Must-see attractions in Nur-Sultan (Astana)

  • Kazakhstan, Astana, Khan Shatyr (by Sir Norman Foster)

    Khan Shatyr

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Nur-Sultan's most extraordinary building (so far), the Khan Shatyr is a 150m-high, translucent, tentlike structure made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene …

  • Palace of Peace and Reconciliation pyramid

    Palace of Peace & Reconciliation

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This beautiful glass-and-steel pyramid was opened in 2006 as the home for the triennial Congress of World and Traditional Religions, hosted by Kazakhstan…

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    Bayterek Monument

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Nurzhol bulvar's centrepiece is this 97m-high monument, a white latticed tower crowned by a large glass orb. This embodies a Kazakh legend in which the…

  • Museum of the Armed Forces

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The yurt-shaped museum showcases beautifully presented exhibitions on weaponry and warfare, with striking murals greeting visitors. On the ground floor,…

  • Soviet Grain Silo

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This rare relic of the 1950s may be gone in a few years' time, banished by the relentless wrecking ball, but for now you can see this enormous, decaying…

  • Ploshchad Poyushchykh Fontanov

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The eastern half of Nurzhol bulvar starts with this plaza, which springs to life with music-and-water shows at 9pm on summer evenings. Further east stand…

  • City Park

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The large, somewhat-untidy city park abuts the south side of the Ishim river. On its southern edge you'll find the Atameken, a 200m-long, walk-around…

  • Kazak Yeli Monument

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The 91m-high tall Kazak Yeli monument, topped by a golden eagle, is intended to symbolise the historic destiny of Kazakhstan's people. The figures at the…

  • Palace of Independence

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The rather squat Palace of Independence is well worth a visit especially for its huge scale model of how Nur-Sultan is planned to look in 2030. It also…

  • Nur Astana Mosque

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    A block south of the western part of Nurzhol bulvar stands the beautiful four-minaret Nur Astana mosque, opened in 2005. Its prayer hall (for men only –…

  • Duman

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Duman is a modern leisure centre most worth visiting for its oceanarium, which has over 3000 creatures from the world’s oceans and a 70m shark tunnel…

  • Transport & Communications Ministry

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The tall, gleaming, copper Transport & Communications Ministry, has been dubbed the ‘Lighter’ by irreverent locals. Ironically, there was a fire inside…

  • Hazrat Sultan Mosque

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This huge mosque, opened in 2012, boasts Kazakhstan's largest dome, as well as beautifully marbled interiors. Look out for a splendid old copy of the…

  • Ak Orda

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Grandiose building that houses the offices of the president of Kazakhstan. You can only admire it from the outside.

  • Northern Lights

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    These three undulating, light-green apartment towers are a prominent feature of the western part of the boulevard.

  • KazMunayGaz

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    East of Khan Shatyr, across a park, stand the grand headquarters of the state energy company, KazMunayGaz.

  • Atameken

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The Atameken – a 200m-long, walk-around country map with models of major buildings – is quite fun.

  • Emerald Towers

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Striking office blocks whose tops splay outward like the pages of opening books.

  • National Archive

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    The egg-domed National Archive stands just west of the Bayterek Monument.

  • Samryk-Kazyna

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    Striking headquarters of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund.

  • Shabyt Art Palace

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    This lens-like building is an arts university.

  • Mazhilis

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    One of the two towers of parliament.

  • Senate

    Nur-Sultan (Astana)

    One of the two towers of parliament.