Tours and Excursions in Astana
Astana is the modern and vibrant capital city of Kazakhstan. The city has changed dramatically since the late twentieth century, growing from a regional steppe city into a national capital with government institutions, broad boulevards, cultural venues, business districts, hotels, and a skyline built to be read as a symbol of independent Kazakhstan.
The city's previous historical names include Akmola, Akmolinsk, and Tselinograd. In 1997 Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty to Akmola, and in 1998 the city received the name Astana. It was renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 and returned to the name Astana in 2022. This sequence of names is not just trivia: it helps explain why the city combines steppe history, Soviet-era memory, and deliberately modern capital architecture.
Astana is also an international events city. It hosted Expo 2017 under the theme "Future Energy", bringing global attention to the capital's sustainability and innovation agenda. The Bureau International des Expositions records the Expo as a specialized exhibition held in Astana from 10 June to 10 September 2017. The city is also associated with major political, economic, cultural, and sporting events, which explains its strong hotel and transport infrastructure.
History and City Character
The history of Akmola and Astana goes back to 1830, when a Russian stronghold was established in this area to control trade routes running across the steppe from south to north and east to west. Archaeological finds show that people lived here long before the modern town; ancient burial mounds have been found even in central areas of the city.
The modern capital is concentrated around planned axes and symbolic landmarks. Baiterek stands on Nurjol Boulevard as one of the clearest symbols of the capital's transfer and the new state narrative. Khan Shatyr closes the boulevard's visual route with a huge tent-shaped entertainment center. The National Museum gives historical context, while civic spaces, the Akorda area, and Expo architecture show how the city presents Kazakhstan's contemporary identity.
How to Plan Astana
Astana works well as a two-day city stop, a business-trip extension, or a northern Kazakhstan base. A first route can include Baiterek, Nurjol Boulevard, Khan Shatyr, the National Museum, central squares, river walks along the Ishim, and Expo-area architecture. In winter, plan shorter outdoor walks and more indoor stops. In summer, the long daylight and open boulevards make walking routes easier, though distances between landmarks can still require transport.
What to See in Astana
The attraction cards below include the key Astana sights transferred from the source site, plus the existing National Museum page: Baiterek Monument, Khan Shatyr, and the National Museum of Kazakhstan.