How to Navigate Astana on Your First Visit: Layout, Transport, and Key Districts

Understanding the City Layout

Astana is divided by the Ishim River into two distinct sections: the Left Bank and the Right Bank.

The Left Bank is the modern administrative capital built after 1997. Designed on a grand scale, it contains wide boulevards, open plazas, and landmarks like the Baiterek Tower and Khan Shatyr.

The Right Bank preserves the older, pre-capital city. It features standard street grids, Soviet-era neighborhoods, markets, and an active riverfront promenade.

Arriving and Getting Around

Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) lies south of the city. Municipal buses connect the terminal to central corridors, while ride-hailing apps provide direct door-to-door transit.

Astana has no metro system; public transit consists of city buses. For first-time visitors, ride-hailing apps are the simplest way to travel between distant sights and cross the river.

What First-Timers Get Wrong

• Underestimating distances: Left Bank landmarks look close across broad plazas, but walking between them takes considerable effort. Cluster your stops or take a cab.
• Skipping the Right Bank: Visiting only the government core misses everyday city life, neighborhood dining, and historic character.
• Ignoring steppe winds: Situated on flat steppe terrain, Astana has strong, biting winds year-round. Pack wind-resistant clothing in every season.

Sensible Trip Shape

Explore the central axis along Nurzhol Boulevard first, covering Baiterek and the National Museum of Kazakhstan. Save the Right Bank's riverfront and markets for later.