What's on in Astana, Kazakhstan through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Deep winter on the steppe (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Deep winter on the steppe (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Nauryz

  21–23 MarNational holidayClosures

  Three public days for the spring new year: yurts on the squares, nauryz-kozhe handed out free, and offices and many museums shut for the run of it. Held while there is still snow on the ground here. Source ↗

• Season

  Thaw and mud season

  25 Mar – 30 Apr · usuallyOff-season shutdown

  The melt turns the steppe and half the pavements to slush and the city is at its least presentable. It is also the emptiest and cheapest it gets, and the museums are yours.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Thaw and mud season (25 Mar – 30 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Yesil embankment season

  1 Jun – 31 Aug · usuallySummer season opens

  River boats, outdoor tables and the embankment walk only exist for these weeks, and the city uses them hard. Evenings run late and everybody is outside for them.

Busy — Astana Day, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Astana Day

  4–8 JulNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  The city's own holiday on 6 July, staged by the state: concerts, fireworks, closed central roads and hotel rates to match. Anything near the Baiterek needs booking well ahead. Source ↗

Still on: Yesil embankment season (1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Yesil embankment season (1 Jun – 31 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Hazard

  Deep winter on the steppe

  1 Dec – 28 FebExtreme cold

  One of the coldest capitals there is, and built for it: heated walkways, malls used as public squares, engines left running outside shops. It is the wind coming off open steppe, not the number on the thermometer, that catches people out. Source ↗