Free things to do in Nur-Sultan

Nur-Sultan is one of the more ‘expensive’ places to visit in Kazakhstan (and Central Asia). While there are many affordable things to see and do, there are also some cool things you can experience without spending a single Kazakh Tenge – great if you’re a traveller on a budget!

If you love walking, you’ll enjoy walking around Nur-Sultan. A lot of the free things involve some considerable walking but you know – walking is a great way to explore the city where you’ll often find unexpected things in your journey.

Here are the top recommended free things you can do in Nur-Sultan.

As the name suggests, this museum is solely dedicated to the life of the Kazakhstan Republic’s First President, Nursultan Nazarbayev – the building was previously his residence.

It is a good way to learn more about Kazakhstan’s history after the dissolution of the USSR and how the First President came into power and ruled, along with his life pre-political days. It’s a must for any fans of history, especially about dictatorships and propaganda. You’ll see many interesting and cool things (and gifts) that the First President has collected during his time as president.

There are guided tours available in English at certain times.

Note:
The entrance to the museum is through a small security building on Abay Avenue. You’ll need to go through security (your bags will be checked) to be able to get to the museum. Once inside, you’ll need to wear protective covers for your shoes in order to walk around the museum.

The Kazakhstan Military History Museum has over 6,000 fascinating exhibited items for you to view. One of the more technically advanced museums in Kazakhstan, you can learn more about the military history of Kazakhstan, especially during World War II and international peacekeeping. This museum is a great way to spend an hour or two in the afternoon.

Don’t forget to check out the numerous military gear out on display in the courtyard.

Scattered throughout the city, if you’re lucky enough you’ll find some amazing street art by local artists.
You won’t find much street art in the city centre. They can be mainly found in the old part of Nur-Sultan (north side of Ishim river). It’s worth visiting this area to see more of the ‘real’ Nur-Sultan that is more grunge than the modern central part of the city.

It’s hard not to miss some pretty cool architecture in Nur-Sultan. Many of the interesting pieces are located in the city centre (especially around the Presidential Palace) but there are many scattered around the outer city centre. If you have the time, and have an interest in architecture, it’s definitely worth walking around Nur-Sultan to see the various cool buildings.

The city centre is worth walking and exploring about, from the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre to all the way to the Presidential Palace area. You’ll see some pretty interesting buildings and green spaces along the way. It’s also worth visiting at night to see some cool buildings that glow.

A casual stroll along the banks of the Ishim river is a nice, relaxing experience. The promenade is nice and it’s a great spot to people-watch. The nearby Atyrau bridge is a pretty cool looking bridge, especially during sunset when the setting sunlight filters through the canopy openings.

Seeing the peacefulness of the Nur-Sultan city centre as the sun rises is one of the better free things you can do while in Nur-Sultan (plus it allows you do more in your day!).

Walk towards the Presidential Palace area as the sun starts to rise to see the surrounding buildings set ablaze in a beautiful golden fiery glow, especially on the National Academy of Education buildings affectionately known also as the “Beer cans” (you can obviously see why they’re called that).

Not only is Hazrat Sultan Mosque the largest mosque in all of Central Asia, it’s probably the most beautiful as well.

Located not too far from behind the Presidential Palace, this holy mosque was built in 2012 and can host up to 10,000 people inside. The minarets are 77m in height and the splendid central dome is the largest in Central Asia at 21.8m in diameter.

The interior is beautiful as well and is worth venturing inside. You are free to visit inside, as long as you abide by the religious protocol (such as wearing modest clothing that covers most of the body and wearing a head scarf if you’re female).

The area around the mosque is also quite nice so it’s worth walking here to see more of the architecture.

One of the best things about travelling, if not the only best thing, is meeting the local people. It is one of the best reasons to travel, to experience new cultures, new ways of living, and different ways of thinking – such experiences can often open up your mind to new ideas and ways of thinking about life, dispel any per-conceived presumptions, along with potentially forming life-long friendships.

You can use the Couchsurfing website to meet locals and learn about their lives.

Better yet, locals will always have the best insider knowledge to the best places to eat, drink, and see some cool things in the city.

Have you visited Nur-Sultan and found some other cool stuff to do for free?

Post your comments below to let others and I know!

If you know a friend or two (especially if they’re a budget traveller) who is planning to go to Nur-Sultan or is already there, share this helpful post to them today.