Flights to Astana

Astana, Kazakhstan’s outlandish first city is, before everything else, new. The world’s youngest capital was dreamed up in 1998 by leading Japanese architect Kurokawa Kishō as a city of symbiosis – between past and future, man and nature, local and universal. Since then, it has tripled in size and so has the list of reasons why you should put this off-the-beaten-path capital on your travel bucket list. Astana has everything you need for an alternative city break: a neofuturist shopping centre that’s also the world's largest tent, a White House-inspired presidential palace, a decaying, Soviet-era grain silo, a glass pyramid that doubles as a 1,350-seat opera hall and a literal piece of the Maldives. Plus, the friendliest locals you’ll ever meet.

Travel to Astana, Kazakhstan for

A futuristic city break on the Kazakh steppe

One of the newest things about Astana is its name. It was changed from Astana in March 2019 to honour the country’s outgoing leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev. As the first president of independent Kazakhstan, it was him who oversaw the city’s vast transformation from a former Russian military outpost into a carefully designed, 21st-century metropolis. The capital’s high-shine structures and futuristic cityscape are a far cry from its Tselinograd-years, when it mostly served as a Soviet gulag and nuclear weapon testing ground. But Astana is more than just a display of its creators’ ambition and the country’s oil wealth. It’s home to superb museums celebrating Kazakhs’ nomadic heritage, it boasts an eclectic dining scene and doubles as an alternative gateway to Central Asia.

Archilovers, unite!

Take in Astana’s futuristic architecture in all its glory on Nurzhol Bulvar, flanked by the most iconic landmarks of the Kazakh capital. Start your stroll at the Ak Orda Presidential Palace. Stretching at the east end of Astana’s design artery, the palace was opened in 2004 and serves as the workplace of the President of Kazakhstan and the presidential administration. It can only be admired from the outside, which, trust us, is still plenty to look at. In the middle of the 2-kilometre-long avenue soars the pyramid-shaped Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The 62-metre-high glass structure was designed by prominent British architect Sir Norman Foster to embody the open, warm spirit of both the country and its capital. Make the slender Bayterek observation tower your next stop . A symbol of independent Kazakhstan, the 97-metre monument was inspired by a well-known Kazakh folktale about Samruk, a sacred bird and knower of divine truths, which nested on the Tree of Life. Finish your archi-walk with another Fosterian masterpiece, the Khan Shatyr entertainment centre. Covered by a 200-metre-high transparent tent (who needs roofs anyway?), the world's largest marquee houses, well, a city within the city, with cobbled streets, canals and a tropical indoor beach fringed with golden sand imported from the Maldives. Yes, you’ve read that right. History buffs can uncover Kazakhstan's fascinating past at the National Museum of Kazakhstan, from nomadic roots to modern times.

Buckle up for a real culinary adventure

Local dishes and cooking techniques have been heavily influenced by Kazakhs’ traditional nomadic lifestyle. Meaning that horse meat and sour milk are at the core of the Kazakh diet. Case in point: beshbarmak. Kazakhstan’s national dish is made from boiled horse meat and noodles, served with onion sauce and mutton broth. It’s best chased down with some kumys (fermented camel’s or mare’s milk). Give Kazakh specialities a go at Epokha, a must-visit spot on Shokan Valikhanov Street, known as much for its food as it is for its evocative, Soviet-era decor. Line Brew on Kenesary Street serves up a mean steak but doesn’t disappoint on the shashlik front, either. Do try Line Brew’s microbrewery beer, too. If you’re looking for fine dining options, riverside Astana Nury should be at the top of your list.

Fancy some indoor canoeing?

Retail enthusiasts had better make sure to dedicate ample time to discovering Khan Shatyr. The “Royal Marquee” is king-size indeed, housing 188 shops and 30 cafés and restaurants on some 100,000 square metres, no less. But that’s not nearly all. It comes with a 450-metre jogging track, a dinosaur park, golf courses, a rollercoaster and a mountain stream to canoe on, among other things. For after-dark entertainment, taste what local viticulture has to offer at Provino on Kenesary Street. Not ready to call it a night just yet? Hit local favourite Zaza Club right next to The Barley or make your way to glamorous Icon Astana on Turan Street.

Mix and (fla)mingle

Nature lovers shouldn’t miss the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve, Kazakhstan's largest national park, located some 120 kilometres west of Astana. Covering 5,432 square metres of lakes, steppes and semi deserts, the UNESCO-listed area is a major stop along the Indian and Siberian-East African bird migration routes and home to the largest population of wetland birds in Asia. Birdwatchers have a rare opportunity to spot Siberian white cranes, Dalmatian pelicans and Pallas’s fish eagles here or watch Lake Tengiz go from blue to pink as thousands of flamingos make their last stop en route here from southeast Asia. Further north of Astana lies Burabay National Park with lush pine forests, deep-blue lakes and untouched wilderness. Head to the peak of Bolektau mountain for the best views.

Astana weather

Sitting on the banks of the Ishim river in the middle of endless grasslands, Astana is no stranger to extreme weather conditions. It’s the world's second-coldest capital, which has long, freezing winters with an average temperature of -14°C (but temperatures as low as -50°C are not unheard of, either). March usually brings nicer days but plenty of rain, too. The months between May and September are prime time to enjoy your Kazakh getaway to the fullest.

Astana airport

Located less than 20 kilometres from the Kazakh capital, Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport serves as the primary airport for Kazakhstan and a major gateway to Central Asia. Albeit small, it’s one of the most state-of-the-art airports on the Eurasian continent, with one runway, two passenger terminals and plenty of shopping and food options. Hop on bus no. 10 to reach the city centre in just 15 minutes. Taxi and car rental services are also available.