Nicely organize and planned city with lots of gardens and open sidewalks makes the place really relax in the summer. I heard in the winter it was about -40 degrees and can’t imagine how people would actually live here. I was in the best season in Astana, a good 21 degrees in mid-day which makes the weather perfect for just strolling around.
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| Modern City of Astana - Kazakhstan |
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| Baiterek Monument in Astana - Kazakhstan |
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| Modern City of Astana - Kazakhstan |
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| Modern City of Astana - Kazakhstan |
The city was huge as well so there was a limit to how much I could walk it and ended up taking the bus to see a bit more of the city. The bus system was 110 tenge per boarding but only payable via bus card or the local Kaspi app. Tourist like me end up having to ask random strangers to buy me a ticket and let me snap a photo of the digital ticket during the bus ride.
I took the bus a few times around Astana nearly once every day going to one edge of the city then slowly exploring back towards the hotel. Every time I got a local to help me purchase a ticket, but they would not take my money afterwards. The Kazakh hospitality or rather Central Asia people hospitality is real.
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| Bus Ticket Help from a Local |
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| The very Rare McDonald's in Central Asia |
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| Ishim River - Astana |
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| Hazrat Sultan Mosque - Astana |
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| National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan |
All the monuments were made to order in Kazakhstan. Baiterak monument was the centrepiece of the city and flanked by government building everywhere. It was a city built to be artistic, singing a composition that this was the future of Kazakhstan. The usual ex-soviet mundane buildings and bleach monotone architecture is hardly seen in this city.
I spend five nights in Astana, roaming around just window shopping and cafe hopping while visiting some of the museums and monuments. It was a good downtime which was really long overdue.
Travelled on: Aug 2024
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