuristic" and locals call "the Dubai of the steppe." Lagman noodles at Green Bazaar: 1,500 tenge ($3.20). Taxi across the Ishim River: 800 tenge ($1.70). Best sunset view is free, top of Baiterek, hand in President Nazarbayev's golden handprint. Winter drags six months. Summer brings dust storms. Yet this city of 1.2 million, built in the middle of nowhere for reasons historians still debate, has become Kazakhstan's most fascinating experiment, oil money meets endless sky.
Travel Tips
Transportation: Pay the driver on an Astana bus and you'll fork out 180 tenge ($0.38); tap the Onay card, sold at any metro station, and the ride drops to 150 tenge ($0.32). The light rail zips from the airport to the city center every 15 minutes for 600 tenge ($1.28). Rush hour? Keep your hand on your bag, pickpockets love the crush. Taxis outside the terminal will quote 5,000-7,000 tenge ($10.60-14.90) for the run into town. Yet Yandex Go shows 2,500-3,000 tenge ($5.30-6.40) for the exact same trip. Grab 2GIS before you arrive. Offline maps work when Google Maps turns patchy beyond the city center.
Money: Kazakhstan still runs on paper, not plastic. Pull tenge from ATMs, skip the greenback, because the rate beats dollars every time. The National Bank booth at Astana Airport will stiff you. Walk 200 m to Halyk Bank on Turan Avenue and pocket an extra 3-5%. Cards work in most restaurants. Yet the babushka hawking bauyrsak (fried dough) for 200 tenge ($0.43) won't even glance at your Visa. Tip 5-10% if service wows you, otherwise round up the cab fare and you're done.
Cultural Respect: Take your shoes off. Every home insists you keep them on, ignore them. The hand-over-heart greeting beats handshakes, with elders. Point your camera anywhere near government buildings and security guards will shoo you away. Ramadan (March-April 2025) makes daylight eating legal but rude. At Hazret Sultan Mosque, women cover hair and shoulders, they'll lend you a scarf for 500 tenge ($1.06) deposit.
Food Safety: Bottled water only. Tap water tastes metallic and will wreck your stomach. The shashlik stands at the Green Bazaar serve lamb skewers for 1,200 tenge ($2.55) that locals swear by, stick to vendors with queues. Fermented horse milk (kumis) from street stalls is an acquired taste that might send you running for a pharmacy. The ice cream at Rakhat chocolate shops costs 400 tenge ($0.85) and is safer than dairy from corner shops. Pharmacies sell Imodium without prescription for 1,500 tenge ($3.20) because they know why you're asking.
When to Visit
January and February will punish you. -20°C (-4°F) every single day. Hotel prices crash, 60% lower than summer. That means the Hilton Garden Inn plummets from 35,000 tenge ($74) to 14,000 tenge ($30). You'll need serious winter gear. No exceptions. March flips the script. Nauryz spring festival erupts March 21-23. Traditional games. Free concerts in Independence Square. Temperatures crawl from -5°C to 5°C (23-41°F). The thaw begins. April and May? Goldilocks season. 15-20°C (59-68°F). Steppe flowers explode across the plains. The Astana Economic Forum rolls into town, hotels increase 40%. Book early or pay dearly. June through August brings the furnace. 30°C (86°F) days. Dust storms, the locals call it "the yellow wind." Air conditioning isn't optional. Khan Shatyr's indoor beach charges 5,000 tenge ($10.60) just to breathe cool air. September delivers. 20°C (68°F) perfection. Hotel prices drop 30% from summer highs. Photographers swarm for that golden steppe light, no winter bite, just pure visual candy. October starts mild at 10°C (50°F) then turns. The Astana Marathon dominates, 10,000 spots vanish fast. Book three months ahead or watch from the sidelines. November's first snow lands mid-month. Temperatures dive to -10°C (14°F). Hotels cut prices by 50%. Winter creeps in. December brings the Astana Light Festival, projections dance across government buildings. Temperatures hit -25°C (-13°F). Pack for Siberia. You are Siberia.
Astana location map
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days should I spend in Astana?
