Astana is a young city, and its "hidden" spots are a different kind from those in Prague or Tbilisi. There are no medieval dungeons or haunted houses here. But there are things that genuinely surprise those who look beyond what every guidebook points to.
Address: Corner of Pushkin St. and Imanova St., Astana (historic right bank). What makes it unusual: a small shady square where local chess enthusiasts gather every day — on weekdays and weekends alike. They bring their own boards, take seats on benches, and simply play. No announcements, no tournaments, no organizers — just tradition. Evidence: tourists rarely make it here; the square sits in the old part of the city that most visitors skip. It's perfectly normal to arrive as a tourist and stay as a spectator. When to visit: any time of day, especially in the afternoon — there tend to be more players after lunch. Free admission.
Address: Yesil River embankment, left bank (near Central Park "Stolichny"). What makes it unusual: a bronze sculpture of an artist with an easel — but the easel itself is left for visitors: anyone can pick up chalk and write something. The board is never empty — love declarations, autographs, messages, children's drawings. When to visit: best in the evening — in good weather, strollers gather around. Free admission.
Address: Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (The Pyramid), Beibitshilik St., 1. What makes it unusual: most tourists come for the pyramidal shape of the building. But almost no one knows that the upper dome inside is decorated with 130 stained-glass doves — one for each of the peoples officially living in Kazakhstan. When to visit: check opening hours on the official website.
The most unusual place near Astana is not futuristic — it is tragic. About 40 km west of the city lies one of the most sobering memorials in the former Soviet space.
Address: Akmola Region, Tselinograd District, aul Akmol, Lineynaya St., 2B. 40 km west of Astana. What makes it unusual: ALZHIR stands for "Akmola Camp for Wives of Traitors to the Motherland." It was the largest women's camp in the USSR, established in 1938. Between 1938 and 1953, more than 18,000 women of 62 nationalities passed through it — wives, mothers, and sisters of those the authorities had declared "enemies of the people." Among the prisoners were the mother of poet Bulat Okudzhava and the mother of ballerina Maya Plisetskaya.
Evidence of uniqueness: in front of the memorial complex stand commemorative plaques from 14 countries — Poland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Korea, and others. On the grounds stands an exact replica of a "Stalin-era cattle car" used to transport prisoners: 18.5 sq. m in area, holding up to 70 people. The trees around the museum are said to have been planted by the prisoners themselves.
Getting there: from Astana — by taxi (40–50 minutes, ~5,000–8,000 tenge one way) or as part of an organized tour. Several tour operators offer trips from Astana, including welcome.kz. Opening hours: check museum-alzhir.kz. Admission: adult — 500 tenge without a guide, foreign nationals — 500 tenge, guided tour — additional fee. When to visit: on a weekday — fewer groups, more space for personal reflection. Allow at least 2–3 hours.
Important: this is a place of deep emotional weight, not a tourist attraction. Come with respect and readiness for difficult historical testimony.
Address: Korgalzhyn Highway, 2/1 (next to the Duman entertainment center). What makes it unusual: an ethno-memorial complex covering 1.7 hectares, featuring scale replicas of all key landmarks and natural sites of Kazakhstan — from the Caspian Sea to the coal mines of Karaganda. Literally the entire country at a glance: 14 regions, 2 cities of national significance, over 200 objects. Evidence of uniqueness: the idea of "traveling the whole country in an hour" taken literally. The park is regularly expanded — new models are added for various anniversaries. Admission: 400 tenge + 300 tenge for photography. Guided tour: 200 tenge. Opening hours: open only in the warm season — May through October. Check the schedule.
Address: Korgalzhyn Highway, 1 (next to Atameken). What makes it unusual: the Duman entertainment center houses an aquarium listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most landlocked in the world. Sharks, rays, jellyfish, and mermaid shows exist here 3,000 km from the nearest coastline. Note: narrow corridors inside — not ideal with a stroller. Price: adult 3,500 tenge, child 2,500 tenge, under 5 free. Opening hours: check online.
What makes it unusual: a fully immersive format — projection onto a spherical dome, with viewers inside the image. This format exists in only a handful of cities in the region. Theme: contact with the unknown. How to find: current schedule and address at ticketon.kz and keste.kz.
