City
Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan)
Southern Kazakhstan • Kazakhstan • 360 m
Astan ("the shining king"; formerly Akmoolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan) has been the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan since December 10, 1997. At the start of 2020, its population numbered 1,136,156. in fact the second most populous city in Kazakhstan after Almaty. Nur-Sultan is located in the north of the country, on the banks of the Ishim River.
The area of the territory of the city is 797.33 km²
The territory of the modern city was previously an important crossing point for caravans. Archaeologists have found artifacts in the city that date back to the Bronze Age, the early Iron Age and the Middle Ages.
Currently, Nur-Sultan is a modern center and its growth is very rapid. The city attracts with its futuristic buildings and developed infrastructure. In 2017, the city hosted the World Expo EXPO-2017, which significantly increased the number of tourists.
Nur-Sultan International Airport is located 15 km from the city. In addition, the city has a sufficient number of modern hotels meeting European standards.
4 things to do in Nur-Sultan:
- Visit a traditional oriental bazaar in the city center. Feel the atmosphere of the Asian market, try on traditional clothes and shop for national souvenirs.
- Walk along the three-level bridge on Vodno-green Boulevard. The bridge is a huge pedestrian avenue. At the very bottom there is a parking lot, on the second level there are offices, shops, restaurants and exhibition halls, and on the third level there are excellent conditions for walking: there are a lot of fountains and sculptures.
- Visit the main tourist sites of the city: Museum of the First President, Architectural and cultural objects: "Baiterek", the Palace of Peace and Accord and the ethno-memorial complex "Map of Kazakhstan".
- Taste a national dish. There are many restaurants serving Kazakh cuisine in the capital. Be sure to try the tea with dried fruits and spices, and the national meat dish beshparmak.