✈ Transfer Options from Astana Airport to the City Centre of Astana

Astana, also known as Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan. It is a modern metropolis with a distinctive skyline featuring several futuristic buildings and monuments, such as the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation and the Bayterek Tower. The city’s vast park and pedestrian area, the Quay Astana, provides various recreational and sightseeing activities, as well as restaurants where you can try Astana’s vibrant cuisine.

There are two ways to get from Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) to the city centre; by taxi or private transfer and by bus. The fastest, easiest, and most direct way to get to your hotel in the city is to take a taxi or private transfer. The ride from Astana Airport to the city centre takes around 30 minutes in light traffic and, on average, costs €8 (KZT 4,000). The other way to reach Astana city from the airport is to take the 10 or 12 bus service. A single ticket costs (KZT 180) so it is a very budget-friendly choice. However, a bus is the slowest option as you will need 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach the centre.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Astana at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Taxi	€8	30min	24/7
Bus	€0.80	105min	05:50–22:30

How to get from Astana Airport to the city centre by taxi

A taxi or private transfer is the fastest and easiest way to get from Astana Airport to the city centre. Depending on the traffic, the taxi ride takes about 30 minutes and costs, on average, €8 (KZT 4,000).

Taxi fare from Astana airport to the city centre

From Astana airport to city centre locations, the average transfer with a local taxi should take 30-40 minutes, depending on your exact destination and traffic conditions, and usually costs around €8 (KZT 4,000). However, keep in mind that taxis in Astana do not offer fixed fares for airport transfers and that the taxi fare is usually established by negotiating with the driver before the start of the ride.

As the regulation of taxis is not very effective in Astana, travellers are strongly advised to choose registered taxi companies instead of using street cabs. This is because the price and level of service can vary, but most importantly, there are also safety concerns as many of the ‘cabs’ on the street are unlicensed drivers and vehicles. For peace of mind, you can book your Astana airport to city transfer in advance with a reputable provider like Welcome Pickups and secure a guaranteed flat fee.

To ensure a fair rate when using a local taxi, we recommend researching the average fare for your trip and agreeing upon a price with the driver before starting your journey. For example, you can find some indicative fares on display at Arrivals and can use a GPS app to show the driver your preferred route and avoid unnecessary detours.

Cost

€8

Trip Duration

30 Min.

*Prices vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Astana airport.

Where do I get the taxi from?

The taxi rank at Astana airport can be found just outside of Terminal 1.

Convenience

Taking a taxi or private transfer from Astana Airport to the city is the most efficient and direct mode of transport. A taxi lets you skip the stress and confusion of navigating a foreign transportation system, all while carrying your luggage. There’s no waiting around for the next bus or trying to find your way from the bus stop because a taxi will head off as soon as you’re ready and take you directly to your destination. For a smooth and easy transfer from Astana Airport to the city, we recommend booking a reliable private transfer that will drop you off right outside your hotel doors!

Editor’s Note

 Travellers are strongly advised to use reputable companies and avoid hailing down taxis on the street.

Useful Tips

Taxis in Astana don’t use taximeters, so you will have to negotiate your fare with the driver before getting into the car.

Although it is not customary to tip your taxi driver in Astana, should you wish to, you can add 10% of the fare.

A lot of local drivers in Astana don’t speak English, so make sure you have a way to give them directions, such as a map or an app.

How to get from Astana Airport to the city by bus

The 10 and 12 bus service is a very budget-friendly way to get from Astana Airport to the city centre. A single ticket costs €0.40 (KZT 180) and you can get it from the bus driver. However, as the bus takes 105 minutes to get to the city centre, it is considerably slower than going by taxi or private transfer, which takes about 30 minutes. There is also the city express bus route 100, but you will have to check at the airport for an update on that service as it seems to be out of commission for the time being.

How much is the bus from Astana Airport to the city centre?

A single ticket for the 10 and 12 bus services from Astana Airport to the city costs €0.40 (KZT 180). Purchasing tickets online is not possible at this moment, so you will have to buy yours upon arriving. You should also have the option of buying a transport card that offers a 50% discount if you are planning on taking the bus often during your stay.

