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Astana

A Capital of Futuristic Towers on the Steppe

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2 daysIdeal stay₹3,780From / night₹1,680Food / day₹530Entry

The capital since 1997, built on the Ishim river in the northern steppe: the Baiterek tower with its observation sphere, the Khan Shatyr tent, the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation pyramid, the Expo 2017 sphere (Nur Alem), the National Museum and the Hazret Sultan Mosque, one of the largest in Central Asia. A flight of under two hours or an overnight Talgo train from Almaty. Winters are among the coldest of any capital, often below -25°C with wind; May to September is the time to come. Burabay's lakes are three hours north. There are a few Indian restaurants.

Highlights

  • Baiterek tower's golden sphere
  • Khan Shatyr and the Ishim embankment
  • Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
  • Nur Alem, the Expo 2017 sphere
  • Hazret Sultan Mosque
  • National Museum of Kazakhstan

Things to do

  • Baiterek tower and Nurzhol BoulevardMorning · 2h 30m
  • National Museum of KazakhstanAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Hazret Sultan Mosque and the Palace of Peace and ReconciliationAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Nur Alem sphereMorning · 2h
  • Khan Shatyr and the river at nightEvening · 2h
  • Astana Grand Mosque, the largest in Central AsiaMorning · 1h
  • Atameken park: a walk-through map of KazakhstanAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Independence Square and the Kazakh Eli monumentAfternoon · 1h
  • A performance or guided tour at the Astana OperaEvening · 2h 30m

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Astanavia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Astanavia Klook

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When to go

Best time: May – September

Worth knowing

Extreme Cold in Astana

Astana is one of the coldest capitals in the world: from December to February it is often -20°C to -30°C, colder with the steppe wind, and blizzards (buran) close the highways and delay flights. Bring a down coat, a hat that covers the ears, gloves and thermal layers, and plan indoor sights.

Heads up

Nauryz Holidays (21-23 March)

Nauryz, the spring new year, brings yurt villages, concerts and feasts to every city on 21-23 March. Offices and some museums close, and trains, flights and hotels fill with Kazakhs travelling home: book ahead.

  • Nauryz (Spring New Year) — Kazakhstan's biggest holiday, at the spring equinox: 21-23 March are public holidays. Yurt villages go up in the squares, families cook nauryz kozhe (a seven-ingredient soup), and there are concerts, horse games and fairs; Turkistan and Shymkent celebrate hardest. Offices and some museums close, and trains and flights home are full.
  • Kurban Ait (Eid al-Adha) — The feast of sacrifice, a public holiday on its first day; it moves about 11 days earlier each year (mid-May in 2027). Mosques and the Yasawi mausoleum in Turkistan are crowded with families; some shops and offices close.
  • Astana Day (Capital Day) — The capital's birthday on 6 July, a public holiday: concerts, fireworks over the Ishim and the Baiterek, and streets closed to traffic in the centre. Hotels fill; book early.
  • Republic Day — Kazakhstan's national day on 25 October, a public holiday since 2022: flags, concerts and fireworks in Astana and Almaty. Government offices and some museums close.
  • Independence Day — Independence Day on 16 December, a public holiday, with concerts and events in Almaty and Astana. Almaty also remembers the December 1986 protests on Republic Square.