Kazakhstan's capital, built on the steppe in just over 30 years: Bayterek Tower, Khan Shatyr — the world's largest tent structure — the Pyramid, Hazret Sultan Mosque and the EXPO Nur Alem sphere make it a showcase of modern architecture. For families there is an oceanarium, malls and an indoor beach. SCAT flies direct from Ulaanbaatar in ~4.5 hours, and Mongolian citizens stay 90 days visa-free. Winters are very cold and windy — May to September is best.
🛂 Visa: Visa-free · 90 days✈ Flight: 4.5h · direct☀ Best months: May, June, July, August
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: May, June, July, August, September.
Things to see (12)
🧸 for kids
Bayterek Tower★ 4.5 (30,000)
City₸2,000 (ages 6–15 ₸1,000, under 5 free)10:00–21:00 (until 22:00 June–August)
The 97 m city symbol topped with a golden sphere: from the top you see the Nurzhol Boulevard axis — Khan Shatyr at one end, Ak Orda palace and the Pyramid at the other. Inside is a platform with Nazarbayev's handprint. Combine it with the nearby white-and-gold Nur-Astana (al-Farabi) Mosque.
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goKazakhstan is visa-free for Mongolian citizens — you need a passport, a ticket, insurance and, in winter, very warm clothes.+
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Visa: up to 90 days visa-free
Under a 1994 agreement, Mongolian citizens with any type of passport travel to Kazakhstan visa-free for up to 90 days. Showing your passport at the border is enough; no advance registration. Your passport must be valid beyond your return date.
Tip: Check consul.mn (Mongolian MFA) before the trip in case the rule has changed.
Under the 2025 rules foreigners can stay up to 30 days without registration. For longer stays the host — your hotel or landlord — must register you through the visa and migration portal within 3 working days. Missing the deadline brings a fine.
SCAT's direct flight runs only twice a week and leaves in the middle of the night, so arrange your ride to the airport in advance. All of Kazakhstan is now on UTC+5 — 3 hours behind Ulaanbaatar. Winters are bitterly cold and windy: a hat, gloves and a face scarf are essential.
Tip: Tugrik cannot be exchanged in Kazakhstan — bring dollars or use a Visa/Mastercard.
🛬Landing and getting to the cityThe airport lies south of the city; since May 2026 the LRT light rail runs straight into town.+
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LRT — cheap and traffic-free
The LRT line runs from the airport to the city centre and Nurly Zhol railway station; a ride costs ₸200, paid by tapping your card. The full line takes about 40 minutes.
Arriving on the night flight, a Yandex Go taxi is easiest: the price is shown upfront and the ride takes 20–25 minutes. Do not go with drivers touting at the exit. Buses 10 and 12 also run to the city.
Tip: With children, the app has a child-seat option.
If your phone supports eSIM, buy one from Airalo or similar before the flight: short plans cost a few dollars. For lots of data, get a Beeline, Kcell/activ or Tele2 SIM at a shop with your passport; airport prices are higher than in town.
Tip: Download the Astana map in 2GIS for offline use.
Free Wi-Fi is almost everywhere in cafés, restaurants, malls and hotels; some log you in with an SMS code to a phone number, so a local number helps.
🚇Getting aroundThe Esil River splits the city into the old (right bank) and new (left bank) parts; most sights are on the left bank and spread out.+
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Buses and the LRT
City buses cost ₸210 a ride, paid by tapping a Visa/Mastercard or a city card. The LRT links the airport, the Nurzhol Boulevard area and Nurly Zhol station. Check routes in 2GIS.
Yandex Go is cheap and reliable — the best option instead of walking in the icy winter wind. Do not flag down unlicensed private cars in the street.
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To Burabay
Reach Burabay on a tour, with a driver, or by train to Shchuchinsk and a taxi from there. With a private car the park fee is ₸1,298 on weekdays and ₸1,730 at weekends.
Almost all shops, restaurants and taxis accept Visa/Mastercard. Locals pay with Kaspi QR, but that only works with a Kazakh bank account — your card is all you need.
Withdraw tenge from Halyk, Kaspi, Forte and other bank ATMs. Dollars and roubles get good rates at city exchange offices ('obmennik'); airport rates are poor. Markets and small cafés need cash.
Tip: Tugrik is not exchanged — bring dollars from Ulaanbaatar.
🍜FoodA mix of Kazakh, Uzbek, Uyghur, Russian and Korean cooking; meaty and generous.+
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What to eat
Beshbarmak — flat noodles with boiled meat; lagman; plov; manty; samsa; kazy — horse sausage; kumis and shubat; baursak. Hot soup and tea are perfect on cold days.
Tip: Restaurants usually add a service charge to the bill already — check before tipping.
