Astana Attraction Tours and Guided Visits
Attraction tours in Astana
Astana’s headline sights are spread across wide, windy plazas on the Left Bank of the Ishim, so a guided or scheduled tour can save legs, especially from November to March when temperatures drop far below freezing. This page covers the organised options that exist, with prices in tenge (KZT).
RedBus city circuit
The best-known organised tour is the RedBus double-decker, listed on the official visitastana.kz site. It runs a circuit of about 1.5 to 2 hours with departures at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00. An adult ticket is 6,000 KZT, and children, pensioners, large families and some disability groups pay 3,000 KZT. Commentary is offered in Kazakh, Russian and English. The roof opens depending on the weather, and the route can change for events. This is a fixed-departure tour, not a hop-on pass, so be at the stop early. Details and the booking phone number are on the RedBus page of visitastana.kz . Dress warmly in winter, since the upper deck is exposed.
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
Designed by Norman Foster and finished in 2006, the Palace of Peace is a 62 m pyramid with an opera hall, a central atrium and stained glass at the apex by Brian Clarke. Guided visits run in Kazakh, Russian and English, though some visitors report the tour is mostly in Russian. Hours are about 10:00 to 18:00, later in summer, and ticket prices are reported between 650 and 1,500 KZT. Check the current hours and price before you go.
National Museum of Kazakhstan
On Independence Square, the National Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, about 10:00 to 18:00, and closed Monday. The Gold Halls, which hold the Golden Man from Issyk, cost extra. Foreign visitors pay a higher tier than residents, and reported prices run from about 700 to 2,000 KZT, so check the ticket desk. Ask whether an English-speaking guide is available on your day.
Astana Opera
The opera house offers performances in the evening. Ask the box office whether a daytime backstage tour is on offer, because schedules and prices are not published in a stable form.
Nur Alem and the Singularity Museum
The glass Nur Alem sphere at Mangilik El 55/13 was the Expo 2017 pavilion and later a future-energy museum, which closed in December 2024. It is now the International AI Centre (alem.ai), with the Singularity Museum on the ground floor. Listed hours are Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00 to 20:00, closed Monday, although it is unclear whether those hours apply to the museum or the whole building. See the Nur Alem page for updates.
Private guides
Local operators run private city tours in English and other languages. Choose one with recent reviews, agree the route, length and price in writing, and confirm what entry tickets are included. For comparing options, search GetYourGuide for Astana tours .
Practical tips
The Tarlan Astana light rail, which opened in May 2026, costs 200 KZT a ride and runs about 06:00 to 23:00. Buses are 110 KZT cashless. Ak Orda, the presidential palace, can only be admired from outside. Bring cash or a card, and leave time for warm-up stops.
Read more: Sightseeing in Astana , bus tours and day trips .