Why go
- Capital of Kazakhstan.
- Served by Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ).
History
Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,622,245 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, the national capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim river in the north of Kazakhstan and is located within the Akmola Region but is self-administering. Initially founded as Aqmoly in 1830, the city was later renamed Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, and Aqmola before adopting the name Astana in 1998, or "capital" in Kazakh. In 2019, the city adopted the name Nur-Sultan in honor of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, but it reverted to the name Astana in 2022.
Where to stay
Dostyk Street 16, Astana 010016, Kazakhstan · ritzcarlton.com
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · marriott.com
4CQW+PV3, Qadyrghali Zhalayyri St, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan · theone-astana.kz
Aysha Bibi St 38, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan · aisha-bibi.com
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 45/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · neoshotel.kz
Комплекс The Veil, Qadyrghali Zhalayyri St 4, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · theveil.kz
Turan Ave 33, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · traditional.kz
Syganak St 45, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · soluxeastana.kz
Kurgal'zhinskoye Shosse 9, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · tomirishotel.com
Cosmonauts St 60, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan · comforthotel.kz
Turan Ave 44, Intersection Of Turan And, Orynbor Street, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · ihg.com
Kerey and Zhanibek Khans St 12 Б, Astana 010016, Kazakhstan · aykun.kz
Ulitsa Karasakal Yerimbet 65, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · jumbaktas.kz
Dinmukhamed Qonayev St 29/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · diplomathotel.kz
Dostyq St 2, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan · saad-hotel.com
Kerey and Zhanibek Khans St 18, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · reikartz.kz
Sarayshyq St 40, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · versal-hotel.hoteleastana.com
Shokan Valikhanov Street 7, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · kinghotelastana.kz
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 15, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · hilton.com
Kunayeva 7, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · allinclusive-collection.com
Syganak St 60/1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · marriott.com
Charles de Gaulle St 1, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · monacohotel.kz
Dostyk street 13A, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · bestwestern.ru
Kerey and Zhanibek Khans St 22, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · altynecopark.kz
Kazakhstan, Tauelsizdik Ave 38, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · all.accor.com
4C9Q+MGV, 36th St, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan · seven-inn-boutique-hotel.com.es
Sarayshyq St, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Syganak St 9, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Нуртаса Ондасынова, Чубары микрорайон 52А, Astana 010001, Kazakhstan
46/1, Qabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Dostyq St 13, Astana 010016, Kazakhstan
Qabanbay Batyr Ave 7/3, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Tsentr Mezhdunarodnoy Torgovli, Dostyq St 1, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Almaty St 1/1, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Syganak St 54, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Roza Baglanova 2, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan
Alikhan Bokeikhan St 2, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Sarayshyq St 40, Astana 020000, Kazakhstan
Restaurants & places to go
Restaurant · "ресторан" Mo-Su 11:00-03:00; "банкетный зал" Mo-Su 19:00-01:00 Opening hours: Mo-Su 00:00-03:00,11:00-24:00 · altynadam.wix.com
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-24:00 Features: takeaway · foodsolutions.kz
Chicken, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · kfc-kazakhstan.kz
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 07:30-23:00; Sa-Su 08:00-23:00 Features: takeaway · starbucks.com.kz
Indoor
Pizza, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 · ronipizza.kz
Indoor
Regional, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-21:00 · 8/1 Динмухамед Конаев, Астана, 010000 · instagram.com
European, Pastry, Breakfast, Brunch, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-00:00 Features: outdoor seating, delivery · 22/1 Проспект Туран, Астана, Z19Y4X2 · white.kz
American, Pizza, Sandwich, Steak House, Barbecue, European, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-23:00 Features: takeaway, delivery, halal · 4/3 Қайым… · kalbi.easyfood.kz
Russian, Italian Pizza, Hot Dog, Fish And Chips, Fine Dining, Oriental, Filipino, Ethiopian, Diner, Chicken, Cake, Buschenschank, Burger, Coffee Shop, Crepe,… · beshbarmak.kz
Chinese, Japanese, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-02:00 Features: takeaway · 4 Жұмекен Нәжімеденов көшесі, Астана, Z01G5Y1 · white.kz
Mediterranean, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Th 12:00-02:00, Fr-Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:00-02:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · 5/3 Қабанбай Батыр… · white.kz
French, Cake, Coffee Shop, Steak House, Pasta, Italian, Pizza, Chicken, Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 12:00-01:00 · thegarden.kz
Breakfast, Cake, Coffee Shop, Diner, Donut, Italian, Pasta, Cafe · Opening hours: Su-Sa 09:00-23:00 · 1 улица Гейдара Алиева, 020000 · tlpcompany.kz
Beef Bowl, Breakfast, Cake, Chicken, Coffee Shop, Curry, Friture, Asian, Barbecue, Grill, Indian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Su-Sa 10:00-02:00 Features:… · atlasrestobar.taplink.ws
Kazakh, Restaurant · Opening hours: 10:00-02:00 Features: step-free access · 16 Мәңгілік Ел даңғылы, Астана · arka.kz
Italian Pizza, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00 · trattoria.kz
Japanese, International, Restaurant · Opening hours: 12:00-02:00 Features: takeaway · 21 Тұран даңғылы, Астана
Korean, Restaurant · Opening hours: 10:00-24:00 Features: step-free access · 62 ТРЦ MEGA Silk Way, Кабанбай батыр проспект
Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-00:00; Sa-Su 09:00-00:00 · crepecafe.kz
Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-22:00 · ronipizza.kz
Oriental, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00
Lebanese, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00
Seafood, Restaurant · Seafood restaurant
Bubble Tea, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 Features: step-free access
Turkish, Restaurant · Opening hours: closed
Kebab, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 · Астана
Asian, Breakfast, Local, Russian, Cafe · Asian/Breakfast cafe · qaganat24.kz
Shawarma, Cafe · Features: step-free access · 53 Жеңіс даңғылы
Hot Dog, Fast Food · Hot Dog fast food
Sandwich, Burger, Coffee Shop, Fast Food · Sandwich/Burger fast food · Астана
Fish, Cafe · Fish cafe · 19
плов, Cafe · плов cafe · 173
International, Restaurant · International restaurant · 60 Космонавтов көшесі, Астана
Tea, Cafe · Tea cafe
Buschenschank, Breakfast, Cake, Cafe · Buschenschank/Breakfast cafe
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:00-24:00 Features: outdoor seating, takeaway · foodsolutions.kz
Chicken, Regional, Russian, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-00:00
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 36 Амангелді Иманов көшесі, Астана · coffee-like.com
Italian, Turkish, Russian, Regional, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: outdoor seating, step-free access · et-et.kamiqr.com
Pizza, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 09:00-22:00 · astana.pizza-blues.kz
Sushi, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 10:00-23:00 · astana.svolna.kz
347 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →
Airports
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) 12 km to the centre
Astana, AST, KZ — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather.
Zholaman Airfield 19 km to the centre
Gerasimovskoye, AKM, KZ
Stolichny Airfield 21 km to the centre
Gerasimovskoye, AKM, KZ
Getting there by ferry
Ferry terminal
Ferry terminal · 3.4 km from the centre
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ); 3 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By water: 1 ferry terminal within 20 km.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Astana, Kazakhstan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Trains & rail
Rail operator
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.