Astana

Spreading ever further across the northern steppe, Kazakhstan’s capital is a showpiece for 21st-century Kazakhstan. Called Astana until 2019, it was briefly renamed after the former president, Nur-Sultan, before becoming Astana once more in 2022. The Kazakh capital has grown into a futuristic metropolis of more than 1.3 million inhabitants and looks set to keep growing. Its skyline becomes more fantastical by the year as landmark buildings, many of them by leading international architects, sprout along the wide boulevards in a variety of Asian, Western, Soviet and futuristic styles. It's hard not to be impressed by the concept of this "Singapore of the steppe."

Though its summers are hot and dusty and its winters are characterised by blasts of icy wind from the steppe, Astana is an appealing city with a young, forward-looking vibe that attracts Kazakhstan's ambitious, talented youth. The capital may get under your skin, too.