Best Local Markets in Astana, Kazakhstan
1. Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
A unique, giant transparent tent structure housing shops, restaurants, and a park inside. Solves the challenge of indoor entertainment during cold weather.
- Indoor Climate Control: Offers year-round comfort with air conditioning in summer and heating in winter.
- Entertainment Hub: Includes an indoor beach, ice rink, cinema, and trampoline park.
- Local Shopping Experience: Features a market selling local goods such as handicrafts, textiles, and food items.
2. Akmola Central Market
A bustling market offering fresh produce, meats, fish, and local Kazakh goods. Solves the challenge of finding authentic local products.
- Authentic Local Produce: Sells a wide variety of locally grown fruits, vegetables, and traditional food items.
- Affordable Prices: Provides goods at lower prices compared to supermarkets due to direct sales from local farmers.
- Local Interaction: Offers opportunities for travelers to interact with locals and learn about their culture and traditions.
3. Kazakhstan Mall
A modern shopping mall featuring international brands, a supermarket, cinema, and food court. Solves the challenge of shopping for both local and international products.
- International Brands: Offers popular international retail stores.
- Supermarket: Includes a large supermarket for grocery shopping needs.
- Food Court: Provides a variety of food options, including local and international cuisines.
4. Navoi Mall
A high-end shopping mall featuring luxury brands, restaurants, a cinema, and an indoor skating rink. Solves the challenge of upscale shopping in Astana.
- Luxury Brands: Offers designer stores such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Prada.
- Indoor Skating Rink: Features an indoor ice skating rink for entertainment.
- Cinema Complex: Provides multiple cinema screens showing a variety of films, including international releases.
5. Baiterek Tower Market
A market offering traditional Kazakh goods, handicrafts, and souvenirs. Solves the challenge of finding unique Kazakh souvenirs.
- Authentic Souvenirs: Sells traditional Kazakh items such as felt goods, embroidery, and national costumes.
- Affordable Prices: Provides reasonably priced souvenirs compared to other tourist areas.
- Iconic Location: Located at the base of the iconic Baiterek Tower, allowing visitors to combine sightseeing and shopping.
6. Zelyony Bazar
A large outdoor market selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and other groceries. Solves the challenge of finding fresh produce in Astana.
- Fresh Produce: Sells a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.
- Affordable Prices: Offers goods at lower prices compared to supermarkets due to direct sales from local farmers.
- Outdoor Environment: Allows shoppers to experience the vibrant atmosphere of an outdoor market in Astana.
7. Kazakhstan National Cultural Center Market
A market showcasing traditional Kazakh culture and art through performances, workshops, and souvenirs. Solves the challenge of experiencing Kazakh culture in Astana.
- Cultural Experience: Offers demonstrations, workshops, and performances showcasing traditional Kazakh art forms.
- Authentic Souvenirs: Sells traditional Kazakh items such as handmade jewelry, embroidery, and musical instruments.
- Cultural Performances: Hosts regular performances of traditional Kazakh music and dance.
8. Saryarka Central Concert Hall Market
A market offering a variety of local food, arts, and crafts, with performances by local artists. Solves the challenge of experiencing local cuisine and culture.
- Local Cuisine: Sells traditional Kazakh dishes such as beshbarmak and kuurdai.
- Cultural Performances: Hosts performances by local artists showcasing traditional music and dance.
- Arts and Crafts: Sells handmade Kazakh arts, crafts, and souvenirs.
9. Kunyshevsky Market
A large market offering a variety of goods, including fresh produce, electronics, clothing, and home goods. Solves the challenge of finding everything from groceries to electronics.
- Wide Variety: Sells a wide variety of goods under one roof.
- Affordable Prices: Offers goods at competitive prices due to the large number of vendors.
- Convenience: Allows travelers to purchase multiple items in one location, saving time and effort.
10. Astana Mall
A large shopping mall offering a mix of local and international brands, a supermarket, food court, cinema, and bowling alley. Solves the challenge of finding both local and international products.
- International Brands: Offers popular international retail stores.
- Supermarket: Includes a large supermarket for grocery shopping needs.
- Entertainment Facilities: Provides entertainment facilities such as a cinema, bowling alley, and food court.
11. Nur Alem
An educational and entertainment complex housing an IMAX theater, planetarium, and a market selling local goods. Solves the challenge of finding local products in an educational setting.
- Educational Experience: Provides an educational experience through the planetarium and IMAX theater.
- Local Goods Market: Sells traditional Kazakh goods such as handicrafts, textiles, and food items.
- Iconic Architecture: Features iconic architecture with a unique spherical design.
12. Kazakhstan Center of Traditional Arts and Crafts
A center showcasing traditional Kazakh arts, crafts, and culture through exhibitions, workshops, and performances. Solves the challenge of learning about Kazakh culture in depth.
- Cultural Education: Offers educational programs on traditional Kazakh arts and crafts.
- Workshops: Provides hands-on workshops for visitors to learn traditional Kazakh art techniques.
- Performance Space: Has a performance space for traditional Kazakh music and dance performances.
13. Astana Central Station Market
An underground market offering a variety of goods, including fresh produce, clothing, electronics, and household items. Solves the challenge of finding goods in a convenient location.
- Convenient Location: Located within the Astana Central Station for easy access.
- Wide Variety: Sells a wide variety of goods under one roof.
- Affordable Prices: Offers goods at competitive prices due to the large number of vendors.
14. Astana National Opera and Ballet Theatre Market
A market offering local food, arts, and crafts, with performances by local artists. Solves the challenge of experiencing local cuisine and culture near a cultural landmark.
- Local Cuisine: Sells traditional Kazakh dishes such as beshbarmak and kuurdai.
- Cultural Performances: Hosts performances by local artists showcasing traditional music and dance.
- Arts and Crafts: Sells handmade Kazakh arts, crafts, and souvenirs.
15. Zhibek Zholy Market
A large outdoor market offering fresh produce, meat, fish, clothing, electronics, and household items. Solves the challenge of finding a wide variety of goods outdoors.
- Wide Variety: Sells a wide variety of goods under one roof.
- Fresh Produce: Sells fresh fruits, vegetables, and other groceries.
- Outdoor Environment: Allows shoppers to experience the vibrant atmosphere of an outdoor market in Astana.