Astana
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,7 million within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, the national capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan and is located within the Akmola Region but is self-administering. Initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola before adopting the name Astana in 1998, or "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019, the city adopted the name Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but it reverted to the name Astana in 2022.
Adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Worth seeing in and around Astana
10 places within 25 km that the world writes about, in the order of how widely: the ones a visitor has heard of first, then the ones only a local would name.
- 01Astana Arena
The Astana Arena is a football stadium in Astana, Kazakhstan. The stadium holds 30,000 and has a retractable roof.
3.5 km · football stadium · Wikipedia - 02Mäjilis
The Mäjılıs of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, simply referred to as the Mäjılıs, was the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, alongside the upper house Senate. Together, they formed the national bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, responsible for enacting legislation.
5.3 km · lower house of Kazakhstan's Parliament · Wikipedia - 03Nur-Astana Mosque
The Nur-Astana Mosque, is a mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan. It is third largest mosque in Central Asia.
1.4 km · Mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan · Wikipedia - 04Bayterek
Baiterek is a monument and observation tower in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. A tourist attraction popular with foreign visitors and Kazakhs, it is emblematic of the city, which became capital of the country in 1997.
600 m · monument in Astana, Kazachstan · Wikipedia - 05Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also translated as the Pyramid of Peace and Accord, is a 62-metre-high pyramid in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, that serves as a non-denominational national spiritual centre and event venue. Designed by architectural practice Foster and Partners and developed in partnership with Aldar Properties, the Palace is surmounted by a modern stained glass apex by architectural artist Brian Clarke.
2.4 km · Landmark structure, cultural centre and opera house in Astana · Wikipedia - 06Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
Khan Shatyr is a transparent tent-shaped Entertainment Center located in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. Built in a neo-futurist style, the architectural project was unveiled by the first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on December 9, 2006.
2.1 km · building · Wikipedia - 07Khazret Sultan Mosque
The Hazrat Sultan Mosque is a Friday mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan.
2.9 km · Mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan · Wikipedia - 08Astana Opera
Astana Opera is an opera house in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the basis of an executive order of Nursultan Nazarbayev.
1.6 km · opera house in Astana, Kazakhstan · Wikipedia - 09Senate of Kazakhstan
The Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, simply referred to as the Senate, was the upper house of two chambers in the Parliament of Kazakhstan. The Senate was composed of elected members: two from each region and two from three municipalities which are Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent.
5.3 km · upper house of two chambers in Kazakhstan's legislature · Wikipedia - 10L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
The L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, romanized: L.N. Gumiliov atyndağy Euraziia ūlttyq universitetı, Russian: Евразийский национальный университет имени Л.Н. Гумилёва, romanized: Evraziyskiy natsionalʹnyy universitet imeni L.N. Gumilyova ) is a Kazakh national research university, and the largest higher education institution in Astana. The university was founded on 23 May 1996 as a result of the merger of Akmola Civil Engineering Institute and Akmola Pedagogical Institute.
3.7 km · university in Kazakhstan · Wikipedia
Ranked by the number of language editions of Wikipedia with an article on each, from Wikidata; the sentences are the openings of those articles, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What Wikivoyage says to see
The many modern and futuristic buildings of Astana is a reason to visit the city. However, on a closer look they're less impressive as they're poorly maintained and often underused.
- 01Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
- 02KazMunayGas Palace
The imposant headquarters of KazMunayGas, the government company controlling Kazakhstan's oil and gas exploration.
- 03The Triumph of Astana
39-floor skyscraper in Stalinist style, finished in 2006.
- 04Shabyt
- 05Palace of Independence
Many political and business gatherings are held in this palace.
- 06Ak Orda
The presidential residence, inaugurated in 2004.
From Wikivoyage: Astana, CC BY-SA 4.0. Not yet checked by us.
Things to do
- 01Ak Bulak sauna Complex
8th kilometre on the Astana-Airport highway (Olympic stadiums), reception), +7-705-140-7221 (cell).
- 02Duman
An entertainment complex consisting of an oceanarium, 3D theatre, dome area, souvenir shops and cafes.
- 03Astana Arena
The men's national team play at Astana Arena (capacity 30,000), 4 km south of city centre along Qabanbai Batyr Ave.
- 04Stadio Kazhymukan Munaitpasov
- 05Barys Arena
Home to Barys Astana, the only Kazakh team to play in the Russian KHL.
- 06Saryarka Velodrome
The city's "Olympic training centre" and "cycling track," as well as the home venue of the basketball club BC Astana who, like the hockey team, play in the Russian league.
From Wikivoyage: Astana, CC BY-SA 4.0. Not yet checked by us.
Where to eat
Beshbarmak - a horse meat and pasta dish. Most restaurants that serve it will present a portion enough for two or three people. Boursaky - bread best served piping hot, resembles an unsweetened doughnut. Shashliq - these kebabs are often cheap, and the one thing you're sure to recognise on the menu.
- 01Cafe Shymkent
General Sabyr Raqymov (Block north of Artyom Shopping Centre).
- 02Melnitsa
Ukrainian restaurant with large dining areas.
- 03Rafe
A modern coffee bar offering Italian food with a twist.
- 04Line Brew
Popular with expats and locals alike, Line Brew features its own brew of beer, with an impressive menu that includes several delicious steaks, including one made of horse meat.
- 05Ali Babas
The waitresses and waiters dress in traditional dress and the menu offers a selection of central Asian cuisine.
From Wikivoyage: Astana, CC BY-SA 4.0. Not yet checked by us.
Getting to Astana
- Airports
- Nursultan Nazarbayev (NQZ), 12 km · Sary-Arka (KGF), 211 km · Kokshetau (KOV), 274 km
- Stations
- Astana-1 station, 7.1 km · Astana Nurly Zhol station, 7.3 km · Saparzhai bus station, 6.9 km
- Karaganda → Astana193 km · quickest by road, 3h 6m · $17–24
- Kokshetau → Astana273 km · quickest by road, 3h 53m · $24–34
- Pavlodar → Astana399 km · quickest by air, 4h 50m · $180–260
- Plan a tripFrom anywhereThe planner compares every way there from wherever you are.
Road and air are today’s quick answer; timetabled trains, buses and ferries load on the results page from the operators’ feeds.
No local-transport research exists yet for Astana
Our researched notes are written from a sourced entry: every shared taxi, boat and village bus with its operator, its rule, its fare and the year we saw it, and what could not be confirmed. Nobody has done that work for Astana. What is above is what we hold from open sources; nothing here pretends to be more.
- 011,096 km
- 021,215 km
- 031,328 km
- 041,666 km
- 051,951 km
If you know how people move in Astana – the stand, the rule, the fare – tell us, and the note gets an entry.
Next door to Astana
- Tselinograd Districtdistrict in Akmol, Kazakhstan3.7 km
- Saryarka Districtdistrict of Astana in Kazakhstan5.7 km
- Esil Districtdistrict of Astana in Kazakhstan1.2 km
- Almaty Districtdistrict of Astana, Kazakhstan5 km