Two to three days is enough to see Astana's main sights, including Bayterek Tower, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and the Khan Shatyr shopping center. The city is compact and modern, so attractions are easier to reach than in older capitals like Almaty. Add an extra day if you want to visit the Hazret Sultan Mosque or take a day trip to Burabay National Park, about 250 km north.
What's the best time of year to visit Astana?
Late May through September offers the most comfortable weather, with temperatures between 15°C and 28°C and the city's fountains and parks in full bloom. Winters are brutally cold—January temperatures regularly drop below -30°C—but if you can handle it, the frozen Ishim River and snowy cityscape are striking. Avoid March and April when melting snow turns streets slushy and gray.
Is Astana expensive compared to other Central Asian cities?
Astana is the most expensive city in Kazakhstan, but still reasonable by Western standards. A decent sit-down meal runs 3,000–5,000 tenge ($7–$11), while a taxi across town costs around 1,000–1,500 tenge ($2–$3). Hotels range from budget guesthouses at $25/night to international chains at $80–$150. Almaty is slightly cheaper overall, but the difference isn't drastic.
Do I need a visa to visit Astana?
Citizens of the US, EU, UK, Australia, and many other countries can enter Kazakhstan visa-free for up to 30 days. You'll need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. If you're planning a longer stay or arriving from a country not on the visa-free list, apply for an e-visa online before you travel—it's straightforward and usually processed within five business days.
How do I get from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport to the city center?
The airport is about 20 km south of downtown Astana. A taxi takes 20–30 minutes and costs around 2,500–3,500 tenge ($6–$8)—book through apps like Yandex Go or inDriver to avoid overcharging. Public bus #10 runs to the city center for under 200 tenge, but it's infrequent and not practical with luggage. Most hotels can arrange a pickup for a modest fee.
Is it easy to get around Astana without speaking Russian or Kazakh?
Astana is more English-friendly than most Central Asian cities, in hotels, malls, and tourist sites, but don't count on it everywhere. Taxi apps like Yandex Go work in English and eliminate the need to negotiate. Download an offline map and learn a few basic phrases in Russian—"spasibo" (thank you) and "skolko stoit?" (how much?) go a long way. Younger locals in service jobs often speak some English.
What should I wear when visiting mosques and religious sites in Astana?
At the Hazret Sultan Mosque and other religious sites, women should cover their heads, shoulders, and knees—scarves and long skirts or pants work fine. Men should avoid shorts and sleeveless shirts. The mosque provides loaner headscarves and robes at the entrance if needed. Shoes must be removed before entering prayer halls, so wear socks or go barefoot.
Are credit cards widely accepted in Astana?
Yes, Visa and Mastercard work at most hotels, restaurants, and larger shops in Astana. Smaller cafes, markets, and taxis often prefer cash, so withdraw tenge from ATMs (widely available) when you arrive. Notify your bank before traveling to avoid cards being blocked for suspicious activity. American Express is rarely accepted.
What's the deal with Astana's futuristic architecture—is it worth seeing?
Astana's skyline is unique, with landmark buildings like Norman Foster's Khan Shatyr (a giant transparent tent) and the egg-shaped Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. Whether you find it visionary or overwrought is subjective, but there's nothing else like it in Central Asia. The riverside boulevard along the Ishim is the best place to stroll and take it all in, at sunset.
Is Astana safe for solo travelers and women?
Astana is one of the safer capitals in the region, with low violent crime and a visible police presence downtown. Petty theft and pickpocketing can happen in crowded markets or on public transport, so keep valuables secure. Women traveling alone generally report feeling safe, though modest dress and avoiding empty streets late at night are sensible precautions, as anywhere.
Can I drink the tap water in Astana?
Tap water in Astana is technically treated but not recommended for drinking, for visitors unaccustomed to local bacteria. Bottled water is cheap (around 200–300 tenge per liter) and sold everywhere, including small shops and kiosks. Most hotels provide complimentary bottled water in rooms.
What local dishes should I try in Astana?
Don't leave without trying beshbarmak, Kazakhstan's national dish—boiled meat (usually lamb or horse) served over flat noodles with onions. Shashlik (grilled meat skewers) and plov (rice pilaf with meat and vegetables) are staples at local restaurants. For a snack, grab baursak, deep-fried dough pieces often served with tea. Try traditional food at restaurants like Alasha or Line Brew, both in the city center.
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