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.
Deals for Astana:
What makes Astana special as a destination?
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.
What are the top highlights in Astana?
The top highlights in Astana include Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr, Palace of Peace (Pyramid), Hazret-Sultan Mosque, EXPO 2017 Sphere.
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
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Reise-SIM für Astana
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Astana?
The best time to visit Astana is May to September (15-30 °C). Winter extremely cold (-30 to -40 °C!). June-August is the most pleasant.. 20-35 °C, warm and sunny, short and intense In winter: -20 to -40 °C, extremely cold, snow and wind
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?
Budget travellers: 25-45 €/day, mid-range: 50-100 €/day, luxury: 120-300 €/day.
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
How do I get from Germany to Astana?
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.
Book a package holiday to Astana
Compare thousands of package holidays to Astana and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there 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.
What should you eat in Astana?
Typical specialities in Astana: Beshbarmak — boiled horse meat (or lamb) on wide noodles with onion sauce: Kazakhstan's national dish, eaten with hands., Kumys — fermented mare's milk: slightly alcoholic, sour — a Kazakh cultural drink for millennia., Kazy — horse sausage: smoked or boiled, a festive dish of Kazakh nomads., Plov — Central Asian rice pilaf with lamb and carrots: available in every price range in Astana., Baursaki — fried dough balls: Kazakh bread, golden and slightly sweet, served with tea..
These specialties you must try!
