A mind-boggling array of all things Kazakhstan: felt yurts, hats and booties, replica nomadic objects, such as the phallic-looking vessels for carrying fermented mare's milk, models of the Bayterek Monument, porcelain, wall hangings and more.
Talisman
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
3.26 MILES
This huge blue-glass-and-white-marble museum covers the history and culture of Kazakhstan from ancient to modern times. Themed halls comprise interactive…
2.12 MILES
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 & Reconciliation
2.91 MILES
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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ALZhIR Museum-Memorial Complex
28.67 MILES
During the Stalin years, Akmol, 35km west of Nur-Sultan, housed ALZhIR, a notorious camp for wives and children of men who were interned elsewhere as …
2.14 MILES
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…
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0.26 MILES
The yurt-shaped museum showcases beautifully presented exhibitions on weaponry and warfare, with striking murals greeting visitors. On the ground floor,…
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2.26 MILES
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…
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Ploshchad Poyushchykh Fontanov
2.2 MILES
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…
Nearby Nur-Sultan (Astana) attractions
0.26 MILES
The yurt-shaped museum showcases beautifully presented exhibitions on weaponry and warfare, with striking murals greeting visitors. On the ground floor,…
0.54 MILES
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…
3. Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
0.67 MILES
Inside the former presidential palace, a succession of lavish galleries display gifts to President Nazarbayev from foreign governments and grateful…
0.82 MILES
The Atameken – a 200m-long, walk-around country map with models of major buildings – is quite fun.
0.94 MILES
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…
6. Transport & Communications Ministry
1.98 MILES
The tall, gleaming, copper Transport & Communications Ministry, has been dubbed the ‘Lighter’ by irreverent locals. Ironically, there was a fire inside…
2.01 MILES
Striking office blocks whose tops splay outward like the pages of opening books.
2.05 MILES
East of Khan Shatyr, across a park, stand the grand headquarters of the state energy company, KazMunayGaz.