Exploring Astana, Kazakhstan's Weird Capital City

[@doug_barnard]

I'm heading back to Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan this year, and you're invited! Join our Summer 2025 Central Asia group trip! Learn more: www.dougbarnardtravel.com/trips/centralasia-2025

[@angelbellhermano-gg2dk]

Great video! I really enjoy watching your Central Asia series. Can't believe how beautiful and modern Kazakhstan is. Love the drone shots. To be honest Astana is some kind of a futuristic city with it's tall buildings and skyscrapers. I'm really impressed with it's unique architecture. I think I'm already falling in love with these countries through your vlogs. It's a very interesting place that has so much to offer and worth visiting. Thanks for showing us this lesser known destinations and looking forward for more upcoming videos.

[@АйгульЕлеуова-ы6з]

Сәлем,Қазақстаннан! Орталық Азия! Вдамдары дақсы, мейірімді! Қонақ болыңыздар! ❤🇰🇿👏

[@XCLIPS_VIDEO]

only people who haven't been there have that opinion. I've lived here for 24 years and believe me, it's not such a rosy

[@carlossantiago9657]

Very beautiful city. Love Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 ❤️ 💖. Hello from Mexico, Santiago.

[@filelab80]

Hello from Kazakhstan, we will be glad to see you as our guest

[@onetwothree7502]

Hello Mexico!!🎉 I like Mexico, Canelo is good boxer

[@noflame6345]

Но Головкин лучше 😂🤚💕

[@filelab80]

@@onetwothree7502 absolutely right)) but also GGG is))

[@АйгульЕлеуова-ы6з]

Сәлем,Қазақстаннан! Қош келдіңдер❤🇰🇿👏

[@aidanabzrv]

a message from a citizen of Astana, in fact you can get much closer to Akorda (President's Palace), you can even go and see the gates and you can even peek through the fence and park that surround the Akorda

[@Ердаулет-т4ш]

This is prohibited 🚫 😍 This is Kazakhstan 🇰🇿

[@hypnit]

Yeah but one of my uncles worked in KGB i think and he told me that theres a lot of snipers 24/7 on the roofs near akorda that will just shoot without warnings if anyone trespasses or even worse pulls out a weapon

[@azzan14]

How hot does it get in July and August?

[@aidanabzrv]

@@azzan14 Hello, there! well, summers are nicely balanced here. On average it gets up to 30 degrees, like 25-30 degrees is normal here. Days when it's boiling hot are rare.

[@aidanabzrv]

@@azzan14 this year August was quite cool and nice. It wasn't hot at all

[@Stefaniya_Grand]

Welcome to Kazakhstan! Thanks for your video! Рахмет! I love America and Kazakhstan 🇰🇿❤️🇺🇸

[@stankormy5717]

The architecture is amazing there! Thanks for the tour Doug!

[@BarkhatnieTyagi]

European is Much better

[@arithene]

@@BarkhatnieTyagi , kyoto city better all of european city

[@alphazero1370]

There are so many architectural mistakes, too big spaces for ordinary pedestrians 🚶‍♂️

[@daksans6764]

​@@BarkhatnieTyagiEuropean cities are 🤮

[@togzhan0123]

I moved to Astana at 2003 when I was very young and I still stay here and love this city!!!

[@oneman6472]

Көтін үсіп қалған жоқ па?

[@togzhan0123]

@@oneman6472 өзіңнің көтіңе қара елді аңдымай

[@YerSh-hu1es]

А я переехал в 2002 году! И мне тоже норм. Единственное народу слишком много стало.

[@YerSh-hu1es]

​@@oneman6472что, докопаться решил?

[@blackoutalmaty3905]

@@YerSh-hu1es у него походу ограниченное представление о жизни

[@gulnarsharipova3760]

Вы еще приезжайте в Астану, не всё посмотрели, Экспо, большая мечеть, центральный парк и музей сходите, в театр и т.д. Съездите в Бурабай.

[@AdventureswithEdward]

Great drone work!

[@doug_barnard]

Thanks Ed!!

