Astana
Kazakhstan
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Astana
Tashkent
💰 Budget
🛡️ Safety
Astana
Astana is generally safe for tourists with low street crime. The biggest danger is the extreme winter cold. The city is modern and well-organized, with a visible police presence.
Tashkent
Tashkent is generally safe for tourists with low violent crime. Petty theft can occur in crowded bazaars and on public transport. Police presence is heavy and checkpoints exist, so always carry your passport or a copy.
⭐ Ratings
🌤️ Weather
Astana
Astana has an extreme continental climate. Winters are brutally cold and windy; summers are warm and pleasant. The temperature difference between seasons can exceed 70°C.
Tashkent
Tashkent has a continental climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit.
🚇 Getting Around
Astana
Astana is a modern, spread-out city. The new LRT system, buses, and ride-hailing apps are the main transport options. The Left Bank (new city) is where most tourist sights are concentrated.
Walkability: The Left Bank boulevard from Bayterek to Ak Orda is a pleasant walk in summer (~2 km). In winter, the extreme cold and wind make walking impractical for more than short distances.
Tashkent
Tashkent has an efficient metro system and affordable ride-hailing. The city is spread out, so walking between major sights requires planning.
Walkability: Moderate — the old city area around Chorsu is walkable, but major sights are spread across the city. Wide Soviet-era boulevards can make walking distances deceptive.
The Verdict
Choose Astana if...
you want Nur-Sultan's space-age skyline — Bayterek tower, Khan Shatyr "tent", Ailand water park, and the Kazakhstan State Museum all on the steppe
Choose Tashkent if...
you want Central Asia's modern hub — Soviet-era metro art stations, Chorsu Bazaar, Khast Imam, and high-speed Afrosiyob trains to Samarkand
Tashkent