Astana walking route: Nurzhol Boulevard to Khan Shatyr
The 13.5 km long route in Astana covers a walk from the city center through the Presidential Park to the embankment of the Ishim River. The path demonstrates the modern infrastructure of the Kazakh capital with well-groomed parks, wide areas and views of new architectural objects of the city.
- Distance
- 13.5 km
- Duration
- 2 h 12 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Nurzhol Boulevard
- End
- Khan Shatyr
- Stops
- 4
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Nurzhol Boulevard — The main central alley with modern architecture, where the main administrative and cultural objects of the city are concentrated.
- Botanical Garden — A vast park with diverse flora of the steppe region, showcasing the flora and fauna of Central Asia.
- National Museum — The largest museum in Kazakhstan, storing artifacts from ancient Scythian gold objects to modern exhibits of national history.
- Khan Shatyr — A huge shopping and entertainment complex in the form of a yurt with an internal beach and an amusement park, embodying modern design.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Air Astana flight from Da Nang to Astana takes 8 hours. Airline offers good meal service including water multiple times, drinks, and sandwiches. Aircraft are new with seat-back screens and good film selection.
- Where to stay
- Air Astana offers Oover program: stay up to 3 nights in Astana or Almaty at reduced prices with included airport transfers. Reikartz Hotel costs $140 for 3 nights with breakfast buffet included.
- Timing
- Most attractions and businesses open at 10:00 AM, not early morning. Baiterek opens at 10:00 AM. Plan accordingly as opening times differ from Southeast Asia.
- Tip
- No language barrier; Russian widely spoken and understood. Many shop signs and official signage include Russian translations alongside Kazakh.
- Timing
- Early morning (6 AM) in Astana is cold at around 10-15°C despite daytime heat of 37°C. Morning temperatures drop significantly; bring layers.
- Tip
- Baiterek entrance ticket costs 2,500 TNG. Queue time approximately 10 minutes at opening. Observation deck offers 360° panoramic views of entire city.
- Tip
- National Museum of Kazakhstan entrance ticket costs 6,000 tenge. Photography with professional cameras is prohibited; phone photography of exhibits permitted in some areas.
- Tip
- Nursultan Mosque is the largest mosque in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, capacity 235,000 people. One of four minarets (130m high) accessible by elevator to observation deck.
- Tip
- Hazreet Sultan Mosque built in 2012, holds up to 10,000 people. Minaret height 77m, dome height 51m. Located near Independence Square.
- Tip
- Nur Alem building (80m diameter sphere) is main symbol of EXPO Astana. Features eight levels about alternative energy sources. Exterior access available; interior entry sometimes restricted.
- Tip
- Nurzhol Boulevard designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa is a three-level structure with many architectural buildings by famous international and local architects.
- Tip
- Presidential Park is large, well-maintained with walking paths, fountains (activate mid-day), and monument to President Nazarbayev. Features river embankment access to Ishim River.
Video on this route
I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS! Astana surprised me 🇰🇿. A modern city of Central Asia. Honest impressions.