[@Fumnanya]

Thanks for this. I've been. Trying to get a glimpse of Kazakhstan

[@rami-dubai]

I visited Kazakhstan once in 2006 and I really enjoyed it

[@goblintinkler9993]

It has changed a lot since then.

[@jefftaylor365]

Astana! Horsemeat! Weird occasionally empty architecture! Great video Doug! Added Astana to my growing "yet to visit" sites.

[@АйжанШыныбекова-о3и]

It's empty during the day when all the people are at work. There are no places there in the evening.

[@im.tedbear]

Hello from Astana!

[@dimaaj-j7w]

You inspired me a lot and that's the journey I'm taking

[@timurs2185]

Just don’t visit it at winter, it’s freezing -40c there

[@azizad2065]

Great video, keep making those!! Btw Astana is a very beautiful city and the people there are very kind and generous, so you are always welcome here☺️☺️

[@revolver1978]

Супер видео,ты красавчик Даг,приезжай почаще в Казахстан ❤🇰🇿❤🇺🇲

[@ll29d92]

I follow you from Iraq, Basra city . I continue 👍🏻❤

[@girlsgirls3400]

Wow very great video 😍 thank you for you visiting my city .

[@АбылайБаймурзанов]

Круто🇰🇿✊

[@Nura_sels]

Қош келдің 🎉

[@gigachadmen1]

Now there are few such natures and clean air in America.

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

Вся особенность Астаны не в зданиях, которых полно во всем мире, а в том, что это город построен в степени и на болотах. Пожалуй только Дубаи могут сравниться своим неблагоприятными климатом и условиями для проживания людей. Но тем не менее, города построены. А на счет чистого воздуха....не стоит сравнивать ни с одной цивилизованной страной, где климат сам испокон веков располагает к проживанию😊

[@SamSinghComic]

great drone shots.

[@Жанат-ш9ь]

Welcome to Astana! I am glad that you came to us, be sure to go to the Burabay National Park, it is 250 km from Astana, I want to learn English, I need a native speaker, I wrote to you through Google Translate

[@lagomismchannel2924]

Doug I so hope to meet up with you again on another trip!

[@محبين-س8ك]

تحياتي لك من العراق 🇺🇲❤️🇮🇶 Greetings from Iraq

[@АйгульЕлеуова-ы6з]

Сәлем,Қазақстаннан!🇰🇿👏🤲

[@vladislav5741]

Алматы и Астана супер👍👍👍

[@Pri100fixfq]

I started watching your videos when I first saw that one about Almaty. It's cool that you visited Astana also. In fact, the name Astana means capital city in Kazakh language, like if you name a capital city "capital city"

[@araikanm]

Hi! I wanted to tell you a little about the buildings you visited, in the first building of Khan Shatyr, upstairs there is an artificial beach, with sand from the Maldives, in Baiterek where there was a large queue from above, there was an handprint of the first president, so to take a picture there is a large queue, as well as on top of the Baiterek there is a golden egg, this is an egg of the sacred bird samruk. And I'm also amazed at how much you know about Kazakhstan, although you're a tourist. You are a very positive and cheerful person! Good luck to you!!!!

[@doug_barnard]

Thank you!!

[@setsuna4436]

Kazakhstan looks and feels so pure

[@mdmirazKhan-ye1if]

I'm from Bangladesh

[@Taqiyaly_perishte]

You didn’t see the pool on the top inside the “Khan Shatyr”.

[@ferdinandprince8232]

The artificial beach you mean yea that’s cool too Kz!

[@ssmith2832]

Im in astana now, i love it here

[@zhanbolat5654]

Hope you enjoyed your time here in our country. Thank you for visiting ❤

[@JJK1504]

Hope you enjoyed my capital❤ you should have visited Expo side and the biggest mosque of the Central Asia btw

[@noflame6345]

Он посетил

[@ericarribas982]

It would be so awesome if I met you in person 🇺🇸

[@55310442]

Beautifull city all clean and futuristic it is weird coz there is no homeless, people taking drugs on the streets, people living in tents and all that. Congratulations.

[@жеп-ы4ц]

Only if you on left coast🥲

[@HECTORCAMPOS-eg2lo]

Your talking about USA.

