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Almaty: The Panfilov Street esplanade and the Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater with the Trans-Ili Alatau
Photo: Kalpak Travel · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Destination template · 11 days

Almaty & Astana in 11 days

5 sightseeing days in Almaty, a dedicated relocation day, then 5 days in Astana. Includes Ascension Cathedral and Palace of Independence, with guide-listed dining suggestions.

Adapted from community travel guides · Researched Sources & notes

The stops are drawn from the guides below; daily order, times and durations are our suggested adaptation. Available map pins are approximate, not provider-verified; missing coordinates remain unset. Prices are left unknown; check tickets, opening hours and transport before booking.

Route data adapted from Wikivoyage contributors, with our own selection and suggested timing; shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source pages link to contributor histories. This is an editorial multi-day schedule; the source community has not rated this itinerary.

  • Stay in Almaty for the first 5 sightseeing days; move to Astana on day 6, then stay for 5 sightseeing days. Book accommodation in both bases rather than returning each night.
  • The 969 km figure is approximate straight-line separation, not transit distance. The relocation day reserves room for travel and check-in without promising a direct service or a same-day connection. Verify the journey before booking this two-base plan.
  • City visits and restaurants are adapted from the linked retained community-guide material, not newly verified opening hours, live menus or first-hand visits. Suggested times are editable planning blocks. Check closures, reservations, accessibility and dietary needs.
  • Cover photo shows the first city. Original source and photo credits remain attached. Adapted community route selections retain CC BY-SA 4.0 attribution; source research dates remain in the individual stop and dining notes.
6 local dining picks added to this itineraryDining sources

These picks have positive travel-guide coverage or a named professional recommendation; they are not live customer ratings. Suggested times are not reservations. Confirm service days, dietary needs and prices. Other days remain open for your own food discoveries.

  • Day 1 · Crudo Steakhouse — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 2 · Namaste — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 3 · Restaurant Princess — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 7 · Line Brew — Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 8 · Melnitsa — Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Wikivoyage contributors ↗
  • Day 9 · Ali Babas — Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Wikivoyage contributors ↗

Sources checked 2026-10-30. Community-guide dining data is adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; source pages link to contributor histories.

Almaty & Astana itinerary: 11 days at a glance

Review the original daily plan before editing below. Times and durations are suggested planning blocks; dining stops are not reservations. Your personal edits appear in the editor and downloads.

Day 1: Almaty: Ascension Cathedral & Heroes Memorial Park

  • · Ascension Cathedral · 90 min
  • · Transfer to Heroes Memorial Park · 30 min
  • · Heroes Memorial Park · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Crudo Steakhouse (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 2: Almaty: St Nicholas Cathedral & Kasteyev Art Museum

  • · St Nicholas Cathedral · 90 min
  • · Transfer to Kasteyev Art Museum · 30 min
  • · Kasteyev Art Museum · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Namaste (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 3: Almaty: Sophia Cathedral & Museum of Musical Instruments

  • · Sophia Cathedral · 90 min
  • · Transfer to Museum of Musical Instruments · 30 min
  • · Museum of Musical Instruments · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Restaurant Princess (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 4: Almaty: Holy Kazan Cathedral & Military History Museum

  • · Holy Kazan Cathedral · 90 min
  • · Transfer to Military History Museum · 30 min
  • · Military History Museum · 120 min

Day 5: Almaty: Museum of Archeology & Memorial Museum of Nurgisa Tlendiev

  • · Museum of Archeology · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Memorial Museum of Nurgisa Tlendiev · 30 min
  • · Memorial Museum of Nurgisa Tlendiev · 120 min

Day 6: Almaty → Astana: travel and check-in

  • · Relocate: Almaty → Astana · 600 min

Day 7: Astana: Palace of Independence & Shabyt palace

  • · Palace of Independence · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Shabyt palace · 30 min
  • · Shabyt palace · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Line Brew (Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties) · 75 min

Day 8: Astana: Palace of Peace and Reconciliation & Presidential Park

  • · Palace of Peace and Reconciliation · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Presidential Park · 30 min
  • · Presidential Park · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Melnitsa (Traditional) · 75 min

