Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan 3 Day Itinerary

The city now called Astana has had three names in 30 years (Tselinograd, Akmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan, and back to Astana in 2022), which tells you something about the pace of political change in Kazakhstan. What hasn’t changed is the spectacle: this is a purpose-built capital on the Central Asian steppe, planted on a flat plain where winter temperatures drop to minus 30 Celsius, and the architecture behaves accordingly. Every major building is trying to say something enormous. Three days is enough to understand what it is saying.

Day 1: Nurzhol Boulevard and the Skyline

The Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) sits about 17 kilometres south of the city centre. Taxis from the official rank run 3,000 to 5,000 Tenge (6 to 11 USD) and take 20 to 30 minutes. Rideshare apps (Yandex Go is dominant here) are cheaper and reliable if you have data.

The entire logic of Astana organises itself along Nurzhol Boulevard, a three-kilometre pedestrian spine connecting the government district to the waterfront. Do not underestimate the distances: what looks like a ten-minute walk on the map takes 30 minutes because every building, fountain, and plaza is built at a scale that makes humans feel appropriately small. Start at the Baiterek Monument (700 Tenge entry, about 1.50 USD), a 97-metre observation tower modelled on the mythological Tree of Life. The golden sphere at the top has a handprint impression where you can place your hand over a cast of the former president’s. This is either moving or absurd depending on your tolerance for personality cults.

Walk west along Nurzhol toward the Khan Shatyr, a colossal transparent tent designed by Norman Foster that covers a shopping centre, an indoor tropical beach, and an amusement park. It is more interesting architecturally from the outside than the inside, though the beach resort on the upper floors (imported sand, wave pool, palm trees) is a surreal place to spend 90 minutes in a landlocked steppe city.

For dinner, Line Brew Astana near the boulevard serves large steaks, kebabs, and Central Asian dishes with craft beer and frequent live music. Expect to spend 4,000 to 8,000 Tenge per person (8 to 17 USD).

Stay: The Rixos President Astana is the high-end option and very well located on Nurzhol. Mid-range visitors do well at the Park Inn by Radisson Astana on Kunayev Street, about 80 to 120 USD per night.

Day 2: National Museum and the EXPO Sphere

The National Museum of Kazakhstan on the Left Bank is the largest museum in Central Asia and the right way to spend a morning. The centrepiece is the Golden Man, a Scythian warrior burial from the 4th century BC reconstructed with 4,000 gold artifacts, found in 1969 near Almaty. The Silk Road exhibition gives good context for Kazakhstan’s position between East and West. Allow three hours. Entry is around 1,500 Tenge.

After lunch (the Saksaul restaurant near the museum does solid Kazakh and Central Asian food, try the beshbarmak), walk or take a taxi to the Nur Alem Sphere, the 80-metre glass globe built for Expo 2017 on the theme of Future Energy. The Museum of Future Energy that originally occupied it closed in 2025 during a transition to a new AI research centre, so confirm the current exhibition before you go. The building itself is worth the visit regardless of the interior.

The Astana Grand Mosque, completed in 2022 and now the largest mosque in Kazakhstan, sits nearby on the right bank. It can accommodate 30,000 worshippers and the interior tilework is remarkable. Entry is free for visitors outside prayer times; dress modestly.

The Astana Opera House near the city centre runs a strong programme of ballet and opera. Tickets range from 5,000 to 40,000 Tenge depending on seat and production. Check the schedule and book a night here if something is playing.

Day 3: Burabay National Park

The correct day trip from Astana is Burabay (Borovoe) National Park, about 260 kilometres north and roughly a 2.5-hour drive. There is a train from Astana station (around 2,000 Tenge, 5 to 6 USD, takes about 4 hours for the slower regional train), which is fine if you leave early. A private taxi or tour transfers are significantly faster and more convenient for a single day (around 15,000 to 25,000 Tenge round trip for the car). Entry to the park costs about 200 Tenge per person.

Burabay is a landscape that makes no geographic sense next to everything else in Kazakhstan: granite mountains, pine forests, and clear lakes appearing suddenly from the flat steppe. The main activities are hiking, boat rentals on Lake Burabay, and walking around the rock formations called the Sphinxes and the Sleeping Beauty. In summer the area is popular with Astana families and can be crowded on weekends. Go on a weekday if you can.

Return to Astana for your final evening. If you have an early departure, confirm whether your taxi or transfer is booked the night before.

Things to know:

  • Kazakh is the official language; Russian is widely spoken and is more useful for getting around. English is understood in major hotels and tourist sites but not reliably elsewhere.
  • The currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT). ATMs are widely available. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants but carry cash for markets and smaller places.
  • Astana in summer (June through August) is hot and dry, around 30 to 35 Celsius. In winter it drops to minus 20 or lower. The city functions in both extremes, but summer is considerably easier for walking.
  • Kazakhstan offers e-visa on arrival or online for citizens of many countries. Check requirements before travel. Entry is generally straightforward.
  • Yandex Go (taxi app) requires registration but is the cheapest and most reliable way to get around the city once you have it set up on your phone.
  • Tipping is not obligatory but 10 percent at restaurants is appreciated. Bills sometimes include a service charge; check before adding more.