Astana Travel Guide, Kazakhstan

Astana, located in the northwest of Kazakhstan, is the capital of the country, and its second largest city. Astana became the capital in 1998, instead of Almaty, which still remains the cultural, economic and financial centre of Kazakhstan. Most embassies had moved to Astana more than ten years ago, and the city became the country’s political centre. Astana underwent many changes, especially in terms of architecture, and it is rapidly becoming one of the most impressive modern cities in Central Asia. More and more tourists are interested in visiting this city, although its touristic potential has been somewhat overlooked until now. Astana is a great place for holiday makers interested in getting to know a different culture, to see the city’s attractions and to find quality entertainment. This Astana Travel Guide offers some useful information for those who’d like to visit this exciting city.

Astana Travel Guide - Transport

The nearest airport to the city is Astana International airport, located at about 15 kilometers from the city centre. The airport operates numerous domestic flights to smaller Kazak airports. There are also several international flights operating between Astana and more remote destinations such as Moscow, Beijing, Seoul, London or Frankfurt, and to the nearby Russian cities of Perm and Saratov. Air Astana, the local air company, serves many international airports both in Asia and in Europe. There is a bus service that runs every half an hour from the airport to Astana and back, but if you don’t want to wait, you can also take a taxi, but prepare to pay a lot more than the regular bus fare. Once you’ve arrived to Astana, the most sensible way to get around the city is by taxi. Taxis in the city are not too expensive by European standards, and you can always use the public transport system as well. However, Astana’s main attraction lies in its beautiful modern architecture, which can best be admired when walking around the city centre.

Astana Travel Guide - Accommodation

Astana is full of recently built hotels that cater for all categories of tourists. If you are on a budget, this Astana Travel Guide recommends the Astana Park Hotel, located in the Central Park of the city. This hotel is rather small, but very comfortable and affordable, with modern amenities such as sauna, billiard room and even a nightclub. Tengri Hotel is one of the newest hotels in the city, and it is located near the presidential palace and other attractions. The hotel is decorated in an interesting style combining both modern and traditional elements, and it has a great restaurant that serves delicious local specialties. The most luxurious hotel is Astana is Rixos Presidents Hotel, located in the old quarter of the city. The hotel has two excellent restaurants, an Italian and a Turkish one, but it is also close to other restaurants and shopping facilities.