Holiday in Astana
City in kasachstan — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
kasachstan
Type
City
Best time to travel
May to September (15-30 °C). Winter extremely cold (-30 to -40 °C!). June-August is the most pleasant.
Budget/day
50-100 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Astana (NQZ, approx. 5-7 h with a stopover in Istanbul or direct from Frankfurt). No visa required for Germans for up to 30 days.
About Astana
Astana (until 2019 Nur-Sultan) is Kazakhstan's futuristic capital in the endless steppe of Central Asia. Since the relocation of the capital from Almaty in 1997, the city has transformed into an architectural showcase: star architects like Norman Foster, Kisho Kurokawa, and BIG have realized their boldest designs here. The Bayterek Tower, a 97 m high tower in the shape of a mythical tree with a golden egg on top, is the landmark. The Khan Shatyr (by Norman Foster), the largest tent in the world, houses a shopping center with a beach resort under a transparent membrane — even at -40 °C outside in winter. The Nur-Astana Mosque and the Hazret-Sultan Mosque (the largest mosque in Central Asia) stand next to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Foster's pyramid) — a glass pyramid intended to unite religions and cultures. The EXPO site from 2017 is now a cultural and museum center. Astana's contrast is extreme: futuristic skyscrapers stand next to Soviet-style apartment blocks, and Kazakh steppe culture (horse meat, kumys, yurts) exists just a few kilometers away from sushi bars and Italian restaurants.
Top 5 highlights in Astana
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Bayterek Tower
97 m high mythical tree with a golden egg: Astana's landmark with panoramic views — the president's handprint can be seen at the top.
Khan Shatyr
Largest tent in the world (Norman Foster): shopping center with beach resort under a transparent membrane — summer inside at -40 °C outside.
Palace of Peace (Pyramid)
Foster's glass pyramid for interreligious dialogue: opera, museum, and observation deck in one.
Hazret-Sultan Mosque
Largest mosque in Central Asia: white and golden, space for 10,000 worshippers — also accessible to non-Muslims.
EXPO 2017 Sphere
Giant glass sphere of the former EXPO site: now a museum of the future and cultural center.
Hotels in Astana
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Reise-SIM für Astana
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Astana
Recommended travel time
May to September (15-30 °C). Winter extremely cold (-30 to -40 °C!). June-August is the most pleasant.
Summer
20-35 °C, warm and sunny, short and intense
Winter
-20 to -40 °C, extremely cold, snow and wind
How much does a holiday in Astana cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
25-45 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
50-100 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
120-300 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Astana
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Astana
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
No visa for 30 days — Germans can enter visa-free for up to 30 days.
Winter is EXTREMELY cold — temperatures down to -40 °C are not uncommon. Only visit if you can tolerate (or love) extreme cold.
Tenge is moderate — 1 € ≈ 530 KZT. Cheaper than Western Europe, more expensive than other Central Asian countries.
Baikonur as an excursion — the Russian spaceport is located 1,200 km south. Organized tours to rocket launches are possible.
Try kumys and horse meat — Kazakh nomadic cuisine is unique. Beshbarmak (horse meat with noodles) is the national dish.
Food & drink in Astana
These specialties you must try!
