Astana is the modern capital of Kazakhstan, the construction of which is going on at a supersonic pace. High-level hotels, mirror skyscrapers, wide avenues and beautiful embankments: this is the kind of present Astana presents to tourists.
Since that small provincial city known for its "cold" winters was declared the future capital of Kazakhstan and, by President Nazarbayev's decree, replaced Almaty in 1997, he "experienced" rapid growth and became the second largest in the country.
Is located in the north-east of the country on the banks of the Ishim River. It is noteworthy that the capital of this city was recently - in 1997. Before the status of the main city belonged to Alma-Ata.
Some find Astana faceless and compare the misery in which some Kazakhstanis still live, with billions spent on the embodiment of someone's architectural fantasies. However, the residents themselves are obviously proud of their new capital.
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How to get
Considering that Astana is a modern city with developed infrastructure, it is possible to get to it practically in all ways known to science. For example, 16 km from the capital of Kazakhstan operates an international airport. Passes through the city and the railway junction. Also Astana is the intersection of two highways: A-343 Astana-Petropavlovsk and M-36 Chelyabinsk-Alma-Ata.By plane
The international airport of Astana, located 15 km from the city center, serves flights from Vienna, Kiev, Moscow, Beijing, Delhi, Seoul, Bangkok, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, London, Amsterdam, Hanover and Frankfurt, as well as several domestic destinations.
The national carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan Air Astana carries out flights to Almaty, Delhi, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hanover, Istanbul, Moscow and Urumqi.
From the airport to the city center you can get by bus number 10 (cost 60 tenge) or taxi.
Search for air tickets to Astana - $
City History
During the archaeological excavations it was established that on the site of modern Astana there were ancient settlements dating from the Bronze Age era. Later, caravan routes passed here as well.
The city itself was founded in 1830 and was originally only a Cossack outpost. Founder Shubin, a participant in the battle of Borodino, was considered the founder. The very same idea to create a protective outpost came to the sultans and the foremen of the Altayev, Kuvandyk and Karpykovsk volosts, suffering from the raids of the Kokand people. The Governor of Western Siberia satisfied this requirement and ordered the construction of a fortress. Later the outpost grew into a city called Akmolinsk.
In Soviet times, namely in 1961, the city was renamed Tselinograd. And only after the collapse of the USSR he was given the historical name - Akmola. In 1994 the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Akmola, and in 1998 the city began to be called Astana.
- Visit the traditional oriental bazaar in the city center. Here you can taste delicious sweets, try on and buy national clothes, buy souvenirs and see for yourself the amazing performances of Kazakh street artists.
- Take a walk along the three-level bridge on the Water Green Boulevard. The bridge is a huge pedestrian avenue. At the very bottom is a parking lot, at the second level there are offices, shops, restaurants and exhibition halls, and on the third there are excellent conditions for walking: there are many fountains and sculptures.
- Go to the circus. In Astana, it is unusual - in the form of a flying saucer. The circus was opened not so long ago, therefore it enjoys great popularity among the local population.
- Try a national dish. In the capital there are many restaurants of Kazakh cuisine. Be sure to try tea with dried fruits and spices, meat dish beshparmak or shuzhuk. The most famous restaurants are on Turan Avenue.
Astana hotels - $
Hotels in the city are more than enough. Tourists can stay both in economy class hotels and in luxury hotels. Attentive staff, several additional services, cozy rooms - all this awaits everyone who came to Astana. Among the most popular hotels of the capital - Rixos President Hotel Astana, Radisson, Dedeman, Lion Hotel.
Book popular Astana hotels at the best prices
| Rixos President Hotel Astana from 15 472 rubles Astana Kunaeva 7 | Astana Marriott Hotel from 12 378 rubles Astana Dostyk Street 2 | Beijing Palace Soluxe Hotel Astana from 12 611 rubles Astana Syganak Street 27 |
| Grand Park Esil Hotel from 6 206 rubles Astana Beibitshilik Street 8 | G Empire from 4 422 rubles Astana Prospekt Abaya 63 | Kazzhol Hotel Astana from 5 622 rubles Astana Balkantau Prospekt 213 |
| Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Astana from 13 753 rubles Astana Sary Arka Street 8-A | Sky Lux Hotel Astana from 4 647 rubles Astana Zhenis Avenue 43 | Versal Hotel from 4 978 rubles Astana Sarayshyk Street 40 |
| Tri Peskarya Hotel from 2 324 rubles Astana Enlik-Kebek Str.11 / 1 |
Shopping and shopping
One of the largest shopping and entertainment centers in the world - Khan-Shatyr - is located in Astana. Performed in the form of a transparent tent, it reaches a height of 150 meters. Forbes Style Magazine included Khan Shatyr in the rating of the best eco-tours of the world. In this center of truly khan's scope are located cafes and restaurants, cinemas, a modern water park, a family park, shopping arcades.
