Attractions in Nur-Sultan (Astana) & North
Futuristic cityscapes and ancient pines 🏙️🌲
Showing 43 attractions · Sorted by importance
Ak Orda Presidential Palace
📍 Astana
🏰 CastleThe stunning official residence of the President represents the heart of the capital with its grand white marble architecture and blue-and-gold dome.
Astana-Burabay Expressway (A1)
📍 Astana
🚗 Road Trip~240km paved high-speed toll motorway (2.5-3 hours). This modern highway connects the capital to the 'Kazakh Switzerland'. Highlights include the transition from the vast Saryarka steppe to the granite hills and pine forests of the Kokshetau Massif, with multiple rest areas and scenic vistas.
Baiterek Tower
📍 Astana
🏛 LandmarkThis iconic 105-meter tower symbolizes a mythical tree of life with a golden egg at the top, offering panoramic views of the capital.
Burabay (Borovoe) National Park
📍 Burabay
🌲 NatureKnown as the Switzerland of Kazakhstan, this park features stunning granite peaks, pine forests, and crystal-clear lakes perfect for hiking and boating.
Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
📍 Astana
🏛 LandmarkAn architectural marvel designed by Norman Foster, this world's largest tent houses a park, shops, and an indoor tropical beach.
Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve
📍 Korgalzhyn
🌲 NatureA UNESCO World Heritage site and a birdwatcher's paradise, famous for being the northernmost habitat of wild pink flamingos.
Lake Borovoe (Auliekol)
📍 Burabay
⛱ BeachA centerpiece of Northern Kazakhstan's tourism, this scenic lake offers sandy public beaches set against a backdrop of pine-covered mountains and unique rock formations.
Mount Sinyuha (Kokshe) Trail
📍 Burabay
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate 4-hour hike with 400m elevation gain to the highest peak in Burabay National Park at 947m, offering panoramic views of multiple lakes. Equipment rental: local shops in Burabay village.
National Ski Center Shchuchinsk
📍 Shchuchinsk
⛷ Ski Resort400m elevation, Olympic-standard cross-country trails with 16 FIS-certified courses totaling 37km, Nov-Mar season, world-class biathlon facility and K-125/K-90 ski jumping towers.
Ailand
📍 Astana
🧗 AdventureA comprehensive entertainment complex featuring a massive indoor water park, a tropical oceanarium, and a landmark outdoor ferris wheel.
Ailand Oceanarium
📍 Astana
🐠 AquariumThe world's most inland aquarium features a 70-meter transparent tunnel where visitors can walk among sharks, rays, and over 2,000 species of sea life.
ALZHIR Memorial Complex
📍 Akmol
🏘 Town / VillageA poignant memorial and museum dedicated to the families of political prisoners, offering an educational look into Kazakhstan's Soviet-era history.
Astana Botanical Garden
📍 Astana
🌿 GardenA massive modern green oasis featuring a tropical greenhouse, themed outdoor plant collections, and elegant pedestrian bridges.
Burabay Land
📍 Burabay
🧗 AdventureA versatile adventure hub offering husky sledding, reindeer encounters, and a variety of rope courses and outdoor sports throughout the year.
National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
📍 Astana
🖼 Art GalleryThe largest museum in Central Asia, featuring a vast Hall of Modern Art alongside the famous Golden Man archeological treasure.
Hazret Sultan Mosque
📍 Astana
🏛 LandmarkOne of the largest mosques in Central Asia, this stunning white marble structure features traditional Kazakh ornaments and grand domes.
Kokshetau National Park
📍 Zerenda
🌲 NatureA diverse landscape of low mountains and birch forests surrounding the serene Lake Zerenda, offering excellent opportunities for family camping and nature walks.
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
📍 Astana
🏛 LandmarkA striking glass and steel pyramid designed to host global religious leaders, featuring a 1,500-seat opera house inside.
Presidential Park
📍 Astana
🌿 GardenA grand formal park designed in the shape of a mythical bird, offering manicured lawns, intricate flowerbeds, and majestic fountains near the river.
Zhumbaktas Rock
📍 Burabay
🏛 LandmarkAn iconic natural limestone formation in Lake Borovoe that changes its shape depending on the viewing angle, resembling a sphinx or a girl.
ALZHIR Museum-Memorial Complex
📍 Akmol
🏰 CastleA powerful and educational historic site memorializing victims of political repression, located on the grounds of a former Soviet labor camp.
Astana Central Park
📍 Astana
🧗 AdventureThe city's primary green space featuring a dedicated rope adventure park, numerous amusement rides, and scenic boat rentals on the Ishim River.
Atameken Ethno-Memorial Complex
📍 Astana
🏘 Town / VillageAn engaging outdoor museum where families can walk through a miniature version of Kazakhstan, exploring all major landmarks in a single afternoon.
Bolektau Hill Trail
📍 Burabay
🥾 Hiking & Cycling1.5km easy 45-minute hike with 100m elevation gain. This is the most popular viewpoint in the region, overlooking Blue Bay and the Okzhetpes rock. Equipment rental: local shops in Burabay village.
Botai-Burabay Ethno-complex
📍 Burabay
🐄 FarmAn open-air museum recreating an Eneolithic settlement where visitors can explore the prehistoric rural lifestyle and the origins of horse domestication.
Burabay Nature Museum and Zoo-enclosure
📍 Burabay
🦁 ZooAn educational wildlife center featuring a museum and large outdoor enclosures housing native species like deer, birds of prey, and wild boar.
Burabay Scenic Ring Road
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip35km paved scenic loop (1-2 hours). A well-maintained tourist road encircling the main lakes of Burabay National Park. Highlights include the iconic Okzhetpes and Zhumbaktas rock formations, views of Lake Borovoe and Lake Shchuchye, and numerous lookout points through dense coniferous forests.
Burabay-Shchuchye Cycle Route
📍 Burabay
🥾 Hiking & Cycling30km easy 2.5-hour paved cycling route connecting the lakes of Burabay and Shchuchye through pine forests with minimal elevation gain. Bike rental: Available at numerous kiosks in Burabay village.
Elikti Ski Resort
📍 Kokshetau
⛷ Ski Resort350-520m elevation, 5 runs, 4km total skiable km, Dec-Mar season, features 5 groomed pistes of varying difficulty, T-bar lifts, and a modern hotel complex.
Kulanshi Art Center
📍 Astana
🖼 Art GalleryA contemporary art gallery located inside the iconic glass pyramid, hosting rotating exhibitions of avant-garde and traditional Central Asian works.
Lake Shchuchye
📍 Shchuchinsk
⛱ BeachThe deepest lake in the Burabay resort area, featuring clear freshwater beaches and a variety of recreational activities including boating and fishing.
Sky Beach Club
📍 Astana
🌊 Water ParkAn extraordinary indoor beach experience featuring Maldives sand and tropical temperatures beneath the iconic Khan Shatyr transparent canopy.
Buyratau National Park
📍 Ereymentau
🌲 NatureA unique steppe and mountain reserve featuring relic forests and specialized enclosures where visitors can observe wild bison and mountain sheep.
Lake Zerenda
📍 Zerenda
⛱ BeachA tranquil recreation area within the Kokshetau National Park, known for its sandy shores, granite boulders, and peaceful forest environment.
Akmola Regional Museum of Literature and Art
📍 Kokshetau
🖼 Art GalleryA cultural hub in the north that displays a significant collection of regional fine arts, sculptures, and literary history in a classic building.
Astana Green Belt Cycle Track
📍 Astana
🥾 Hiking & Cycling38km easy 3-hour paved cycling route through the 'Zhasyl Beldeu' man-made forest surrounding the capital, featuring flat terrain and dedicated lanes. Bike rental: Velocity (velocity.kz) or Astana Bike sharing.
BalQaragai Recreation Center
📍 Astana
🐄 FarmA popular suburban destination featuring horse riding, a mini-zoo, and traditional Kazakh rural leisure activities in a woodland park.
Botay-Burabay Open-Air Museum
📍 Burabay
🏘 Town / VillageA reconstructed prehistoric settlement that brings the ancient history of horse domestication to life for visitors through authentic dwellings and tools.
Kenesary Cave Trail
📍 Burabay
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6km easy 2-hour round-trip hiking trail with 50m elevation gain through dense woodland to a historical cave named after a Kazakh Khan. Equipment rental: local shops in Burabay village.
Kokshetau-Zerenda Scenic Drive
📍 Kokshetau
🚗 Road Trip50km paved regional road (1 hour). A picturesque route connecting the city of Kokshetau to the Zerenda resort area. The road winds through the Zerenda hills and pine-birch forests, leading to the shores of Lake Zerenda, known for its sandy beaches and unique rock outcrops.
Maral Farm Burabay
📍 Burabay
🐄 FarmA large nature ranch within the national park where visitors can observe Siberian stags in a sprawling, forested rural enclosure.