[@Amir-ih6jj]

​@@жеп-ы4цwe don't talk about the right coast, it's aight

[@berzhan]

Hey Doug, hope you enjoyed your time in Kazakhstan! Astana is definitely unique in its own right, with most of the sights, as you mentioned, being purely symbolic monuments of Kazakhstan's identity. Funny thing about the pyramid, it was initially built as a venue specifically for the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, an event that takes place every three years or so. There are probably other things that happen there, but as an Astana resident, I honestly have no idea. The park outside the pyramid is pretty nice though. Also, more context for the viewers that might be interested in Astana: this video is a good overview what a central part of the newer part of the city looks like, we call it "the left bank", and a big part of the city is on the other side of the river, "the right bank", which is more of your typical Soviet city vibe. For the tourists considering traveling to Kazakhstan, I'd recommend going to Almaty and doing the tour around the surrounding regions to experience more of our culture and beautiful nature. I love my city, but I think the southern capital got more to offer for true Kazakhstan experience. Great video, always welcome to visit again!

[@richkhaym4229]

Originally from Morocco and grew up in Melbourne AU, i am loving Almaty, the mountains are breath-taking but the air quality can be a challenge. I am excited to visit Astana next week!

[@nuriktu2483]

Все Казахи любят Астану, хотим мы этого или нет, но эта наша столица❤️‍🔥😘

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

❤ 🇰🇿👍

[@BarkhatnieTyagi]

Говорите за себя)

[@nuriktu2483]

@@BarkhatnieTyagi говорю же Казахи

[@Cobey_yt]

​@@nuriktu2483 говорите за себя, а не за казахов

[@lisalessa8893]

неа..противостояние с Алматы никогда не закончится. Алматы-величайший город в Казахстане, а всеми остальными управляют маленькие девочки)

[@grandbluediver]

10:47 that's the Art Academy. And they're not just building it, there was an issue with it's structure (some safety consern), so they had to dismantle it and now they're rebuilding it (just a little FYI).

[@Deleted-oc4ou]

I don’t really watch tourist or travelers videos but after watching this I might make it a thing. Great video. Be safe in your travels my North American bro

[@thankgoodness1272]

Хош келдіңіз,мейірімді ,мәдениетті адамдарды ұнатаиын❤

[@hardumor8908]

Take a shot at visiting Central Park near KeruenCity, or try attending OYU Fest next year.

[@Amir-zr6wg]

Really love your stuff! It was really interesting to listen about my city from your pov, i hadn't ever looked at it like that :D Hope you enjoyed it in here!

[@sekakz9197]

Астана керемет өте әдемі. 👍👍👍 Тәуелсіз Қазақ елі күшейіп дами берсін. Тәуелсіз Қазақ елі мәңгі жасасын. 🇰🇿🇰🇿🇰🇿🔱🔱🔱✊✊✊

[@mohamedkirgliz261]

Ben Kipçak Kumanlar sen Mongol ve slav your invader of Cumania

[@Zhannur77]

Қазақстанға келіп біздің елмен танысып жатқан сізге де РАҚМЕТ 😊🇰🇿🤝🏻🇺🇲 I also thank you for coming to Kazakhstan and getting to know our country 😁 🇰🇿🤝🏻🇺🇲

[@truepower123]

Welcome to Kazakhstan ❤

[@feruzaabdullayeva1949]

Thank you for nice video and welcome to Astana! ❤

[@2feb6]

I was just watching your video about Shanghai and decided to check out your channel. As a Qazaq, I was so surprised and happy to find this video. ❤😄

[@ezperez1]

I worked on the national museum of Kazakhstan which is in Astana back in 2014. I really enjoyed my time over there.

[@Nord4106]

Douglas, in the Pyramid, you should wait for the next tour, because there is a unique elevator that moves up and down diagonally. Well, a lot of expositions could be viewed upstairs 💁‍♂

[@ЕврикаЕврика-е4ю]

If you visit next time I also recommend to visit southern part of Kazakhstan. Shymkent city, its historical and there are many places to see. Such as Sairam Ugam national park, Aksu Zhabagly nature reserve and the most delicious food in Kazakhstan.

