Astana City Tour: Private Full Day with Local Guide

Kazakhstan's capital rebuilt itself in thirty years, and the landmarks tell the story.

A private full-day city tour of Astana with an English-speaking local guide, hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and lunch of traditional cuisine included. The itinerary covers Bayterek Tower, Central Asia's largest mosque, Khan Shatyr, the presidential palace Aq Orda, and early 20th-century merchant houses, with an optional wine tasting. Travel time counts toward the 6–7 hour total. The National Museum closes Mondays.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour of Astana landmarks

• Visit Bayterek Tower observation deck
• Explore The Grand Mosque and minaret
• Tour Khan Shatyr shopping and entertainment
• Visit the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
• See Hazret Sultan Mosque interior
• Enjoy optional local wine tasting
• View Aq Orda presidential palace
• Walk across Atyrau Bridge

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle and spend the day moving through Astana's landmarks with a guide who speaks English and knows the city's recent history. The tour hits Bayterek Tower first (a 97-meter structure with an observation deck that frames the Ishim River and the skyline from above), then moves to the Grand Mosque, Central Asia's largest, where you can ride an elevator 130 meters up one of the minarets. Khan Shatyr comes next, the world's largest tent-like building, designed by Norman Foster, which holds a tropical beach, shops and restaurants under a single canopy. The presidential palace Aq Orda sits across from Bayterek and anchors the city's symbolic center.

Lunch is a traditional meal with a vegetarian option if you need it, and the guide can arrange a local wine tasting at a winery if you want to add that. You'll also see the Hazret Sultan Mosque, an earlier landmark that held the city's largest mosque title before the Grand Mosque was built, and the Atyrau Bridge, a pedestrian crossing designed to resemble a sturgeon fish. The tour includes stops at merchant houses from the early 20th century, which sit alongside the modern architecture and give the day some depth. Bottled water and WiFi are on board. The total time includes both driving and walking.

The itinerary is flexible, so if a stop matters more to you than another, the guide can adjust. Note that the National Museum closes on Mondays, so plan around that if it's on your list. The fixed pickup time and the guide's knowledge of what to see and how long to spend at each place means you're not building the day yourself or negotiating with drivers at each stop.

What’s included

• Private transportation with hotel pickup.
• English-speaking local guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water.
• WiFi on board.
• traditional lunch with vegetarian option available.
• optional wine tasting at a local winery.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Youth (11 to 14 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Astana Horizons

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving with limited time or want a guide to navigate Astana's landmarks and history for you: the full-day format with included lunch works as a complete day without gaps.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 14 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Bayterek Tower and why is it on the tour?

Bayterek Tower is a 97-meter architectural landmark designed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev that stands as a symbol of modern Astana. Its golden orb represents Samruk, a legendary bird of happiness in Kazakh culture, and the observation deck at the top gives a panoramic view of the city and the Ishim River.

Can I visit the Grand Mosque if I'm not Muslim?

The Grand Mosque is included on the tour and welcomes visitors. As Central Asia's largest mosque, it features intricate Kazakh national ornaments, and you can take an elevator up one of its 130-meter minarets to see the city from above.

Is lunch included, and can I eat vegetarian?

Yes, lunch of traditional Kazakh cuisine is included in the tour price. A vegetarian option is available if you request it.

What is Khan Shatyr and what can you do inside it?

Khan Shatyr is the world's largest tent-like structure, designed by architect Norman Foster. Inside you'll find a tropical beach resort, boutiques, restaurants and entertainment venues all under one colossal canopy.

Can I add a wine tasting to the tour?

Yes, a local wine tasting session is optional and can be arranged during the tour. The wines are crafted from grapes grown in the vineyards of Almaty and represent Kazakhstan's local brands.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour includes walking at each landmark and site, but the pace is flexible and the guide adjusts based on your interests and fitness level. Most of the day involves moving between sites in an air-conditioned vehicle, so travel time is built into the 6–7 hour total.