Day 9: Astana: KazMunayGas Palace & Lovers' park

  • · KazMunayGas Palace · 120 min
  • · Transfer to Lovers' park · 30 min
  • · Lovers' park · 120 min
  • · Dinner: Ali Babas (Traditional) · 75 min

Day 10: Astana: Ak Orda presidential palace & National education academy

  • · Ak Orda presidential palace · 120 min
  • · Transfer to National education academy · 30 min
  • · National education academy · 75 min

Day 11: Astana: National archives & Bayterek Tower

  • · National archives · 75 min
  • · Transfer to Bayterek Tower · 30 min
  • · Bayterek Tower · 75 min

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Day 1
  • 09:3090m
    Gogol 40

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Almaty

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.19 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Almaty

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Abaya 17

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 12:00-01:00. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Map pin unavailable; use the address to locate the restaurant. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5386046; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 2
  • 09:3090m
    Baytursynov 56

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Almaty

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (1.58 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Satpaev

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Gogol 155

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 11:00-22:30. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Map pin unavailable; use the address to locate the restaurant. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5386046; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 3
  • 09:3090m
    Latifa Hamidi 30

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Almaty

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (1.14 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Zenkov 24

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Tolebayeva 53

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 12:00-00:00. Recheck with the restaurant. Route distance is unknown; check travel time and the entrance. Map pin unavailable; use the address to locate the restaurant. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5386046; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 4
  • 09:3090m
    Khaliullina 45a

    Check visitor access and worship times; follow site-specific dress and photography rules. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Almaty

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (3.31 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Zenkov 24

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 5
  • 09:30120m
    Shevchenko 28

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Almaty

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.78 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Kunaev 96

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Almaty (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 6
  • 08:00600m
    Almaty → Astana

    Dedicated relocation day from Almaty to Astana; no transport is booked. The city centres are approximately 969 km apart in a straight line, not a measured road or rail route. Choose and book a suitable flight, train, bus or ferry; confirm operating days, total door-to-door time, luggage rules and arrival before making reservations. This full-day block is reserved time, not a timetable. Move the following day if your journey needs longer.

Day 7
  • 09:30120m
    Tauelsizdik Ave 52

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Astana

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.14 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Tauelsizdik Ave 50

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Kenesary 20

    Restaurant meal; ask about house specialties. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 12:00-02:00. Recheck with the restaurant. About 6 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393951; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 8
  • 09:30120m
    Tauelsizdik Ave 57

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Astana

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.51 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Astana

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    Turan 31

    Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s food or dining experience positively. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: Daily 12:00-00:00. Recheck with the restaurant. About 3.8 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393951; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 9
  • 09:30120m
    Qabanbay Batyr Ave 19

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Astana

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.19 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:00120m
    Astana

    Check weather and access conditions; arrange any required ferry or return transport separately. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 18:0075m
    Dining
    3 Bukeikhan St

    Traditional. Community guide highlights this restaurant’s local popularity. Suggested dining time, not a booking. Confirm service days, availability, dietary needs and current menu prices before travelling. Guide-listed service: May-Sept daily 12:00-00:30. Recheck with the restaurant. About 3.6 km straight-line from the preceding stop; allow transit or taxi time as needed, not a measured walking route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Dining source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (checked 2026-10-30). Guide recommendations are not live customer star ratings. Wikivoyage revision 5393951; selection and timing adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 10
  • 09:30120m
    Astana

    Check admission, timed-entry availability and the current exhibition or visitor route. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Astana

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.51 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    Mengilik El Ave 4

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Day 11
  • 09:3075m
    Nurzhol Blvd 12

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

  • 12:0030m
    Astana

    Estimated transfer allowance between visits (0.24 km straight-line distance, not road distance). Check walking, transit, ferry or taxi options before travelling; allow a meal break before the 15:00 visit.

  • 15:0075m
    Astana

    Use this as a flexible sightseeing stop; check current visitor access before setting dates. Approximate map pin; confirm the entrance. Source: Wikivoyage contributors, https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Astana (CC BY-SA 4.0). Selection and timing adapted; route data shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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