Key Takeaways:
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Astana is home to some of the best places to visit in Kazakhstan, and a city that is carefully planned to showcase Kazakh culture and history.
The architecture is not for aesthetics alone but to describe Kazakhstan’s mythology, history, power and the resources of the country.
Let’s visit all the key places to visit in Astana, Kazakhstan including modern landmarks, monuments, and architectural marvels of the city of Astana! By the end of the blog, we will uncover if Astana is really worth visiting.
Places to Visit in Astana, Kazakhstan
Here are the 8 key iconic landmarks of Astana, without which the trip will be incomplete.
- Baiterek Tower
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque
- Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
- Astana Central Park
- Fish Bridge
- National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
- Kazakh Eli Monument
1. Baiterek Tower
A 97 m tall tower in the middle of Astana is something you’d never miss the sight of while in the city. The building is an observation tower that has a cylindrical shape as a body and a gigantic yellowish glass ball resting at the top.
According to Kazakh mythology, a magical bird called ‘Samruk’ used to lay golden eggs on top of a baiterek tree known as the ‘tree of life’, symbolising a new beginning. The word ‘Baiterek’ itself means ‘tall poplar tree’ in Kazakh.
Time to see what’s inside the Baiterek tree. Let’s explore the body (tree) and then the golden sphere (golden egg).
The main body consists of the ground floor, which is the entrance, and a high-speed elevator that takes you up to the golden globe.
- As this floor is the gateway into the tower, you can find luxurious, sparkling tiles all around with gold details.
- Various statues related to Kazakhstan’s past and mythology.
- A backdrop installation created to copy ancient yurts. Visitors can get a photoshoot there dressed as nomadic Kazakhs, living in a traditional yurt.
- A souvenir kiosk sells tourist items like keychains, magnets, bracelets and showpieces.
- And of course, the high-speed elevator also starts from this floor.
Inside the Golden Sphere (“The Egg”)
The Golden Globe consists of three floors within it. They have a cafe, an observation deck and the topmost floor.
- Ground Floor of the “Egg”: A small coffee shop offering beverages, snacks, chocolates, and ice creams.
- First Floor of the “Egg”: Observation platform with fancy benches for relaxation and photo sessions.
- Second Floor of the “Egg”: The famous right-hand print of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev is kept. Made with 2 kg of gold and 6 kg of silver. Locals believe that when anyone places their palms on it, they get whatever they wish for!
Entry Fee
- Adult – 2000 KZT
- Students/pensioners – 1500 KZT
- School Children – 1,000
- Children below the age of 6 – Free (approx.)
Timings: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, 01:30 pm to 6:00 pm, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
2. Hazrat Sultan Mosque
The 2nd biggest mosque in Central Asia is the Hazrat Sultan Mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan. The prominent white building is detailed with gold and black stone panels.
The mosque spans over 11 hectares of land, and about 10,000 worshippers can fit inside!
The inside of the mosque is nothing but mesmerising, with a huge praying hall supported by tall column structures. An enormous three-tonne chandelier hangs above the hall.
Highlight: Hazrat Sultan Mosque has a Quran with 162 silver sheets. This 40 kg Quran was gifted by Nursultan Nazarbayev to the mosque.
- The mosque also has multiple other prayer rooms (men and women are separated).
- Ablution rooms (cleansing the body before entering prayer)
- Wedding halls
- Islamic summer class classrooms
- Lounges
- Restaurants serving halal food and iftar
- Souvenir stalls retailing Muslim accessories.
Note: Women must wear loose clothing that doesn’t reveal the shape of the body. Hair, shoulders, and ankles also must be covered. There are abayas and scarves for rent at the entrance.
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- Entry Fee – Free
- Timings – 24/7
3. Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
About 2 km from Baiterek Tower, you’ll come across a peculiar conically shaped building. It is none other than a mall!
Yes, the colossal Khan Shatyr is approximately a 150 m structure that is a shopping and entertainightlifenment complex. It is built by taking inspiration from the nomadic cultures’ yurts.
Fun Fact: The mall’s walls are made from a special translucent material. It helps control the indoor climate and maintains the temperature around 25°C, regardless of the weather outside!
Inside, there are a total of 5 floors!
1st & 2nd floor
- It is filled with rows and rows of branded showrooms selling clothing, Kazakh winter accessories, shoes, and more! Chanel, Armani, Zara & Mango are some of the retailers.
