Things to Do in Astana, Kazakhstan

October 29, 2026

Things to do in Astana

Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, called Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022. It sits on flat steppe beside the Ishim (Esil) river, so the activities here are built around big architecture, indoor attractions, performances and, in winter, staying warm. Prices below are in tenge (KZT), roughly 470 to 500 KZT to US$1 in 2026. Cards and Kaspi QR payments are widely accepted.

Indoor beach at Khan Shatyr

Khan Shatyr, the 150 m tent-shaped mall on Turan Avenue, keeps its interior at about 15 to 30C all year. Its Sky Beach Club reopened on 1 May 2026 with air at about +30C. Adult entry is 20,000 KZT and a child ticket is 12,000 KZT, with under-3s free. The price is the same on weekdays and weekends, and towels and robes cost extra. Opening hours are not confirmed, so check with the club before you go.

Opera and ballet

Astana Opera on Dinmukhamed Kunayev Street has about 1,250 seats and stages opera, ballet and concerts. Tickets are sold on ticketon.kz or at the box office. Seat prices vary by show, so check the theatre for the evening you want.

Ailand oceanarium

Ailand, on the Korgalzhyn Highway, houses an oceanarium with a 70 m walk-through tunnel, billed as the most inland oceanarium in the world. The old aquapark closed on 1 September 2025 and is being rebuilt as an indoor entertainment centre, so do not plan on slides. Oceanarium prices and hours for 2026 are not confirmed, so check Ailand’s own site before travelling.

River cruises and banyas

Boats run on the Ishim from around May in the warm season. Ask at the embankment for current piers and prices. For a steam-and-soak afternoon, BEIBARYS on Kenes Street offers a three-hour package with a heated pool, sauna and hammam for about 8,000 KZT per adult, based on June 2026 reports. In summer, outdoor pool clubs such as Orman Park (about 5,000 to 7,000 KZT) and Oasis Beach Club (about 12,000 to 14,000 KZT) take visitors.

Winter in Astana

January lows can reach -30C or colder, and wind makes it worse. Plan outdoor stops of about 20 minutes, then duck into a mall, museum or cafe to warm up. Municipal skating and ice-slide areas appear each winter, but locations and prices change from year to year. Stay off the frozen river outside marked rinks.

Getting around

The Tarlan Astana light rail opened on 16 May 2026. It runs about 06:00 to 23:00 daily at a flat 200 KZT. City buses cost 110 KZT with a card or QR code and 220 KZT in cash until 30 November 2026. From 1 December 2026 the fares rise to 150 KZT cashless and 300 KZT cash on regular routes. Yandex Go is the main ride-hailing app. See the Astana LRT launch report for the line details.

Entry rules

British citizens can stay visa-free for up to 30 days. The free QazETA online authorisation is recommended and may become mandatory from November 2026, so read the current UK government entry requirements or your own government’s advice.

Booking tips

Browse tours and tickets on GetYourGuide before you travel.