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3 Days in Nur-Sultan: Itinerary 2026
Start your trip on the left bank, home to most landmarks. Begin at the Bayterek Tower (010000, Nur-Sultan) at 9 AM to beat crowds and enjoy panoramic views. From there, walk 10β¦ πΊοΈ Day 1: Left Bank
Start your trip on the left bank, home to most landmarks. Begin at the Bayterek Tower (010000, Nur-Sultan) at 9 AM to beat crowds and enjoy panoramic views. From there, walk 10 minutes to the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. End the morning at the Nur-Astana Mosque, a 15-minute stroll away, and grab lunch at the nearby Saksaul restaurant.
ποΈ Day 1: Afternoon Culture
After lunch, head to the National Museum of Kazakhstan (Tauelsizdik Ave 54), just a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the mosque. The museum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, with an entrance fee of about 1,500 tenge. Spend two hours exploring the exhibits, then walk across the street to the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center. This giant tent-shaped mall is perfect for a late-afternoon coffee or a bit of shopping.
π Day 1: Evening Views
As the sun sets, make your way to the Astana Opera (Kabanbay Batyr Ave 10) for a performance, or simply admire its illuminated facade. If you prefer a quieter evening, walk along the Ishim River embankment, which is especially beautiful after dark. For dinner, book a table at the Sky Lounge Restaurant in the Rixos President Hotel for a bird's-eye view of the city lights.
πΆ Day 2: Right Bank
Dedicate your second day to the right bank, the older part of the city. Start at the Old Square (Stary Square) and visit the Ak Orda Presidential Palace, which is best viewed from the outside. Then walk 15 minutes to the National Academic Library (Abai Ave 14), a modern architectural gem open from 10 AM to 8 PM. Take a break at the nearby Coffee Boom cafe for a local brew.
π Day 2: Spiritual Sites
In the afternoon, visit the Hazrat Sultan Mosque (Tauelsizdik Ave 48), the largest in Central Asia, open from 9 AM to 7 PM. It's a 10-minute taxi ride from the library, costing around 500 tenge. Afterward, walk to the nearby Museum of the First President, which is open from 10 AM to 5 PM and offers insight into Kazakhstan's modern history. Finish with a stroll through the Presidential Park, right next door.
π½οΈ Day 2: Local Flavors
For dinner, head to the popular restaurant 'Zheruik' (Kabanbay Batyr Ave 21), known for authentic Kazakh dishes like beshbarmak and kazy. Expect to pay around 3,000 to 5,000 tenge per person. If you're in the mood for something more upscale, try 'Sandyq' (Tauelsizdik Ave 34), which offers a modern twist on traditional cuisine. Both are within a 10-minute drive from the park.
π Day 3: Getting Around
On your final day, use the city's efficient bus system to explore areas you missed. A single ride costs 90 tenge, and you can buy a travel card at any metro station. The Nur-Sultan Light Rail (LRT) is expected to be partially operational by 2026, connecting the airport to the city center. For a faster option, taxis via the Yandex Go app are cheap, with most rides under 1,000 tenge.
ποΈ Day 3: Shopping and Souvenirs
Spend your last morning shopping for souvenirs at the Green Bazaar (Zhenis Ave 25), open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Here you can buy traditional felt hats, Kazakh sweets, and handmade crafts. For a more modern experience, visit the Mega Silk Way Mall (Kabanbay Batyr Ave 62), which has international brands and a food court. Don't forget to try the local honey, a popular souvenir.
good plan, i've done this route a few times and it works. one thing i'd add: on day 1, after the bayterek, cut through the tree-lined alley behind it towards the palace of peace, there's a small pedestrian bridge over the ishim that most tourists miss, the view of the opera house from there at golden hour is better than any terrace in the city.
for day 3, instead of the mega silk way, take the bus to the keruen mall on the left bank, it's less crowded and has this weird soviet-era food court where you can get proper lagman and samsa for like 800 tenge, the mega silk way is just chain restaurants and overpriced coffee. also, if you're into photography, the old railway station on the right bank near the green bazaar is abandoned but has this great graffiti wall, locals hang out there on weekends, it's a nice contrast to all the shiny new stuff.
honestly the itinerary is solid, but i'd swap the National Museum for the Museum of the First President if you're short on time. the museum's got this wild mix of Soviet era stuff and modern Kazakh history, and the building itself is way more interesting than the big glass box. also, don't sleep on the underground pedestrian crossing near Bayterek, there's a tiny shashlik stand that does killer lamb skewers for like 500 tenge, way better than the touristy spots around Khan Shatyr.
for day 3, skip the Green Bazaar on a Sunday morning, it's chaos. go to the Artyom market instead, it's smaller but the vendors are friendlier and you'll find the same felt hats for half the price. and if you're taking the LRT, just know it might not actually be running by 2026, the city's been saying that for years. stick to the buses, they're fine.
solid plan overall, but i'd tweak day 2 a bit. the Hazrat Sultan Mosque is stunning inside, but go right at 9 AM when it opens, by noon the tour groups flood in and it gets hard to actually soak it in. also, the walk from the library to the mosque isn't bad, but if you're tired, grab a Yandex Go instead of a street taxi, the app price is usually half.
for dinner, i'd actually push Sandyq over Zheruik. Zheruik is fine, but Sandyq does this horse meat dumpling thing that's unlike anything else in the city, and the vibe is more interesting than the standard tourist spot. one thing the guide missed: check out the viewing platform on the 13th floor of the Abu Dhabi Plaza tower, it's free and gives you a different angle on the Bayterek area, most people don't know about it.
Almaty neighborhoods for a two-month stay?
if u want something quieter but still walkable check out the area around microdistrict 5 or 6 in alatau district. it's a bit further from the center but the bus 46 and 63 connect u to abay ave in 20 mins. there's a decent cafe called coffee with a view on satpaev that does good lattes and has a nice balcony. rent is cheaper and u get more space for two months
fwiw I'd pick the area around Dostyk and Abay if u want a good mix of cafes and metro access. There's a solid cluster of coffee spots near the corner of Zheltoksan and Satpaev that stay open late. The green line bus runs straight down Abay and gets u to Arbat or the park in like 15 mins. Rent might be a bit higher than say Samal-2 or Orbita but u save on transit time and actually have stuff to walk to.
honestly i'd look at the area around the intersection of baytursynov and timiryazev. it's not super touristy but has a good rhythm for a longer stay. there's a quiet courtyard cafe called 'the book' with decent wifi and solid filter coffee, plus the 99 bus runs straight down timiryazev to al-Farabi ave in under 15 min. the rent's a bit cheaper than the central spots and you're close to the botanical garden if u need a walk