# Things to do in Astana: top sights and where to go

> Astana lines up its sights along Nurzhol Boulevard: Bayterek Tower in the middle, the Khan Shatyr tent at the west end, the Akorda palace at the east, and across the Esil river the Palace of Peace pyramid, Hazrat Sultan Mosque and the National Museum. The new centre is a one-day walk; keep the second day for the Nur Alem sphere at the Expo site and the ALZHIR memorial 35 km out, or a full day at the lakes of Burabay.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana

## Ready itineraries

- [One day in Astana: an itinerary in the best order](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/in-1-day.md): The white Hazrat Sultan mosque, the Kazakh Eli monument, Norman Foster's pyramid, Nurzhol Boulevard, the Bayterek viewing deck and the Khan Shatyr tent.

## All 9 places with the YesGo score

- [Bayterek Tower](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower.md): YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT. Bayterek is Astana’s landmark: a 105-metre white tower with a golden sphere on Nurzhol Boulevard. A lift takes you to the 97-metre deck…
- [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free. Nurzhol Boulevard is Astana’s grand pedestrian axis on the Left Bank, running from the Akorda presidential palace past Bayterek Tower to…
- [Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monument](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square.md): YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free. Independence Square is Astana’s main ceremonial square on the right bank of the Esil, built around the 91-metre white Kazakh Eli column…
- [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free. Hazrat Sultan is Astana’s big white working mosque, opened in 2012 on the right bank of the Ishim (Yesil) next to the Palace of Peace…
- [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/khan-shatyr.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸. Khan Shatyr is a free-to-enter shopping and entertainment centre in Astana, housed in a 150 m see-through tent designed by Norman Foster…
- [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation.md): YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour. Norman Foster’s 62-metre pyramid on the right bank of the Esil, just behind Independence Square. You go in on a guided tour that comes…
- [National Museum of Kazakhstan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan.md): YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸. The National Museum of Kazakhstan is Central Asia's largest museum, on Independence Square in Astana — home of the **Golden Man**, Saka…
- [ALZHIR Memorial and Museum](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/alzhir-museum.md): YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 1,200 ₸, guided tour extra. The ALZHIR Memorial and Museum stands on the site of the Akmola Camp for Wives of Traitors to the Motherland (1938–1953), one of the…
- [Burabay (Borovoe)](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/burabay.md): YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Car entry from 1,298 ₸. Burabay, also known as Borovoe, is a national park and lake resort of pine forest, granite rocks and clear lakes 240–260 km north of…

## Astana travel guide

Before you go: Bayterek and Nurzhol, Khan Shatyr and the Pyramid, Hazrat Sultan Mosque, Burabay, weather.

## Trip essentials

- How many days: 1–2 days, plus a day for Burabay
- When to go: June–August — winters are very cold
- Visa: Visa-free for many passports, often 30 days
- Airport: Astana (NQZ) ≈ 15 km — 20 min by taxi
- Time zone: UTC+5

## Key facts

- **1997** — Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan (source: Wikipedia, “Astana”)
- **97 m** — height of Bayterek — a nod to the year the capital moved (source: Wikipedia, “Bayterek Tower”)
- **≈ 150 m** — height of the Khan Shatyr tent, designed by Norman Foster (source: Wikipedia, “Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center”)
- **One of the largest** — Hazrat Sultan Mosque is one of the largest in Central Asia (source: Wikipedia, “Hazrat Sultan Mosque”)

## Things to do in Astana

Astana’s highlights are Nurzhol Boulevard with Bayterek, Khan Shatyr and the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Hazrat Sultan Mosque and the National Museum. Outside the city is the Burabay resort with lakes and pine forests. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.

| Where | What to see | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Nurzhol** | [Bayterek](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower), [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard), [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/khan-shatyr) | ½ day |
| **Left bank** | [Hazrat Sultan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque), [Pyramid](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation) | 2 h |
| **The square** | [Independence Square](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square), [National Museum](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan) | ½ day |
| **Suburbs** | [ALZhIR](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/alzhir-museum) | 2 h |
| **Burabay** | [Burabay](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/burabay) | 1 day |

Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order.

## Astana weather by month

Astana is one of the coldest capitals in the world: winter nights drop to −20 °C with strong wind. The best time is June–August, about 25–27 °C. October is about 9 °C by day.

- **January in Astana**: day ≈ -11°C, night ≈ -20°C, rainy days: 9. Hard frost and wind.
- **February in Astana**: day ≈ -10°C, night ≈ -20°C, rainy days: 8. Frost.
- **March in Astana**: day ≈ -3°C, night ≈ -13°C, rainy days: 8. Cold, snow.
- **April in Astana**: day ≈ 10°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 8. About 10°, thawing.
- **May in Astana**: day ≈ 19°C, night ≈ 6°C, rainy days: 9. Warm, about 19°.
- **June in Astana** (best time): day ≈ 25°C, night ≈ 12°C, rainy days: 9. Warm — a good time.
- **July in Astana** (best time): day ≈ 27°C, night ≈ 14°C, rainy days: 10. The warmest month.
- **August in Astana** (best time): day ≈ 25°C, night ≈ 12°C, rainy days: 8. Warm.
- **September in Astana**: day ≈ 18°C, night ≈ 5°C, rainy days: 7. Cooler, about 18°.
- **October in Astana**: day ≈ 9°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 8. About 9°.
- **November in Astana**: day ≈ -2°C, night ≈ -10°C, rainy days: 10. Cold.
- **December in Astana**: day ≈ -9°C, night ≈ -17°C, rainy days: 10. Frost.

In winter, Khan Shatyr is a warm place to walk around indoors.

## Astana ticket prices

The boulevard, the mosque and the square are free. You pay for the Bayterek deck, the National Museum and the Pyramid.

- [Bayterek Tower](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower) — 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT
- [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard) — Free
- [Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monument](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square) — Free
- [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque) — Free
- [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/khan-shatyr) — Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸
- [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation) — 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour
- [National Museum of Kazakhstan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan) — 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸
- [ALZHIR Memorial and Museum](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/alzhir-museum) — ≈ 1,200 ₸, guided tour extra
- [Burabay (Borovoe)](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/burabay) — Car entry from 1,298 ₸

## Tips

- Go up Bayterek at sunset for a view over the whole left bank.

## Questions

### Is Astana worth visiting?

For a day or two, yes — a futuristic capital of bold architecture, with the lakes of Burabay nearby. Visit in summer; winters are harsh.

## Sources

- Wikipedia, “Astana”; “Bayterek Tower”; “Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center”; “Hazrat Sultan Mosque”

Facts checked: 09.11.2026

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