[@morph-87]

Cool video, thx! Btw, there is also a swimming pool with a sandy beach on top of KhanShatyr) And you can actually walk up even closer to the presidential palace, like 50m close. Maybe the guard just tried to say "no filming"

[@shyntemircamry6239]

By the way, many buildings in Astana were designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster. Including Khan Shatyr (mall) and Pyramid (palace of peace and harmony).

[@joynergrim4003]

Also the master plan of the city is created by Kisho Kurokawa

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

Вот и спасибо им. Все-таки климат непростой.

[@togzhan0123]

I recommend you to visit the biggest mosque in Central Asia which placed in Astana also ! The main mosque of Kazakhstan 🇰🇿

[@гостьизбудущего-б9с]

А накой нам мечеть ? Когда страну надо спасать от воров ?

[@ГульнарМухажанова-е4т]

​@@гостьизбудущего-б9спричём тут воры ,когда показывает турист Астану !!!

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

​@@гостьизбудущего-б9сНе он же спасать приехал, хватает нам "спасателей". Самим надо решать. А мечеть уже есть, хотите или нет.

[@FerizatA]

Hi Doug! I'm glad you had fun in Astana. A quick note about the pyramid. It's actually a building where summits and official events take place. That's why there are photos of presidents there. And opposite the pyramid, there's another building called the Palace of Independence, where the walls move 😅. There are interesting exhibitions and concerts there. Also on the way to the airport is the Grand Mosque of Astana, which can hold 230,000 people. It's said to be the largest mosque in Central Asia. And that's just the left side of Astana. You should go to the right side of the city if you want to see historical buildings from the USSR.

[@Тратил]

Oh this interested My Hometown)

[@АйбекТоғанай]

Welcome To Kazakhstan and Astana My City❤😊

[@askhatzhuzzhasar7288]

really nice and high quality video! I am so pleased that you shoot video about my hometown. I really hope that you enjoyed being in Astana, btw have you been to expo 2017 exhibition, mega silkway mall, botanical garden and the new main mosque that is even bigger and wide scale. Actually after watching your video some thoughts come up in my head about meaninglessness and a waste of resources that are spend on these big and empty buildings. Thank you!

[@bokakussainov2797]

Очень рад что вам понравилось в Казахстане. Приезжайте еще

[@ЕрболБейсекеев-е8ф]

Добро пожаловать в Казахстан!

[@dauletkhan1252]

Enjoyed your video! Hi from Astana!

[@doug_barnard]

thanks for watching!!

[@tommybarnard9781]

Love how you edit in the drone footage!!

[@doug_barnard]

Thanks!

[@Money_love23]

I live in Astana, and (I think) Astana is really interesting and creative city

[@Ahfer_fan_short]

Ya,..❤ çok güzel olmuş ❤

[@kaidarizz]

9:02 In place of peace and reconciliation there are some classes for kids! I am not sure if they are still there or are there any other companies in the building, but as a child i went there for pottery classes:)

[@terminaq]

Interesting perspective from a person who lives abroad, but I’d like to see how’d you react and experience some of the popular places like Central Park, especially at evening, I think it’s the most popular place at evenings

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

Таких и более крутых парков и зданий он насмотрелся 😂. Ему бы в мороз минус 40 погулять и на ветру полетать😂, вот тогда впечатления самые настоящие будут. Тогда он поймет насколько люди бывают морозостойкие и живут с давних времен на этой земле, скот пасут и стараются сохранить свои традиции. Главное, чтобы им не мешали и не навязывали чужое😊

[@АлибекАкылбеков-ц4р]

Cool😉👍

[@НаримаМухамбеталина]

Dear guest, thank you for visiting Kazakhstan, the capital of our state Astana. It is a pity that you did not go with a guide through the Palace of Peace and Reconcliation , hearing the history of the unique Palace you would have had a different opinion about the beautiful cultural center of the capital.