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Where to eat
Stolovayas (pick-your-own canteens) and mall food courts are cheap and quick. Khan Shatyr and Mega Silk Way have many family-friendly restaurants. Chains such as Navat and Rumi serve Kazakh food.
The city is generally safe. The main winter risk is the cold, strong wind and blizzards: protect your face and fingers from frostbite and walk carefully on ice. On stormy days plan indoor sights.
Tip: Even summer evenings can be windy and cool — bring a light jacket.
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Hospitals
Private clinics are modern, with Russian/English-speaking doctors. In an emergency call 103, or your insurer's assistance line first. Pharmacies are everywhere.
🙏Manners+
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Hospitable Kazakh culture
In a Kazakh home take your shoes off, respect elders and don't leave bread or food. Tea is poured again and again — cover your cup with your hand when you've had enough. Mongolian and Kazakh cultures are close, so most customs will feel familiar.
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Language, mosques and state buildings
Nobody minds Russian; 'Salemetsiz be' — hello, 'Rakhmet' — thank you. Cover shoulders and knees at Hazret Sultan and other mosques. See Ak Orda and other state buildings only from outside, and do not fly drones in guarded areas.
📱Useful apps+
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Maps and taxis
2GIS — the most detailed Astana map, bus and LRT routes and opening hours. Yandex Go — taxis with upfront prices. Google Maps helps, but its bus data is patchy.
The direct flight to Ulaanbaatar leaves at night, when the LRT may have stopped — plan a Yandex Go taxi. Allow for queues at check-in and passport control.
Spend leftover tenge in Kazakhstan or change it back to dollars at a city exchange office — tenge is hard to exchange in Mongolia. Take kurt, kazy and Rakhat chocolate as gifts; check Mongolian customs rules for meat products.
AI answer: double-check anything beyond our researched facts with an official source.
≈10:00–22:00
A 150 m translucent tent — the world's largest tent structure — housing shops, a cinema, a children's amusement park and, on the top floor, the 'Sky Beach' pool with Maldivian sand. Warm inside even in winter — the go-to for families on cold days.
CultureFree9:00–21:00 (limited visits during Friday midday prayers)
One of Central Asia's largest mosques: white marble, four 77 m minarets and a gold-decorated prayer hall. Cover shoulders and knees; headscarves are lent to women at the entrance. Right next to the Pyramid and the Kazakh Eli monument.
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Pyramid)★ 4.5 (8,000)
CultureGuided tour ≈₸1,000–2,00010:00–18:00
Norman Foster's 62 m glass pyramid: an opera hall inside and a stained-glass 'cradle' with doves at the apex. Visits only by guided tour (Russian, English, Kazakh); ask for tour times in advance.
Kazakh Eli monument and Independence Square★ 4.6 (6,000)
CityFree24 hours
A 91 m white column topped by the mythical Samruk bird; around the vast square stand Hazret Sultan, the Pyramid, the National Museum and the Shabyt arts palace. Best photographed in the evening lights.
CultureMain halls ≈₸1,000–2,000; Gold Hall extra10:00–18:00, closed Mondays
Central Asia's largest museum: Saka and Xiongnu finds, the Golden Man, nomad life, the Gold Hall and interactive rooms for children. Familiar history for Mongolians — allow 2–3 hours.
CultureDepends on the show (~₸3,000–30,000)Shows usually start at 19:00
A lavish Italian-style theatre for Kazakh and world opera and ballet. Buy tickets in advance on Ticketon or the theatre's site; daytime building tours are also offered.
Kids₸1,500 (pupils ₸500, under 6 free)10:00–20:00, closed Mondays
The 80 m glass sphere from EXPO 2017 — an 8-floor Museum of Future Energy with interactive solar, wind and space exhibits and a viewing deck at the top. Mega Silk Way mall and restaurants are next door.
One of the aquariums farthest from any sea: walk through a 70 m tunnel among sharks and rays, plus children's rides and a 4D cinema. Good for families on a cold day.
A riverside promenade dividing the old and new city: the Atyrau pedestrian bridge, Central Park and LED lights in the evening. In summer river boats run past Bayterek, Ak Orda and the Pyramid; in winter there is a skating rink.
A large green space in the centre: a lake, walking paths, playgrounds and a tropical greenhouse. South of Khan Shatyr; great for a family stroll in summer.
NaturePark fee per car ₸1,298 (weekdays), ₸1,730 (weekends)Daily; best June–August
'Kazakhstan's Switzerland' — freshwater lakes among pine forest and granite hills, ~240 km and ~3 hours by car. Okzhetpes rock, the Zhumbaktas 'sphinx' rock, swimming and horse riding. Go on a tour, with a driver, or by train to Shchuchinsk.
