Astana
Kazakhstan, Central Asia
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Things to Do in Astana
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Bayterek Tower: The Symbol of Kazakhstan’s Capital
Designed by Kazakh architect Akmurza Rustembekov at President Nazarbayev's initiative and opened in 2002, Bayterek stands 105 meters with the observation deck at precisely 97 meters, encoding 1997. The 22-meter golden sphere embodies the Kazakh myth of the Samruk bird laying her egg in the World Tree. Visitors can place their hand in a cast of Nazarbayev's palm at the 97-meter level.
Khan Shatyr: Norman Foster’s Giant Tent
The world's largest tensile structure, designed by Norman Foster and opened July 2010: 150 meters tall, covering 140,000 square meters. Its ETFE-cushion envelope maintains a year-round microclimate; inside, a tropical beach resort operates at +35°C with sand imported from the Maldives—built to shelter Astana's residents from -35°C winters.
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation: Foster’s Pyramid
A 62-meter glass-and-granite pyramid by Norman Foster, opened 2006 as the permanent home of the triennial Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The interior contains a 1,500-seat opera house and an art gallery. The apex's turquoise and gold glass, screen-printed with doves, floods the interior with color. Free guided tours are available.
Astana Grand Mosque: Largest in Central Asia
Completed in 2022, the Astana Grand Mosque is the largest in Central Asia and second-largest outside the Middle East. Its main dome is 83.2 meters high with a 62-meter diameter—the largest single dome in the world. Four minarets rise 130 meters. The interior contains the world's largest handmade carpet. Open to non-Muslim visitors.
Korgalzhyn Day Trip: Flamingos 130 km from the Capital
Kazakhstan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site lies 130 km southwest of Astana—2 hours by road across open steppe. The Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake system is the world's northernmost flamingo nesting colony, with up to 50,000–60,000 birds in strong years. EcoVoyager times Astana–Korgalzhyn day trips to flamingo arrival or peak nesting, with reserve-licensed guides and 4WD access.
Nurjol Boulevard & The Left Bank Architecture Walk
Kisho Kurokawa's master-planned axis stretches along Nurjol Boulevard from Khan Shatyr in the northwest to Independence Square in the southeast. Between them: Bayterek, the twin Gold Towers, the National Museum, and the Nur Alem sphere from Expo 2017. Fountain shows run nightly at 9pm in summer. The entire circuit is walkable in 3–4 hours.
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Stories from Astana
From Cossack Outpost to Capital: Astana’s History
The settlement that became Astana was founded in 1830 as Akmoly, a Russian Cossack fortification on the Ishim River protecting trade routes and Middle Zhuz Kazakh clans. It received town status in 1832 and grew slowly until 1939, when its population reached 33,000. The defining Soviet transformation came in 1961, when Khrushchev renamed it Tselinograd—”City of Virgin Lands”—as headquarters of the Virgin Lands campaign that ploughed millions of steppe hectares across northern Kazakhstan. Following independence in 1991, the name was restored to Akmola.
The capital transfer was formally completed December 10, 1997. The city was renamed Astana—”capital” in Kazakh—on May 6, 1998. In March 2019, the city was briefly renamed Nur-Sultan in honor of Nursultan Nazarbayev; in September 2022 it reverted to Astana under President Tokayev. It holds the record for the most name changes of any 20th-century capital. UNESCO awarded it the title “City of Peace” in July 1999.
Best Time to Visit Astana
When to Visit Astana
Getting to Astana
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Fly into Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
Train from Almaty or Moscow
Getting Around Astana: Walking, Taxi & Bus
Fly into Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
Fly into Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport
Astana's international airport (NQZ), 16 km from the city center, is Kazakhstan's main hub. International routes include Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt, Moscow, Beijing, and Seoul. Domestic connections reach Almaty (~2 hrs), Shymkent (~2.5 hrs), and all other major Kazakh cities. Terminal 2, built for Expo 2017, handles increased international traffic.
Train from Almaty or Moscow
Train from Almaty or Moscow
The Trans-Kazakhstan Railway connects Astana to Almaty (18–20 hours) and Moscow via Petropavl (72 hours). Modern Talgo trains with sleeper and business-class carriages operate the Astana–Almaty route daily, crossing the Kazakh steppe and passing Karaganda. Astana railway station is on the right bank, close to the old city center.
Getting Around Astana: Walking, Taxi & Bus
Getting Around Astana: Walking, Taxi & Bus
Astana's left-bank circuit—Khan Shatyr to Independence Square along Nurjol Boulevard—is approximately 4 km and fully walkable in good weather. Yandex Go operates reliably across both banks. City buses cover the full route. In winter, underground passages and Khan Shatyr's heated interior are essential navigation points.
Travel with EcoVoyager
EcoVoyager uses Astana as a gateway city for Kazakhstan—combining a 1–2 day architecture circuit on the left bank with day trips to Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve (130 km) and steppe sites. Astana’s international airport connects directly to Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt, and major Asian hubs, making it a practical entry and exit point for Central Asia itineraries combining Kazakhstan with Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, or the Mongolian steppe.
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