Astana walking route: Bayterek Tower to Abu Dhabi Plaza
Explore Astana's modern architecture on this 9.1 km route through Kazakhstan's capital. Visit the iconic Bayterek Tower, the geometric Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, and Abu Dhabi Plaza, Central Asia's tallest building at 311 meters.
- Distance
- 9.1 km
- Duration
- 1 h 49 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Astana (Nur Sultan)
- End
- Abu Dhabi Plaza
- Stops
- 4
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Astana (Nur Sultan)
- Bayterek Tower — 105-meter tall tower and one of the most recognized symbols of Nur Sultan, located on Nurjo Boulevard.
- Palace of Peace and Reconciliation — Pyramid-shaped landmark in Astana.
- Abu Dhabi Plaza — At 311 meters, the tallest building in Kazakhstan.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Maximum speed limit on freeways is 140 km/h. Plan driving times accordingly.
- Transport
- Car rental companies do not allow drives between Astana and Almaty due to incomplete modern highway sections. Consider flying instead (1.5 hour flight).
- Food
- Try Beshbarmak, a traditional Kazakh dish of finely chopped boiled meat mixed with dough, eaten with hands. Made traditionally with horse meat.
- Food
- Visit the Green Market in Almaty to try seasonal fruits, including the famous Almaty apple variety.
- Save money
- Premium gasoline costs only $0.44 per liter (2x cheaper than Russia or Uzbekistan).
- Timing
- Ski season at Shimbulak resort runs from late November to April. 30 minutes from Almaty city center.
- Timing
- Big Almaty Lake is at 2500m altitude and requires 4-5 hours of hiking; road has been closed for 3 years. Go early to avoid crowds.
- Transport
- Only electric taxis allowed at Medeu ice rink. 30 minutes from Almaty city center by taxi or cable car access available.
- Tip
- Assy Plateau requires an off-road vehicle and reaches 2700m altitude at the Observatory. Nomads live here seasonally (May-October).
- Tip
- Singing Dune in Altyn Emel National Park produces sounds in dry, windy weather. Get park pass and map at Bashi village.
- Timing
- Modern nomads in Assy Plateau move herds to mountains in May when green, stay in yurts until September-October before returning to villages.
- Tip
- Astana has extreme continental climate: hot summers and very cold winters. City lacks trees for shade in summer heat.
Video on this route
Kazakhstan - Largest country in Central Asia | Travel Documentary