Cost

€0.40

Trip Duration

105 Min.

Depending on the time of day and schedule, the average wait time for a bus is 5-15 minutes.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Bus services 10 and 12 from Astana Airport to the city run from 05:50-22:30.

Where do I get the bus from?

The bus stops are located on the first floor of Astana airport’s left wing.

Convenience

A bus is a budget-friendly option, and depending on the time you land and the location of your hotel, it can be a convenient choice for you. The bus services 10 and 12 from Astana airport to the city operate from 05:50 until 22:30 and run every 5-15 minutes, so they are frequent.

Having said that, the available information online about timetables and bus stops may be subject to change without notice which can cause delays, and cause you to change your plans unexpectedly – making the bus an unreliable option. Also, the bus takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach the centre, so it is a considerably slower option than a taxi which only takes about 30 minutes.

Lastly, as the bus won’t drop you off exactly where you are going, make sure you know where you need to get off and how far away the bus stop is from your accommodation, just in case you need to take another bus or taxi to complete your journey.

Timetables

Astana Airport to City

Bus Services 10, 12

Editor’s Note

The buses from Astana airport to the city centre run every 5-15 minutes from around 6 am until 10:30 pm.

Useful Tips

You can buy your ticket from the bus driver as you get onboard, as long as you have the fare in cash.

You can use the transportation app Yandex Go for more information on bus routes.

It’s worth asking the airport staff when the airport express bus service 100 will be operational again, as it would be considerably faster.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

20 minute gap between transfers
Regular Car Sanitisation
Contactless ride
Sanitiser in every car

How do I get from Astana Airport to the city?

You can get from Astana Airport to city by bus or taxi. A taxi or private transfer is the quickest and most convenient way to reach your destination, as it will get you to your hotel in 30 minutes for about €8 (KZT 4,000). If you prefer to get to Astana using public transport, you can take the 10 or 12 bus service from Astana airport to the city. Although the bus takes considerably longer than a taxi – around 105 minutes to reach the centre, a ticket will only be €0.40 (KZT 180). The wait times for the buses from Astana Airport to the city are 5-15 minutes, and the services run from 05:50 to 22:30.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Astana Airport to the city? 

Taxis in Astana don’t often use taximeters, so the fare of a ride is negotiated with the driver. An average taxi ride from Astana Airport to the city centre usually takes 30 minutes in regular traffic and costs €8 (KZT 4,000). Astana taxis are not well-regulated, so the price and quality of a ride can vary significantly. Furthermore, many local taxi drivers do not speak much English, so it can be hard to communicate unless you speak Russian or Kazakh. For these reasons, we recommend booking an Astana airport to city transfer with a reputable company such as Welcome Pickups. Book in advance to secure a flat fee with no surprises for a reliable and comfortable transfer with a professional, English-speaking driver.

How long is the journey from Astana Airport to the city?

Astana city is about 20 km north of Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ). You can get from Astana airport to the city centre by taxi or bus. A taxi or private transfer is the most leisurely and direct option, as it takes just 30 minutes to reach a city centre location for an estimated cost of €8 (KZT 4,000). To get from Astana Airport to the city by public transport, you can take the 10 or 12 bus service, both of which take 1 hour and 45 minutes and cost €0.40 (KZT 180) per ticket.

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How to get from Astana Airport to the city centre by taxi

Taxi fare from Astana airport to the city centre

Cost

€8

Trip Duration

30 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Astana airport.

Where do I get the taxi from?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Astana Airport to the city by bus

How much is the bus from Astana Airport to the city centre?

Cost

€0.40

Trip Duration

105 Min.

Convenience

Safety

Value for Money

Bus services 10 and 12 from Astana Airport to the city run from 05:50-22:30.

Where do I get the bus from?

Convenience

Timetables

Astana Airport to City

Bus Services 10, 12

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Astana Airport to the city?

What’s the cost of a taxi from Astana Airport to the city?

How long is the journey from Astana Airport to the city?

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