Culture of Astana. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

In Astana, visitors will find dozens of different landmarks – historical places of interest and modern architecture iconic places, cultural venues and theatres, museums and beautiful parks. Nurzhol Boulevard is an interesting excursion destination. This pedestrian bridge is located not far from the central part of Astana. The lowest level of the boulevard is occupied by a large car parking. The second floor is the location of shopping pavilions, passages, and even a couple of exhibition centers. On the third level, there is a beautiful pedestrian area. It’s a spacious green boulevard with decorative trees, fountains, and sculptures. It’s easy to spend a whole day there, relaxing in the shade of beautiful trees.

Cuisine of Astana for gourmet with top restaurants and cafe

In accordance with an old tradition, each meal is started with airan or kumiss. These drinks are not only delicious but also very good for health. Tea is a no less popular drink here. In …

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When it comes to describing religious landmarks of the region, it is simply impossible to fail to mention the famous Nur-Astana Mosque, the grand hall of which can provide space for up to five thousand visitors. There is a large square in front of the mosque that can accommodate up to two thousand people.

A walk in the Batygai neighborhood promises to be very interesting. It’s a true “city within a city” that has its own school, hospital, a large shopping center, and many other entertainment complexes. Batygai got its name after the ancient capital of Kazakhstan. There is one more popular landmark near the Baiterek tower – beautiful singing fountains. Every evening, there is a spectacular music and light show in the fountains area, so there’s no wonder that many locals and guests of Astana come to see it. In the daytime, it’s a good place for shopping. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Authentic traditions, festivals and lifestyle of Astana inhabitants

Astana has become the capital of Kazakhstan relatively not long ago – the event took place in 1997. Since that time, The Capital Day, which falls on July 6, has become one of the most …

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Nowadays, the main residence of the country’s president is open in the beautiful building of Ak Orda. The gorgeous palace was opened in 2004. There are many supporting buildings near Ak Orda, and they are also very interesting to explore. Tourists will enjoy a visit to Atameken ethnic and memorial complex. This is a large open-air museum that exhibits a small copy of the Kazakhstan map. The detailed map has miniature copies of all most important landmarks of the country. In just an hour, visitors can learn a lot of new information about the country and its history.

There are also several important historical landmarks in the territory of the complex. Fans of classical music will find it interesting to attend the main concert hall of the city – Congress Hall. The beautiful six-storey palace has more than 150 guest rooms and a giant concert hall that can accommodate up to 1,600 visitors. Zhastar is also an interesting cultural venue that regularly hosts various concerts, exhibitions, and sports competitions.

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Astana is a true paradise for fans of active pastime, nighttime entertainment, and shopping. The city is home to numerous entertainment centers, shopping complexes, discos and nightclubs …

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Astana museums deserve a separate mention. The National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the youngest but the largest museum in whole Central Asia. It exhibits items that unleash the cultural framework of the country. The museum has halls dedicated to various themes: Hall of Gold, the Hall of History, Hall of Astana, Ethnography Hall, Hall of Ancient and Medieval History, several Halls of Modern Art, and Hall of Independent Kazakhstan.

The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is also a notable museum that appeared in 2004 in the city. As it is not hard to guess from its name, the museum is dedicated to the country’s first president and exhibits a range of original and archival documents, gifts that the president received, rare editions, interesting photographs, and many other items that help understanding the history of Kazakhstan better.

Advices to travellers: what you should know while being in Astana

1. Local people are very attentive when it comes to consuming alcohol. Drinking spirits can be prohibited during certain religious holidays and fasting. 2. It is allowed to discuss …

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The Palace of peace and reconciliation is another must-visit place in Astana. Excursions, performances, and various concerts take place daily in the palace. The museum hosts a very interesting Egypt Exhibition. There is also a large Opera Hall that can seat up to 1,500 visitors. Don’t forget to go up to the 6th floor of the Palace to attend the Kulanshi Center of Contemporary Art that exhibits original lithographs by Picasso, Dali, and Chagall.

The Astana-Bayterek Monument became the symbol of the city relatively recently. Its construction was completed only in the year 2002. President Nursultan Nazarbayev took the initiative to build the main tourist attraction of the capital of Kazakhstan, and Akmurza Rustembekov was the architect of the project. The idea behind it is that with the construction of the monument, begins a new life in Kazakhstan, and this is really true because in 1997 the capital of the state was moved from Almaty to Astana. At the center of the building lies the beliefs of the ancient nomads; it is believed that the monument represents the Tree of Life.

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There are outstanding Christian places of worship in the city. Holy Assumption Cathedral has a rich exterior decoration which immediately draws people’s attention. Inside, you can find beautiful decoration and iconostasis. The church is built in the Orthodox style and it really beautifies the residential area of the capital of Astana. There is another church called the Church of St. Joseph the Betrothed. It is smaller, but you can enjoy the extraordinary peace and tranquility that reigns here. Among other interesting mosques in the city, there is the Hazrat Sultan mosque, which is considered one of the best architectural creations in Astana. It is located next to Independence Square. Another one is the Saduahas hazhi Gylmani Mosque, which is located next to the Asem shopping mall.

