Kazakhstan
Astana Tours
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Things to Do in Astana
Starting points for your perfect trip
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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