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Фотогалерея ‒ Astana, Kazakhstan

Astana

A city of the future in the middle of the steppe
Astana is the modern capital of Kazakhstan. Modern in every sense, because the city received the status of the capital only in 1997, replacing Almaty. Since then, Astana has been developing rapidly, combining the unique traditions of the former province with the advantages of a modern metropolis. Futuristic glass skyscrapers neighbor with cozy and romantic embankments.
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Guide to Astana

Trip to Astana

In just a few decades, Astana has become the second largest city with a million inhabitants. And after all, it all started as a small provincial town, the population of which barely crossed the mark of 200 thousand people. In addition, Astana has a relatively cold and harsh climate with short summers and frosty long winters. This is due to the specific location, because of which Astana reaches both Siberian cold and Central Asian heat. But the situation was significantly improved by the arrangement of the green belt around the city, so now Astana is much more comfortable and pleasant for tourists.

Ancient burial grounds of the Bronze Age were found on the territory of Astana. It is also known that in the Middle Ages there was a settlement Bozok, the territory of which is now a museum-reserve.

The first settlement on the site of modern Astana was founded in 1830 under the name of Akmolinsk. Over time, it became an important transportation hub, which led to the need for rapid development. By the way, it was under the name Akmola that Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan. It acquired its modern name a year later. And from 2019 to 2022, Astana was called Nur-Sultan, in honor of the first president of Kazakhstan.

Now the capital continues to develop rapidly in all spheres, so you will definitely not get bored while traveling to Astana.

Photos of Astana

Tips for tourists

In Astana you should definitely visit one of the most famous shopping and entertainment centers - "Khan Shatyr". It is the largest marquee in the world, entered in the Guinness Book of Records.
The best local souvenirs are felted felts, leather goods and jewelry in the national style. Tumar pendants are very popular among tourists.
When visiting attractions, check not only the schedule but also the conditions. This is especially true for mosques and other religious sights. The Astana travel guide will help you with this.
Population
1 354 435
Time zone
UTC+5:00
Language
Kazakh and Russian
Currency
Kazakhstan tenge (KZT)

Tours to Astana

When planning a tour to Astana, you need to consider the weather conditions. In summer, beware of the hottest hours and always carry water with you. Postpone long walks for the morning and evening. In winter, frosts can reach -50 degrees, but the city has excellent winter locations, and the entertainment center "Khan Shatyr" has a year-round indoor beach.

Despite the developed transportation and bicycle rental, the capital of Kazakhstan is ideal for long walks, so be sure to take comfortable shoes and hats. Do not neglect sunscreen.

The left bank of Astana is dominated by modern residential complexes, business centers, shopping centers and elite restaurants. On the right bank there are more historical buildings and sights. This is also worth keeping in mind when planning a trip to Astana on your own.

It is better to book tables in restaurants in advance by phone, especially in popular tourist places. Kazakh food is hearty and quite heavy, which should be taken into account when ordering. Exchange some cash currency in advance or in one of the exchange offices of the city - you will definitely need it. If you follow these simple recommendations, your vacation in Astana will definitely be pleasant and exciting.

Interesting places in Astana

Astana is a real island of futurism in the steppe. It is interesting even just to walk along the streets here, looking at the rapidly developing city. Local entertainment centers are very good. There are relatively few ancient sights, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to see in the city. Whether you are planning a trip to Astana for a weekend or for a longer period of time, you will definitely have something to keep you busy. And thanks to the well-developed city transportation, it is also convenient to explore new places.