- The first floor features a vertical free-fall ride. It slowly lifts you up to the fourth floor before dropping you straight down in a sudden free fall.
- The 2nd floor has Chaplin Cinemas with 6 screens offering comfortable and immersive cinema experiences. Movie tickets can be purchased from the Ticketon app or website.
3rd Floor
Definitely, the most crowded floor of any mall is the food court! It has globally established chains like Starbucks, KFC and Burger King. And also, Kazakh brands like ATA Yurt and Khan Cafe.
4th Floor (Fame City)
This floor in the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is a pure wonderland for kids and adults alike! It consists of various games, simulators, and rides
- Monorail, Khan Shatyr’s own rollercoaster that takes two laps covering 500 m each.
- Dinopark has life-size models of 9 species of dinosaurs!
- Haunted House
- Race Simulators
- Video Games
- Arcades
5th Floor (Sky Beach Club)
The most popular floor of all is the Sky Beach Club. It is an indoor beach with water and real sand imported from the tropical region (often said to be from the Maldives) for the touch of luxury!
No matter what the weather is like outside, the indoor beach club will experience summer all year long! The temperature inside will be a constant 35°C.
To make the experience more authentic, the club also has sunbeds and palm trees.
However, as of early 2026, the beach club is under renovation. It is said to be completed by March 2026!
The tent structure outside glows up at night in the colours of pink, red, blue, orange and purple, making it one of the places to visit in astana kazakhstan at night!
Entry Fee – Free
(However, the rides, amenities and the beach club have their own fees)
Timings
- Mall: 10 am to 10 pm
- Fame City: 11 am to 10 pm
- Chaplin Movies: 10 am to 2 am
4. Astana Central Park
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Kazakhstan is Astana Central Park.
The park is situated on a corner plot with the Ishim River flowing on two sides! Taking over around 200 acres, this park is huge with multiple areas for recreational activities.
Attractions inside the Astana Central Park
| Upside-down house | Outdoor Pool |
| Indoor Trampoline Park | Amphitheater |
| An amusement park with a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster and a carousel. | A food court selling carnival items like hot dogs, cotton candy & popcorn. |
| Boat Rides on the Ishim River | Rope Park |
| Beach Area | Jogging tracks |
| Mini-Zoo with Meerkats, rabbits, monkeys, parrots and more | Monuments like the ‘Sun of Kazakhstan’ and the central clock tower |
During January, the park hosts the ‘Annual Ice Plunge’, where blocks of ice are cut off the Ishim River, and people take ice-cold plunges.
Note: The cafes and outdoor attractions tend to be open only during the summer seasons of May to October.
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- Entry Fee – Free
- Timings: 24/7
5. Fish Bridge
This 1,030 ft bridge is officially known as the ‘Atyrau Bridge’, with the structure resembling being inside a Caspian Sturgeon fish.
The Atyrau region of Kazakhstan gifted the fish bridge to Astana for its 20th anniversary as the capital. The bridge is designed like a fish to symbolise the fishing and Kazakhstan’s caviar cultivation culture of the country from the Caspian Sea.
The fish bridge connects the Astana Central Park and the older parts of Astana.
Structure closer to the old Astana features a roof over the bridge inspired by the fish scales. It is made up of 2,450 five-petalled flower frames, which cast beautiful patterned shadows on the bridge during the day.
Fun Fact: A bronze statue of a Caspian sturgeon (fish) is placed halfway on the bridge. It is believed to bring one’s desire to life if you rub its long nose while wishing!
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- Entry Fee – Free
- Timings: 24/7
6. National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Most museums around the world usually end up being in an old, worn-out building with dusty artefacts without any maintenance.
However, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is simply out of this world! This massive complex is the newest and one of the largest museums in the whole of Central Asia!
Highlight: The ‘Golden Man’ is the spotlight of the museum, carrying the legacy of the legendary Saka civilization. The replica of a Saka warrior who was unearthed from the burials near Almaty with 4,000 gold artefacts!
Featuring seven main blocks of history, the museum works on preserving and studying Kazakh history. Every item is curated to be placed in a layout that provides an immersive storytelling experience.
- Hall of Ancient and Medieval History: Tools and weapons used by the ancient Kazakhs from different historical timelines, like the Stone Age and Bronze Age, are showcased on this floor. The famous dinosaur skeletons are also displayed here.
- Hall of Ethnography: Ethnography is the study of people, their cultures, daily life and beliefs. And this hall is dedicated to the nomads of early Kazakhs, discussing their homes (yurts), traditional clothing and other survival tools.