Astana has plenty of unconventional art objects scattered around the city that rarely make it into official guidebooks.
Address: near Nurzhol Boulevard, next to the Baiterek monument. What makes it unusual: the Northern Lights residential complex consists of three skyscrapers with mirror façades shaped like the aurora borealis. On a clear day they reflect the sky and surrounding buildings so perfectly that the boundary between reality and reflection disappears. Tourists mostly photograph Baiterek — but Northern Lights is right there beside it, and the shots are more interesting. Access: residential complex, no entry inside. Photography from outside is free.
Address: Beibitshilik St., 1. What makes it unusual: a true pyramid 62 meters tall, designed by the same architect who created the glass dome of the Reichstag in Berlin and Terminal 5 at Heathrow in London (Norman Foster). Most tourists know the building as the "Palace of Peace and Reconciliation," but few stop to think that the same person designed landmark buildings of the 21st century across Europe.
Address: Independence Square, next to the "Kazak Eli" stele. What makes it unusual: a concert hall in the shape of a truncated cone — the building resembles a tilted cylinder. The project was created by Italian avant-garde architect Manfredi Nicoletti. Total area: 30,000 sq. m. When to visit: in the evening at sunset — the full lighting and drama of the building come alive.
Getting there: 130 km southwest of Astana. By car — about 1.5–2 hours. Organized day tours from Astana are available. What makes it unusual: a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Akmola Region — a nature reserve at the intersection of two major bird migration routes of Eurasia. It is home to the world's northernmost permanent breeding colony of greater flamingos. 357 bird species, of which 41 are listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan. Evidence: Lake Tengiz inside the reserve is so saline that its mineral content exceeds that of the ocean — which is exactly why flamingos live here: they feed on Artemia brine shrimp that thrive in such conditions. When to visit: April–June — peak flamingo arrival and nesting. Autumn — major bird migration. Access: official excursion routes through the reserve administration or the Qorgaljyn ornithological center. Independent entry without a guide is restricted. Price: contact the reserve administration at +7 (716) 372-16-50.
Why this is an "unusual place" near Astana: most visitors who fly to the "steppe Dubai" for futuristic architecture have no idea that an hour and a half's drive away are pink birds found in only a handful of places on earth. This is the most striking contrast the region has to offer.
Where it is: the right-bank part of the city, historic districts of Saryarka and Almaty. What makes it unusual: most tourists see only the left bank with its futuristic architecture. The right bank is a different Astana: Soviet five-story buildings, authentic markets, small cafés with local cuisine, life without gloss. Evidence: this is the same Akmola / Tselinograd / Akmolinsk — the city that existed long before 1997. When to visit: on a weekday morning — you'll see real daily life without the tourist theater. Access: free. Best reached by taxi via inDrive (10–15 minutes from the center).
Address: check on 2gis.kz. What makes it unusual: Saken Seifullin was a Kazakh poet, statesman, and founder of the Writers' Union of Kazakhstan. During the Stalin era he was declared an "enemy of the people" and executed. The museum opened in 1988. Access: paid admission.
Which unusual places in Astana should I visit first?
Three priorities: ALZHIR (40 km out), Atameken (in the city, open May–October), and a walk on the right bank of the Yesil. Nature lovers: Korgalzhyn Reserve.
Are there any mystical places in Astana?
Astana is a young city with virtually no classic mystical legends. The most "dark" place is the ALZHIR memorial.
Which places in Astana are little known?
Chess Square, the Girl Artist monument, Korgalzhyn Reserve.
Can I visit the ALZHIR memorial independently?
Yes. Admission from 500 tenge. You can get there by taxi or as part of a tour. Current schedule: museum-alzhir.kz.
Are there free unusual places in Astana?
Yes: the right bank, Chess Square, the Girl Artist monument, the exterior architectural details of Shabyt and the Pyramid.
When is the best time to visit?
ALZHIR — on weekdays. Korgalzhyn — April–June or August–September. Atameken map — May–October.
How do I get to the flamingos from Astana?
Korgalzhyn Reserve is 130 km southwest of Astana. By taxi — 1.5–2 hours. Prior arrangements required. Tours at welcome.kz.