Sights
Sights Vacation with children Restaurants
Nurzhol Boulevard
One of the main attractions of the whole Kazakhstan by the futuristic project of Japanese architect Kise Kurokawa.
Beyterek
The tower symbolizes the universe itself with the underworld, earthly and heavenly worlds.
Museum of the First President of Kazakhstan
It contains documents, memorabilia, furnishings, gifts and personal collections.
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
Notable for its innovative architecture, which embodies the principle of the Golden Ratio.
Hazrat Sultan Mosque
A very young but very impressive mosque with traditional Kazakh elements.
Read more about sights →
Ailand (formerly Duman).
Entertainment center with a miniature museum, large oceanarium and other attractions.
Circus
Incredibly technological circus in a "flying saucer" will not leave indifferent children and adults.
Astana Botanical Garden
It also houses the largest fountain in Astana - Taikazan.
Astana Nury
A stunning view of the Ishim River opens from here. Caucasian and European cuisine is on the menu.
Eternal sky
It is located on the 25th floor, so the whole city is as if in the palm of your hand. The menu is based on the cuisines of Turkic-speaking nations.
Revolving
A unique revolving restaurant with author's European and Chinese cuisine. Sometimes live music is played here.
Read more about local cuisine →

Travel budget

Flight ticket prices

It is not difficult to organize a trip to Astana. It is a major railroad and road transportation hub. The bus service between the cities of Kazakhstan is not very convenient, but the railroad service is very developed and in addition relatively inexpensive. But the easiest way to get to Astana is by air. The city has an international airport named after Nursultan Nazarbayev. It is separated from the center of the capital by only 16 km. International flights are handled by terminal T1, and domestic flights by terminal T2.

The best hotels in Astana

Lodging in Astana is not too expensive. You can rent a double room or a medium segment apartment for about 30 EUR. A night in a luxury hotel will cost 125 EUR. The cost of budget hostels for one is up to 10 EUR. The cost of two-bedroom apartments for a family or a company starts from 30 EUR and goes up to 100 EUR and more, depending on the wishes and location. Most hotels and residential complexes in Astana are young, so conditions and prices do not differ much.

The cost of vacation

It is difficult to calculate unambiguously how much a trip to Astana costs. The main item of expenditure is the road, because otherwise it is a budget city. And thanks to well-developed public transportation and bicycle rentals, it also costs very little to travel. You can save money if you book flights in advance and look at all the options with connections. Most often these are flights from different European cities. There are also direct flights from Turkey.

The budget for a trip to Astana
Accommodation from 10 EUR per day Average check in a restaurant from 1000 KZT (about 2 EUR)
Transportation fare from 90 KZT (approx. 0.18 EUR) Excursion from 500 KZT (about 1 EUR)
Total: approximately from 420 EUR for one person for 4 days. Be sure to set aside at least 10-20% of this amount for unforeseen expenses.

Astana: tips for tourists

To plan your leisure time well, calculate the exact cost of a trip to Astana and rest without unpleasant surprises, you need to take into account all the details. Below are the main ones.

Visa to Astana

For citizens of the European Union, America and Great Britain there is a visa-free regime for up to 30 days.

Airports

Astana International Airport is located 16 km from the city center. Guests are served by a new terminal opened in 2017. There is a food court, stores, a business lounge and everything you need on the territory. The baggage handling system complies with EU 2020 standards.

Airport transfer

You can get from the airport to the city by cab or public transportation. There are two buses running between the airport and the railway station - #10 and #12 with an interval of 5 to 15 minutes. The fare is 90 KZT. Payment is made by transportation card or QR code.

Car rental

Several services offer car rental in Astana. You need a passport, a driver's license and a credit card. The principle is standard - a security deposit is blocked on the card until the end of the rental period. Rental costs from 88000 KZT for a week and from about 20000 KZT per day.

Transportation

The cost of a single trip on public transport is 90 KZT for non-cash payment and 180 KZT for cash payment. It is also possible to buy daily passes at a price from 500 KZT.

Astana bike rental is very developed in Astana. To rent a bike, you will need to register on the rental site and provide the necessary data. After that, you can purchase a suitable subscription. The cost of a ride is from 100 KZT.

Safety

Tourist trips to Astana are safe. It is enough to observe basic precautions - beware of scammers and beggars, do not go out late at night unnecessarily and do not leave valuables unattended. The most widespread religion of Kazakhstan is Islam, so be careful with alcohol and too revealing clothes.

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