Astana — the capital of Kazakhstan — is one of the most futuristic cities in all of Asia: glass-and-steel skyscrapers rising out of the steppe, the Baiterek tower and projects by world-famous architects. Few Georgian travelers have discovered this city yet, though it's close to Tbilisi and reachable visa-free. Let's see how to get there from Tbilisi and what to see once you arrive.
✈️ Flights from Tbilisi
- Direct flights from Tbilisi to Astana are seasonal (Air Astana, SCAT) — ~3.5 hours; otherwise the route is usually one connection, via Almaty or Istanbul
- Astana's airport (Nursultan Nazarbayev, NQZ) is ~17 km from the center — both bus and taxi are available
- Ticket price: $340-680 round trip, depending on season and connection
- It's easy to combine with Almaty — see Tbilisi → Almaty
- Travel365's flight search — find the cheapest dates
🛂 Visa and entry
Georgian citizens can enter Kazakhstan visa-free — no visa is needed for a tourist visit of up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid on entry (at least 6 months' validity is recommended).
Since no visa is required, Astana is a good choice for a spontaneous trip. For other visa-free destinations from Georgia, see the visa-free countries guide.
Kazakhstan's currency is the tenge. Withdraw cash from an ATM on arrival for a better rate — for exchange tips, see the currency exchange guide.
🏙️ Top attractions
- Baiterek: the city's symbol — a 97-meter tower topped with a golden sphere, with a panorama from the top
- Khan Shatyr: Norman Foster's giant transparent tent — a shopping and entertainment center, with an indoor beach inside
- Nur Alem: the spherical museum of future energy from EXPO 2017 — one of the largest spherical buildings in the world
- Hazret Sultan and Nur-Astana mosques: among Central Asia's largest, with white and golden domes
- Palace of Peace and Reconciliation: Foster's glass pyramid — a space for concerts and exhibitions
- The Ishim (Esil) embankment: a riverside promenade with views of the skyscrapers
- Astana Opera: a modern opera house with a lavish interior
🍽️ What to eat — Kazakh cuisine
The signature dish of Kazakh cuisine is beshbarmak — boiled meat (beef or horse) over wide sheets of dough, with an onion sauce. Be sure to try plov (rice with meat and carrots) and baursak — slightly sweet fried dough served with tea.
Traditional drinks are kumis (fermented mare's milk) and shubat — an acquired taste, but an authentic experience. The center also has plenty of modern restaurants serving international cuisine.
💰 Budget
- Hotel: 3★ $55-105/night || 4★ $110-185/night
- Food: beshbarmak or plov at a local restaurant $9-17; coffee $3-4
- Transport: a single city bus ticket $0.40-0.80
- Baiterek tower entry $3-4; the Nur Alem museum $7-11
- Airport → center by taxi $9-15, by bus $0.40-0.80
🗓️ Best season and practical tips
Astana has a sharply continental climate: winters are extremely cold (−20°C and below), while summers are warm and dry. The best time is May to September, when the weather is pleasant for walking. Two or three days are enough for the city's main sights.
Get an eSIM for internet the moment you land, and search and compare tickets on the Travel365 price calendar. For another regional capital, see Tbilisi → Baku.
Astana is big and spread out — distances between attractions are large. Plan your route and download a taxi app (e.g. Yandex Go) to make getting around easier.
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