Nur-Sultan

(Astana)

Things to see and do in Nur-Sultan (Astana)

Astana – The Capital That Rose from Ice Like a Sci-Fi Movie

In the middle of the endless Kazakh steppe, where winter drops to −40 °C and wolves once roamed, a city exploded out of nowhere in the 1990s like a golden spaceship landing. Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid, and Kisho Kurokawa were handed unlimited budget and told “make the future.” The result is Bayterek’s golden orb floating above the snow, the world’s largest tent glowing turquoise all night, and a presidential palace that looks like the White House had a baby with a Bond villain lair. By day the skyline glitters like Oz; by night it becomes a frozen Blade Runner set. This is Astana (officially Nur-Sultan 2019–2022, but everyone still says Astana) — the coldest capital on Earth and the most audacious proof that humans can build anything, anywhere, if they dream hard enough.

Top Activities and Experiences in Astana

These are the moments that feel like living inside a snow globe designed by aliens.

Bayterek Tower at Sunset

Ride to the golden orb 97 metres up, place your hand in the president’s handprint while the entire futuristic city glows blood-orange across the frozen steppe.

Khan Shatyr at Blue Hour

Walk inside the world’s largest tent — a 150-metre transparent pyramid where it’s always 25 °C, palm trees grow, and people sunbathe on an indoor beach while blizzards rage outside.

Nur-Astana Mosque at Night

Watch the third-largest mosque in Central Asia turn cotton-candy pink under floodlights while its four 63-metre minarets stab the starry −30 °C sky.

Ice Skating on the Ishim River

When the river freezes solid, the city turns it into the longest ice rink in the world — skate for kilometres under fairy lights with the skyline sparkling like a Christmas miracle.

Hazrat Sultan Mosque Interior at Prayer Time

Step inside the largest mosque in Kazakhstan — 10,000 worshippers under a turquoise dome painted with gold stars, chandeliers dripping crystals, and silence so deep you hear your own breath.

Winter Ferris Wheel in −35 °C

Board the heated cabins high above the city while snow swirls like glitter and the entire capital looks like a miniature model under glass.

Ready for Golden Orbs, Indoor Beaches, and −40 °C Magic?

Astana isn’t just a capital — it’s a declaration that the future can be built anywhere, even on ice. Salemetsiz be — welcome to the boldest city on the steppe!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Astana

What are the absolute must-do experiences in Astana?

The must-do experiences are sunset inside Bayterek’s golden egg, shopping on an indoor beach at Khan Shatyr, photographing Nur-Astana and Hazrat Sultan mosques at blue hour, ice-skating the frozen Ishim River, and riding the heated Ferris wheel when it’s −30 °C outside.

How many days should I spend in Astana?

You should spend at least two full days in winter (the city + indoor attractions) or three in summer when you can walk the river and enjoy outdoor terraces.

When is the best time to visit Astana?

The best time is either deep winter (December–February) for the full frozen-futuristic experience with snow and illuminations, or summer (June–August) when it’s green and 30 °C and the city feels completely different.

Is Astana really that cold?

Yes — it regularly hits −40 °C with windchill, but everything is designed for it: heated bus stops, underground malls, indoor parks. Dress properly and you’ll love the extreme beauty.

What are the best day trips from Astana?

The best day trips are Burabay National Park (3 h, “Kazakh Switzerland” with lakes and rock formations) and ALZHIR labour-camp museum (40 min, powerful Soviet history).

Where is the best place to stay in Astana?

For views and luxury, stay at The St. Regis or The Ritz-Carlton directly on the central axis. Boutique lovers choose Rahat Palace or King Hotel Astana.

Do people speak English in Astana?

Young people and anyone in tourism speak good English. Russian is the main language, but signs are bilingual and apps work perfectly.

What is the best food in Astana?

The best food is traditional Kazakh beshbarmak and kazy horse sausage at Arnau or Saksaul, Korean cuisine in the many Koryo-saram restaurants, and rooftop shashlik with skyline views at Satti headquarters.

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Places to Visit

Nur-Astana Mosque

Sleek modern mosque with rose-gold domes that light up cotton-candy colours at night. The four minarets reach exactly 63 metres — symbolising the age of the Prophet — and reflect perfectly in the Ishim River.

Bayterek Tower

A 97-metre golden orb held aloft by white lattice “tree branches” — the symbol of Astana. Inside, a golden handprint of the first president waits for yours while the entire city spreads below like a futuristic circuit board glowing in the snow.

Hazrat Sultan Mosque

The largest mosque in Central Asia — pure white marble with golden domes and four 77-metre minarets. The interior feels like walking inside a jewellery box: turquoise tiles, eight-storey chandelier, and carpets soft enough to sleep on.

Palace of Peace and Reconciliation

A 62-metre glass pyramid by Norman Foster where world religions meet under one roof. Ride to the top for a secret 360° view and walk through an opera house hidden inside the base.

Ishim River Embankment

In summer it’s a green promenade with fountains and cafés; in winter it becomes the planet’s longest ice-skating ribbon lit by coloured LEDs under the glowing skyline.

National Museum of Kazakhstan

A gleaming white wave of a building containing the entire history of the steppe: Scythian gold, medieval armour, a full-size yurt, and the original Golden Man suit that inspired the country’s independence symbol.

Suggested itineraries featuring Nur-Sultan (Astana)

Exploring Kazakhstan

13 Days | From $2999

Kazakhstan

Nur-Sultan (Astana) | Shymkent | Turkestan | Kolsay | Almaty

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