- Hall of Gold: True to its name, the hall shimmers with gold! The Saka civilisation adorned gold with everything, including body armour, hats, plates, jewelleries. The craftsmanship included details of animals in all the gold. The Hall of Gold is also the home to the ‘Gold Man’.
- Hall of History: Talks about the overall history of Kazakhstan.
- Hall of Independence: Dedicated to the recent past of Kazakhstan’s journey through the Soviet Union, politics, economy and scientific milestones. The majestic statue of the former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is placed here.
- Hall of Astana: Explains the history, planning, construction and growth of the capital city of Astana.
- Hall of Contemporary Art: Features modern art by various Kazakh artists, displaying paintings, sculptures and other art installations from the late 20th century to the present.
Entry Fee
The entry fee for the museum is different depending on whether you want to visit the regular exhibits only or include entry to the Hall of Gold.
- Adults – 1000 & 2000 KZT
- Students/pensioners – 500 & 1000 KZT
- School Children – 700 & 1400 KZT
- Children below the age of 7 – Free (approx.)
Timings – 10 am to 6 pm
7. The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
If you stumble across a glass pyramid structure in Astana, it is the ‘Palace of Peace and Reconciliation’.
The pyramid structure was built to conduct conferences on politics and traditional religions. The global meetings are arranged to promote peace and coexistence.
The structure consists of a basement + multiple internal levels.
- Basement: The lowest floor accommodates the grand opera with a 1000+ seating capacity! Despite it being underground, it has 2 balconies with high ceilings.
- Entrance: This floor houses exhibition halls, art displays, and the ‘Museum of Traditional Costume’, featuring traditional attire worn by the many ethnic communities of Kazakhstan, including Russians, Germans, Uzbeks, and more. The floor also has a tall, multi-storey hall known as the ‘Atrium’. It is the biggest room used to conduct bigger events.
Fun Fact: Wishing for something while standing at the centre of the Atrium might come true. It’s because it is the centre of the pyramid and filled with positive energy.
- Garden Floor: It is also the floor of plants, as it has an indoor winter garden. Most of the plants and flowers were imported from Europe, including the Netherlands.
- Top Most Floor: A circular conference room with 200 seats is the hub for key meetings and conferences. The room is walled by tinted glass panels. From the inside, you can see 130 pigeons representing participants from 130 countries in global congresses.
- Entry Fee – 2000 KZT/person (With English/Russian Guide)
- Timings – 10 am to 6 pm
8. Kazakh Eli Monument
The official venue for national celebrations like Kazakhstan’s Independence Day!
A single, white marble pillar soaring in the sky with a bronze Samruk bird on the top! A magical figure in Kazakh mythology symbolising freedom & renewal, as explored earlier in the Baiterek Tower section.
The structure is 91 m tall, representing the independence gained in 1991. With ample amounts of open spaces around the monument, it is a great place to stroll on a sunny evening or in the winter.
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- Entry Fee – Free
- Timings – 24/7
Astana City Pass
When you are in Astana for a limited time and wish to sightsee the attractions offered, you should consider getting a city pass.
The passes start with a time limit of 24, 48 and 72 hours with a list of attractions that you visit on a discount!
Conclusion
So, is Astana worth a visit? surely it’s a yes!
Astana, which literally means ‘capital city’ in Kazakh. It’s the only city in Kazakhstan to have the highest number of futuristic buildings, architectural landmarks and grand structures.
Each detail of these attractions has a reason and symbolises Kazakh culture in some way. It’s
something to keep an eye out for while visiting Astana to make the trip more interesting.
Whenever you are planning a trip to Kazakhstan, don’t miss the city of Astana and visit its iconic landmarks! And you always have an option to contact Dimaak Tours to customise and help you with all the things to do in Kazakhstan.
FAQs about Places to Visit in Astana
1. What is Astana famous for?
From a tourist’s perspective, Astana is extremely popular for its futuristic buildings, national monuments, nightlife, and entertainment hubs.
2. What to do in Astana?
- Walk through the Astana Central Park
- Ride the high-speed elevator of the Baiterek Tower
- Admire the architecture of the Fish Bridge
- Learn the history of Kazakhstan in the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
3. What language do they speak in Astana?
Astana is a part of Kazakhstan where the majority of the people speak Kazakh. However, a lot of people tend to speak Russian as well. English speakers are not very common in Astana, so it’s better to keep Google Translate handy.