[@sonjam-blue]

Traditional Kazakh dishes are offered by the Daididau restaurant near Baiterek. 😋

[@zhanarakenezhanna7003]

You forgot to mention artificial beach with swimming pools and amusement park on the top floor of the Khan Shatyr 😊

[@elmiraa6119]

There is also a Sky beach club at Khan shatyr, with sand and all, so you can enjoy beach in winter, which is pretty cool, too. Hope you didn't miss it)

[@nursultan.magauiya]

Смотрим как будто не были в этом городе

[@bibigulbekenova4486]

You should go to the Talan tower with lions sculpture

[@rustemsadvakassov1787]

both the "galss cone" and the pyramid were designed by norman foster

[@ericngoruw62]

Gonna be moving to astana,, so just seeing what its like

[@ТимаАлтынбек-б5г]

You are Welcome bro ❤

[@ErkinbekSimayl]

Good good , thank you for rongling

[@WoTblitzNICESHOT]

Welcome to Kazakhstan

[@tteamtwo]

Қазақстаннан сәлем!❤🔥😍🎆🎆🥳

[@Dyussenov.T]

You should have visited MEGA Silk Way (very very very big mall u know), EXPO area, Astana Opera and Triumphal Arch, etc., okay, maybe next time Doug :) Thank you for video. 👍

[@MoonsteerPicasso]

Он буквально за день прошел все что можно увидеть в Астане )

[@kuatkazekage]

на экспо не попал

[@Алекс-ы3я2з]

Они сюда не на здания любоваться едут. Жаль, что в Астане практически негде показать традиции народа. Об этом НАН не подумал. Но и дальше никто не парится. В стиле Европы (подобие) почти весь мир живет. Он наверное удивлен, что степь потеряла свой облик, а казахи свою идениичность. То же самое можно сказать и про другие города. Ничем от рф не отличить. Только простые люди сами стараются сохранить свою культуру. Вот чему надо удивляться.

[@arlan932]

Пусть выезжают из Астаны и Алматы, там есть много что посмотреть ​

[@abdimanap3595]

Даг, удачи тебе 👍👍👍🇰🇿

[@aspanforever]

Thanks for video!

[@Jamiko_manzana]

Why you don’t was in Mega and Expo? It’s very beautiful city😻

[@diasbaikenov8327]

Good one😊 Please, don't make us to wait too long for an update!

[@Azizali_khan]

❤❤❤

[@Киноман-и8ь]

Наверху Хан Шатыра есть пляж

[@bakhyttoptayeva5753]

Well, there is a beach pool at the Khan Shatyr Moll. Which is cool, how sad you couldn't film it. And the shape of the building should remind a nomadic tent. Basically, Khan Shatyr means King's tent)

[@kyzykfamily]

You didn't mention the swimming pool Sky Beach on the 4th floor of Khan Shatyr

[@NatsuGova1312]

Drone is allowed ? Beautiful Content !

[@Любовьлюбовь-ю4ц]

На самом деле в Хан шатыре есть еще пляж с песком на верхних этажах 😊

[@aizhanaldabergenova0405]

You missed a beach inside Khan Shatyr :)

[@Aisaraaa_]

next time I highly recommend to visit the following places: Nur-Alem EXPO, National Museum and Central Mosque (the largest in Central Asia) 🙂‍↕️

[@CurrentlyLivingg]

Hey! Cool video You also must have to visit EXPO in Astana

[@BryantSmith-pn8gw]

Does Borat live there?

[@MechMonster]

It’s built like the world fair cities they had in the US back in the 40’s or whatever it was.

[@ZaraBekova]

Это вы еще не были на ЭКСПО 🪩 и самой новой мечети 🕌🙌🏻 не увидели Театр оперы и балета и Концертный зал Казахстан, не прогулялись по паркам и Ботаническому саду! А как же набережная и знаменитый мост?! Национальный музей?! Чтобы посмотреть Астану, необходимо как минимум 3-4 дня.

[@alikhanaimakov]

How to meet you hahaha.Greets from Astana :D

[@Анастасия-з8з9щ]

Настя это я. И я здесь живу. Я родилась здесь ещё дО столицы. Мы здесь с 60-х...