Weather in Astana
Overcast -2 ° С in the day -6 ° С at night ° С water |
Clearly -3 ° С in the day -9 ° С at night ° С water |
Clearly -3 ° С in the day -12 ° С at night ° С water |
| Astana weather forecast for 10 days | ||
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of Astana
Since Astana is a fairly young city, here you can not find ancient historical monuments and structures. All the sights belong either to the Soviet period, or to the modern one.
Tower Baiterek
Tower Baiterek (in translation from Kazakh - "poplar") with a height of 150 meters symbolizes the young and developing capital of Kazakhstan. The tower is crowned by a top with a large ball, the color of which varies depending on the lighting. The "roots" of the tower are the lower floors, which are 4 meters underground. Here are aquariums, cafes and a gallery.
From the panoramic bay of Baiterek, from a height of 86 meters, a beautiful view of the city opens up, and for its resemblance to a giant candy, Baiterek was once nicknamed "Chupa Chups". In the center of the panoramic hall of the tower there is a wooden globe with 17 petals, signed by 17 representatives of various world religions, and next to the globe on a beautiful table is the "wish-fulfillment machine" with a handprint of President Nazarbayev.
Palace of Peace and Accord
The Palace of Peace and Harmony, created under the project of Sir Norman Foster in the form of a pyramid, symbolizes the openness of the Kazakh people and of Kazakhstan itself to the world. No wonder it is called the eighth wonder of the world. From the glass dome, crowning the top of the pyramid, offers a stunning view of the capital. The dome is decorated with figures of 130 pigeons, personifying the people of Kazakhstan. The Palace has a lot of interesting things: a concert hall, exhibition centers, art galleries.
Not far from the Palace of Peace and Harmony, there are two other interesting buildings from the architectural point of view - the Palace of Creativity "Shabyt" and the Palace of Independence, where most official state meetings and events are held.
"Duman"
The entertainment center "Duman" combines a lot of interesting objects. This is the most modern 5D-movie attraction, and a dome with exact copies and models of famous historical monuments, and many shops, and the only one in the CIS Oceanarium, which is more than 3 thousand kilometers from the sea. Despite such a remoteness, about 2 thousand representatives of marine fauna are gathered in the Oceanarium.
«Khan Shatyr»
The embodiment of another architectural fantasy of Sir Foster and the new symbol of Astana was Khan Shatyr, a shopping and entertainment complex, whose building resembles a giant tent. On the territory of Khan Shatyr with an area of 127 thousand square meters. meters there are shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and even an aquapark with an artificial beach and pools with waves. But the main highlight of Khan Shatyr is a beach resort with a tropical climate and white sand from the Maldives!
Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - $
In an interesting building with a dome is the museum of the first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, dedicated to the newest history of the country. Its main attraction is an exact copy of the costume of a warrior tigrohaud found during excavations near Almaty. The museum is open to visitors every day except Monday from 10:00 to 16:15 (break from 12:15 to 14:00), admission is free.
Ethno-memorial complex «Map of Kazakhstan - Atameken»
The ethno-memorial complex "Map of Kazakhstan - Atameken" is also unique in the open air. On the map of the complex there are 14 regions and 2 cities of republican significance: Astana and Almaty, and the diversity of natural and climatic zones and landscapes, as well as architecture and town-planning ensembles of Kazakhstan, including historical and cultural monuments, is presented.
Other sights
Capital circus with the architecture of the "flying saucer", located on the left bank of Ishim; the central mosque "Nur-Astana"; Modern Art Museum; National Theater of Opera and Ballet. K. Bayseitova. Photos of Astana (20)