Astana 3-Day City Walk Guide
Schwarz
Astana 3-Day City Walk Guide
Lonely Planet calls Astana "the Singapore of the steppes" — Kazakhstan's new 21st-century capital rising rapidly from the northern grasslands. The skyline grows more fantastical yearly, with landmark buildings by world-class architects springing up along wide boulevards, blending Asian, Western, Soviet, and wildly futuristic styles. Norman Foster, Kisho Kurokawa, and other masters have left stunning architectural masterpieces on this empty steppe.
📅 Itinerary Overview
| Day | Theme | Key Attractions |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Future City | Bayterek Tower → Nurzhol Boulevard → Khan Shatyr |
| Day 2 | Cultural Exploration | Palace of Peace → Hazrat Sultan Mosque → National Museum → Presidential Palace |
| Day 3 | Steppe Experience | Astana Opera → Ishim River → Grand Bazaar / ALZHIR Memorial |
🏗️ Day 1: Future City
Morning: Bayterek Tower
Bayterek Tower — 97-meter landmark symbolizing the 1997 capital move:
- Inspired by Kazakh mythology: the divine bird Samruk laid a golden egg in a poplar tree
- Golden sphere at the top houses an observation deck with 360-degree city views
- Inside the sphere: a gilded handprint of former President Nazarbayev — placing your hand in it is a tourist ritual
- Admission: 700 tenge (~$1.50)
- Best photographed at sunset
Noon: Nurzhol Boulevard
Nurzhol Boulevard — 3-kilometer central axis from the Presidential Palace to Khan Shatyr:
- Astana's major landmarks concentrated along this boulevard
- Wide walkways dotted with modern sculptures and fountains
- Underground pedestrian passages are lifesavers in -30°C winters
Afternoon: Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
Khan Shatyr — Norman Foster's 150-meter tent-shaped building, the world's largest tensile structure:
- Completed in 2010, covering 140,000 square meters
- Contains a shopping center, indoor park, monorail, rooftop beach (sand imported from the Maldives!)
- LP-level engineering marvel: when it's -30°C outside, the interior stays a constant 25-30°C
- Free entry, beach club approximately 5000-8000 tenge
- Recommended visit: 1-2 hours
🏛️ Day 2: Cultural Exploration
Morning: Palace of Peace
— Another Norman Foster masterpiece: