Nur-Sultan is the capital of Kazakhstan and its second biggest city after Almaty (the former capital). The capital city has gone through a number of different name changes. It was first founded as Akmoly in 1830 before being renamed as Astana in 1997, before finally renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 after a unanimous vote in Kazakhstan’s parliament – naming it after the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Modern day Nur-Sultan is a planned city and you can tell just by walking around the city. It is a relatively flat city dominated by a few modern skyscraper buildings attempting to dominate the skyline. Public parks are neat and well spaced, though lacking in size and greenery.
For the average traveller and visitor, there is enough to sustain your interest, especially cultural activities such as visiting various museums to learn more about Kazakhstan’s history, and dining at some nice restaurants to sample some Kazakh food. If you love architecture, you’ll love walking around to see some fascinating modern design.
If you’re looking for nature, don’t expect to find much here, unless you want to take a long bus trip north to Burabay National Park.
Staying in Nur-Sultan for around three to four days would be more than enough for the average traveller.
The best way to explore the city centre is by foot but there is affordable local bus transport for those longer journeys across the city.
While it’s not representative of typical Kazakh cities or daily life, Nur-Sultan is a good introduction to Kazakhstan.
Key Information
Apps
I would recommend downloading the following essential apps to help you to navigate around Nur-Sultan.
Use coordinates in 2GIS
A lot of places on 2GIS maps are not easily found using English words. To get around this, copy the latitude and longitude coordinates (select an area near the destination if required) from another map navigation app (such as Google Maps) and paste it into 2GIS. This will allow you to search in 2GIS for public transport options nearby and available.
I would recommend:
Exchanging your foreign currency to Kazakh currency (if you could not in the previous destination)
There aren’t many foreign exchange places to readily change cash but there are numerous ATMs widely available, especially inside supermarkets. Be aware some ATMs may not accept certain cards (such as Visa or Mastercard).
Getting a local SIM card
Mobile data is affordable in Kazakhstan and having a sim card with mobile data available can be life-saving, especially if you are visiting rural areas or hiking in the wilderness.
Main carriers are:
Kazakhstan is a vast country with different temperatures and extremes in every part of it. The table below represents the average temperature in the capital city, Nur-Sultan.
| Season | Average Max temp (°C) | Average Min temp (°C) | General clothing information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26°C | 15°C | The days and nights are hot so thin layers are important. Always take a jacket for those unexpected cooler nights. If you’re exploring the great outdoors nearby, bring additional layers in case of unexpected cooler weather. | |
| 10°C | -1°C | The days and nights are much cooler, feeling more like winter. It’s best to dress (in layers) as if winter is already here. | |
| -12°C | -21°C | It is recommended to pack thick clothing and hooded jackets ( (puffer or insulated), along with warm gloves and thermal undergarments to handle the extreme coldness. Wear thick socks (or wear two pairs of socks) with shoes that are well insulated. A beanie and scarf should be part of your winter attire. It’s best avoid visiting the capital at this time due to how cold it can get. | |
| 13°C | 2°C | It is still cold. Layered clothing is still recommended. |
Learn more about the weather:
The best time to visit Kazakhstan
Always be vigilant but not paranoid or naive regarding scams in Nur-Sultan.
It is highly recommended you have travel insurance to cover any potential loss in your personal belongings and safety.
| Scam/Crime | Method/Behaviour | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Corrupt police |
You, especially as a tourist, can be stopped by police and accused of a traffic violation which you did not commit. A fine (i.e., bribe) can be then demanded by the corrupt official. | Have a valid driver’s licence, keep to the speed limit, and have a car with the proper registration papers.
If you do get stopped over, pretend to not to understand the local language, be ridiculous and talk nonsense back, ask for an invoice, and offer to pay at a police station. Negotiate the bribe if all else fails. You can report this encounter to your accommodation provider or local tourist guide so they can report it to the proper authorities.
|
| Fake police |
Fake police officers approach you and ask to check your passport or ID. They may even ask to search your belongings. They can accuse you of a crime and ‘charge’ you a fine, or steal something from your possession. | Ask to verify their police badges and threaten to call the police hotline. Never surrender your physical passport and only show a photocopy of it.
Always keep your valuables out of sight. |
| Overcharging taxis |
Some taxi drivers can quote you a cheap rate but it’s actually a per KM rate, not the total journey price.
Some drivers belong to taxi cartels and can get violent if you don’t pay the end price. |
Avoid taxis at tourist hotspots, especially at airports or transportation hubs where there can be touts trying to entice you into unlicensed/unmarked scam vehicles.
Use Yandex taxi app so you know how much you are paying upfront. Check online taxi fare estimators, taxi booking apps, or ask hotel/hostel staff for a fare estimate. You can use this information to negotiate a reasonable fare price if appropriate. Use a map app on your smartphone (GPS) to check the distance and the average time between the airport and your destination, along with seeing if you are being driven in the correct direction. Use public transport – it’s cheaper, especially if you have a bus card. |
| Pickpocketing |
Working as a single person: he or she will quickly grab an item from your pocket or slowly unzip your bag to grab the contents inside. This person can pick-pocket you from behind or by bumping into you.
Working as a gang: one person targets you, another distracts, one grabs your possession and passes it to another to escape with, often under a cover. Be aware of being ambushed and targeted from left and right sides. |
Leave valuables in a locked place at your accommodation or keep valuables hidden out of sight. Keep a printed hardcopy of your passport on hand.
Do not carry excess cash and credit cards. Zip up and lock the pockets of your daypack/bag. You can carry your bag in front. Never leave your bag unattended or out of sight. If you’re in a restaurant or cafe, put your bag on your lap or in front and between your feet with a strap around a foot. Keep a hand on your front pocket where your valuables could be stored (such as smartphone). |
| Snatch thefts |
Any left bags or valuables can be taken by thieves when the opportunities present itself, or when they purposely distract you and then escape. This can be happen at bars, cafes, nightclubs, and restaurants.
This can also happen in public areas like on streets, transport hubs, parks, and malls. |
Keep valuables hidden out of sight.
Zip up and lock the pockets of your daypack/bag. Don’t leave your belongings unattended or out of sight. If you’re in a restaurant or cafe, put your belongings on your lap or in front and between your feet with a strap around a foot. |
Learn more:
Scams in Kazakhstan