Astana: A city of the future at your fingertips from LOT PLL

Direct flights to the heart of Kazakhstan

LOT Polish Airlines offer direct flights to Astana (NQZ) from Warsaw (WAW) four times a week. Departures from Warsaw take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while the return flights from Astana to Warsaw are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Such a distribution gives great freedom in planning travel, both for a weekend trip, travel for business purposes and a longer vacation, allowing you to perfectly match the date to individual needs.

From the provincial town to the cosmic metropolis – the short story of Astana

Just a few dozen years ago, Astana was a provincial town of Akmoła. Everything changed in 1997, when it was announced the new capital of Kazakhstan, replacing the Almaty. The decision to transfer the capital from Ałmat, located in the south -east of the country and exposed to earthquakes, to Akmoła (the then name of Astana) was motivated by strategic and geopolitical reasons. The new location in the central part of Kazakhstan was to ensure greater political stability, security and better management of the vast territory of the country. The city of Akmoła, located on the steppe, also gave unlimited possibilities of spatial development, which allowed the implementation of ambitious architectural projects.

From that moment, the city began an intensive and spectacular transformation, becoming a laboratory of architectural visions and bold projects. The name “Astana” was given to the city in 1998 and in Kazakh simply means the “capital”. In March 2019, the city temporarily changed its name to NUR-SUPTANto celebrate Nursułtana Nazarbayev, the first president of the independent Kazakhstan, who ruled the country for almost 30 years. It was a gesture of recognition for his role in the construction of modern Kazakhstan. However, in September 2022, at the request of the deputies, Astana was returned to the original name. Today, the city dynamically combines tradition with modernity, and its architectural landscape is breathtaking.

Futuristic attractions that cannot be missed

Astana is a city where you can feel the breath of the future at every step. It is worth to the places worth visiting Presidential Palace of AK ORDAa majestic building, which is the seat of the President of Kazakhstan, whose white facades and blue domes dominate the panorama of the city. Astana’s next iconic symbol is Bäjterek tower. This unusual structure, reminiscent of a tree with a ball at the top, symbolizes the mythical tree of life and the egg of happiness, and from its top there is a panoramic view of the whole city. It is also worth seeing Palace of Peace and Reconciliationan impressive glass pyramid designed by the famous Norman Foster, which serves as a meeting place for representatives of various religions and cultures, symbolizing harmony and tolerance. It is a bit further Chan Szatyrthe largest tent in the world, in the shape of a cone, also the work of Norman Foster. It is a shopping and entertainment center with a beach, swimming pools and an amusement park, which is a real oasis in the heart of the city. It is undoubtedly necessary to visit also Hazret Sultan mosqueone of the largest mosques in Central Asia, whose white marble walls and blue domes create a breathtaking view, especially at sunset.

Heritage Expo 2017: City of Energy of the Future

In 2017, Astana was the host The World Exhibition EXPO, whose theme was “Energy of the Future”. The EXPO market areas are today a fascinating museum and innovation center that is worth visiting to get inspired by the latest achievements in the field of sustainable energy. The focal point of the exhibition is the futuristic building Nur alem, reminiscent of a huge glass ball, which currently serves as the Museum of Energy of the Future.

Kazakhstan flavors: a kitchen that surprises at every step

A trip to Astana is also a culinary adventure! Kazakh cuisine is filling and rich in flavors. It’s worth trying Bezbarmakthe national dish of Kazakhstan, consisting of cooked meat (most often horse or mutton), pasta and onions. Another dish that you need to taste is Ciseantraditional sausage from Konina, often served as cold as an appetizer. You can’t miss Kumysufermented mare’s milk, traditional steppe nomad drink and Baursakfluffy, deep -fried pieces of cake, ideal for tea. An equally important dish is Pilafi.e. a rice dish with meat (mutton or beef), carrots and onions, popular throughout Central Asia.

Astana’s cycling achievements

Astana is not only visionary architecture, but also a city promoting sport, in particular cycling. For years, the XDS-UaStana Team cycling group starting among the best teams in the world achieves many victories, making the city’s name in the international arena famous. In the recently completed Giro d’Italia, the cyclists of the Kazakh team not only won one of the stages twice, but also won the classification for the Best Highlander of the Race, gaining recognition of cycling fans around the world.

Practical advice for travelers

• Moving around Astana: The city is well connected by a bus network, taxis and applications for ordering journeys, which makes it easier to move around all attractions. It is also worth considering using the subway that is constantly developing.
• Car rental: There are many international car rentals in Astana and Kazakhstan. Roads in Kazakhstan are varied, but the main arteries are in good condition.
• Further travels: Kazakhstan offers many other fascinating places that captivate with their wild nature and unusual landscapes. It is worth going southeast of Ałmaty to admire the majestic Szaryński Canyonoften called the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia”, with its impressive, red rock formations carved by wind and water. An unusual experience will also be a visit to Kajinda Lakelocated in the Tien-Szan mountains, which are famous for sunk trees, whose trunks protrude for crystal clear, emerald water, creating a surreal view. Nature lovers should also consider the trip to Aleninemel National Parkwhere you can admire the unique singing dunewhich makes mysterious sounds resembling a buzz, as well as to meet endangered animal species, such as Kulany or Gazelles Dżeran. These places are just a foretaste of the natural wealth of Kazakhstan, which awaits the discovery outside modern metropolises.

Astana is a city that will definitely impress visitors, offering a unique combination of modernity, culture and history. Thanks to the convenient connections of LOT Polish Airlines, the journey to this futuristic metropolis is at your fingertips. That is why Astana is worth discovering today! Plan your journey and book flights to Lot.com.