KZ · Astana City · 51.13°N 71.43°E

astana

Space-age buildings, a golden viewing tower and long walks beside the Ishim River.

Best time
June–September is the time for long walks outdoors. November–March is one of the coldest capital winters anywhere, with a biting wind across the open spaces.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly about 8 hours direct from KL to Almaty, then about 2 hours on to Astana. The airport is about 20–30 minutes from the centre. Kazakhstan is 3 hours behind KL.
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KZ · Astana Cityastana51.13°N 71.43°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Space-age buildings, a golden viewing tower and long walks beside the Ishim River.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingAstanaKZ, Astana City
KLastana
≈ 6,035 km from KL, as the crow flies
View on Left side of Astana from the Esil riverbank

Photo: Dauren Nabijan · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Astana became Kazakhstan's capital in 1997 and has been built up on the open steppe ever since; for a few years it was called Nur-Sultan. The scale is the point: huge boulevards, futuristic buildings and a skyline unlike Almaty's.

Makan

  1. SorpaA clear meat broth, very welcome after a windy walk.Map ↗
  2. BeshbarmakBoiled meat over sheets of noodles, the dish for a shared Kazakh meal.Map ↗
  3. KazyHorse-meat sausage, a Kazakh delicacy sliced thin as a starter.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. BayterekThe city's symbol: a white tower holding a golden glass ball, with a viewing deck inside.Map ↗
  2. Khan ShatyrA giant tent-shaped shopping centre designed by Norman Foster, warm inside even in winter.Map ↗
  3. National MuseumGold from ancient burial mounds, nomad history and modern Kazakhstan under one roof.Map ↗
  4. Hazrat Sultan MosqueA big white mosque with turquoise-trimmed domes, next to the pyramid-shaped Palace of Peace and Reconciliation.Map ↗
  5. Ishim riverfrontPromenades and bridges linking the older right bank with the new government quarter.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Distances are bigger than they look on the map, so take taxis between the two banks.
  • Many cafés display a halal sign, and Kazakh cooking leans on lamb, beef and horse; Russian-style places may serve pork.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.