Site Seeing Recommendations in Astana
Overlooking the Astana skyline across the Ishim River.
Kazakhstan is the largest country in Central Asia. The size of continental Western Europe, it is a nation full of culture, multiple nationalities and an under travelled destination with potential for tourism in the future. What better place to begin than in the newly developed modern metropolis, Astana, the northern most capital in Central Asia.
How to get around Astana?
Getting around Astana is straightforward. The most efficient way is to take taxi or bus. My recommendation for travellers is to use Yandex Taxi app. Central Asia’s version of Uber, it is easy to download, efficient and can request different ride options (i.e. Economy, Comfort, Business, etc) for highly affordable cheap prices.
Recommendations:
From previous research conducted, I read only two to three days is needed in Astana. However, I ended up staying for five days, providing me with time to visit some of the city’s finest landmarks.
In the city centre of Astana with Baiterek, the city’s main attraction, standing tall in the background
Baiterek Tower:
A monument and observation tower that is popular with locals and foreigners, it is regarded as the main tourist attraction of Astana. I managed to visit late in the evening during sunset where I waited in line with locals to take a photo with the gilded handprint plaque, with the intent of placing my hand in the imprint to make a wish.
National Museum of Kazakhstan
The largest museum in Central Asia when it was built in 2014, this landmark was established to attract visitors to travel through time from Kazakhstan’s prehistoric period to the present. The interior is depicted in blue and white marble, symbolizing the colours of the Kazakh flag. I spent approximately three and a half hours touring this megapolis building, which was the highlight of my visit in Astana.
Astana Grand Mosque behind me. The largest in Central Asia.
Astana Grand Mosque
Having opened in 2022, Astana Grand Mosque is the pinnacle of mosques, being the largest in Central Asia with the world’s largest dome.
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre
While I am not a fan of shopping personally, I made a quick stop to the tent-shaped Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre. Designed with a neo-futurist style and opened in 2010, this modern complex features a shopping mall, mini-golf, a boating river, and an indoor beach resort.
My epic highlight of Astana took place outside in the countryside of Kazakhstan. Stay tuned as I will share more of this experience on my next article.
