Astana International Airport

Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (TSE) serves Astana (renamed from Nur-Sultan, now back to Astana), Kazakhstan's futuristic capital city. Located 18 km south of the city center, it's the main international gateway to Central Asia's most ambitious modern city.

The airport has a new terminal opened in 2017, modern and efficient. As Air Astana's main hub, it handles connections between Europe and Asia.

Key airlines: Air Astana (hub), FlyArystan (Air Astana's LCC), Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Korean Air, and various regional carriers.

TSE is south of central Astana:

• To city center (Bayterek): 18 km, 25-35 minutes
• To Khan Shatyr mall: 20 km, 30-40 minutes
• To Expo site: 15 km, 20-25 minutes

Traffic is generally manageable.

Yandex Go (similar to Uber) and inDrive operate in Astana.

• To city center: KZT 2,000-3,500 (~$4-7 USD)
• To Bayterek Tower area: KZT 2,500-4,000

Taxis from the rank:

• Negotiate price beforehand or use apps
• Apps give more transparent pricing

Bus

Bus 10 and Bus 100 connect to the city:

• Route: Airport → Central Astana
• Journey time: 40-50 minutes
• Cost: KZT 90 (~$0.20)
• Frequency: Every 20-30 minutes

Train

The airport is near a railway station, but it's not practical for most visitors.

Type	Daily Rate	Notes
Covered	KZT 3,000/day	Terminal adjacent
Open	KZT 1,500/day	Short walk

Very affordable parking.

Modern terminal with good dining:

Airside:

• Restaurants: Kazakh and international cuisine
• Cafés: Coffee shops
• Fast food: Various options

Options are decent; try Kazakh food if available.

Network: Astana Airport WiFi

• Cost: Free
• Speed: Good
• Registration may be required

SIM cards available from:

• Kcell, Beeline, Activ counters
• Prices: KZT 2,000-5,000 for SIM with data

Passport required for registration.

ATMs available from major banks:

• Kaspi Bank
• Halyk Bank

Currency: Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT). Approximately 480 KZT = 1 USD.

Currency exchange: Available with reasonable rates.

Airside:

• Duty-free
• Kazakh souvenirs
• Traditional crafts

Air Astana Lounge

• Location: International departures
• Access: Air Astana Business, Nomad Club Platinum
• Amenities: Good food, drinks, showers
• Hours: Follows flight schedule

Business Lounge

• Location: Domestic/International
• Access: Priority Pass, business class, or ~$30 walk-in
• Amenities: Food, drinks, WiFi

Hotels near the airport are limited. Most visitors stay in central Astana.

Astana is the world's youngest capital city—a futuristic metropolis rising from the Kazakh steppe with bold architecture and ambitious urban planning:

Top attractions (with travel time from airport):

• Bayterek Tower: 30 min—city symbol, observation deck with handprint of first president
• Khan Shatyr: 35 min—giant transparent tent mall, beach club inside
• Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (Pyramid): 30 min—Foster + Partners pyramid, stunning interior
• Hazrat Sultan Mosque: 25 min—Central Asia's largest mosque
• National Museum: 30 min—excellent collection on Kazakh history
• Expo site/Nur Alem: 25 min—world's largest spherical building, future energy museum

Architectural highlights: Astana is an architect's playground:

• Bayterek Tower: By local architects, city symbol
• Khan Shatyr: Norman Foster's giant tent
• Palace of Peace: Norman Foster's pyramid
• Shabyt Palace of Arts: Dramatic arts university
• Ministry buildings: Bold, varied designs along the central axis

Day trips:

• Baikonur Cosmodrome: 4 hours—space launch site (tours require advance permission)
• Burabay National Park: 2.5 hours—"Kazakh Switzerland," lakes and forests

Kazakh cuisine:

• Beshbarmak: National dish—boiled meat with flat noodles
• Kazy: Horse meat sausage, traditional delicacy
• Lagman: Central Asian noodle soup
• Manti: Steamed dumplings
• Kumys: Fermented mare's milk (acquired taste)
• Tea culture: Always served with sweets

Local tips:

• Extreme climate: -30°C winters, +30°C summers—dress accordingly
• Winter (December-February): Brutally cold but city functions normally
• City layout: The "left bank" (new city) has the modern architecture
• Right bank: Older area with more character, markets
• Visa-free: Many nationalities (US, EU, UK) get 30 days visa-free
• Russian/Kazakh: Both official languages; Russian widely spoken
• Islamic but secular: Alcohol freely available, modern attitudes
• Ex-Soviet meets Gulf ambition: The city feels like Dubai meets Brasília
• Money: Cards increasingly accepted; cash still useful
• The city is extremely walkable in summer, designed for pedestrians
• Astana/Nur-Sultan: The city was renamed Nur-Sultan 2019-2022, now back to Astana