National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This huge blue-glass-and-white-marble museum covers the history and culture of Kazakhstan from ancient to modern times. Themed halls comprise interactive…
Must-see attractions in Nur-Sultan (Astana)
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 & 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…
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…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The yurt-shaped museum showcases beautifully presented exhibitions on weaponry and warfare, with striking murals greeting visitors. On the ground floor,…
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…
Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Inside the former presidential palace, a succession of lavish galleries display gifts to President Nazarbayev from foreign governments and grateful…
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…
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…
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-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 –…
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…
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…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Grandiose building that houses the offices of the president of Kazakhstan. You can only admire it from the outside.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
These three undulating, light-green apartment towers are a prominent feature of the western part of the boulevard.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
Striking office blocks whose tops splay outward like the pages of opening books.
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…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
East of Khan Shatyr, across a park, stand the grand headquarters of the state energy company, KazMunayGaz.
House of Ministries – Northern Wing
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This curved golden building, along with its southern twin, have been dubbed the 'Beer Cans' by locals.
House of Ministries – Southern Wing
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
This curved golden building, along with its northern twin, have been dubbed the 'Beer Cans' by locals.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The Atameken – a 200m-long, walk-around country map with models of major buildings – is quite fun.
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The egg-domed National Archive stands just west of the Bayterek Monument.