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Voykit pocket guide · Kazakhstan
Astana
Астана
Fly into Astana for the planned government quarter and the extreme continental climate; two nights covers Bayterek, Khan Shatyr and the museum district without lingering in one of the coldest capitals on earth.
Astana (renamed Nur-Sultan 2019–2022 and back to Astana; older maps and signage may still show either) is Kazakhstan's capital, built up fast from the late 1990s on the Ishim River in the open northern steppe. The Left Bank centre is a planned showcase of large monuments, museums and wide boulevards designed by international architects, including Norman Foster's Khan Shatyr tent and Palace of Peace pyramid. Winters are severe and summers short and warm, so the city reads very differently depending on when you visit.
- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Local name
- Астана
- Best months
- Jun–Sep (mild, long daylight for walking the boulevards)
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (temperatures regularly fall to -20°C or lower with sharp steppe wind)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KZT
- Money
- The tenge (KZT) is used everywhere; cards work in Almaty shops, hotels and restaurants; bazaars and rural areas need cash.
- SIM and data
- Beeline, Kcell, Activ and Tele2/Altel sell SIMs with a passport at airports and city shops.
- Emergency
- Single emergency number 112 · Fire 101 · Police 102 · Ambulance 103
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European plugs fit; bring an adapter for UK or US plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Check for a service charge (10–15%); otherwise 10%.; Taxis: Round up; nothing on app rides.; Drivers and guides: KZT 3,000–5,000 a day is appreciated.
- Water
- Treated in cities, but most people drink bottled or boiled water; bottled costs KZT 150–400.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in malls, cafés and hotels; squat toilets and pay toilets at bus stations and on rural roads.
Get in
By air
- NQZ · Astana International
- About 17 km from the centre; taxi or ride-hailing app 25–30 min, city bus also runs to the centre.
Get around
Buses and ride-hailing apps (Yandex Go is widely used) cover the city; the Left Bank boulevards are wide and distances between sights are longer than they look on a map, so avoid walking between districts in cold or windy weather.
See and do
Known for
- Bayterek Tower (97 m symbol of the 1997 capital move)
- Khan Shatyr transparent tent mall
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque
- National Museum of Kazakhstan
- Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (the Pyramid)
- Nurzhol Boulevard
Sleep
- Left Bank (Yesil district)
- Government buildings, museums and the riverside promenade; most sights and newer hotels are here.
- Right Bank
- Older Soviet-era commercial area with cheaper hotels, markets and local restaurants, a short ride from the Left Bank.
Language
Kazakh is the state language and is spreading fast, especially in the south and among young people; Russian remains the language most people use in Almaty, Astana and the north. A switch from Cyrillic to Latin script for Kazakh is planned in stages (check the timeline). English is growing in cafés, hotels and among students.
- Sälem (hi), rakhmet (thank you), qansha? (how much?) in Kazakh; Russian works almost everywhere.
- 2GIS lists addresses in Russian and Kazakh; save your hotel in both.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake among men; greet elders first; avoid: Shaking a woman's hand unless offered
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring sweets or a small gift; avoid: Stepping over the threshold to shake hands
- Hospitality: Accept tea and eat a little of everything; avoid: Refusing food outright
- Language: Try a few Kazakh words; avoid: Assuming everyone is Russian
Scams and watch-outs
- Winter temperatures fall far below freezing with strong wind chill; pack proper cold-weather layers even for a short visit.
- Check visa and any registration rules for your nationality before you travel, as requirements vary by passport.
- Photography near government buildings and the presidential residence can be restricted; ask before shooting or put the camera away if asked.
- The city's name has changed three times since 1997 (Akmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan, Astana); some maps, tickets and signage may still show an old name.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Astana yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bayterek Tower (97 m symbol of the 1997 capital move)
- Khan Shatyr transparent tent mall
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque
- National Museum of Kazakhstan
- Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (the Pyramid)
- Nurzhol Boulevard
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Kazakhstan Tourism: kazakhstan.travel/
- Wikivoyage — Astana: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/astana). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.