The Palace of Peace and Reconciliation – the pyramid of Peace and Accord – is another fascinating landmark of the city. This building is worth visiting not only because interesting concerts are held here, but also for the reason that it is attractive from an architectural point of view. In addition, it serves as an excellent observation platform, opening up beautiful views of the city. The building has its own interesting story which you should certainly listen to. Any local will be pleased to tell you about it in detail. This landmark has a lot of symbols that needs to be “read between the lines” – for example, even the fact that 130 pigeons are engraved on the stained glass windows suggests multi-ethnicity of the Kazakh people. They in turn, live in peace and harmony, hence the name of the complex.

Astana design-hotels for stylish travellers

Astana has many attractive upscale hotels with striking design. King Hotel Astana is situated in the downtown. The lodge is decorated in aristocratic style and features furnishing of wood …

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Sports fans will appreciate the Astana Arena. The place was built in 2009 in a modern style and seats 30,000 spectators. Interesting matches, mostly football, are often hosted here. Then of course, the most important square in Astana, Independence Square, on which the monument “Kazak Eli” is installed, is definitely worth taking a walk across. It has a scale which even the most sophisticated tourist will find impressive. It is precisely for the fact that here you can feel how Kazakhstan became a state. The grand Independence Palace and the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which are located here, also confirms the fact.

In the section below, you can get one of our excursion, activities or city discovery tours over Astana and surroundings. Our website offers 10-30% lower ticket prices, when compared to the offline purchase on the spot.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Astana and surroundings

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Iconic cultural sights of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan is a country of contrasts. It perfectly combines eastern hospitality, modern trends, and innovative building industry. Modern business centers peacefully border with ancient towns that once were important stops on the Silk Route. The internationally famous Baikonur Cosmodrome stands proudly in the midst of the endless steppe. In the capital of the country, Nur-Sultan (formerly known as Astana), vacationers cannot fail to notice the Bayterek Tower that was built in 1997. The futurist metal construction has quickly become one of the most famous landmarks in Kazakhstan. The Bayterek Tower symbolizes the connection of the past and the future, representing thoughts of ancient tribes of the steppe about cosmos. By the way, there is an observation deck on the top, so visitors can visit it and enjoy panoramic views of the whole city. … Open

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Photogallery of cultural heritage of Astana

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Astana

Barnaul

Miraculously the "Pokrovsky Cathedral" was preserved - one of the most beautiful temples of the city. It will be interesting for guests of Barnaul to see the "St. Nicholas Church" and "Znamensky Cathedral", one of the oldest stone cathedrals in Siberia. Be sure to walk along "Demidovskaya Square", which is the oldest in the city. In the center of the square there is a Demidov ... Open »

Ekaterinburg

A monument of war, which is installed on Lunacharsky Street, is made in the memory of the victims who fell during World War II. The eternal flame also recalls the memories of people killed during the war. Every year the historical memorial is attended by hundreds of people from different countries. Speaking of unusual sights, we simply cannot fail to mention the monument ... Open »

Almaty

One more important landmark of Almaty is located near the park. This is Green market. This is an authentic oriental bazaar, during a walk on which you can not only buy high-quality and inexpensive goods, but also try the best barbecue in the city. Food there is prepared according to the original recipe. The Central State Museum is surely the most famous cultural institution of ... Open »

Ashgabat

A very important symbol for Ashgabat residents is the Turkmenistan Independence Monument, which was officially opened in 2001. This is a beautiful white column painted with gold. The height of the monument is 118 meters and there is a small building in its lower part. The latter houses an interesting thematic museum that contains historical exhibits related to the period of ... Open »

Islamabad

Besides the internationally famous Faisal Mosque, Rohtas Fort, and Taxila Ruins, Islamabad and surrounding regions have many interesting places that definitely deserve a visit. For example, Daman-E-Koh viewing point north of Islamabad is one of the must-visit landmarks. The incredibly beautiful area is very interesting to explore. Moreover, it also offers a truly breathtaking ... Open »

Amritsar

Taking into consideration the unique culture and traditions of Amritsar, it is no wonder why spectacular Harmandir Sahib is the main landmark in this Indian city. Many travelers know this temple by its informal name – the Golden Temple. This name is not random as the temple’s facade is covered with gold. It took almost 20 years to build the temple, and Harmandir Sahib ... Open »

Culture guide to Astana. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Astana: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Astana. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!

Culture of Astana. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

City tours, excursions and tickets in Astana and surroundings

Iconic cultural sights of Kazakhstan

Photogallery of cultural heritage of Astana

Landmarks of culture on Astana map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc

Excursions over cultural sights of neighbours of Astana