AstanaCapital
Kazakhstan · Country profile
Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, the futuristic city of the steppe that the nation raised from the empty plains in the 1990s as its new political centre, and that now spreads a forest of the gleaming towers, the grand avenues and the startling experimental architecture across the flat, windy landscape of the north. The city is the showcase of the new Kazakhstan, with the enormous tent of the Khan Shatyr, the glass pyramid of the Peace and Reconciliation and the slender tower of the monument of the capital framing its dramatic skyline. The winter of the steppe is famously brutal and the city is built for it, with the insulated towers, the heated streets and the enormous malls of the centre. The river of the Ishim divides the city, and the embankments, the parks and the memorials of the capital give it a monumental, confident rhythm quite unlike any other city of the region.
About Astana
Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan. The city's documented population is around 1,450,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) and Kazakh and Russian are spoken; the dialling code is +7.
The Steppe Capital Built for a New Century
Astana is a purpose-built capital of striking, often startling modern architecture rising from the flat steppe, a city of towers, monuments and grand boulevards that was built from nothing in a generation. The centre holds the famous buildings, from the tent of the mall to the pyramid and the tower of the capital, and the streets run with a young, prosperous, confident energy. The winter is very cold and the summer warm, and the city is safe, clean and easy. It is a monument to a national ambition, and the glimpses of the steppe and the river between the towers give the whole its strange, ambitious, northern character.
The Cold Winters, the Tenge and the Long Summer Days
The climate is extreme continental, with the winter months of the deep cold and the bright, dry summers, and the spring and the autumn are short; the famous cold is a real factor, so pack accordingly for the winter visits. The tower of the capital, the tent of the Khan Shatyr and the museums of the capital are the essential stops, and the river embankments and the parks fill the green side. The tenge is the currency, the Kazakh and the Russian are both spoken and the cards work everywhere. The city is safe and orderly, with the buses and the taxis of the ride apps covering the wide, flat spread.
The Towers, the Tent and the Museums of the New Capital
The tower of the monument of the capital, the great viewing landmark with the golden hand of the steppe on its summit, gives the panorama over the whole city, and the observation deck is the essential first stop. The enormous tent of the Khan Shatyr, part shopping centre, part beach and part entertainment world under its vast cable roof, is the strangest and the most famous building of the capital, while the pyramid of the peace and the hall of the congress anchor the civic life. The national museum of the country, with the golden treasures of the ancient nomads, and the opera house of the capital hold the cultural weight, and the embankments of the river with their memorials complete the monumental circuit.
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- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Population
- 1,450,000
- Coordinates
- 51.1160, 71.4677
- Capital
- Astana
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
- Languages
- Kazakh, Russian
- Calling code
- +7
- Country code
- KZ
Entry requirements for Kazakhstan
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Kazakhstan for tourism.
Getting to Astana
The nearest airports we list:
Cities in Kazakhstan
Other cities we cover in Kazakhstan:
Frequently asked questions
Is Astana the capital of Kazakhstan?
Yes — Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan.
What currency do I need in Astana?
The local currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT). Languages spoken in Kazakhstan include Kazakh and Russian.
What is the dialling code for Kazakhstan?
The international dialling code for Kazakhstan is +7.
Which airport is nearest to Astana?
The nearest airport we list is Almaty International Airport (ALA), about 960 km away.
How far is Astana from the nearest airport?
Astana is about 960 km from Almaty International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit Kazakhstan?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Kazakhstan visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Astana? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.